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Worldwide (with a little help from their friends) turn Charter Cancellation into a 

Major Charity Fund Raising Event - Cloud 9 Cruise

Initial disappointment over the news that one of our clients was cancelling their charter on the Silversea Cruise ship - Silver Cloud was dispelled when we learned that the client - Fireman's Fund - who had already paid in full for the charter of the ship, was prepared to work with us to donate the ship charter to charity.

Worldwide is well known for it's creative use of cruise ships and an idea was formed to move the ship from it's original port of embarkation (Barbados) to Puerto Rico where Worldwide believed there was more of a chance of putting together a successful event.

A telephone call to one of Worldwide's friends and clients was initiated to see if he, as a well established travel professional in Puerto Rico thought the idea might fly.  This gentleman - Mr. Nestor Rivera,  "Pancho" to his friends, of Pinnacle Events, was at that time engaged in a site inspection on a Costa Ship in the Mediterranean

Although not the best time to run an off-the-wall idea by him, it did turn out to be  a fortuitous call as he was able to connect with a friend who is involved with the "Avon Foundation" in Puerto Rico.

The Avon Foundation has long standing relationship with the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Puerto Rico by virtue of their own past fund raising events for the ACS.  They unhesitatingly agreed to work with the ACS to put together a charity event built around the the Silver Cloud immediately committing to purchase a block of staterooms to start the ball rolling.

Fireman's Fund stipulated that 100% of the proceeds must go to the charity and agreed to allow the event to be named - Cloud 9 - so that all the pre-ordered items bearing their Cloud 9 programs name could be utilized by the ACS.

The following days saw a hectic amount of back and forth between Steve Bloss of Worldwide Cruise Associates and Mr. Sean Mahoney of Silversea Cruises who kindly agreed to facilitate the transfer from  Fireman's Fund to the American Cancer Society, as well as Fireman's Fund in-house travel professional - Ms Janet Hennesey who had been working the program right up to the cancellation and finally Pancho who was the point man with the American Cancer Society and Avon.

When the Cloud 9 event went public, both Toyota and Suzuki of Puerto Rico got behind the event and raised over $150,000.00.

The whole charity program was a major coup in as much as we had only 1 month from the date of the initial cancellation to the starting date of the charter during which time not only the ship had to be organized, liability Insurance arranged and move to Puerto Rico but but so did the organization of the charity events which where going to take place onboard the Silver Cloud.

The event will take place on Thursday March 19th with the cruise calling on St Barts, Antiqua, Virgin Gorda and finally disembarking in Puerto Rico on Monday March 23rd. The itinerary was designed specifically to try and hit as many of the original ports as possible so that the local companies who should have been working the original program would still have a chance to recoup some of their lost revenue.

I would like to acknowledge everyone involved in putting this together who graciously donate their time to make it happen. And finally Fireman's Fund for donating this very substantial gift to the American Cancer Society.

Nestor Rivera (Pancho) of Pinnacle Events in Puerto Rico

Jose Quinones of the Avon Foundation - the principle mover who's initial commitment started the ball rolling.

Janet Hennesey - the Senior Director of the Charterers Meeting and Event department of Fireman's Fund and the  others in her company that dealt with many of the nuts & bolts details.

Carmen Olivio - The American Cancer Society and her team who worked hard to close the deal and put together the fund raising events/cruise.

Sean Mahoney of Silversea Cruises and his team who made light work of a lot of detailed paperwork.

Steve Bloss and the Worldwide Team who nurtured the idea from start to finish and brought everyone together to make the event happen.

Finally our thanks to Toyota and Suzuki, Puerto Rico for throwing their weight behind this and boosting the sum by a very considerable amount.

This was so much more satisfying for Worldwide than simply having our client just walk away from the program and write off the considerable charter fee.

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Worldwide (with a little help from their friends) turn Charter Cancellation into a  Major Charity Fund Raising Event