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Can you do work on a cruise? Should you?

Because I have a job (well, two really) that lets me work remotely, I often take my work with me on cruises. Cruise ship wifi isn’t perfect, but it’s improved to the point where it’s possible to do most online tasks while you’re on your cruise.

A lot of people think of vacation is a time that you should leave your work behind, and it’s definitely important to take a break from work now and then! But if you can’t completely get away from your work — or if you even want to take a trip to get some work projects accomplished — here are a few tips.

Splurge on the good wifi. If you’re going to work a considerable amount of time on your cruise, you’re going to need wifi access. Depending on the kind of work you do, it might be worth it to pay for access on two devices rather than just one, even though you can theoretically switch your wifi access back and forth from your phone to your computer, for instance.

Find a good spot to work. It might take some trial and error to find “your office,” but it’s worth trying a few places on the first day so you can find a spot where you’re comfortable and productive. I recommend looking for two important things: a good view and easy access to coffee.

Schedule your work time so it balances with your fun time. You’re on a cruise — it’s not going to be all work, all the time. I did a working vacation with my best friend on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas and we spent most of the workday hours at our laptops, but we made sure to leave time for fun in the evenings. We also planned an excursion on the Friday afternoon of our trip so we’d have something to look forward to during the week.

Plan for contingencies. I’ve had mostly good luck with cruise ship wi-fi: I’ve taken Zoom calls, downloaded and uploaded large files (though it takes awhile sometimes), and made phone calls using wi-fi calling. But sometimes the internet on a cruise ship just…doesn’t work.

Don’t forget your chargers! After your passport, the second most important thing you need to bring on a work trip is all the chargers you need to keep your devices powered. Make sure you check for these before you leave. Although you can sometimes order them to be delivered via Amazon or find them at a nearby store, you really don’t want to leave that to chance.

While it’s always important to take a real break sometimes, working on a cruise can sometimes help you take advantage of opportunities for more cruising. And who wouldn’t want an office view that looks like this?