Our most recent jam-packed educational event took place January 5 – 8 for members of the Financial and Insurance Conference Planners Association (FICP). We hosted the first Ship-Shopping program for this FICP back in 1994, when ships were half the size they are now – both industries have certainly come a long way!

Cruiise ships docked at Port Everglades, Florida

During our FICP program, we introduced eight meeting planners to four of today’s most appealing ships. They also experienced two hotels and the services of one of the country’s most experienced DMC’s. It was a lot to absorb in only three nights and four days –from educational as well as gastronomic perspectives!

Read on to find out what a Ship Shopping educational program could do for you, and let us know if you’d like to be on the invitation list for next time. We plan lots of events to expose planners to cruising – so get on our radar and get up to date!

Thursday, January 5

We arrived at the Turnberry Isle Miami Hotel in Aventura, where our group was royally entertained in the private dining room of the hotel’s “Bourbon Steak” restaurant. Our three-course culinary adventure was the perfect way to kick off the program.

Turnberry’s standard guest rooms are as big as suites on many ships! As you look at the perfectly maintained golf course and the skyline of Fort Lauderdale from the balcony, you feel like you’re in a peaceful oasis right in the middle of the city.

Friday, January 6

This morning, our cruise education program focused on helping planners sort the industry’s 200+ ships into three categories:

1. Luxury ships (1000 guests or less, with specific high-end characteristics and inclusive experience)
2. Big ships (1200+ guests , characterized by a wider variety of top entertainment, dining experiences, sports and fitness activities plus family appeal)
3. Boutique vessels (unique ships – sailing, ocean or river vessels; small and easy to charter; with more intimate experience and destination-focused itineraries.)

After hearing specifics about the luxury ships of Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, and Seabourn, we boarded our shuttle to Port Everglades, courtesy of GEP Destination Management.

As we boarded Regent’s Seven Seas Mariner, crisply dressed stewards greeted us, but we resisted their offer of champagne and began our cabin inspections. The large gracious staterooms were quite inviting, as was the entire vessel – the Mariner features all-suite accommodations, all with private balcony. After a relaxing lunch in the elegant main dining room, all of our guests received goodie bags that included a cook book and video by celebrity chef Jacques Pepin.

After our Seven Seas Mariner experience, we enjoyed some leisure time at Turnberry before returning to Ft.Lauderdale for a cocktail reception and mini-tour of the Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Our dinner this evening was onboard Silver Whisper, during a rare overnight in port. Silversea pulled out all the stops and treated us to a multi-course extravaganza accompanied by paired wines. Afterwards we toured the vessel, noting in particular the new Supper Club, an intimate hide-away with cabaret entertainment. This long day’s journey into night ended back at Turnberry after midnight – what a day, all in the line of duty!

Saturday, January 7

We met for breakfast on the Terrace, joined by a half-dozen of Turnberry’s management team. The hotel’s General Manager, the Marketing and Sales VP, the Chef and several key personnel wanted to meet with the FICP members to get their feedback on many issues, including Turnberry’s recent decision to part ways with the Fairmont management group. This was a very stimulating exchange, and our planners shared their opinions very candidly.

Then it was off to the Oasis of the Seas! We toured this amazing ship in record time, and our planners were “wowed” by Central Park and the Boardwalk neighborhoods, the Aqua Theater, surf simulators, rock climbing walls, and meeting facilities that included a skating rink and trade show area.

Afterwards, we enjoyed lunch at Giovanni’s Table, Royal Caribbean’s specialty Italian restaurant, where we indulged in outrageously decadent appetizers, enormous ricotta-filled shells, beautiful main courses served family style plus, of course, desserts and cupcakes customized with the FICP logo. We really didn’t need birthday cake for one of our party, but that didn’t stop Royal Caribbean from going the extra mile!

Turnberry’s Cascata Pool Terrace was the setting for our last evening event. It was transformed into a privately tented alcove, and adorned in shimmering table linens and sparkling stones by GEP Destination Management, who also provided live music for the occasion.

Sunday, January 8

Turnberry’s bountiful breakfast was the nicest and most varied presentation any of us had ever seen, with Greek yogurt to start, followed by a large plate with four divided sections – each with a different offering. Our final cruise presentation wrapped up loose ends from all the presentations and ship visits, and we invited the planners to share their own experiences using ships for business events. We also showed a draft of an online marketing piece and solicited planners’ comments on how we can communicate more effectively with them and their counterparts at other organizations.

Our final educational experience took place aboard Celebrity Solstice, one of the most successful new ship designs in history. Celebrity Cruises has a total of five vessels in this class, and their older ships are now undergoing upgrades to “Solsticize” them. We saw the ship’s purpose-built meeting space and many other public areas suitable for business sessions.

After being seated in the Murano Restaurant, we were welcomed by Mosaic, an acapella singing quartet that has been a sensation across the Celebrity’s entire fleet. Next came “Coming up Roses” from the Molecular Bar, a cocktail made with pear and rose essence, sage, rose petals and champagne. Murano is known for fine steaks but they also brought in several courses from the ship’s other specialty restaurants, topped off with a dessert soufflé.

To conclude our Ship Shopping educational program, we reminded the FICP Planners that while many aspects of the shipboard experience have changed, one thing remains constant: the streamers!

In days of ‘yore, passengers used to throw streamers to their loved ones on the dock, as a way of “staying connected”. In the same way, we at Landry & Kling like to toss streamers to our clients as a way of staying connected, because…

“Friendships made at sea, are said to last a lifetime!”

There should be a moment in childhood when a door opens and a brighter tomorrow comes rushing in.

For many troubled youths in Miami facing a life on the streets, Miami Bridge is that door.

Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services

For 20 years, Miami Bridge’s two facilities in Dade County have sheltered up to 700 abandoned, abused, or runaway children who have no where else to go. The Bridge provides 24/7 refuge, offering these at-risk adolescents a stable, nurturing environment; schooling and activities; and just as importantly – counseling for the youngsters and their families.

All of us at Landry & Kling and Seasite.com are honored to support Miami Bridge. When we first visited the facility in 2004, we were humbled and inspired by the dedicated staff, the services they provide, and of course – the “Bridge Kids”. Since that time, our company has made an annual donation to this not-for-profit organization on behalf of our partners, friends, and clients during the holiday season.

Jo Kling, Karyn Altman, Joyce Landry, Maureen McKeon ready to serve lunch

The Landry & Kling and Seasite.com staff continue to collect Miami Bridge “wish list” items for Christmas; we know that these donations will bring smiles to Miami Bridge kids throughout the year. And once again, we delivered the goodies and served lunch to the youths and staff during the Miami Bridge Holiday Lunch Event.

All of us who participated agreed: this simple act of service represents the true spirit of the holidays. What inspires you to make a difference this year?

To learn more about Miami Bridge, visit their website: www.miamibridge.org.

We’re seeing a huge uptick in special interest cruises. Whether catering to foodies, wine connoisseurs, music fans, or fitness buffs, event planners have discovered there’s no better venue that a cruise ship to bring like-minded people together to share their passion.

And the latest group gearing to set sail? Three words: “Start Your Engines!” Yes, folks, Landry & Kling Cruise Event Services just announced the hottest theme cruise that will have sports fans racing to get onboard: the Rusty Wallace Cruise.

Enthusiastic fans will soon have an exclusive opportunity to join ESPN analyst and former NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace, along with his son, NASCAR driver Steve Wallace, on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas. The ship will set sail December 4, 2011 from Port Canaveral for a seven-night Caribbean voyage with visits to CocoCay (the cruise line’s private island destination), St Thomas and St. Maarten.

Onboard, fans will interact with the two racing legends at a series of invitation-only events, including a private cocktail reception, question and answer event, photo and autograph session, and a racing themed contest. Racing prizes and memorabilia, including complimentary race passes and authentic race shirts signed by Rusty Wallace will also be available during the cruise.

But here’s the great thing about planning a theme cruise – besides bringing people together who share the same passion, giving them the chance to mingle with celebrities, and customizing their onboard events, your like-minded participants also enjoy all the amazing cruise ship amenities – like included meals, entertainment, and recreational facilities. What’s not to love?

Rates for the Rusty Wallace Cruise start at only $699 per person, based on double occupancy. To learn more and book the cruise, check out the Rusty Wallace Cruise website and online registration developed and managed by Landry & Kling: rustywallacecruise.com.

Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas has finally set sail, and some of our staff had the enviable opportunity to participate in the inaugural events. The first-hand reviews from these seasoned cruise experts are positively…well, positive: Incredible! Stunning! Beyond spectacular! Entertainment is second-to-none!

With so many incredible onboard features, Allure of the Seas is sure to wow meeting and incentive groups of all sizes; it’s already been dubbed  “The Ship of Entertainment”. Here are four reasons why:

Chicago: The Musical
If you’re expecting a second-rate version of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, you’re in for a BIG surprise. The Allure of the Seas’ production features top-notch performers from Broadway and London’s West End. Royal Caribbean’s 90 minute show includes the same infamous cast of characters and one show-stopping song after another. This is big ticket entertainment at its best without the big ticket price.

Blue Planet
This theatrical masterpiece uses stunning visual effects to tell the preservation story of our oceans. Featuring powerful music, dramatic settings, soaring vocals, energetic dance and jaw-dropping aerial acrobatics, Allure of the Seas’ performance of Blue Planet will leave your attendees breathless. Check out the opening night video, below.

OceanAria
The open-air AquaTheater on Allure of the Seas showcases another awe-inspiring athletic and artistic masterpiece: OceanAria. This extravaganza feature acrobats, dancers and professional divers in an amazingly choreographed thrill ride. The show includes fountains and orchestral music that swell and dip with the song of the ocean – an unforgettable group experience.

Dreamworks 3-D Movies - Not Just for Kids
For the kid in all of us, Allure of the Seas introduces the DreamWorks Experience – including a “How to Train Your Dragon” ice show, “Madagascar”-themed aquatic show, and exuberant parades.  Sure to be a hit with both grown ups and kids: DreamWorks Animation films like Shrek, Madagascar and Megamind presented in the Allure’s 3-D theater.

Want to experience some of the Allure’s theatrical excitement for yourself? Here’s a “behind-the-scenes” peak at the opening night performance of Blue Planet:

Pretty amazing, right? Know what else is amazing? All these fantastic shows are included with your cruise program, so you don’t have to shell out a dime to wow your attendees with world-class entertainment. Now that’s worth a round of applause!

Click here for more about Allure of the Seas.

What’s that? You have no clue what a blue-footed booby is? Obviously, you’ve never had the good fortune to visit the Galapagos Islands, where these charismatic birds reside. But Landry & Kling CEO Joyce Landry has. (Check out the videos from Joyce’s recent Lindblad expedition cruise– watch her wild sea lion encounters on the island and in the sea.)

The Galapagos Conservation Trust established Blue-footed Booby Day as part of the BBC Wildlife Fund 2010 Wild Appeal to raise much-needed funds for threatened wildlife and places. You might have missed Blue-footed Booby Day, but it’s not too late to make a donation to help protect these loveable birds and their surrounding habitat.

Landry & Kling and Seasite staff demonstrated their support of the birds by dressing in blue and donating to the fund.

L&K celebrates Blue-footed Booby Day! From left: Joey Sciarrotta, Jo Kling, Dolores Betancourt, Joyce Landry(with friend), Naomi Humphreys, Marlene Bernasconi

But back to the birds at hand (or should I say, feet?) The Blue-footed Booby is one of the strangest birds in Galapagos. They’re most famous for their bright blue feet, with the color ranging from light to deep blue. How they got their bright blue feet is a mystery, but the blueness plays an important part in courting.

The Mating Dance: During the mating season, the booby performs an elaborate mating dance, which starts when the male gives the female a small stone or stick.  He then tips his beak, tail, and wing tips to the sky and whistles.  They slowly march around each other and display their bright blue feet for hours.

Anyone lucky enough to spend time with these stunning birds can’t help but fall for them as they are always happy to perform their highly entertaining courtship dance – which involves the males flaunting their blue feet to the females.

While they’re most elegant in flight, Blue-footed Boobies are clumsy on the ground and this, coupled with their iconic courtship dance, earned them their name – ‘booby’ coming from the Spanish term ‘bobo’ meaning clown.  To see the dance click here.

Now that you’ve gotten to know these amusing birds, why not plan an expedition to the Galapagos with your group to meet the blue-footed boobies (and lots of other friendly creatures) up close and personal. Ask Joyce Landry – she’s tell why a voyage to the Galapagos is a life-altering experience.

Here is the press release announcing Landry & Kling’s alliance partnership with MCI Group.

Landry & Kling Announces Strategic Alliance Partnership with MCI Group

MIAMI, May 28, 2010 – Cruise Events Specialists Landry & Kling today announced a strategic alliance with MCI, a leading global association, communications and event management company. The partnership agreement includes Landry & Kling company Seasite.com, the first cruise portal dedicated to the cruise meetings and events market.

Under the new alliance, MCI will promote the use of cruise ships for group meetings and events accessing Seasite.com services and resources including cruise sourcing, contract negotiations, and valuable planning tools. In addition, MCI will request Landry & Kling services for its clients who require cruise logistics custom planning services – from the pre-event planning phase through on-site event implementation.

“Through our ongoing working relationship with Landry & Kling, we will expand our service portfolio to include cruise ships and continue to deliver high quality service to corporate and association meeting planners and their attendees,” said Roger Tondeur, President of MCI. “Cruise ships provide cost-effective, innovative venues for meetings and events, and we are pleased to team with the forward-thinking leaders of the cruise events business to broaden our industry reach.”

To support the ongoing partnership, Landry & Kling will recommend Ovation Global DMC (part of MCI Group) to its customers who require Destination Management Services such as port excursions, special events or group transportation at key Ovation locations. These destinations include (but are not limited to) Malaga, Valencia and Barcelona, Spain; Cannes, Nice, and Monte Carlo, France; Livorno, Rome, Naples, Sorrento, Taormina, and Venice, Italy; Stockholm, Sweden; and Hong Kong.

“We are delighted to team with MCI, one of the largest meetings and events company in the world, to bring additional value-added services to our customers,” said Mark Phillips, Chief Operating Officer of Landry & Kling. “Their global destination management services and other valuable resources will complement many of our customers’ cruise event programs.”

About Landry & Kling and Seasite.com

Landry & Kling Inc., cruise event specialists since 1982, recently introduced Seasite.com, the first online cruise platform for meeting professionals. Seasite is an industry sourcing tool to search, select and plan group cruises, with access to 35 cruise lines in one site, meeting-friendly search criteria, e-RFP’s, meeting/function room capacities, dining details and other unique tools available nowhere else. Visit www.seasite.com or www.landrykling.com.

About MCI

MCI is a globally integrated association, communication, and event management company. Since 23 years, MCI helps companies, governments and associations bring people together to create meaningful connections and win. MCI’s combined expertise helps clients to outperform by offering strategy, creativity and execution in the field of Association Management & Consulting, Performance Improvement, Global Congress Management, and Meetings & Events. Our support services include Global Destination Management in 36 countries and Audio Visual & Staging solutions. MCI has 43 offices in 21 countries and employs over 920 professionals worldwide. Visit www.mci-group.com.

In the profile, Joyce Landry: The Port in a Storm, Dr. Elinor Garley remarks “Landry and Kling are pioneers in the use of cruise ships as floating hotels. In fact, Landry’s telephone number should be on speed dial for every corporate and government travel executive [editor's emphasis], for she can find a ship and get you home safely…”

Here’s an excerpt from Dr. Garley’s article:

Margaret Thatcher said, “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman,” and when it comes to moving corporate and government executives from one part of the universe to the other or disaster victims from crises to safety – and it can be done by sea, there is one woman who can make it happen: Joyce Landry, the CEO of Landry & Kling, Inc. Since 1982, Joyce and her partner, Josephine Kling, have successfully transferred heads of state and corporate presidents as well as victims of Katrina, from one port to another. Dockside charter projects include the 1992 Barcelona Olympics; 2005 Super Bowl (Jacksonville, FL); 2007 Cricket World Cup (West Indies) and the 2009 Summit of the Americas (Trinidad).

Read the full article in TourismExecutives.com.

In her article, Ms. Montello reminds readers that now is the time for meeting and event planners to capitalize on the value-added features of a cruise: included meals, activities, entertainment, meeting space and AV. So true! Jo referred the journalist to our cost comparison chart that clearly demonstrates how a meeting at sea can save 20 to 40 percent when compared to a comparable land venue.

Microsoft Computer Science Conference on Disney Cruise Ship

Ms. Montello also notes that cruises make a planner’s job much easier, a fact our corporate clients can attest to. With no menus to plan, entertainers to hire, spouse programs to cost out and organize, or transfers to arrange for outings, a cruise program once again saves valuable time and dollars.

We are happy that the article also includes a case-study of a Microsoft conference that Landry & Kling planned and executed on the Disney Wonder. Our client from Microsoft told us that the all-inclusive nature of the cruise made it extremely cost-effective. In fact, those going to another computer science conference at a land-based property spent twice as much as those sailing on the Disney ship.

Here’s an excerpt from Andrea Montello’s article:

A floating conference, complete with games, appearances by Minnie, Mickey, and Goofy, is more popular than ever, even in this era when price and perception are paramount. Miami-based Landry & Kling, a company that has been focusing on meetings and incentives aboard cruise ships since 1982, handled the program.

The Fourth International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games was held April 26–30, 2009 aboard the Disney Wonder and was completely sold out. Approximately 400 attended from 33 countries.

Read the full article: TheMeetingMagazines

She’s a gold medal athlete who rows with the dolphins, was recently certified to serve on disaster-relief animal rescue teams, serves as a mentor to young women, and is an advocate for Florida historic preservation and environmental conservation.

Daring to Take Risks
Passion is also what drove Joyce and her business partner Jo Kling to open a cruise brokerage office in New York City 28 years ago. Even though the odds were against them, Jo and Joyce steered clear of negative people and never lost sight of their vision. Their determination and vision paid off. Over the years, Landry & Kling pioneered the use of cruise ships for meetings, introduced the “floating hotel” concept for global events, and launched Seasite.com – the first cruise sourcing tool for meeting planners.  In 2009, b oth Joyce and Jo were inducted into the Cruise Lines International Association Hall of Fame in recognition of their contributions to the cruise industry.

Advice to Grads
Last week,  Joyce returned to her hometown of Gardner Massachusetts to deliver the keynote commencement speech at Mount Wachusett Community College. She encouraged the graduating class of 2010 to follow their passions, look for opportunities in adversity, give back, and live a life of meaning and purpose.

MeetingsNet Shares Joyce’s 8-Step “Magic” Recipe
MeetingsNet journalist Allison Hall was in the audience and heard Joyce’s inspirational speech. In her article, “Landry Tells Grads: Rock Your World!” she reveals Joyce’s 8-steps for creating a life of magic ( dramatically delivered with the flourish of a sparking “magic” wand).

1. Find delight in everyday things.
2. Participate. Don’t play it safe.
3. Keep going even when times are tough.
4. Live healthy.
5. Be ready for adventure.
6. Be grateful.
7. Make money for the right reason
8. Give generously.

More simple yet profound advice:  “Forgive someone. Tell people how much they mean to you. Say yes when someone asks for help.”

Allison Hall writes:

She concluded her address to the Mount Wachusett class of 2010 with an appropriate analogy for a cruise industry luminary: “A boat that doesn’t rock goes nowhere. Go out and rock your world!”

To read the full meetingsnet article, click on Joyce Landry Commencement Speech.

So there you have it – start implementing these steps today and begin living a life of magic.

Do any of these steps resonate with you? Do you have your own recipe for living a life of passion and magic? We’d love to read your comments!