I’d been on this ship before and didn’t enjoy it.
This 7-night cruise offered no ports of call, the weather forecast showed a huge storm and once we’d left Southampton, there was no getting off until we reached New York.
It sounds like a rather expensive mistake, doesn’t it?
The ship was Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. I’m not really a fan of the formal atmosphere, and when travelling solo with Cunard, I’ve always felt like I don’t really fit in.
But this wasn’t going to be an ordinary cruise. I’d booked a place on Nomad Cruise, a floating conference where 125 people would spend a week learning about AI, working on projects and getting to know each other.
I loved the idea of it so much that I’d booked almost immediately after seeing the advert. It was only when I arrived at the terminal that I started wondering whether I’d made a terrible decision.
As it turned out, I had one of the most interesting weeks I’ve ever spent at sea. And in fact, the ship didn’t matter at all. It was the people that made my trip.
Here’s what Nomad Cruise was really like, how much it cost me and whether I’d recommend it.
What Is Nomad Cruise?
Nomad Cruise is an organised group cruise that brings together people who work remotely, run businesses or are interested in meeting others with similar lifestyles.
Rather than spending your days doing the usual cruise activities, there’s a programme of talks, workshops and social events. You still get to enjoy everything the ship has to offer, but there’s a whole additional experience happening alongside it.
My sailing was the 17th Nomad Cruise, although it was a little different from their usual events. This one was specifically focused on artificial intelligence, with 125 participants from 26 nationalities.
Other Nomad Cruises have attracted around 400 participants and can have more of a party atmosphere. The focus can also be broader, covering subjects such as business and personal development.
You don’t need to be a technical expert to attend. On my cruise, some people were just getting started with ChatGPT, while others were developers, business owners and people creating quite sophisticated AI tools.
What I particularly liked was that everyone had something different to contribute. There were people in their teens and others in their sixties, with all sorts of different backgrounds.
We were sailing alongside regular Cunard passengers, so there were effectively two different cruises happening on the same ship. While some people were enjoying afternoon tea and ballroom dancing, we were heading off to workshops or taking over the nightclub for a silent disco.
Nomad Cruise Prices and Cabin Options
My trip cost almost £4,000 (including my flight back from New York) which was considerably more than I’d ever intended to spend on a Cunard cruise!
I’d actually sailed with Cunard three times before, having found some incredible last-minute deals for £99. I used to joke that I’d never spend more than £99 on a Cunard cruise, so this was quite a departure from my usual approach!
Suggested read: How Much My £99 Cunard Cruise Actually Cost Me
Of course, I wasn’t just paying for a holiday on Queen Mary 2. The attraction was the Nomad Cruise experience, including the conference programme and the opportunity to meet people.
I’d booked a cabin to myself. Nomad Cruise offers options for solo travellers to share a cabin with another participant, which can help reduce the cost. You can also attend with a friend.
I could have saved money by sharing, but I knew I’d need some time alone. I love meeting new people, but after hours of conversation, I sometimes need somewhere quiet to recharge.
There weren’t any inside cabins available when I booked, and I didn’t think I’d get much use out of a balcony while crossing the Atlantic in September. I chose an ocean-view cabin instead.
The window was more of a porthole than the large picture window I’d usually prefer, but the cabin itself was spacious and the bed was incredibly comfortable.
Having my own space turned out to be one of the best decisions I made. There was so much happening throughout the week that I was grateful to have somewhere peaceful to escape to whenever I wanted.
I’d definitely recommend thinking carefully about whether you’d prefer to share a cabin or pay extra for your own space. That decision could make quite a difference to your experience.
What Happens on a Nomad Cruise?
Every day, we had a programme of talks, workshops and other activities to choose from.
There was an app showing us what was happening and where we needed to be. Some of the larger sessions took place in Illuminations, while smaller workshops were held in the Connections business centre. We also used G32, Queen Mary 2’s nightclub.
If you’re imagining a traditional business conference with people sitting quietly listening to presentations, this was nothing like that.
Before some sessions, there would be music playing and everyone would be dancing or running on the spot to get their energy levels up. Someone even organised a group workout in the nightclub.
I never actually found time to visit Queen Mary 2’s proper gym, but somehow I ended up exercising in G32!
There were talks about AI, smaller workshops and sessions where we could work on our own projects. People could also volunteer to share their knowledge with the group. For example, one participant who was a photographer gave us a session on taking better photographs, which I found really useful.
There was a big emphasis on actually making things, rather than just listening to people talk about what might be possible.
One of the best things was that nothing was compulsory. You could attend as many sessions as you wanted, or skip them completely if you fancied doing something else. That flexibility was important because, even with seven days at sea, there was far more happening than I could possibly fit in.
The Social Activities Were Just as Important
Outside the workshops, there was plenty happening socially. We had speed-friending, karaoke and a silent disco just for our group. One person had created his own card game, so a few of us got together in the buffet to test it. Another evening, we voted on a film and watched The Great Gatsby together.
And because we were on Queen Mary 2, we could also enjoy the regular onboard entertainment. There were theatre shows, magicians, ballroom dancing and afternoon tea, along with the ship’s enormous library.
I didn’t get around to much of the usual Cunard programme because I was so busy with Nomad Cruise, but it was nice knowing it was available.
Nomad Cruise Is Particularly Good for Solo Travellers
One of my biggest worries before boarding was whether I’d find it easy to make friends. I’ve cruised solo with Cunard before, and I haven’t always enjoyed the experience. On one particularly awkward occasion, I was seated at a table for ten in the main dining room, and nobody else turned up.
Things couldn’t have been more different with Nomad Cruise.
Quite a few participants had met in Southampton the night before our sailing. I’d arrived on the morning of departure, so I initially felt as though everyone already knew each other. But I started chatting to people in the terminal and had made friends before we’d even boarded.
Every evening, we had dinner together at tables of six, mixing with different people throughout the week. I had some fascinating conversations with people doing all sorts of interesting things.
At breakfast and lunch, I’d usually eat in the buffet. There was almost always somebody from Nomad Cruise around, and I could easily join their table if I wanted company. Equally, if I fancied eating alone, nobody thought anything of it.
I loved having that choice. I could be sociable for most of the day, then disappear back to my cabin for a bit of peace and quiet.
By the end of the cruise, I’d made friends with people I’d genuinely love to see again. And because many people return to Nomad Cruise, I’m sure I’ll meet some of them on another sailing.
If you’re interested in cruising solo but worry about spending the whole holiday on your own, I think an organised group cruise like this could be a brilliant option.
Life on Queen Mary 2 During the Conference
Queen Mary 2 still isn’t my favourite cruise ship, but I enjoyed her much more this time because of the people I was travelling with.
Cunard has a very traditional atmosphere, particularly in the evenings. There’s a dress code, plenty of formal entertainment and a generally quieter pace than you’ll find on some other cruise lines. That appeals to lots of people, but it isn’t usually my preferred style of cruising.
I also find Queen Mary 2’s layout rather confusing. Even after spending another full week on board, I was still getting lost and discovering places I hadn’t noticed before.
There are some lovely spaces, though. The indoor swimming pool was warm, and our group sometimes met up in the hot tubs.
I was also delighted whenever I caught sight of the dogs being exercised on deck. Queen Mary 2 has kennels, so there were occasionally dogs to watch, which made me very happy.
Suggested read: 5 Ways to Cruise With Your Dog
The Food Was Better Than I’d Expected
On previous Cunard cruises, I’d struggled with the food as a vegan. Sometimes I felt as though I’d been given a selection of vegetables rather than a proper meal. I’m vegetarian now, and I found eating on Queen Mary 2 much easier this time.
There was a section at the back of the buffet serving burgers and hot dogs, including vegetarian options. I went back there several times, and I particularly enjoyed the nachos in the buffet too.
Our group dinners were at 6 pm, which was great for socialising but a little early for me. Quite often, I’d be hungry again by about 10 pm. I’d head to the late buffet for pizza and chips to take back to my cabin, or occasionally order room service.
I also bought a drinks package. Once I’d added up my wine, cocktails, coffees and soft drinks, I think I just about broke even.
Although I did occasionally find myself ordering another soft drink simply because I wanted to get my money’s worth!
I Actually Enjoyed Dressing Up
Cunard’s dress code was another thing I’d been concerned about. There are no casual evenings on Cunard. It’s either smart, or very smart.
What I’d consider quite a formal outfit on some other cruise ships is more like everyday evening wear on Cunard.
We also had two gala evenings, including a red-and-gold night, so I’d packed far more fancy clothes than I normally would. But I surprised myself by enjoying it. Getting dressed up felt much more fun when I was heading to dinner with a group of friends.
During the day, we could wear normal casual clothes for our workshops, so it didn’t feel like we had to be smart all the time.
It’s a good example of how much the people you’re travelling with can change your experience of a ship.
Seven Days Crossing the Atlantic
One thing I’d been worried about was the weather.
We were sailing from Southampton to New York with no ports of call, so if the weather was terrible, we’d have no opportunity to escape ashore. And the Atlantic certainly delivered some rough conditions with a Nor-easter storm co-inciding with our arrival into New York.
There were days when the sea was very choppy, the rain kept us indoors and some of the outside decks were closed altogether.
Fortunately, I don’t get seasick, and I quite enjoy watching rough seas. I know not everyone feels the same way!
Suggested read: Who Seasickness Affects And Why
Queen Mary 2 is designed for Atlantic crossings, but that doesn’t necessarily mean every passenger will enjoy being at sea in bad weather.
We did have one absolutely glorious day when the sea was flat, the sky was blue and the sun was shining. It still wasn’t particularly warm, so I needed a big hoodie, but I skipped the workshops and spent most of the day outside. It was lovely to be able to do that without worrying about missing anything compulsory.
Another bonus of travelling westbound was that we gained an hour on most days as the clocks went back. Having several 25-hour days was wonderful when our schedule was so busy.
The Wi-Fi Was Surprisingly Good
For a conference about AI, having reliable internet access was rather important. We were all planning to use online tools while crossing the middle of the Atlantic, and I’d wondered whether the ship’s Wi-Fi would cope.
Thankfully, Queen Mary 2’s Starlink connection was excellent for most of the voyage.
There were a few periods of bad weather when it struggled a little, but generally I was able to work without any problems.
My cabin even had its own Wi-Fi router on the ceiling. The only downside was that it had a flashing light that illuminated the room at night. Someone had already tried covering it with paper, but that hadn’t worked, so I stuck a plaster over it.
Problem solved!
I Came Home With More Than Just New Friends
Although I loved the social side of Nomad Cruise, the biggest surprise was how much I actually achieved during the week.
I’d arrived with an idea for a project called Cruise Matcher.
I’ve been cruising for years, and I’ve seen how easy it is for someone to book a cruise that looks wonderful in the brochure, only to discover that the ship or cruise line isn’t right for them.
I wanted to create a tool that would ask people a few questions about their preferences and then recommend cruises that would suit them.
The problem was that I didn’t know how to build it.
During one of the coaching sessions, someone showed me how to use ChatGPT and Claude together on the same project, with one helping with the analysis and the other writing code. That completely changed what I thought I could achieve.
Over several working sessions, I managed to build a functioning prototype of Cruise Matcher. By the end of the crossing, people could answer questions and receive personalised recommendations.
I even used AI to test the tool against 20,000 simulated traveller profiles, looking for situations where the recommendations might not make sense.
Of course, AI can’t replace my experience of cruising. I still needed to decide which recommendations were sensible, refine the rules and make sure the tool was giving advice I was comfortable with. But the AI helped me turn my ideas into something that actually worked.
I couldn’t believe how much progress I’d made in such a short time.
Other people were building all sorts of things too, from tools to help with their businesses to projects designed to make everyday life easier. It was inspiring to see what everyone was creating, and it made the whole conference feel much more valuable than simply attending talks.
My Verdict – Is Nomad Cruise Worth It?
For me, Nomad Cruise was absolutely worth doing, and I’d happily book another one.
That’s not something I expected to say when I was standing in Southampton wondering whether I’d wasted nearly £4,000!
I wouldn’t book another seven-night crossing on Queen Mary 2 as a regular holiday. I know plenty of people love Cunard, and I can understand why. If you enjoy dressing up, ballroom dancing, afternoon tea and traditional ocean-liner cruising, you might have an absolutely wonderful time.
But it’s not really my sort of cruise.
Nomad Cruise completely changed the experience.
I was never short of something interesting to do, I met people from all over the world, and I came home having made real progress on a project I’d been wanting to create. I also loved that I could take part in as much or as little as I wanted. Despite the busy programme, I never felt pressured to attend everything.
Who I’d Recommend Nomad Cruise To
I think Nomad Cruise is particularly worth considering if you enjoy meeting new people, are interested in business or personal development, or fancy learning something new while on holiday.
It could also be a great option for solo travellers who’d like the security of having an organised group around them without having to spend every minute together.
On the other hand, if your ideal cruise involves completely switching off from work, spending your days relaxing and having no schedule whatsoever, a conference at sea probably isn’t the right choice.
The value also depends on what you want to get out of it. If I’d spent nearly £4,000 simply to sail across the Atlantic on Queen Mary 2, I’d have been disappointed. But I was paying for a completely different kind of experience.
I came home with new friends, new skills and a working prototype of something I’d previously had no idea how to build.
Despite the rough weather, the formal dress code and my reservations about the ship, I’d do it all again.
If you’re interested in trying Nomad Cruise yourself, you can get €100 off when you use discount code CRUISEMUMMY.
See the next Nomad Cruise dates here.
And if you’re wondering whether I’d ever choose Queen Mary 2 for another ordinary cruise, I think I’ll stick to those £99 deals!
