Chartering your own cruise ship may seem a little farfetched, but you may find that many cruise companies will be happy to offer a whole ship for you and your group. However, it is also possible to reserve only half the ship, so if the cost of a full vessel will be above budget, this will could be an ideal alternative.
You will find that booking a full ship for your society or corporation will require a minimum number of guests. Large cruise ships will require passenger numbers in the thousands; Carnival cruises, for example, require at least 2,000 for short cruise holidays and 3,000 for longer trips. The price tag for a large ship could be anywhere from £700,000 to £4 million, so it easy to see that the majority of us will be out of the market.
However, partial chartering offers great value in comparison to reserving an entire ship. Cruise lines can give away 20, 40 or 50% of their cabins to a group or corporation, but as payment will be required in advance this is not a recommended option for smaller organisations where there are likely to be cancellations.
For smaller groups it is best to block-book your cabins through a travel agent, who will usually return the favour and pass on any discount from the cruise line. No matter how many people you choose to travel with, this will be a great option to save on the cost of your tickets.