Every oth
er year my local romance writer chapter goes on a cruise conference. When I was single, no husband I went. When I married my husband, I brought him along. Now that I’m a mom, I’m trying to juggle the logistics of the cruise conference. I paid for the cruise before my baby girl was born so I’d force myself to go and not back out. Where else can I dine with people like Julia Quinn? (Did I ever
blog about my teenage years when I emailed Julia Quinn about her book Everything and the Moon, a rare book where I Victoria though she called her Tori gets to be the heroine and we’re not listed as the bad girl/independent girl that messes up the story for someone sweet. She wrote me back and I saved that EMAIL for years. One of my favorite authors took the time to write to teenage me. I was thrilled! So to meet and have dinner with her years later… absolute dream come true.) The time before that I hung out with Charlaine Harris who was also super cool, and I’m hoping Elizabeth Hoyt is fun and ventures out of her cabin.
My mother has volunteered to babysit for the 4 days we’re gone. Part of me wants to take my daughter and part of me wants her to stay home. I am unsure what I’m going to do right now, but I’m going. I did learn though that a 6 month old baby on a closed circuit cruise who won’t eat any of the food or use any of the entertainment must still pay a passenger fair. So on airlines and if I take her to Disney for photos this Christmas, no worries… she’s free. But on Royal, she costs the same to go as my own fare ticket. The only exception to this is ‘if there is a sale.’
Why do I even care? If you are looking for a vacation, cruises are AWESOME. It’s a way to unwind. With the Florida Romance Writers cruise, I also get to hang out with some pretty awesome writers so it’s a double treat for me. And honestly cruises sound expensive from the initial price, but what you get out of it makes it one of the
most affordable vacations you can do. You get feed nonstop. There is always something to do and you have no worries while you sale. It’s better than flying somewhere, thinking I have a good deal, then paying the hotel and then always paying for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Cruises are the best value for the money. I love them, even if they want to charge my future 6 month old a full fare.
If you are a writer or a reader looking to meet up with writers and are looking for a relaxed conference, check out http://www.frwriters.org and make contact. I’d love to meet you.
 
Frequently Asked Questions
How do cruise conferences work for romance writers?
Romance writer cruise conferences combine a traditional cruise vacation with author meet-and-greets and networking opportunities. Organizations like Florida Romance Writers host these events, allowing attendees to dine and socialize with bestselling authors such as Julia Quinn and Charlaine Harris in a relaxed setting. They occur periodically — in this case, every other year — and offer a more casual alternative to land-based writing conferences.
What is the cost of bringing a baby on a Royal Caribbean cruise?
On Royal Caribbean, infants are charged a full passenger fare regardless of age, even if they won’t eat the food or use onboard entertainment. The only exception is during a sale. This differs from airlines and theme parks like Disney, where infants typically travel free. Parents should factor this into budget planning when considering a cruise with a baby under one year old.
Are cruises actually cheaper than other vacations when you compare the total cost?
Cruises are often more affordable than they appear when you compare total vacation costs. Unlike flying to a destination where you separately pay for a hotel plus breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, a cruise bundles accommodations and nonstop food into one upfront price. The all-inclusive nature of cruising makes it one of the best value-for-money vacation options available, despite the seemingly high initial fare.
