Seminars at Sea, Profession by Profession
Earn your credits while the ship sails.
Ask About a Seminar CruiseSeminars at Sea, Explained Profession by Profession
Seminars at sea let licensed professionals earn the continuing-education credits they need while their ship sails between ports. The idea is simple, but the details are not the same for everyone: a physician needs AMA PRA Category 1 Credit, a dentist looks for an ADA CERP or AGD PACE provider, a nurse needs contact hours from an accredited provider. This site takes each profession in turn, and also looks at the other side of the podium — teaching a seminar or lecture series on a cruise ship.
If you are new to the concept, our sister site Seminars on Cruises explains in general how CE credits at sea work, how registration and the cruise booking fit together, and how to choose a program. Here we go deeper on CME cruises, dental CE cruises, nursing CE cruises and becoming a cruise ship lecturer.
Which Accreditation Does Your Profession Look For?
| Profession | What to look for on the provider | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians (MD, DO) | AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from an ACCME-accredited provider (or a state-accredited one) | ACCME |
| Dentists and dental team | ADA CERP recognition or AGD PACE approval | ADA CERP, AGD’s PACE provider search |
| Nurses and nurse practitioners | Contact hours from a provider accredited through ANCC (or an approved state body) | ANCC accreditation |
| Other professions | The approval your own licensing board names | Your state board’s CE rules |
Accreditation applies to the education provider, not to the cruise. A ship is simply the venue. That is why the questions you ask on a seminar cruise are the same as on land, plus a few about the voyage itself.
Pick Your Starting Point
Physicians
How CME cruises designate credit, what “commensurate with participation” means and what to ask.
CME cruises →
Dentists and hygienists
CERP and PACE explained, and why approval is not a board guarantee.
Dental CE cruises →
How a Seminar Cruise Day Usually Runs
Most providers schedule sessions on sea days and on the mornings of port days, so attendees can still go ashore in the afternoon. A seven-night cruise might carry a dozen or more hours of education, though the exact number depends on the program. Sign-in sheets or session codes record attendance, and certificates follow after the trip.
The cruise line supplies the meeting room and audio-visual equipment by arrangement with the provider; the provider supplies the faculty, the syllabus and the accreditation.
A Word on Taxes
US tax rules for business meetings on cruise ships are stricter than for conventions on land. IRS Publication 463 limits the deduction to $2,000 a year and only when the ship is registered in the United States and every port of call is in the United States or its territories — conditions most cruise itineraries do not meet. Read the tax caution page on Seminars on Cruises and ask your tax adviser; we cannot give tax advice.
Related Guides in Our Network
Travel advisors attending supplier training at sea should read Sell and Sail. Companies planning a meeting or incentive voyage will find Group Cruiser more useful. For enrichment and learning cruises open to everyone, see Sail and Learn. Before you sail, Cruising Checklist has packing lists and Cruise & Travel Insurance explains cruise insurance — worth having when non-refundable seminar fees are involved.
Seminar Cruises is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a quote, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle it personally — not a call center — and book everything for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
Frequently Asked Questions
What are seminars at sea?
Seminars at sea are continuing-education programs held on a cruise ship, usually in a conference room during sea days or mornings, so attendees can earn credits and still enjoy the voyage. They are organized by an education provider, not by the cruise line.
Will my licensing board accept credit earned on a cruise?
Boards generally care about who accredited the provider and whether the topic qualifies, not where the course was taught. Check that the provider holds the accreditation your profession requires, then confirm with your own state board.
Can my spouse or family come along?
Usually yes. Companions book a cabin with you but do not attend the sessions. Their costs are personal, not business expenses.
Do you organize the seminars?
No. Seminar providers organize the education. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise can help with the cruise side — cabins, add-on nights, flights and insurance — and with groups who want to bring their own speaker aboard.
More Cruise Sites From Our Network
Booking the Cruise for Your Seminar?
Already registered with a seminar provider, or bringing your own speaker? Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will handle cabins, extra nights and flights, with free quotes.
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