Some cruise passengers get angry at the thought of not fully disconnecting from their regular lives while they're on board.
In various Royal Caribbean (RCL) and Carnival Cruise Line social-media groups, whenever someone asks a question about internet packages, at least a few people lecture others to put their phones down because they're on vacation.
Some people, of course, like to totally disconnect while others consider using their phones to play games, watch videos, and post pictures to social media as part of the fun. And of course some people need connectivity for personal and work reasons.
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Not everyone can board a Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) or Royal Caribbean ship and leave their regular life behind. Some people need to keep in touch with family on land while others have work that needs to be done even though they are on vacation.
There are also people like me and Royal Caribbean legend Mario Salcedo, who regularly work while cruising.
"Super Mario," as he is known in the cruise community, has lived on Royal Caribbean ships for more than 23 years. You can often see him in a roped-off section of the smoking area on the pool deck that's labeled "Mario's Office."
Mario is not unique in working from the sea. People like me who often work a normal day while on a cruise aren't all that rare. What's even more common is cruisers who while on a cruise need to do a couple of hours of work on some days.
Cruise ships don't really have places for people to work. The desk in your cabin often comes with a backless chair or stool, and the space is tight at best. In addition, with improving on-board internet makes attending video meetings easier, a regular cabin has no place where your bed would not be in the camera shot.
That may not be a problem for everyone, but it's one that's likely to grow as the lines between work and home continue to blur.
Now. Carnival is at least considering the idea of doing something to accommodate cruisers who need workspace.
Image source: Shutterstock
Carnival Considers Adding An Office-Like Space
On most days when I'm on a cruise, I work at least a half day. Sometimes I work from my cabin, but usually I find a table in a common area, usually near a coffee shop. The problem is that those spaces are optimized for eating, not working. In addition, they're lively environments filled with people.
Finding a quiet space for a call or meeting can be a challenge. Sometimes you can find a bar or venue that's closed during the day, but bars don't always offer the best background for your video call.
In addition, on Royal Caribbean ships, the Diamond Longue -- a space reserved for top-tier loyalty members -- can be quiet during the middle of the day, but most passengers cannot access that space.
Carnival does not have a loyalty lounge, which removes one option for working passengers. The cruise line's brand ambassador, John Heald, recently addressed the issue of providing a workspace on ships on his Facebook page.
I had a request this morning for us to have a designated space, cubicles, etc. for people to be able to work while on the cruise. I’m not sure if this is something [we've] considered so please let me ask you what you think.
A. Yes, I do have to work when I cruise so this would be good for me.
B. I do work sometimes when I’m on a cruise but I do not need a specific space to be able to do so.
C. I never work when I’m on a cruise.
It's clearly a charged issue as Heald's poll garnered nearly 4,000 comments in the first two hours it was posted.
Royal Caribbean and Carnival Should Add Dedicated Workspaces
As someone lucky enough to cruise often, I notice -- sometimes awkwardly -- people who are working but who clearly would appreciate dedicated workspaces. Cruise ships usually have some underused space. Many have conference rooms that are rarely used.
Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and any other cruise line could likely charge a small fee for access to a business center.
This space could offer small rooms for video meetings and a generally quiet environment with desks and proper chairs.
In addition, as both cruise lines have worked to improve their onboard internet service, they could make sure the office space has a strong connection.
Because cruise-ship internet is satellite-based, its quality varies depending on where on the ship you are located. A business lounge with a more reliable connection would be worth an added fee for people trying to get some work done so they can get back to having fun.
