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Today’s PrideNomad™ Quiz:

In today’s email:

Up Front: Wanna Cruise? Here’s What You Need to Know

Relationship Strategy : Critical Lesson from a Hottie at Sea

A Favorite Strategy: Launch Your Own Newsletter (and profit!)

We Recommend: Time for The Donut

Nomad Hack: Amazing Travel Deals Are On the Way!

UP FRONT:

Cruising as a PrideNomad: What You Need to Know

No, we’re not talking about getting laid here. We’re talking about getting on a big ship and sailing for a week or more.

Last week I took PrideNomad Mom on a Caribbean cruise and we explored what it might be like as part of our PrideNomad lifestyle.

Cruising offers a unique blend of adventure, luxury, and stability—a floating paradise that takes you to new destinations without the constant packing and unpacking.

And when you pick up some last-minute deals, for instance, you can call the ship “home” for less than staying on land—but you need to choose carefully.

So if you’re thinking of setting sail while keeping your digital nomad hustle afloat, here are some essentials to consider.

1. LGBTQ+ Friendly Atmosphere

Not all cruise lines are equally welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.

Virgin Voyages and Celebrity, for instance, are awesome. Azamara has a great reputation as well, and Carnival does have “Friends of Dorothy” meetups on their cruises.

Of course, dedicated gay cruise brands like Atlantis and Olivia are certainly a no-brainer, and you’ll pay a premium for those experiences. Keep in mind that Atlantis/Olivia/Vacaya are focused on vacations, and you may find it more challenging to remain focused when you’re surrounded by thousands of hormonal homos (but I’m sure there are worse things in life).

Now, let’s get to work!

2. Wi-Fi Woes and Wins

Internet on a cruise ship can be notoriously slow, spotty, and expensive. Look for cruise lines that prioritize connectivity, such as Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, or Virgin Voyages, and always budget for the premium internet package.

Buy your wifi package at least 72 hours before your trip leaves, or you’ll end up paying more (that goes for ALL cruise upsells, such as shore excursions and drink packages).

Also keep in mind that prices can vary dramatically by cruise line (Carnival has a “full cruise” package that’s very reasonable, while Celebrity’s Starlink package is pricey—but much better).

Ports of call are your Wi-Fi hotspots; plan to work in port-side cafes when you can.

3. Power Up: Cabin Setup Essentials

Your cabin might be cozy, but power outlets are often limited, and adaptors may be needed for international ships (ALWAYS pack one!). A travel-friendly power strip (without surge protection—they’re banned on ships) will keep your devices charged.

Noise-canceling headphones are also essential to drown out unexpected announcements or late-night revelers.

Case in point: Last week on Celebrity Beyond, I did some writing in “Eden”, their super-sexy bar/club/entertainment/restaurant space. There are perhaps five power sources there, and they’re all European outlets. Most of my travel buddies weren’t able to use them, since they didn’t have a power adaptor (but I had mine—see PrideNomad 129 for details) so I had no issue.

A couple of years ago, the wifi in my Carnival cabin was so bad that I had to find particular spots on the ship to connect. That totally sucked.

Cruising is a whirlwind of different ports and time zones. Sync your work schedule with your cruise itinerary and set your calendar to a consistent time zone, ideally, the one your clients or colleagues operate in. Staying organized will save you from scrambling to finish tasks in between island hopping. Bear in mind that “ship time” may be different than location time—so be VERY careful when leaving the ship so they don’t leave without you (and they will!)!

5. Drink Packages: Read the Fine Print

Let’s be real: cruising often includes a bit of drinking, whether it’s cocktails at the pool or a nightcap at the bar.

But beware: not all drink packages are created equal. 

Celebrity, for instance, has a policy that requires both cabin mates to purchase the same drink package, which can be a drag if one of you isn’t a big drinker.

Frankly we think that totally sucks, and it was a huge buzz-kill for us before we even boarded the ship. Super bad juju—but from their point of view, it protects them from cabin mates abusing the all-you-can-drink packages.

On the other hand, Carnival’s policy is fairer—only the drinker pays, so no need to twist your roommate’s arm into buying something they don’t want. Always read the fine print and plan your budget accordingly.

If you don’t drink, here’s your hack: Celebrity, for instance, allows you to bring on as many soft drinks as you can carry when you depart on your cruise. So I brought 3 12-packs of soda water on the cruise—for $14, instead of having to purchase TWO soft-drink packages on the ship for about $40/day each (so thanks, Celebrity for inspiring us to be creative and save money!).

6. The Gym.

Remember, you still need to maintain a routine, so consider the gym and spa options on the ship. Celebrity Beyond has a great gym with high-end Technogym equipment (and their gym towels are awesome—I confess that I snagged a couple of them on my first Atlantis cruise over 20 years ago!).

7. Food. All You Can Eat Doesn’t Mean You Have To!

Yes, food is usually available 24/7 and it’s included.

But NO, you shouldn’t be eating 24/7 if you want to stay healthy and trim! Maintain DISCIPLINE and keep your routine.

It’s super easy to order 3 appetizers and 4 main courses (I did it nearly every night last week!). But don’t make that your default behavior or you’ll regret it when you look in the mirror later!

8. Entertainment

I’ve never considered on-ship entertainment as a drawing-card, but after last week, it should be mentioned.

Celebrity’s Beyond has a theatre that’s simply amazing, and its entertainment is world-class. In the past, I’ve skipped on-board shows because I found them cheesy (and boring), but I’ve got to tell you that Celebrity’s entertainment is a must-see.

But don’t plan on hooking up with the hotties on stage—canoodling with the crew can cost them their jobs.

8. Flexibility is Key

Life at sea comes with its ups and downs—literally. Build flexibility into your work schedule to handle unpredictable weather, port changes, and the occasional rough seas. Embrace the unexpected, and you may find cruising to be one of the most freeing ways to live and work. 🏳️‍🌈🛳️

One last thing—I was on the cruise with about 70 other people in a mastermind that I’m part of—so it was actually a business trip (I mentioned that last week). I’m wondering—how would you like to have our own PrideNomad mastermind cruise where we can work together, play together, and share ideas and experiences??

We're not planning anything yet--but want to get a sense of what you might enjoy. Here’s a quick poll:

ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP STRATEGY:

How to Win Friends, Be Memorable and Profit!

We’ve mentioned entertainer Reuben Kaye’s strategy of greeting his audience at the door when they attend his performances.

In fact, my friends Michelle and Pedro of El Expat Insider Mexico told me last week that this strategy was a game-changer for them.

To continue our cruise theme in today’s newsletter, consider the strategy of Celebrity’s Captain Kate McCue.

She’s the first American woman to captain a cruise ship, and the first to command a modern "mega ship".

And she’s a total hoot!

She travels with her cat, Bug Naked, a hairless sphinx cat who’s an Instagram star in her own right.

Bug Naked is known for being a fashionista, and she has over a hundred outfits, uniforms, and costumes. She also has an EU passport, which makes it easier for her to travel the world (I can’t make this stuff up!).

Oh yea, this is for real. And Captain Kate even has a special “Bug Naked Trivia” contest on the ship (it’s fun!).

She does daily riddles on the PA system and makes it clear that she loves what she does. Now here’s the kicker:

When you leave the cruise, she’s there at the end of the gangway to say goodbye—and yes, do a photo op with you (she’s got that down to a science!).

Consider this—people remember their last interaction with you. Captain Kate ensures that your last interaction with her and her cruise is a favorable one—and even though the photo takes just a moment, she ensures that you feel special.

How can YOU implement this sort of bonding and interaction with YOUR audience (that’s clients, customers, prospects and everyone you connect with)?

Do this consistently and you’ll build an tribe of raving fans. You may find that your revenue rises and your marketing costs can drop!

HAPPENING THIS WEEK—A FAVORITE STRATEGY:

Why Publishing Can Be the Key to Your PrideNomad Freedom.

Ever wonder why I started the PrideNomad Letter?

To be totally honest, part of the reason was to attract my future husband! Yep, the right person for me is someone who gets the PrideNomad lifestyle.

But there’s a bigger reason too—newsletters can be seriously profitable.

There have been some notable 6 and 7-figure exits over the past few years…not to mention the huge number of revenue paths that free newsletters can provide to you.

After over 4 decades of teaching entrepreneurs worldwide, I’ve seen firsthand how publishing a newsletter can transform a business.

A newsletter can be the easiest way to attract new prospects (think about it—the newsletter is a “give”, not a take!).

Earlier this year, I even ran a wildly successful 5-Day Launch Your Newsletter Challenge (though, no plans for another one anytime soon—if ever).

So, what about you? How can you unlock the freedom a newsletter can offer?

One of my good friends and mentors, Perry Belcher, is running a killer training on how to launch a newsletter using AI (and trust me, you don’t need to be a writer!).

Check it out here »

Last week, Perry told me what he’s planning— Let me just say—OMG, it’s going to blow your mind!

Here’s the thing: when you become a publisher, the perks are endless. You could even score free entry to events with a Press Pass (hello, VIP life!).

I’m backing Perry’s training 100%, and I’ll be there too.

I already publish a few newsletters, and I’m thinking of adding more—his strategies are THAT good.

The whole point of PrideNomad is to help you create the lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of—travel the world and have the financial freedom to enjoy it.

For me, publishing is the way to do it.

Join me this week for Perry’s training and see if this path resonates with you.

If it does, we might dive into some follow-up training exclusively for our PrideNomad community.

WE RECOMMEND:

It’s Time for The Donut.

What’s the most precious resource in the world?

Your time.

So why would you spend it getting frustrated, confused, or bored by the news? 

It’s slanted (this cuts both ways), dense, and negative – oh, so negative. It’s nearly impossible to read and not think humanity’s doomed.

🍩 That’s where The DONUT comes in...

They turn the time-consuming, anxiety-ridden chore of staying informed into a jargon-free guilty pleasure that ensures you’ll be the most interesting person in the room.

Their goal is to deliver news that's unbiased, quick, engaging, and easy-to-understand – and did we mention it’s all 100% free? (Even though the cost of admission also includes access to their prodigious wit.😉)

Join 163,000+ other less angry and more optimistic readers, for free.

NOMAD HACK

Amazing Travel Deals Are On the Way!

As PrideNomads, we’re among the most valued LGBTQ+ travelers. We travel more frequently and we’re more able to travel spontaneously.

So we thought—why don’t we team up with LGBTQ+ travel and tour operators who need to fill spaces in their trips and tours?

They can get their spots filled and we can get some great last-minute deals (figure 20-50% off!).

So it’s with a huge amount of excitement that we announce “PrideNomad FLASH!”, for great travel deals that may be gone in a flash!

We’re working with the IGLTA (the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association) to assemble the best travel deals for our PrideNomad community, and we’ll be launching soon.

As a PrideNomad subscriber, you’re already on the waiting list, and you’ll be the first to get access to the best deals on LGBTQ+ travel and adventures!

Here’s what we’d love for YOU to do—please tell your friends—send them this link: http://DiscountGayTravel.com and they’ll get put on the waitlist.

The more people we have on the waitlist, the more leverage we’ll have with the travel providers—so please help us get the word out!

Hint—it’s our vision that when this goes viral, we’ll have tour operators create exclusive trips for our PrideNomad family!

See you next week!

Quiz Answer

NOTE: Some of the links we provide may be affiliate links, which may potentially generate a referral fee to us. That’s one way we’re able to keep PrideNomad available to you at no cost. Rest assured that we only recommend providers who we feel can deliver great value to you.