(Students from Central Michigan University's MPI group are currently working on a cruise line to get a behind the scenes look at the special events and hospitality industry on the high seas. They'll be writing blog entries about their experiences, and we'll be posting them here for your enjoyment. Click here for Part 1.)

So far the trip has been a phenomenal experience. We truly have been able to submerge our career interests into the cruise industry. 

One component of the hospitality field that rarely, yet consistently, sets a business apart from various competitors is the concept of exceptional customer service. Our group can honestly conclude that the Carnival Cruise line excels in this area. From individual customer care to catered guest needs, the staff on the Carnival Imagination goes above and beyond expectations. As a group, we have witnessed how an enormous staff comes together under one branding concept to not only meet the desires of each and every guest but exceed them. 

All 16 Central Michigan University MPI students are having the time of their lives and learning so much more in this hands-on cruise universe than would ever be possible in a classroom. We look forward to sharing our experiences when we arrive back in snowy Michigan!

—Courtney Stanley, CMU MPI President