A recent study, conducted by Landry & Kling, Meetings at Sea and Carnival Cruise Lines, found that of 165 meeting and event planners, 62 percent of the respondents said that they have held a business event on a cruise ship.

Notably, 67 percent of the respondents were corporate meeting planners. Statistics on event lengths, types of events, group size and destinations were also gathered.

"The survey findings support the growth trend our company has experienced over the last twenty years," said Joyce Landry, President & CEO of Landry & Kling, Meetings at Sea, a company that pioneered corporate cruise specialization.

"There's no denying that a ship provides an exciting and motivating destination, which opens the door for creative thinking. Employees return feeling inspired and invigorated, which is an enormous return on a company's investment."

"Carnival's 'Fun Ships' offer the ideal venue for meetings. Our multi-functional rooms, as well as dedicated conference centers, provide the perfect environment for productive and effective meetings at sea," said Richard Weinstein, vice president of corporate and incentive sales for Carnival Cruise Lines.

"Our floating resorts also offer a multitude of options for fun and relaxation when meetings aren't in session," he added. "We're seeing that more and more meeting planners are realizing the benefits of holding a meeting on board a cruise ship and we are able to customize a meeting program to fit their specific needs."

Other survey findings include:

• Forty two percent of the planners said their average group size was 100-400 or more rooms
• Forty nine percent said "yes" and 35 percent said "sometimes" when asked if a spouse/partner was usually invited to events, verifying that sharing cabins on a cruise ship (vs. single rooms at hotels) is not an issue
• More than 52 percent said they would consider holding an event aboard a Carnival ship
• An overwhelming 92 percent of the planners typically hold business events at a resort, proving that such programs could also be accommodated on a "floating resort"
• When asked what their last three event destinations were, more than 60 percent listed an international locale.
• Fifty two percent of the planners said they typically require only 2-4 breakout rooms
• Sixty percent said their average budget, excluding air, was between $500-2,500 per/person. Of that, 30 percent said their budget was $500-$1,000 per/person and 30 percent said $1,000-$2,500 per/person

These findings support the fact that the majority of corporate meeting planners' program needs can be met using a cruise ship venue.

“Because virtually everything is included on a cruise, many meeting planners find that a shipboard event can actually be more affordable than traditional meeting venues,” said Landry “The variety of destinations, dining options, meeting space, activities, technical capabilities and world-class entertainment make cruising a creative and hassle-free option.”