Best Places to Work From Around a Cruise Ship
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Time to read 4 min
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One of the nice things about working remotely from a cruise ship is that you don't have to spend the whole time sitting at the desk in your cabin.
I certainly don't.
If I've got a few hours of work to get through, I'll often take my laptop somewhere else on the ship. Sometimes I want somewhere quiet where I can concentrate. Other times I'm quite happy sitting somewhere with a bit of music and activity around me while I work through something fairly mindless like data entry.
The trick is finding somewhere comfortable, with a usable power outlet if you need one, where you're not getting in anyone else's way.
Here are a few things I've learnt to look for.
Look for the Pillars
This sounds slightly strange, but pillars are your friend.
If I'm looking for somewhere to work around the ship, one of the first things I check is the base of structural pillars near tables and seating areas.
There are often power outlets tucked away there, presumably because crew need access to power for cleaning and other equipment.
They're not always obvious, so have a look around the base rather than assuming there isn't one.
I've found some great little work spots this way.
Just remember that the outlet may not be Australian.
Carry a Few Travel Adaptors
Outlet types around the ship can vary.
Even if you've found the perfect table beside a power point, it's not much use if your Australian plug doesn't fit it.
I travel with adaptors for the different outlet types I'm likely to encounter, particularly US and European plugs.
They're small, weigh next to nothing and give me considerably more flexibility both around the ship and in my cabin.
Amazon: International Travel Adaptors EUR/USA/UK
Don't Set Up Camp Somewhere Inconvenient
There are plenty of tables around most cruise ships, but that doesn't mean every table is a good place to turn into an office.
The main Lido dining area at 11am might be almost empty and perfectly fine.
At 12:30pm when hundreds of people are wandering around carrying plates and looking for somewhere to sit?
Probably time to pack up. 😂
I try to choose somewhere that isn't in particularly high demand and keep an eye on what's happening around me. If an area starts getting busy, I'll move.
Lounges outside their normal operating hours can be great. So can quieter seating areas tucked away from the main thoroughfares.
Think About What You're Actually Doing
The best place to work depends on the work.
If I need to concentrate on something complicated, I'll find somewhere quiet with fewer people walking past.
If I'm doing basic bookkeeping or data entry that doesn't require much concentration, I'm quite happy somewhere more public.
A lounge with some background music or a spot where I can still see what's happening around the ship can actually be a really nice place to work.
It feels considerably less like I've disappeared into an office for the afternoon.
Be Careful What's Visible on Your Screen
Working in public comes with an obvious downside: other people can see your laptop.
That's particularly important if you work with confidential or sensitive information.
I try to position myself so my screen isn't facing a busy walkway or seating area. Sitting with my back towards a wall or window can make a big difference.
For additional privacy, a laptop privacy screen can be useful. These reduce the viewing angle so someone sitting or walking beside you can't easily read what's on the screen.
And obviously, some work simply isn't suitable for a public area regardless of whether you have a privacy screen. That's when I head back to the cabin.
Need Another Screen? Take One With You
I'm very accustomed to working with multiple monitors, so dropping back to a single laptop screen can be frustrating.
I have my larger portable multi-screen setup when I'm working from the cabin, but I don't particularly want to carry the whole thing around the ship.
A lightweight portable monitor is a good middle ground.
I'd look for one that can be powered and connected to your laptop through a single USB-C cable, assuming your laptop supports it. That way you aren't hunting for another power outlet or carrying multiple cables and adaptors around with you.
Laptop + lightweight second screen + charger is still a setup I can easily carry from one part of the ship to another.
Amazon: Lightweight portable monitor
Voyage Ready Read 👉 How I Turn My Cruise Cabin Into a Home Office
Don't Forget About the View
You are on a cruise ship, after all.
If I've got the choice between staring at a wall and sitting somewhere comfortable overlooking the ocean, I know which one I'm choosing.
Some ships have fantastic window seating in lounges and quieter public areas, particularly during the day when those venues aren't being used for activities.
On a sea day, I can get some work done while still enjoying the fact that I'm actually at sea.
That's a considerably nicer office than the one waiting for me at home.
Working Onboard Doesn't Mean Hiding in Your Cabin
This is probably the biggest thing I've learnt from working during longer cruises.
I don't have to choose between working and enjoying the ship.
There are times when I need the privacy and full setup of my cabin office, particularly if I'm accessing sensitive information or doing something that needs my complete attention.
But there are plenty of other tasks I can do from a quiet lounge, a table near a window or somewhere with a bit of music playing in the background.
I can get a couple of hours of work done, pack the laptop away and carry on with my day.
And when your commute back to the cabin takes approximately three minutes, it's really not a bad arrangement. 😂
