Massage therapists have an opportunity to attend continuing education classes and seminars in exotic locations around the world, from Bali, to Hawaii, to (ahem) San Francisco California for my educational CEU seminars! But there is also the option of electing to attend classes on a cruise ship.

You might be thinking, what better way to spend your time learning new techniques, clinical skills, and business methods, than on a cruise ship?

How wonderful to bring the family onboard, get a big, juicy tax deduction in an inspiring and awesome learning environment, right? While these aspects may seem appealing it is important to consider whether or not learning at sea is the right option for you and consider if it make sense for your business?

I am particularly partial to cruising because I started a company called SeaFit Tours in 1987, which was the first international company organizing and leading fitness and wellness cruises around the world. Our company provided wellness cruises for over a decade and I loved it. But, cruising has changed a lot over the years; some aspects have improved, and unfortunately there are still some problems as well.

3 Main Choices for CEU Cruising

It seems there now are three main choices if you choose to attend educational courses while at sea.

LMT Success Group

According to the LMT Success Group, they are the world's largest provider of Medical Massage education, providing several 5-7 night "Seminars at Sea" cruises providing up to 20 massage therapy continuing education hours. Classes are only scheduled on sea days so student passengers have “plenty of opportunity to enjoy exotic locales, go on exciting adventures or just chill out and relax.”

University At Sea and Continuing Education

Another CEU provider option is University At Sea and Continuing Education which seem to be the same company, under two different names. They provide educational opportunities for various medical professions such as physicians, nurses, psychologists and sports medicine trainers. For example they are offering a 9-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise Conference sailing from New York, New York specifically focusing on Sports Medicine.

Some interesting topics to attend are:

• Adolescent Back Pain
• Ankle Joint Complex Injuries
• Concussion in Sport
• Exercise-Induced Lower Leg Pain
• Knee Injuries
• Shoulder Injuries
• Non-Surgical Management of Knee OA

Pain Management Seminars at Sea

And finally, James Waslaski from The Center for Pain Management hosts annual Pain Management Seminars at Sea  where they bring a variety of presenters to teach and have fun. “I created the cruise seminar for two main purposes,” says Waslaski, who in 2008 was inducted into the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame. “Usually when massage therapists attend conferences to obtain 18 CEUs, it can cost around $1,300 when you include travel, hotel stays, seminar fees, and food. Our Seminar at Sea Conference provides the same number of CEUs for generally half the price and, for the snow-bound, it’s a welcome sun-filled excursion. Secondly, on a cruise you have access to instructors on a one-on-one basis while having lunch or dinner, going on group excursions together, or walking on deck. Also, there is relaxed networking with fellow L.M.T.s, industry pioneers, and cutting edge business leaders.” You can learn more at http://www.orthomassage.net.

Pros and Cons

It is important to consider certain aspects of the experience when applying and considering “onboard” massage therapy education. The most important variables to consider are:

• where is the cruise sailing?
• how long is the voyage?
• can you afford to be away from your business that long?
• what are the costs to travel to and from the cruise ports of embarkation and debarkation? (if not included in the cruise package fee)
• most of all, is the seminar topic of interest to you?

Much to student’s disappointment, most of these “cruise classes” will not allow you to use it as a tax deduction. According to Lauren Kusumoto, of Lauren Kusumoto Law Offices in San Francisco, CA., “Most international cruises are registered outside the United States and only U.S. registered vessels qualify. Plus, most cruise ports are outside the U.S., so the majority of educational cruises do not qualify as a tax deduction.”

To be specific, this is taken from IRS Publication 463.

Conventions/ Seminars on a Cruise Ship
A deduction of up to $2,000 per person, per year is allowed for expenses incurred in connection with a business convention or seminar held on a cruise ship as long as all of the following are met:

• it is directly related to the taxpayer's trade or business,
• the ship is a vessel registered in the U.S. and
• all ports of call are located within the United States or its possessions

In order to obtain this deduction one must include a signed written statement describing the total days spent on board, the number of hours devoted to business-related activities and a program outlining the scheduled business activities.

I did an ‘official’ quick poll on Facebook on the cruise ship continuing education class option and received several replies:

Michael Zernial owns Relax Georgetown Massage Therapy in Georgetown, TX., and has only been in practice a little over a year, but has taken one of James Waslaski's educational cruise.

"Just enough time spent in class. What makes a good CE cruise is scheduling the class time while you're out at sea and leaving plenty of free time for when you're at port. Also, not making the learning times too close to morning or late night."

However, owner of Monroe Therapeutic Massage, Paul Tomita from Seattle, WA was not as excited about the cruise idea.

“Personally, if I am going to get away for some CEUs, I want it to be a healing self care experience. Healthy food, low toxicity, enriching interrelationships, natural and peaceful environment. Most cruise ships are about as opposite to that as I can imagine.”

Colleen Baines of Phoenix, AZ has been in practice since July 2013 and says,

"I wouldn't [attend] only because I feel I would get distracted from the [educational] CEU’s."

Other therapists shared they have attended cruises to get CEU's and found them to be a nice mix of classes, experiencing a cruise, (which for many people is their first time at sea) and seeing new places.

Many therapists offered, “Don't knock it ‘till you've tried it.”

Overall the cruise experience opinions are mixed. From the educational perspective, students say it is a good value for their money where they attain a new understanding of the material they set out to learn. However the actual cruise experience itself is made up of either lovers or ‘nah, not-so-much-ers”, where the idea of a non-stop food, gambling, and drink-focused atmosphere takes away from the beauty and excitement of the journey. There is also the environmental impact that the cruise industry is working hard to reduce, and every day it is improving, but the air and water pollution from fuel and garbage dumping, and the excessive waste and over-consumption is where the cruise industry still has a long way to go.

As a family vacation, it can’t be beat. Everything is included in the one ticket price, so there are not a lot of additional costs to incur. The services, entertainment, activities and sight-seeing for everyone from the youngest child to a wheel-chair bound senior are available around the clock.

Conclusion

One last thing to consider is the possibility of distraction because the experience is so full of beautiful scenery, great people, and new experiences galore, that it can actually be too distracting when one is trying to focus on learning!

Consider your options and if you choose to cruise, it could be the educational experience of a lifetime.

Irene Diamond, R.T., is an energetic educator, public speaker, and business mentor dubbed “Therapist's Tour Guide To Business Success". She has been a therapist for 23 years, and is the creator of the world-renown on-line business resource, SuccessfulMassageTherapist.org, founder of her rehabilitation method, Active Myofascial Therapy ~ The Diamond Method, and founder and director of San Francisco, California’sirene first Wellness Center.

Massage Hall of Fame inductee, Irene is the secret weapon behind many of the world's most successful therapists. Through strategic insight and knowledge she takes thera-preneurs' businesses from good to great.

Registration for Irene's super-popular live event, Design Your Dream Practice (www.DesignYourDreamPractice.com) has just opened and is at an Early-Bird discount with extra bonuses. Limited to just 30 people.

Request your FREE audio Success CD by going to www.MassageSuccess.org  and get on-going success tools and tips at FaceBook.com/TherapySuccess