Are you planning a group outing? Do you want to provide an incentive for your employees? Or perhaps, organize a group of friends or relatives to take a cruise? We can help! Our Group Travel Program was designed to help you plan and promote your group function. We have experience in negotiating the lowest possible group rates, which may include FREE amenities such as category upgrades, cocktail parties, group photos, island tours and more. Our Group Travel Consultants will assist you from start to finish while saving your group thousands of dollars and providing you with an enjoyable, memorable and productive experience. Contact one of our Group Travel Consultants TODAY at grouptravel@sailawaycruisesintnl.com.

WHY BOOK WITH US?

We have experienced cruise and land package Group Travel Consultants to assist you, with a combined agent experience of over 35 years. We are affiliated with most of the major cruise lines and tour companies, to represent their cruise and land package vacations. We have many accredited Travel Consultants on our staff to assist you. Our record with the Better Business Bureau, CLIA and the cruise lines and tour operators themselves is impeccable. In addition to our BBB record, our organization is a proud member of CLIA and other travel industry professional organizations.

We constantly strive to better our agency and our agents through continuing education, consistent monitoring of the cruise industry, frequent cruise ship inspections, staying current on the latest technology and constantly monitoring feedback from our clients.

We have the expertise to help you with your group from start to finish. We are dedicated to the best interest of the group, both as a group and as individuals within that group. We are experienced in servicing small groups to very large groups. We have worked with both experienced and inexperienced group leaders. We will give you tips on how to add special amenities for your people. Our Group Travel Consultants want to do the work for you and make your job easier.

Whether you are a seasoned group leader or just starting to organize your first group, we hope that the following suggestions will be of some help to you. If you have additional questions, contact one of our Group Travel Consultants at grouptravel@sailawaycruisesintnl.com.

TIPS ON ORGANIZING A GROUP

We are all members of groups; by birth, by association and by common interests. The following are ideas of where you might find group members:

• Family members
  
• Friends
  
• Acquaintances of family and friends
  
• Social clubs
  
• Health clubs
  
• Church groups
  
• Fellow Volunteers
  
• Alumni Groups
  
• Music clubs
  
• Dance clubs
  
• Aerobic groups
  
• Bingo groups
  
• Professional organizations
  
• Country Clubs
  
• Senior Citizen groups
  
• Business groups
  
• Business incentive groups
  
• Client appreciation groups
  
• Educational or business seminars
  
• Fund raising groups
  

I HAVE A GROUP "WHAT's NEXT?"

Now that you have your group, schedule a group meeting. Make it a social event by having everyone bring snacks and drinks. You are the group coordinator so be ready for the many details you will be faced with. The following are some ideas that you will want to discuss with your group:

• How long do you want your cruise to last? Examples: 3, 5, 7 days or longer.
  
  
• What dates are possible cruise dates? It is wise to have more than one date available.
  
  
• The itinerary - where do you want to cruise? Examples: Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, or Eastern U.S. and Canada
  
  
• What cruise lines are you interested in?
  
  
• What type of cabins are the group interested in: inside (the least expensive), outside, or suites (the most expensive).
  
  
• How many people are interested? Do you expect to have more people than showed up for the first meeting?
  
  
• How many in the group will be bringing children?
  
  
• Does anyone in the group need a handicapped cabin or have any special needs.
  
  
• Does anyone require air travel and if so from where?
  
  
• Do you have anyone who is not an U. S. citizen?
  
  
• Will anyone be traveling as a single?
  

Now that you have discussed the basics with your group, it is time to call one of our Group Travel Consultants to begin getting prices and discussing the particulars that your group will require.

Your Group Travel Consultant will be asking the questions that we have listed above. They will work with you on prices and the planning materials that will make your job easier. If you feel it necessary, your Travel Consultant will be able to supply you with informational flyers to pass out at your next meeting. At this meeting it will be time to pass out the registration forms for those that are interested. This form will have space for the names of the group members, their address, phone number, and if this is a cruise group; choice of cabin type, place for special needs, meal sitting choice, who they want to be cross referenced with (for meal seating purposes), and whether or not they want travel insurance. Your cruise or land package is a vacation investment and we highly suggest the protection of travel insurance.

The form will also give payment dates. We will keep track of payment dates and automatically charge credit cards at the pre-authorized amounts and times. So you will be free to dream about your upcoming vacation.

After the forms are filled out your Group Travel Consultant will then begin booking your group. A couple of weeks before your groups scheduled departure date, your documents will arrive in our office and will be checked for accuracy. Upon completion, your documents will be forwarded to the group leader or to each individual cruise vacationer (your preference).

We hope that these suggestions have been helpful to you. When your group is ready to book, please contact our Sail Away Cruises International's Group Department at 877-888-6180 or email, grouptravel@sailawaycruisesintnl.com.

Call or email us TODAY and give us the opportunity of earning your business, by taking advantage of our "personal touch" service and "Best Price Guarantee!"