Sometime last year Victor Cajiao of the Typical Mac User podcast, Cali Lewis of GeekBrief.tv and I started talking about organizing a cruise for podcasters and other new media creators. All three of us got too busy to move this idea forward but since I am leaving my day job in 2 weeks I want to make this idea a reality.
The Idea
The idea is to create a floating unconference on new media. I have had a chance to do a themed based tech cruise and found that it was much more enjoyable and interesting than a regular cruise vacation (bingo is not my game). We will spend the time in port exploring but when the ship is at sea we will have sessions of interest to the attendees on new media and social media.
I want to keep the cost low so I am targeting a 3-5 day cruise with no additional fee for the conference as long as you register through me. By registering together as a group, the ship should provide the necessary meeting space with no additional charge. Also we will sit as a group rotating people through different tables to make it easier to meet people.
What is an Unconference
Again to keep the costs low it is my intention to do this as an unconference where the people attending will decide what sessions we will have rather than paying for speakers to attend. I would like to provide a place where novices and experts alike can learn something.
Who are we?
I am the host of the Amateur Traveler, The Bible Study Podcast and a co-host on This Week in Travel podcast. All together I have published more than 400 podcast episodes (both audio and video).
I am working with Lorene Romero of the Home Based Travel podcast to pull this off because she is a cruise travel expert and knows how to coordinate this with the cruise company and how to help people book their travel, excursions, etc.
For full and fair disclosure Lorene and I will make money on the commissions to help pay for our time working on this.
Where should we go?
If you are seriously interested please comment on this post with your thoughts. Because of the way cruise travel gets booked and cabins get reserved I am planning this cruise in June – July.
My first choice is a cruise from New York City June 28th 5:00pm – July 3rd 8:00am that cruises north to Halifax and Saint John with two days at sea.
Some alternatives we have identified: 3-4 day cruise from Florida to Bermuda, 5 night cruise from Galveston to Cancun, a repositioning cruise September 19 from Vancouver to Los Angeles, 5 nights from San Diego to the Mexican Riviera
How much will this cost?
It will depend on the cruise and how fancy you want your cabin to be but figure that the base cruise with all meals and with the tip but without drinks at the bar, soft drinks, and excursions to be $110 per person per day or less. Also remember that internet on a cruise ship is expensive and slow.
Do you want sponsors?
I would be interested in sponsors. If you are interested in sponsorship I would love to find sponsors to:
- host a party the night before the cruise
- fund a group excursion
- subsidize the internet expenses of the attendees
Who is with me?
Comment on this post if you are interested. Also comment on the proposed schedule and destination. Based on what we learn we will reserve a block of cabins and publish the itinerary later this month.
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Hi Chris,
What a great idea!
I might even consider flying over from the UK if we can muster a good crowd. June/July would be good. My preference would probably be San Diego to Mexican Riviera but would go with the flow.
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Of course I still think this is a great idea. The early June timeframe does not work for Mary and I (she is a teacher) but if you guys end up doing it later in the summer we may be able to play. I support this 100% as it’s a great way to stay focus in an environment (the ship) where so much interaction can take place.
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:29 pm
I’d be interested, but at the moment cannot make a firm commitment. The Sept trip from Vancouver sounds nice, but any of them would be fun. Just don’t plan it over the Sturgis rally.
Sounds like a great idea, though. I’d love to get together and just kick around expertise. Oh yeah, and then there’s the fun cruise stuff too.
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Since I’m just two hours from NYC, I’m 90% sure I’d do the Nova Scotia.
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:48 pm
September 19th I’ll be in Munich for 200th Oktoberfest.
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Sounds fun. I’d love to go to somewhere that I could also film a couple episodes of Beautiful Places. I’m very interested, but don’t really have a preference on where to go, they all sound great.
Tony Farley
January 2nd, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Hi Chris,
Sure, I’d be interested in this.
Andrew
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Interesting. Did you also mention on your podcast a trip to Israel??
Thanks – enjoy the podcast
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Thanks for all you do. Are you considering an Israel trip someday?
January 2nd, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Great idea. If you leave from NYC, I would consider attending,
January 2nd, 2010 at 10:43 pm
If the date was in September, I’d be interested. June and July are already booked up. And, assuming that the cruise prices are best available prices, not inflated ones, of course.
January 2nd, 2010 at 10:43 pm
I like the Florida location – that’s close to home
Please keep me apprised of the plans, I may also be interested in a small sponsorship if I can attend.
Jay
January 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I am interested in doing a trip to Israel.
January 2nd, 2010 at 11:28 pm
I’m all for it and would do what I can to be a part of the trip. Tacking it on to TBEX would be logistically the best option for me.
Corey
January 3rd, 2010 at 12:09 am
In theory I’m very interested. In reality I don’t know if I can/or want to pass off the bambino for that long. Let me know if any 3 night trips interest folks.
January 3rd, 2010 at 9:00 pm
I am down. I started a podcast last Sept. (2009) called cruise radio and already have been picked by by an FM station in Jacksonville, Fla. I think it would be a great idea for brainstorming and networking. Maybe a Florida cruise to make it easier for the folks who dont have passports. Please keep me updated regardless. With a couple months notice, I am flex with the dates. doug
January 3rd, 2010 at 9:32 pm
Hi Chris,
I was thinking about booking the MacMania Cruise #10 from NYC to Bermuda, would love to do it thru you and all the podcasters we know. That would be great. Keep me informed please.
January 3rd, 2010 at 9:38 pm
I would love to go. I will try to make it work whenever you set the date!
January 3rd, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Tim, I have been on a MacMania cruise and I certainly enjoyed it. They are more expensive than this but Neal does a great job with those cruises.
January 4th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Amber Mac from Net@Nite and CommandN (both of which I enjoy) wrote:
This sounds like a great event. I’m not sure I can go, but if you chose to sail to Halifax part of my podcast team lives there and I’d gladly make the trip out to meet everyone and host a meet-up.
January 5th, 2010 at 2:59 am
This sounds like a great idea. Not sure if I can make it as based in UK etc, but love the idea and would try to be there if I can find a way to make it fit in.
January 5th, 2010 at 9:40 am
Chris, this event sounds like a great idea, with the potential to bring lots of podcasting and new media folk together. My primary interest is in the content of the conference. Recent new media events have focused more on PR/marketing and less on the fundamentals of creating and delivering good content. I would love to see an unconference that provided tools and conversation for people who want to develop and sharpen their skills as content-makers
January 5th, 2010 at 11:51 am
I would love to teach sessions on creating (recording and editing) audio and video podcasts if people want to learn.
January 5th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Halifax sounds fun if I could just add this to my TBEX trip.
January 5th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
It is not coincidental that this starts the day after TBEX
January 5th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
This sounds like fun and I may be interested (a NYC departure would probably be the most appealing), but it would be hard for me to commit more than a month or so in advance.
January 6th, 2010 at 2:37 am
If you go with the Vancouver option I would be interested and can probably also get some local tourism organizations to think about hosting something for the groups while here.
January 6th, 2010 at 10:17 am
It looks like we will go with the cruise from NYC. Lorraine is seeing if she can reserve cabins.
January 7th, 2010 at 1:15 am
I would love to do this, but depending on airfare costs from San Diego to NYC it may push the cost beyond my means. Maybe if it’s successful you can do it again in the fall from San Diego? Sounds like tons of fun, so if I can make it work I’ll be there.
January 7th, 2010 at 9:19 am
My thought is that if we can pull this off it could become an annual event, possible the next one being in San Diego and the one after in Florida. We have to pull this one off first.
January 14th, 2010 at 10:07 am
There was enough interest in the New York cruise that we have reserved cabins. See the formal anouncment and prices here:
http://amateurtraveler.com/2010/01/14/new-media-cruise-podcampsea-from-nyc-june-28th-july-3rd/