Corporate Travel Destinations

Embarking on barge cruises on the rivers of Europe has become a popular option for both business and leisure travel; however, companies with smaller budgets or time constraints that will not allow them to send their employees or clients overseas can still partake in river cruising. River cruises are perfect for incentive travel for employees or customers, executive retreats, smaller corporate events and fundraisers. With many river cruise options available in the U.S., river cruising is a viable, affordable option for companies large and small.

American river cruises include ships on some of the better known rivers in the U.S., such as the Mississippi River, Missouri River and Columbia River, as well as the Great Lakes and rivers that run through Alaska, the South, the Heartland and other regions. River cruise ships offer the luxury and comfort of seafaring vessels, although they are much smaller than their oceangoing counterparts.

Because of their smaller size and more intimate environment, river cruises are particularly well-suited for team building vacations, executive retreats and incentive travel packages. River cruises can take place on a barge, steamboat or small ship and provide a different travel experience than other business and leisure travel options. By their nature, river cruises allow participants to see small towns and natural beauty that are often missed when taking more conventional vacations.

To plan a U.S. river cruise, visit Seasite.com to find helpful group cruise planning tools.

For a different kind of group cruise experience, you may want to consider barge cruising on rivers in Europe. This type of laidback cruising is ideal for groups of 12 or less and offers a casual, intimate atmosphere that is perfect for an executive retreat, a teambuilding experience or small-scale corporate meetings and events. Barges are often captained by the owner and cooking is often taken care of by the owner or the spouse of the owner, with local foods that are purchased daily before leaving the night’s mooring spot in the morning. This adds to the houseguest feel of barge cruising, and generally also makes for wonderfully outfitted barges that show distinctive pride of ownership.

During the day, guests will enjoy slowly making their way down Europe’s inland waterways, and then will have the opportunity to go ashore to visit quaint villages or wineries before heading to bed each night. Many barge cruises include tours of sites of historical or cultural importance and sometimes have eclectic, impromptu entertainment during the evening. Some barge cruises also offer optional extras, such as hot air ballooning, which can make your corporate travel even more memorable. Exclusive ship charters allow you to organize an intimate awards ceremony or relaxing incentive travel package that is sure to appeal to your attendees.