2026 & Beyond Predictions: The Future of Retreats & Events at Sea
The Untethered Voyages team has been looking into our crystal ... globe ... and we're excited to share what we think will be the big trends in retreats and events at sea for 2026 and beyond. If you're planning professional development events, corporate offsites, or client retreats, or team celebrations, these seven game-changing trends will reshape how you think about transformation, learning, and connection.
1. The Rise of "Skillcations"
Here's something that's been percolating for a while, but 2026 is the year it becomes non-negotiable: your attendees want to learn AND recharge. Industry insights suggest 72% of travelers are looking for experiences that combine professional development with genuine restoration.
For coaches, consultants, and organizational leaders, this is YOUR moment. The old model of "education OR relaxation" is dead. Your participants want both, and they're willing to invest in experiences that deliver on that promise.
What does this look like in practice? Think morning leadership workshops followed by afternoon shore excursions that aren't just tourist activities - they're experiential learning opportunities. Think culinary sessions that double as lessons in creativity and collaboration. Think wellness programming that's actually about building sustainable high-performance habits, not just a nice massage.
The coaches and event organizers who understand this shift will be the ones filling their retreats in 2026 and beyond.
2. Cruising's Renaissance
Let's address the elephant in the room: modern cruises are nothing like what your grandmother experienced in the 1980s. (Don’t get us wrong - those sounded epic too!) The cruise industry has undergone a complete transformation, and event organizers are finally catching on.
Today's cruise ships offer multiple international destinations, purpose-built meeting spaces with the latest technology, and all-inclusive luxury that could cost you up to three times as much to coordinate on land. You're getting a floating resort, conference center, and adventure basecamp rolled into one.
As we've explored before, the logistics of cruise events are surprisingly straightforward - no vendor juggling, no weather contingencies, no "who's going to pay for that extra coffee break?" conversations. Everything's handled.
The Renaissance isn't just about amenities (though yes, there are go-kart tracks and hot glass studios now). It's about recognizing that cruise environments create conditions for transformation that traditional venues simply can't match. When you physically remove your team from their daily environment, they can finally take off those "office masks" and do the real work of connection and growth.
3. Authenticity & Community Take Center Stage
People are exhausted by curated perfection. They're tired of the highlight reel. They're craving REAL.
In 2026 and beyond, the events that will stand out are the ones that create space for genuine connection, unfiltered experiences, and meaningful community. This means event organizers need to move away from overly produced, stage-managed programming and toward experiences that allow vulnerability and authentic relationship-building.
This isn't about eliminating structure - structure is what creates safety for vulnerability. It's about using that structure to foster real togetherness rather than performative networking.
The friendship recession is real, and it's affecting your bottom line. Workplace friendships have declined by 65% since 1990, and your attendees are feeling it. They don't just want another event - they want experiences that create authentic bonds that last beyond the final dinner.
The cruise environment naturally supports this. Shared meals, unexpected encounters in common spaces, the vulnerability of trying something new together in a port - these moments build community in ways that scheduled "networking time" never will.
4. "Whycations" Over Destinations
The question isn't "Where should we go?" anymore. It's "WHY are we going?"
Purpose-driven travel is reshaping everything about how we think about events. Your attendees don't just want to know they're going to the Caribbean or Mediterranean -they want to understand the deeper purpose behind the gathering.
As we discussed in our post about corporate retreats, the best events start with a fundamental question: "Who do you want to become together?" The destination and activities should serve that purpose, not the other way around.
This shift means event organizers need to get crystal clear on their "why" before they book a single cabin. What transformation are you creating? What problem are you solving? What version of your team or community are you trying to call forth?
When you lead with purpose, the destination becomes a supporting player rather than the star. And ironically, when you do that, the entire experience becomes more memorable and impactful.
5. Experiential Learning & Soft Skills Development
Book knowledge isn't enough anymore. Your participants want immersive experiences that develop real-world capabilities they can actually use.
The events winning in 2026 will focus on developing the skills that matter most in today's complex work environment: communication, leadership, emotional intelligence, adaptability, creative problem-solving. These aren't things you can teach in a traditional workshop format - they require practice, feedback, and safe spaces to experiment.
This is where cruise events shine. Want to teach conflict resolution? Put people in situations where they have to navigate diverse perspectives during shore excursions. Want to develop leadership? Create scenarios where different team members have to step up and lead in unfamiliar environments. Want to build communication skills? Give people experiences that require collaboration across differences.
The learning happens in the doing, not in the PowerPoint deck.
6. Shorter, More Impactful Events
Quality over quantity is winning the day.
Industry trends show that 2026 is the year of the shorter, more intentional retreat. Three to four-day intensive experiences that pack maximum transformation into minimal time away from the office are becoming the new standard.
Why? Because your attendees' time is precious, and they're experiencing unprecedented burnout. They can't afford to be gone for a week, but they desperately need the restoration and connection that events provide.
The solution isn't to eliminate events - it's to make them incredibly efficient and impactful. This means ruthless curation of content, elimination of fluff, and laser focus on outcomes that matter.
Cruise events are perfect for this model. A long weekend sailing creates more transformation than a week at a traditional resort because of the container it creates - you're physically removed from distractions, everything is handled, and the environment naturally facilitates the deep work you need to do together.
7. Sustainability as Standard
Eighty-four percent of travelers say sustainable travel is important to them, and that number is only going up. In 2026, sustainability won't be a nice-to-have - it will be a basic expectation.
Here's what many event organizers don't realize: the cruise industry is actually leading the charge on sustainability in the travel sector. Twenty-three dual-fuel ships will be operational by 2026, running on liquefied natural gas that dramatically reduces emissions. Shore power technology - which allows ships to plug into local power grids while in port—provides up to 98% emission reduction compared to running engines. Battery-hybrid vessels are coming online, bringing zero-emission port stays.
This isn't greenwashing - it's significant technological investment that's reshaping how ships operate.
For event organizers, this means you can deliver the transformative cruise experience your participants want while also meeting the sustainability expectations they have. You don't have to choose between impact and environmental responsibility anymore.
The Bottom Line
2026 and beyond will be defined by INTENTIONAL, TRANSFORMATIVE, and AUTHENTIC experiences that combine:
Learning with restoration
Community building with personal growth
Purpose with pleasure
Sustainability with luxury
Efficiency with impact
The events that win won't be the biggest or the flashiest - they'll be the ones that understand these shifts and design experiences that speak to what people actually need right now.
The event organizers who succeed will be the ones who recognize that cruise-based retreats aren't a compromise- they're actually the optimal environment for creating the transformation their attendees are craving.
Ready to Design Your 2026 or 2027 Event?
The best events are being booked 9-12 months in advance, which means if you're thinking about 2026 or 2027, now is the time to start planning.
Let's untether your vision and create something extraordinary. Whether you're a coach planning your first retreat or an organization ready to reimagine what professional development looks like, we're here to help you navigate every detail - from choosing the perfect ship and itinerary to designing programming that delivers real transformation.
Book your complimentary discovery call and let's explore what's possible for your team or community in 2026 and beyond.
Curious about whether a cruise retreat is right for your group? Check out our Quick Dips program - 3-4 day experiences designed specifically for professionals who want to test-drive the cruise retreat model before committing to a full group event.
