Focused Writing
in an
Inspired Environment
#wavewriters
What We Do
We provide writing retreats at sea
A writers' retreat held on a cruise ship, including mini-consultations with professional editors and plenty of time for focused, undisturbed writing in a relaxing atmosphere where friendly crew cater to all of your needs.
Why Would I Want to do This?
Get Away and Get It WrittenMark Twain wrote most of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn from a shed, isolated from the rest of the world.Bill Gates conducted ‘Think Weeks’ twice a year, often in a lakeside cottage.Carl Jung repeatedly spent a great deal of time in a secluded stone tower in the woods for his writing.“Getting away” to focus and write is a long-standing tradition. Writers require both inspiration and focus to do our job. A writers’ retreat, particularly one in a new location, is an excellent way to get both at once.
A Few Reasons Not To Go
#moneytrees
"I can't afford a cruise. Aren't they really expensive?"
#familyfirst
"I have a Family. I can't leave them behind."
#distractions
"Cruises are party places. How could I write in that?"
#moneytrees
Obviously, we don't know your finances, but you might be surprised at how affordable a cruise retreat can be. We strive to keep prices low to make our retreats open to as many writers as possible. A writer can come on our retreat for as little as a thousand dollars total, including food, travel, and accommodations. That’s about $152 per day, less than many mid-range hotel rooms. You can even book your spot for only $350, and pay the rest in installments over time.#familyfirst
You don't have to leave anyone behind. Bring your families on board, as well. The family can enjoy the included ship entertainment, such as Broadway shows, kids clubs, pools, or a teen disco, while the writer goes to a designated quiet writing space away from the noise and distraction to work among peers and professionals. Then rejoin the family in the evenings and on port days for adventures and precious memories together.#distractions
There are certainly parties available (including our private writer ones!), but they aren't ship wide. There are many quiet places for writing on board at all hours, including your own cabin, balcony, the ship's library, and, most importantly, our dedicated writing spaces that only Wave Writers can be in. Whether you write best in a blank room or with a gorgeous view, surrounded by other writers or all by yourself, you can find it on board.
Now Don't you Want to Find Out Why You Should Go?
Wave Writers Retreats
Each retreat includes:
~ 2 days of focused writing at sea
~ 1 face-to-face consultation with a professional editor
~ 2 adventurous port days in Mexico: Costa Maya and Cozumel (or extra writing time)
~ Multiple peer Read & Critique sessions
~ 5 nights of socializing with other writers in environments like the ship’s English Pub or Bamboo Room
~ and more
April 2026
The inaugural retreat!April 13-18, 2026
Sailing from Galveston, TX
Mariner of the Seas
April 2027
Chapter 2!April 26 - May 1, 2027
Sailing from Galveston, TX
Liberty of the Seas
Are All the Events Mandatory?
Certainly not. Everything we do on a Wave Writers Retreat is intended to assist or support your writing. If it isn’t something that helps you, you don’t need to attend. If you want to spend the week on your private balcony, that's okay with us. We'll save you a seat in case you change your mind.
How Much Does This Really Cost?
We don’t want to hide any costs from you, but recognize that there are nearly endless optional add-ons, including wi-fi, drinks packages, shore excursions, etc. The prices below are the total cost for the standard retreat options and include your stateroom, all your meals on board (but not premium restaurants), unlimited water, basic coffee, juice, & tea (but not soda, specialty coffees, or alcohol.)Attending writers will pay Retreat Fee + Cruise Fare + Gratuities. Everything else is optional. Nonwriters will pay the Cruise Fare & Gratuities, no Retreat Fee.For example:
Retreat Fee: $299 per writer
Cruise Fare: $560 to $1500 /person, varies by cabin
Gratuities: $92.50 per personThere is a $100/person deposit due at the time of booking. The Retreat Fee for writers is billed separately, due in 30 days. The balance of the cruise is due by Jan 13 and payment plans are available.These costs are based on sharing the room between two people. If you want more or fewer people in your room (i.e., solo or kids), or want a suite, you’ll need to request a quote from our travel partner, and in that case, time is definitely a factor. Costs tend to go up and availability goes down as we get closer to sail date.
FAQ
What do i get for the Retreat Fee?
As an official Wave Writer, you’ll get a sweet swag bag, access to the dedicated on board writing space, writers-only social and productivity events, and you’ll be assigned to a specific editor who will review ten pages and a synopsis of your WIP and meet with you face to face. (You’ll also be having dinner with them each night!)
How is this Different from a Traditional Retreat?
Many writing retreats have limited meal options, or even require writers to share the duties of cooking and cleaning. On board a Wave Writers’ Retreat, the only thing you need to worry about is your writing. (And sunscreen, if you’re taking your laptop to the Lido deck.)
Can i Bring a Friend?
Absolutely! We hope you’ll make some new friends, but it’s always good to bring your favorite. Non-writing guests will pay the cruise fare and gratuities, but not the retreat fee. They will have a seat at our table for dinner in the Main Dining Room, be welcome at the evening social events, but not be invited to the private writing events. (Editor meetings, focused writing space, etc.) All writers will receive a swag bag; non-writing guests will not. They will have access to all the ship’s usual entertainment and amenities.
Got Swag(ger)?
Instead of charging our partners an arm and a leg like some shark to work with us, we prefer to work together to make our authors' retreat as awesome as possible. If you'd like to partner with us, here's how we do it.You get:
Brand Exposure to all of our retreat guests
Featured on our Partners page
Fictional Honor and GloryWhat we ask for:
A quality swag item for our swag bags.
Items must be approved in advance; duplicate item types are not allowed.
You may also include a brochure or sheet of information with your swag item at no cost.
Company logo or image and one paragraph of description for our Partners page.
Our Partners
Escape the Mundane
We connect adventurous readers with speculative fiction authors to provide an endless array of fantastical worlds to explore.
Rooted in Writing
It’s easy to get lost in the forest of publishing. That’s why we’re here to help you navigate the publishing process without losing sight of what matters the most—your story. We keep you rooted in the quality of the writing itself while firmly planting you as an evergreen fixture in the publishing landscape.You belong to this forest. Let us help you see the forest through the trees and thrive.
Seas'N Sun Travel
Full-service travel advisor who lives to send travelers off on Caribbean cruises. I will put in the work, so you can enjoy your vacation - relaxing, adventurous, or other. No extra cost, just extra value.
Got Swag(ger)?
If you'd like to partner with us by adding to our swag bags to make our authors' retreat even more enjoyable and let them know how you can help them succeed, we'd love to hear from you!
The Texas Authors Success Center and Texas Authors Museum work together to support, uplift, and preserve the voices of Texas writers. Through education, encouragement, visibility, and community-building, they help authors at every stage of their journey while also honoring the rich literary history of Texas. Together, they represent both action and legacy—giving writers the tools to grow today and ensuring their stories, contributions, and impact are remembered for generations to come.
From outline to on shelves, I love to see books in the making. I am an editor first and foremost specializing in fantasy and science fiction. Crisp, clean, captivating prose is what I live to write, edit, and perfect.