This is the email that Tina sent to the Royal Caribbean execs:
Tina Rinaldi
Cruise Freek Forums
http://www.cruisefreeks.com Re: Partnership Proposal - Charities and Cruising
Dear Ms. Freed, Mr. Fain, Mr. Goldstein and Royal Caribbean Executives:
At this time I would like to introduce myself. My name is Tina Rinaldi and, I own Cruise Freek Forums. Cruise Freek Forums is a cruise message board with over 1400 members and our email list is now over 6,000 opt-in emails which we send out twice per month. We launched in 2007 and have grown mainly by word of mouth.
This email is to propose a partnership deal with Royal Caribbean. I am sure you find it both agreeable and profitable. Unfortunately, I am going to require a very fast answer so I am providing you with as many details as possible. My time is pressed due to health issues and, I am trying to set things up for this mission to continue. I am in stage 3 breast cancer and, have a grim prognoses. Therefore, an immediate response would be appreciated.
Charity Partners: The following non-profit organizations have used Cruise Freek Forums for fund raising purposes.
Food Bank for New York City (
http://www.foodbanknyc.org/)
Matrix Parents (
http://www.matrixparents.org/)
Susan G. Komen Foundation (
http://ww5.komen.org/ )
Victory Junction (
http://www.victoryjunction.org)
Operation Hope Floats (
http://www.operationhopefloats.org)
How our charity program works:
Cruise Freeks has a large online community of people who all share the love of cruise vacations. When we organize a charity cruise for a non-profit organization we advertise the sailing heavily on our message board (
http://www.cruisefreeks), create and market a dedicated website for the specific fund raiser including page that list our advertising sponsors which is either a link or a link with logo depending upon the advertising level purchased, we also send out email announcements which reach over 6,000 addresses from an opt-in list and Cruise Freeks promote the sailing via Google and Yahoo advertising online. In turn, the non-profit organization places a link on their website to the dedicated website for the sailing and also announces and promotes the fund raiser cruise in their respective newsletters. The non-profit organization has no other out of pocket expenses associated with a fund raiser cruise. On average we raise between $5000 - $10,000 or more for the non-profit organization.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN PARTNERSHIP
I am approaching you for advertising and thus, be an official sponsor on our charity cruises.
WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER:
Averaging 15 groups per year, many groups average 50 or more cabins.
Large venues such as Dancing with the Stars and Hannah Montana Cruises WITH celebrity guests please confirm with Cyndi Cobb that our travel agent Candice Cain has indeed have these large venue cruises in the works.
Positive exposure being associated with charity sailings
Experienced travel agents who have proven the capabilities to work with large groups.
Celebrity/Star Power - we are unique. When we are holding fund raising cruise, we almost always have a celebrity or well known personality on board. Celebrities generate interest, many have strong followings and this is opening a whole new group of consumers up to the cruising concept. Some celebrities such as Gary Hoey are becoming an annual event and developing it's own following and loyalty. Down the road, ship charters on behalf of our charity groups are a very real possibility. The benefit for the cruise line? Being able to tout that a certain celebrity has sailed on their cruise line. Even potential for that celebrity to become a spokesperson for the cruise line.
What Celebrities are working with Cruise Freeks and Operation Hope Floats - just to name a few:
The Gomez family
Mark Russell
Shaun Barker
Rue McClanahan
Martin Yan
Benefits of a Charity Cruise
Organizations raises needed funds with a unique and exciting event.
Participants enjoy a vacation and feel great about supporting a worthwhile cause
Press releases & advertising of the fund raising cruise can bring more community recognition to the organization
Friends & family tend to vacation together so you gain access to potential new cruisers who have disposable income and can assist you with future events
Other passengers see the group and ask questions and sometimes join the next sailing the non-profit group holds
Frequently Asked Questions
Q) Are there any out of pocket expenses for the charity?
A) No, but, we do request that the charity helps promote the cruise by providing a link on their website to the cruise and also by announcing it in their newsletter
Q) Can you arrange for a celebrity or guest speaker on the sailing?
A) Yes! However, additional fees may raise pricing due to expenses such as appearance fees and flight and cabin accommodations for the celebrity or guest speaker.
Q) Will there be special events for our specific group?
A) Yes! We can arrange private cocktail parties, silent auctions and other activities for your non-profit group - usually at no or very low additional cost.
Q) Can you help arrange pre-cruise hotel stays and transfers to the cruise terminal?
A) Yes! Our associated travel agents can easily handle hotel and transfer arrangements for your group
THE COST A ONE TIME FLAT FEE $3,500,000 US FOR 10 YEARS. This just $350,000 per year. This is less than just one 30 second television commercial in prime time. And, we are giving your cruise line guaranteed business, bringing positive attention, and returning your investment through passenger bookings and on-board purchases from shore tours to alcohol. And we will guarantee a minimum of 5 sailings on Royal Caribbean for the next 10 years.
I am presenting this offer to all cruise lines without exclusive rights. If you want exclusive rights it will go up to $10,000,000 for a ten year contract.
Numbers don't lie:
Our average cruise is $3000 for 2 people
$3,000 x 50 Cabin = $150,000 per sailing
$150,000 per sailing x 5 sailings on Royal Caribbean per year = $750,000 year
$750,000 year x 10 year contract = $7,500,000
That's a $4,000,000 profit without the extras such as shore tours, alcohol, etc purchased.
That is the offer, count-offers within reason will be considered. A lot of time and efforts are put into each one of these cruises. I know what we can do for you. I know how we can help improve your imagine and keep positive press on you. This offer expires on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 6pm Eastern time.
If you would like to proceed please respond immediately and, contracts will be drawn. Payment is due at the time contracts are signed.
Thank you for your time.
Tina Rinaldi, Owner
Cruise Freek Forums
http://www.cruisefreeks.comEmail:
admin@cruisefreakforums.com