The thought of working remotely during a cruise may not be agreeable to everyone, but to many folks — especially travel advisors — it’s a necessity, and perhaps even a selling point for the niche.
Several cruise lines, sailing the oceans and the rivers, have started to focus on this very niche accordingly.
But is it resonating?
“I used to think that influencers were the only ones concerned about having access to Wi-Fi while on vacation, but now that cruise lines are adding higher [Wi-Fi] speeds, more people are able to work and play while on vacation,” said Scott Lara, president of MilitaryFares.com, an online travel platform for active military, veterans and their families. “Several of my clients own businesses, and they want to be able to track their cash flow while on vacation.”
As a result, Lara says he has customers who choose their voyages based on connectivity.
Here are three cruise lines that cater to digital nomads looking to set sail.
Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Summer Season Pass
The adults-only Virgin Voyages is the latest line to pick up on such client desires in the form of its “Scarlet Summer Season Pass,” which offers travelers a chance to stay onboard Scarlet Lady in the Mediterranean for a month straight and “Work From Helm” (the brand’s pun intended).
Specifically, the summer season pass touts the fastest (free) Wi-Fi connection at sea — an integration of SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink PRO — amounting to data rates up to 1.5 Gigabits per second, per ship.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to do my work from anywhere,” said Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group. “When I started Virgin, I was actually working out of a houseboat. I’ve never thought of work and play as two different things, it’s all just living. We want to give Sailors that same opportunity, so we came up with this idea to have them travel the world while working onboard our beautiful ships. Though this sounds like a lot more fun than my houseboat!”
I’ve never thought of work and play as two different things, it’s all just living.
Altogether, the Scarlet Summer Season Pass encompasses four back-to-back voyages starting at $9,990 discounted up to 30% when booked together, vs. booking the four sailings individually. Plus, wash-and-fold laundry service, early access to booking onboard dining and shore excursions, exclusive entry to Richard’s Rooftop private sun deck, a daily coffee credit, welcome champagne and RockStar support is also included in the bundle.
“No longer does working from home mean being tied to a desk or home office and eating leftovers for lunch,” said Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages. “With our latest Wi-Fi upgrades, Virgin Voyages can now offer our Sailors the chance to see the world while working from a daybed at The Dock and sampling Mediterranean mezzes, then hopping off the ship in between calls to make the most of our incredible ports of call.”
Azamara Cruises’ Work & Wander Package
But Virgin Voyages is not the only one appealing to workers abroad. Azamara Cruises has its own “Work & Wander” package, which touts both its high-speed Starlink internet and other office support, including access to equipment like monitors, mice, keyboards and adapters, as well as dedicated IT support.
“We are excited to introduce our ‘Work & Wander’ package, giving professionals the opportunity to take their work with them as they set sail.” said Carol Cabezas, former president of Azamara, when the program first launched late last year. “Our guests already consider our ships to be a home away from home, and now our ships can be their floating office, too, as we bring them to some of the most captivating destinations around the world.”
Our guests already consider our ships to be a home away from home, and now our ships can be their floating office, too.
Azamara also points out its unique “Extended Destination Days” which gives guests the opportunity to visit ports with late nights and overnights, should the work day take longer than expected.
AmaWaterways’ Early-Season Voyages
River cruises are seeking to attract digital nomads, too, with AmaWaterways citing early-season sailings as a good time to visit Europe.
“Remote work has fundamentally changed the way many people are able to travel by opening up more time to experience the world without having to rely on set vacation time,” said Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice president of AmaWaterways. “Our early season European river cruises provide the perfect setting for them to stay connected, inspired and motivated while immersing themselves in the culture and beauty of various destinations along the European waterways.”
She further points out how remote workers have greater flexibility to travel at different paces during times with lower airfare prices and fewer crowds. Additionally, AmaWaterways’ vessels offer staterooms and suites with built-in workspaces, complimentary Wi-Fi access and large open venues and deck spaces to set up an office space.
“We hope to inspire adventurous professionals to embrace the world as their office and embark on transformative journeys that not only facilitate remote work opportunities but create lasting memories,” Karst said.
