American Hawaii Cruises * Contact: Lori Purcell, vice president, field sales, (800) 933-9933, fax: (800) 933-4904
* Ship: Independence Passengers: 864
* Meeting facilities: Conference center holds 50, theater (144), Hoi Hoi Show-place (400), Orchid Dining Room (100); largest of six other public rooms can host groups of up to 400 for cocktails.
* Itinerary: 7-day Hawaii
Carnival Cruise Lines * Contact: Sharon Goldfarb, manager, incentive sales, (800) 438-6744, (305) 599-2600, fax: (305) 406-5856
* Ships: Celebration and Jubilee Passengers: 1,486 each
* Meeting facilities: Fourteen public rooms hold from 32 to 1,000.
* Itinerary: Celebration: 7-day Caribbean; Jubilee: May-Sept.: 7-day Alaska
* Ship: Destiny Passengers: 2,642
* Meeting facilities: 11 public spaces, from card room (45) to Palladium (1,400)
* Itinerary: 7-day eastern and western Caribbean
* Ships: Ecstasy, Fantasy, Fascination, Imagination, Inspiration, and Sensation Passengers: 2,040 each
* Meeting facilities: 13 public spaces, from library (43) to lounge (1,300)
* Itinerary: Ecstasy: 3-day from Nassau, Bahamas; 4-day Mexico/Carib-bean from Key West; Fantasy: 3-day from Nassau, Bahamas; 4-day from Freeport, Bahamas; Fascination and Inspiration: 7-day southern Caribbean; Imagination: 7-day western Caribbean; Sensation: 7-day eastern Caribbean
NEW FOR 1998 * Ships: Elation and Paradise Passengers: 2,040 each
* Dates of completion: Elation: March 1998; Paradise: Fall 1998
* Meeting facilities: 13 public spaces, from library (43) to lounge (1,300)
* Itinerary: Elation: 7-day Mexican Riviera; Paradise: 7-day Caribbean
* Ship: Holiday Passengers: 1,452
* Meeting facilities: Fifteen public spaces hold groups from 25 to 1,000 in the Americana Lounge.
* Itinerary: 3-day from Ensenada, Mexico; 4-day from Catalina Island
Coming in 1999 and 2000 * Ships: Triumph and Victory Passengers: 2,758
* Dates of completion: Triumph: July 19, 1999; Victory: 2000
* Meeting facilities: Public spaces include 18 bars and lounges, three restaurants, and more, all of which can accommodate groups.
* Itinerary: Triumph: July-Oct.: 4- and 5-day Atlantic Canada; Victory: Not yet determined
Celebrity Cruises Contact: Contact: Mary Reichenback-Lynch, director, incentive sales, (800) 345-7225, fax: (800) 722-5210
* Ship: Century Passengers: 1,750
* Meeting facilities: The theater and conference center seat 225; other public rooms hold from 30 in the library to 1,080 in the restaurant.
* Itinerary: 7-day alternating eastern and western Caribbean
* Ship: Galaxy Passengers: 1,870
* Meeting facilities: The cinema and conference center seat 200; seven other public rooms seat up to 1,100 (the Orion Restaurant).
* Itinerary: Summer: 7-day Alaska; winter: 7-day Caribbean
* Ship: Horizon Passengers: 1,354
* Meeting facilities: The Palladium Show Lounge (868 for a meeting or 1,350 for a reception), Coral Seas Cafe and Bar (700 for a banquet or 1,350 for a reception), and the Starlight Restaurant (852)
* Itinerary: Summer: 7-day Alaska; winter: 10- or 11-day Caribbean
* Ship: Mercury Passengers: 1,870
* Meeting facilities: The cinema and conference center hold 183; the library seats 32; the Manhattan Restaurant holds 1,134.
* Itinerary: Summer: 7-day Alaska; winter: 7-night western Caribbean
* Ship: Zenith Passengers: 1,354
* Meeting facilities: 10 public rooms include the Celebrity Show Lounge (seats 833, receptions for 1,370), Windsurf Cafe (seats 700, receptions for 1,370), and Caravelle Restaurant (seats 856). * Itinerary: Summer: 7-day Bermuda; winter: 10- or 11-day Caribbean
Costa Cruises Contact: Teddy VanKuren, manager, charter & incentive sales, (305) 358-7325, fax: (305) 373-3128
* Ship: CostaAllegra Passengers: 820
* Meeting facilities: One small meeting room and eight public rooms hold a maximum of 474.
* Itinerary: Mediterranean, Fjords/North Cape, and Baltic/Russia
Coming in 2000 * Ship: CostaAtlantica Passengers: 2,112
* Date of completion: Spring 2000
* Meeting facilities: Information not yet available
* Itinerary: Information not yet available
* Ships: CostaClassica Passengers: 1,308
* Meeting facilities: Business/conference center seats up to 150 and three meeting rooms hold up to 30. Other rooms hold up to 756.
* Itinerary: Greek Isles
* Ship: CostaMarina Passengers: 776
* Meeting facilities: Public spaces for groups of 20 to 450 in 7 rooms
* Itinerary: Fjords, Baltic, and Russia
* Ships: CostaRomantica Passengers: 1,356
* Meeting facilities: Business/conference center seats up to 150; an adjacent meeting room holds up to 20; other rooms hold up to 756.
* Itinerary: May-Oct.: western Mediterranean; Nov.-Apr.: eastern and western Caribbean
* Ship: CostaVictoria Passengers: 1,928
* Meeting facilities: Conference/meeting rooms seat up to 150; other public rooms accommodate from 25 to 800.
* Itinerary: May-Oct.: Greek Isles; Nov.-Apr.: eastern and western Caribbean
Crystal Cruises Contact: Eric Graves, vice president, group sales, (800) 446-6620, (310) 785-9300, fax: (310) 286-9231
* Ship: Crystal Harmony Passengers: 940
* Meeting facilities: Public spaces include Hollywood Theater (seats 277), Club 2100 (288), and Galaxy Show Lounge (525).
* Itinerary: Options include 13- to 16-day South America; 7-day Mexican Riviera; 11-day Panama Canal; 12-day Alaska/Canada.
* Ship: Crystal Symphony Passengers: 940
* Meeting facilities: Public spaces include Hollywood Theater (seats 143), Starlite Club (350), and Galaxy Show Lounge (463).
* Itinerary: Options include 13-day Panama Canal; 12-day Europe/ Mediterranean; world cruise in seven segments (11- to 99-day).
Cunard Line Ltd. (includes ships of the Seabourn Cruise Line) Contact: Tanya Barnette, regional vice president, incentive sales, (773) 276-7601, fax: (773) 276-7602
* Ship: Queen Elizabeth 2 Passengers: 1,500
* Meeting facilities: Boardroom holds 55 theater-style; theater holds 576; six other rooms include Chart Room (60) to Grand Lounge (600).
* Itinerary: Summer: 6-night transatlantic from New York to Southampton, England; Jan.-Mar.: 3-month world cruises with 7-night segments available; 5- to 14-day Bermuda, Europe, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and other one-time itineraries
* Ship: Royal Viking Sun Passengers: 758
* Meeting facilities: 101-seat theater, six public spaces hold from 20 in the library to 700 in the Norway Lounge.
* Itinerary: Jan.-Mar.: 3-month world cruise with 7-night segments available; summer: 7- to 14-day Mediterranean and Baltic; fall-winter: 7-plus-day Holy Lands, South America, and Caribbean
* Ships: Sea Goddess I and Sea Goddess II Passengers: 116
* Meeting facilities: Public spaces include the library (seats 10), club salon (34), and the main salon and dining room (126 each).
* Itinerary: Sea Goddess I: Winter-spring: Caribbean; summer-early fall: Mediterranean; late fall-winter: Caribbean; Sea Goddess II: Winter-spring: Orient, Holy Lands; summer-early fall: Mediterranean; fall-winter: Caribbean
* Ships: Seabourn Spirit, Seabourn Legend, and Seabourn Pride (formerly of Seabourn Cruise Line) Passengers: 200 each
* Meeting facilities: For all three ships, the show lounge holds 200 (charters only); the Legend has a boardroom for 20.
* Itinerary: Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Orient
* Ship: Vistafjord Passengers: 677
* Meeting facilities: In addition to a 200-seat theater, five public rooms hold groups from 10 in the library to 600 in the ballroom.
* Itinerary: Winter: South America, Panama Canal; spring: Tahiti, Panama Canal; summer-fall: Mediterranean, Baltic, Holy Lands; late fall-winter: Mediterranean, Caribbean
NEW FOR 1998 Disney Cruise Line Contact: Allison Frohmann-Bolanovich, director, incentive sales, (407) 828-3411, fax: (407) 828-5877
* Ship: Disney Magic Passengers: 2,400
* Meeting facilities: 3 conference rooms, theater (seats 975), 5 restaurants, ESPN skybox, Promenade Lounge, entertainment complex
* Itinerary: 3 or 4 days at the Walt Disney World Resort combined with a 3- or 4-day cruise
Coming in 1999 * Ship: Disney Wonder Passengers: 2,400
* Date of completion: Late spring 1999
* Meeting facilities: 3 conference rooms, theater (seats 975), 5 restaurants, ESPN skybox, Promenade Lounge, entertainment complex
* Itinerary: 3 or 4 days at the Walt Disney World Resort combined with a 3- or 4-day cruise
Holland American Cruise Line Contact: Paul Shortall, director, incentive sales and charters, (800) 445-3731, (206) 298-3808, fax: (206) 281-0631
* Ships: Maasdam, Ryndam, Statendam, and Veendam Passengers: 1,266 each
* Meeting facilities: The Half Moon/Hudson seats 150, the Wajang Theater seats 249, and 13 other public rooms seat up to 403.
* Itinerary: Maasdam: Jan.-Mar.: 10-day Panama Canal; Apr.-Nov.: 9- to 12-day Europe; Ryndam: Jan.-Apr.: 10-day Caribbean; May-Sept.: 7-day Alaska; Oct.-Dec.: 7-day western Caribbean; Statendam: Jan.-Mar.: 10-day Caribbean; Mar.-Apr.: 16-day Panama Canal; Hawaii; May-Sept.: 7-day Alaska; Oct.-Dec.: Hawaii; Mexico from San Diego. Veendam: Jan.-Apr.: 7-day western Caribbean; May-Sept.: 7-day Alaska; Oct.: Panama Canal; Oct.-Dec.: 7-day eastern and western Caribbean
* Ships: Nieuw Amsterdam and Noordam Passengers: 1,214 each
* Meeting facilities: The theater seats 230; 14 public rooms include the dining room (holds 720); reception spaces hold from 50 to 650.
* Itinerary: Nieuw Amsterdam: Jan.-May: Australia, New Zealand, and the Orient; May-Sept.: 7-day Alaska; late Sept.: Panama Canal; Oct.-Dec.: 14-day Caribbean; Noordam: Jan.-Mar.: 16-day South America; Apr.: 19-day Panama Canal; May-Sept.: 7-day Alaska; Oct.-Nov.: 10-day Panama Canal; Dec.: 10- and 14-day Caribbean
* Ship: Rotterdam (VI ) Passengers: 1,310
* Meeting facilities: Wajang Theater seats 165, Queen's Lounge (557), La Fontaine room (740); other rooms hold from 50 to 550.
* Itinerary: Jan.-Apr.: 98-day Grand World Voyage; Apr.-Nov.: 12- to 14-day Europe; Dec.: 10-day Caribbean
Coming in 1999 * Ship: Volendam
* Date of completion: August 1999 Passengers: 1,440
* Meeting facilities: Meeting rooms accommodate from 20 to 720.
* Itinerary: 10-day Canada/New England, 10-day Caribbean; 7-day Alaska in the year 2000
* Ship: Westerdam Passengers: 1,494
* Meeting facilities: Theater seats 237; 14 other rooms range from the card room (40) Admiral's Lounge (800); reception spaces hold from 50 to 800 in the Queen's Lounge or the veranda pool area.
* Itinerary: Jan.-Apr.: 7-day eastern Caribbean; Apr.: 18-day Panama Canal; May-Sept.: 7-day Alaska; Sept.: 21-day Panama Canal; Oct.-Dec.: 7-day eastern
Caribbean KD River Cruises of Europe Contact: J.F. O'Rourke, president, (914) 696-3600, fax: (914) 696-0833 or Nan Wagner, VP, (415) 392-8817, fax: (415) 392-8868
* Ships: Arlene, Normandie (operated by Aqua Viva)Passengers: 104 ea.
* Meeting facilities: Restaurant (104); observation lounge (90)
* Itinerary: 8-day France
* Ships: Austria and Italia Passengers: 184 each
* Meeting facilities: 5 public rooms; observation lounge (118)
* Itinerary: Austria: 8-day Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary; Italia: 2- to 5-day Germany and France
* Ships: Britannia and Deutschland Passengers: 184 each
* Meeting facilities: 5 rooms hold from 6 to 177 (in the lounge).
* Itinerary: 4- to 6-day Holland, Germany, France, and Switzerland
* Ship: Clara Schumann Passengers: 124
* Meeting facilities: Two public rooms, both for 116
* Itinerary: 5- to 8-day Germany and Czech Republic
* Ships: Heinrich Heine and Wilhelm Tell Passengers: 104 and 100
* Meeting facilities: Restaurant and observation lounge hold 116.
* Itinerary: 8-day Hungary, Austria, and Germany
* Ship: Helvetia Passengers: 1,440
* Meeting facilities: Four public spaces for 20 to 126 in the restaurant
* Itinerary: 8-day Holland, Germany, France, and Switzerland
* Ships: Theodore Fontane Passengers: 120
* Meeting facilities: Two public rooms, both for 116
* Itinerary: 8- to 15-day Germany, Holland, and Austria