Planning a group cruise with a wedding lets me take all that special event experience and put it to use for my own business. I've seen a number of "Wedding on Board" parties that end with the reception. Then the guests go off to enjoy their cruise, and maybe they plan a couple of get-togethers on their own. Blah... boring, conventional, vanilla. This wedding is going to be MEMORABLE (as every wedding should be). The bride is gorgeous, the family is a bunch of fun, and the friends are live wires. Now this is an opportunity!
We have an itinerary of activities just for the wedding guests including a cocktail party (natch), private group shore excursions, adventure hunt on board, a wrap party on the last day at sea and gift bags (this is where I'm going all out with travel-sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner, hand sanitizer & mouthwash personalized with labels in the wedding theme color and with the Bride & Groom's names - as well as a few subtitles). The group is big enough that I decided to travel with them ... I'll be their private cruise director so the wedding couple and families have no worries, just ask Dorothy. I think it's nice to welcome the guests aboard with a gift they can use during the cruise, and who doesn't need a toiletry kit, water bottle, sunscreen, sewing kit, document holder, coupon for FREE semiprecious necklace and earrings, etc.? Did I mention that the company name and toll free phone number will be on each of these items? Well, I AM trying to promote myself! Thank goodness for my background in marketing & advertising, although in the past when I did this it was with Other People's Money. I love OPM. This time it's my money - that really changes the equation.
I've also come up with a plan for the bride & groom to get free drinks - I can't give it away just now, but the B&G are all over it!
The reason for all this? When others on board see how much fun we're having, maybe they'll ask who is the genius behind all this fun. Maybe the guests will have such a memorable time that they'll tell all their friends about me. Most importantly, however, is that the bride and groom - and their families - will have the most special cruise I can dream up for them. That's satisfaction in itself.I'm going to try to do similar for all large groups (25 cabins or more) in the future - it's worth it to make sure they have the time of their lives!
We sail on April 29th and I'll be blogging every day if possible. Between all the activities, the shore excursions, the ports of call I haven't seen before and the mandatory gym time I always commit to on a cruise I could miss a day here or there. But there WILL be blogs, there will be fun, there will be weird souvenirs of the day, and there will be pictures.
Oh, and I've started my diet. Figured that if I went public with it I'd have to stick to it. I've got 66 days. Would love to drop 15 lbs. - that would be 1/4 of a pound a day, 1.59 per week. 20 would be even better (swimsuit wise) but that would be 1/3 of a lb. a day 2.12 a week. I've watched The Biggest Loser for years, but can't spend four hours a day in the gym. Help me along!
I'm so excited ... can't wait until the 29th of April!
