Have you ever made a terrible booking that turned out to be GOLDEN?
In August, I got a news alert in one of our daily emails about a "situation" with the Windjammer ships in Europe. They were apparently being held in port because they hadn't paid some bills. I sent this press release to my client, who had been booked for a Windjammer cruise in January 2008 for a long time. We had not only put down $1,500 for three cabins, but we had also paid for our hotel stay in advance. When the company didn't answer when I called, I was very worried.
My client was worried enough to decide to cancel his trip, so I went to work quickly to try to help him. He and his wife, an adult son and his wife, and another son had booked flights to and from St. Martin and Tortola. HOWEVER?
Google is here to help! I typed in "yacht charters" and found that we could choose from several brokers in Tortola. I quickly sent emails to a few of them. As is often the case (we should all keep this in mind for our OWN businesses! ), the first responder caught my attention that day. Lynne Campbell of Carefree Yacht Charters was going to "save my life!"
How cool! Steve, one of my clients, hesitated when I asked him if he would be interested in a sailboat charter. "Both my wife and my daughter-in-law are worried about getting seasick," he quickly replied. "Let me hear what they have to say about it."
Lynne worked quickly to find out which yachts were free, and Steve's next email told her that the girls were a "GO!" I was SO excited, and I told Lynne right away that the client was up for it.
We talked about how a catamaran-style boat might be best for this family, but Lynne also pointed out that a mono hull-style yacht, with its classic sailing experience, might also be a good choice. Not only did she talk to me about this, but she was also happy to talk to my client directly to answer questions, address concerns, and help figure out the best boat and crew for this trip, which turned out to be a mono hull.
Every little thing is taken care of by Carefree Yacht Charters. I can't even count how many great features these boats have, from the great water toys to the great amenities. Each yacht is, of course, different, just as each crew is different. Some only have one person on the crew who is both the captain and the cook, while others have two or even more.
Most of the time, a yacht charter includes ALL alcoholic drinks and meals, and the course is often planned based on what the client wants. Before the charter, a client preference request form is sent to each client to make sure that all of their needs and wants are met. The price is not much higher than what a Windjammer or big-ship cruise would cost. In fact, this family is bringing six people for just over $10,000, plus the usual 15 percent tip for the crew.
I need to tell you that Lynne and her husband ran two successful yacht charters in the Virgin Islands for twelve years. This means that they have a lot of experience planning and booking vacations for your clients. I can't wait to hear about my clients' adventures when they get back. And to think that it all started with a possible cancellation!
