How to Work Remotely on A Cruise with Your Family On Board

There are all kinds of reasons you might need to get some work done on a cruise, whether you’re taking Zoom calls, checking emails, or a student who needs to do assignments for an online class (my son will be attempting this on an upcoming trip, so stay tuned to hear how that goes!)

I’ve written before about how to structure your remote working days when you are cruising solo. But what about when you’re taking a family vacation and need to squeeze in some work time? Is it possible to travel with the fam without using up all your PTO or missing out on important meetings?

YES, but I have to say, it’s a lot harder to work remotely on a cruise with your family than solo. However, it can be done! I’ll give you some advice for how I made it work on a family vacation we took over spring break 2024.

Tips for Working on A Cruise During Family Vacation

As you’re likely well aware if you are a remote worker, managing your work schedule when you also have a family you want to hang out with around is challenging. But be strong – you can do this! Here are a few ways my family and I make it work.

Force Your Structure

Nobody’s going to force you to structure your day around work besides yourself. My husband doesn’t know exactly what I have going on, but I’ve been working remotely long enough that he gets it when I say “I have to get up at 7 to work so I can’t stay out late,” or when I end up at the Vitality Spa Cafe after an excursion instead of joining him at the pool. Be diligent and firm so you can get done what you need to get done and then get back to the fun stuff!

Find Good Working Spaces

When you’re solo, you can work in your room, but that doesn’t always suit the family (especially if you have teenage boys who like to really push that 1 am curfew and then sleep in until lunch ). Scout out the ship on day 1 to find quiet spots to work. Onboard the Harmony of the Seas, I ended up working at the Vitality Cafe, just outside the spa. It wasn’t even on my radar until I toured the whole ship and discovered that it was a quiet oasis on deck 6.

Protect Your Family Time

If you’re a workaholic, you might end up spending most of your time onboard working instead of with your family. Make sure you carve out time when you will shut down the laptop and join your family. For me, dinner and excursions/port days are sacred.

Avoid Calls As Much As Possible

If you’re able to cancel calls for the length of your trip, DO IT. I know that right now, it seems like making that 3:00 call on Wednesday seems like no big deal, but once you get into vacation mode, it’ll be a lot less appealing. If you absolutely need to have calls, make sure the room is cleared out so you can have peace and quiet. And don’t schedule them on port days. I’ve found the ship Wi-Fi to be wonky at port, especially when there are a lot of ships docked.

Don’t Skip the Trip Because You Have to Work

This is a personal choice, but in my mind, it’s better to have to step away to work for a few hours a day on a family trip than to not take the trip at all. A cruise is a fantastic family vacation because there is so much to do for all ages. If you have younger kids, you can put them in the kids’ club while you’re working and then have time to all hang out together when work’s done for the day.

I’d love to hear how other remote working parents manage their vacations so they can travel more. Let me know your tips in the comments!