There's a lot to love about cruise meetings. For one, meals, meeting space, A/V, and entertainment are typically included for a single fee, which makes them cost-effective. Second, ships are self-contained, which makes for fewer distractions and tighter teambuilding. Finally, they offer water views and sea breezes instead of staid conference room walls and stale hotel air, which makes them as fun as they are unique. However, there also are a few things that make cruise meetings a hard sell for many groups, like cumbersome travel to port cities, rigid schedules and lengthy itineraries.
Fortunately, many waterfront cities offer marine meeting venues that are available for rent by the hour or the day, affording groups the same thrill of working on water, but with the added benefits of increased flexibility and convenience. Here are five such vessels across the United States:
New York Water Taxi (New York)
Along with its pizza, its bagels, and its subway, among the things New York is best known for are its taxis and its skyline. Groups can experience a unique hybrid of both when they charter a water taxi from New York Water Taxi. Designed for groups of 64 to 149 passengers, each vessel offers plush seating, modern A/V systems, climate controls, updated bar facilities, and -- from both the top and bottom decks -- breathtaking views of New York's iconic skyline. Thanks to low-emission engines, the taxis are environmentally friendly, too.
Elite Private Yachts (Chicago)
It may be a lake, but Lake Michigan looks and feels more like an ocean. One of the best ways to experience it is aboard a luxury yacht like the one offered by Chicago's Elite Private Yachts. Totaling 2,800 square feet across three separate decks -- the 1,325-square-foot Dining Deck, the 1,200-square-foot Lounge and Sky Deck, and the 224-square-foot VIP Suite -- this former party boat was renovated in 2015 with the addition of modern furniture and an A/V system that includes a built-in presentation screen. The boat, which can host groups of up to 150 people, offers flexible boarding and cruising times. Plus, its crew will customize everything from music and food to cocktails and décor to suit a meeting's theme.
Argosy Cruises (Seattle)
Because of its oft-rainy weather, the Pacific Northwest has a reputation for being "wet." Thanks to famous -- and fabulous -- destinations like Puget Sound, Lake Union, and Lake Washington, however, water in Seattle can make events just as easily as it can break them. Case in point: Argosy Cruises, which offers private charters for meetings and events on each of the aforementioned bodies of water. The company can accommodate groups of two to 800; has relationships with numerous caterers and entertainers that it can bring aboard its vessels; and even has its own private island: Blake Island. Groups that want to sail on water but meet on land can cruise to the island, then meet in Argosy's Tillicum Village event facility, which is known for its Northwest buffet featuring traditionally prepared fire-roasted fish, as well as its live Native American storytelling performances. Water meets woodlands, it's quintessential Pacific Northwest.
Creole Queen (New Orleans)
Because there's so much to do inside the city -- from Bourbon Street to the Garden District -- it's easy to forget about the roaring river that flows beside it: the Mighty Mississippi. The Mississippi River isn't just an important artery for American commerce, however. It's also a playground for groups, which can rent any of several local vessels to host a floating meeting or event. One such vessel is New Orleans Paddlewheels' Creole Queen (pictured above), a paddle wheeler for groups of up to 800 people. Groups can reserve a single deck or the entire boat, can remain dockside or traverse the river, and can customize their experience with authentic New Orleans cuisine and entertainment, such as a Creole buffet and a jazz band.
Harbor Float (San Diego)
Boats aren't the only venues from which groups can enjoy the water. In San Diego, for instance, there's Harbor Float, a solar-powered floating event pavilion anchored at the site of the former Reuben E. Lee, San Diego's once-iconic riverboat on Harbor Island. Opened in November 2016, the $3 million project totals 6,000 square feet and offers spectacular views of San Diego Bay and the city's downtown skyline. Operated by Southern California's Cohn Restaurant Group, highlights of the venue include its glass railings, its large onyx-backed bar, and its action cooking stations, not to mention its state-of-the-art photovoltaic solar glass panel system, which allows the facility to generate 90 percent of its power from the sun while also shading guests from the SoCal sun. For food and beverage, the 250-person venue leverages its neighbor, Coasterra, a $15 million modern Mexican restaurant that opened in 2015 specializing in Baja-California cuisine and agave spirits, including high-end tequila and artisanal mescal. Although it's not exactly a "boat," that's precisely the point: You can enjoy a marine vibe -- but leave your Dramamine at home.