Landry & Kling

Landry & Kling is a specialist maritime-services company founded in New York City in 1982 by former cruise-line executives Joyce Landry and Jo Kling. The founders initially focused on an emerging idea: using cruise ships as venues for corporate meetings, incentive travel, and large group programs. At the time, cruise operators generally did not maintain dedicated incentive departments, and corporate planners were not yet accustomed to treating cruises as rewards or meeting venues. Landry & Kling helped develop the market by combining cruise-industry knowledge with event planning, vessel sourcing, charter negotiation, port coordination, and onboard program execution. The company moved its base to Miami, Florida, in 1988, placing it closer to the center of the North American cruise industry. Its services expanded from incentive cruises and full-ship corporate charters to dockside accommodation projects, themed and entertainment cruises, workforce housing, offshore support, emergency response, and humanitarian accommodation. The business sources and coordinates passenger ships, ferries, barges, sightseeing vessels, research vessels, and other maritime assets according to a client's operational requirements. Its role can include identifying suitable vessels, negotiating charter arrangements, coordinating ports and agents, arranging catering and logistics, and managing the program through completion. Landry & Kling became especially associated with the use of cruise ships as floating hotels. Early projects included accommodation for the DECworld '87 trade show in Boston and later dockside programs connected with major sporting, political, and international events. The company supported accommodation and logistics projects related to the 1996 American Heart Association event in New Orleans, the 2005 Super Bowl in Jacksonville, Hurricane Katrina recovery, the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the 2009 Summit of the Americas, and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. It has also worked on themed entertainment charters, including music-focused cruise programs. The firm broadened its digital and advisory presence in 2009 by introducing Seasite.com, described as an online portal for the corporate and incentive cruise market. The platform was intended to make group quotation and vessel-search processes more systematic. In 2020, the company launched SustainableShips.com and the interview series The Future of Cruising to promote discussion of environmental practices in cruising and shipping. Its sustainability activities positioned the business not only as a charter intermediary but also as a commentator on industry development. In the 2020s, Landry & Kling handled increasingly complex accommodation and government-related projects. It helped arrange vessels for security personnel during the 2021 G7 summit in the United Kingdom and for workforce accommodation connected with the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. It also arranged disaster-relief accommodation following Hurricane Ida and supported the deployment of vessels for Ukrainian refugees in Scotland in 2022. The refugee-vessel work contributed to the creation of Mission of Innocents, a nonprofit initiative focused on helping children displaced by war, climate disasters, and political instability. The company attracted public attention in 2023 as a subcontractor involved with the Bibby Stockholm barge, which was used by the United Kingdom Home Office to accommodate asylum seekers at Portland Port. Landry & Kling has also worked with cruise and maritime partners on international port services and charter logistics. It remains a privately held, women-owned and women-operated business certified by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council, with Joyce Landry continuing as its principal public-facing leader after Jo Kling's retirement in 2018.

Landry & Kling was established in New York City in 1982 by Joyce Landry and Jo Kling, both former cruise-line executives. Their initial objective was to make cruise ships practical venues for business meetings, corporate incentive travel, and large organized programs. This was an early stage of the corporate-cruise market: cruise lines did not commonly maintain dedicated incentive departments, while corporate buyers generally viewed cruises as leisure products rather than meeting infrastructure. The company relocated to Miami in 1988 and developed a specialist role combining ship selection, charter brokerage, group travel planning, port operations, and onboard execution. It became associated with the use of vessels as floating hotels, beginning with projects such as the DECworld '87 trade show and later supporting major sporting, political, and international events. Its documented projects include accommodation and logistics connected with the 1996 American Heart Association event, the 2005 Super Bowl, Hurricane Katrina recovery, the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the 2009 Summit of the Americas, and the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The company's activities expanded beyond corporate meetings. Landry & Kling arranged themed and music cruises, provided services for incentive groups, and sourced vessels for workforce accommodation, offshore support, emergency response, and humanitarian relief. Its disaster-response work included cruise-ship arrangements for Hurricane Katrina recovery, the 2010 Haiti earthquake response, and Hurricane Ida relief in 2021. The company has described its maritime inventory broadly, including passenger ships, ferries, barges, sightseeing boats, research vessels, and other support craft. In 2009, Landry & Kling launched Seasite.com, a web portal focused on corporate and incentive cruises. The service sought to modernize the group-quotation process through online search and electronic tools. In 2020, the company created SustainableShips.com and The Future of Cruising livestream series, giving planners and consumers information about sustainability practices and providing a forum for environmental discussion in the cruise sector. The 2020s brought several large vessel-accommodation assignments. Landry & Kling helped source the Silja Europa for police and staff accommodation during the 2021 G7 summit in Cornwall and helped arrange Tallink vessels for workforce housing and catering during COP26 in Glasgow. In 2022, it assisted the Scottish Government with two vessels used to house Ukrainian refugees. The refugee project led Joyce Landry to help create Mission of Innocents, a nonprofit focused on the emotional well-being of children displaced by war, climate-related disasters, and political upheaval. In 2023, the company was involved as a subcontractor in the Bibby Stockholm barge project at Portland Port, where the UK Home Office housed asylum seekers. The assignment brought the company into public debate surrounding the policy and operating arrangements for offshore asylum accommodation. Landry & Kling has also maintained relationships with port-service and maritime providers, including a 2021 strategic collaboration naming Inchcape Shipping Services as a preferred port-services partner for global charters. The business is described as a certified minority women-owned and operated enterprise under the Women's Business Enterprise National Council. Joyce Landry remains its principal leader and spokesperson. Jo Kling retired in April 2018. Industry recognition has included corporate-cruise and meetings-sector awards, the 2009 induction of both founders into the Cruise Lines International Association Hall of Fame, and a 2024 ISOA Global Achievement Award for humanitarian work supporting Ukrainians.

• 2024

  ISOA Global Achievement Award

  [1]Landry & Klingen.wikipedia.org

  The company's ship-services operation received recognition for humanitarian work supporting Ukrainians and Mission of Innocents.

• 2022

  Ukrainian refugee accommodation project

  [1]Landry & Klingen.wikipedia.org

  Two vessels were arranged in Scotland to provide temporary housing for displaced Ukrainians.

• 2020

  Sustainability platform launched

  [1]Landry & Klingen.wikipedia.org

  Landry & Kling launched SustainableShips.com and The Future of Cruising interview series.

• 2018

  Jo Kling retires

  [1]Landry & Klingen.wikipedia.org

  Co-founder Jo Kling retired from the company.

• 2009

  Seasite.com launched

  [1]Landry & Klingen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced an online portal for corporate and incentive cruise searches and quotations.

• 2009

  Founders inducted into the CLIA Hall of Fame

  [1]Landry & Klingen.wikipedia.org

  Joyce Landry and Jo Kling were recognized for their role in advancing cruise-based corporate meetings and incentives.

• 1988

  Relocation to Miami

  [1]Landry & Klingen.wikipedia.org

  The company moved its base to Miami, Florida, a major center of the cruise industry.

• 1987

  Early floating-hotel charter

  [1]Landry & Klingen.wikipedia.org

  Landry & Kling introduced dockside cruise-ship accommodation for the DECworld '87 trade show in Boston.

• 1982

  Company founded in New York City

  [1]Landry & Klingen.wikipedia.org

  Joyce Landry and Jo Kling founded Landry & Kling to develop cruise ships as venues for corporate meetings and incentive programs.

A specialist, relationship-driven maritime charter and logistics adviser that applies cruise-industry expertise to corporate events, large-scale accommodation, emergency response, and humanitarian operations.

• Professional services · 1982

  Corporate and incentive cruise programs

  Landry & Kling plans meetings at sea, incentive trips, and group cruise programs. Services can cover destination and vessel selection, charter or group negotiations, itinerary design, onboard programming, port coordination, and operational execution.

• Maritime charter services · 1987

  Full-ship and dockside charters

  The company sources complete vessels for corporate events, themed cruises, entertainment programs, and dockside accommodation. Its floating-hotel model has been applied to trade shows, major events, workforce housing, and security operations.

• Maritime logistics

  Workforce and offshore accommodation

  Landry & Kling identifies and coordinates passenger ships, ferries, barges, and other vessels for temporary workforce housing and offshore support. Projects may include catering, port arrangements, agents, health authorities, and day-to-day logistics.

• Emergency and humanitarian services

  Disaster-relief and humanitarian vessel services

  The business arranges ships for evacuation, emergency personnel, restoration workers, supplies, and displaced populations. Documented work includes Hurricane Katrina, the Haiti earthquake, Hurricane Ida, and accommodation for Ukrainian refugees in Scotland.

• Industry information platform · 2020

  SustainableShips.com

  SustainableShips.com was created to help planners, consumers, and maritime suppliers evaluate sustainability practices in the cruise sector and to promote discussion about environmental performance.

• 2023

  Bibby Stockholm asylum-accommodation controversy

  Landry & Kling was identified as a subcontractor involved with the Bibby Stockholm barge, which the UK Home Office used to accommodate asylum seekers at Portland Port. The wider vessel project attracted public and political controversy over offshore asylum accommodation, although the available reference does not establish misconduct by Landry & Kling itself.

  Source

Read more

• 2022Mission of Innocents

  United Kingdom · International

  Following the company's work housing Ukrainian refugees aboard vessels in Scotland, Joyce Landry helped create a children's program using music, dance, art, and sports to support displaced children.

  Outcome. The initiative developed into Mission of Innocents, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting children affected by war, climate devastation, and political turmoil.

  Source
• 2020SustainableShips.com and The Future of Cruising

  Global

  Landry & Kling launched an information platform and livestream interview series focused on sustainable cruising, environmental services, and industry leadership.

  Outcome. The initiative expanded the company's public role into sustainability education and industry advocacy.

  Source

• 2022

  Humanitarian accommodation and child-support initiativeStrategy

  Background

  The Ukrainian refugee response required both vessel accommodation and support for displaced children.

  Action taken

  Landry & Kling helped arrange two accommodation vessels in Scotland and supported a child-focused onboard program.

  Aftermath

  The program led to the creation of Mission of Innocents.

  Source

• 2021

  Preferred port-services collaboration with InchcapeStrategy

  Background

  Global charters require coordinated port agency, vessel, and destination services.

  Action taken

  Landry & Kling named Inchcape Shipping Services its preferred port-services company for global charters.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement expanded the parties' ability to support international ship-charter operations.

  Source

• 2020

  Expansion into sustainability communicationsStrategy

  Background

  Environmental performance was becoming a more prominent consideration for cruise planners, suppliers, and travelers.

  Action taken

  The company launched SustainableShips.com and The Future of Cruising livestream interviews.

  Aftermath

  Landry & Kling strengthened its position as an industry commentator on sustainable cruising.

  Source

• 2009

  Digitizing corporate-cruise quotationsStrategy

  Background

  Group cruise sourcing traditionally depended on specialist relationships and manual quotation processes.

  Action taken

  Landry & Kling introduced Seasite.com as an online search and quotation portal for the corporate and incentive cruise market.

  Aftermath

  The platform represented an expansion from brokerage and planning into digital market infrastructure.

  Source

1. 1Landry & Klingen.wikipedia.org