A floating retreat for postpartum professionals
The Doula Cruise
S.E.A. - Sleep, Education & Advocacy, adrift together.
A professional development conference built at sea – for postpartum doulas, newborn care specialists, sleep consultants, and anyone who supports families as they adjust to life with a new baby. Every certification path, every state, every training background welcome. No commute, no distractions, no rushing off to the next client. Just open water, open minds, and a room full of people who get it.
Port 01 - Departure
Why put a postpartum conference on a cruise ship?
Departing : April 15-19,2027
Because postpartum professionals preach rest and rarely practice it – so we built a conference where you can’t skip it.
It’s also, frankly, an act of practicing what we teach. We ask our clients to protect their rest during the fourth trimester. We ask new doulas to build sustainable businesses instead of burning out in year two. A cruise makes that easier to actually do – with Wi-Fi packages available on board, you get to choose whether to stay reachable for clients back home or fully unplug for a few days. Either way, there’s still plenty of the fun part of a cruise built in: drinks by the pool, live music, and evenings with nowhere you have to be.
One thing worth knowing: our group isn’t chartering the whole ship. You’ll be sailing alongside other passengers and groups too – our sessions and gatherings are just for Doula Cruise attendees, but once the day’s sessions wrap up, you’re under no obligation to keep hanging out with us. Explore, relax, or find the group again later – whatever sounds good.
The Short Version
One ticket, three things doulas never get enough of
Port 02 — Who's Aboard
Who is the Doula Cruise for?
Anyone who supports families as they bring a new baby home and adjust to life postpartum – from any certifying organization.
Any organization trained
Any organization trained
If your work touches the postpartum period – helping families adjust to a new baby at home – however you got certified, or even if you’re still deciding whether to get certified, you’re welcome aboard. We built this to bridge organizations, not gatekeep between them.
Port 03 — What to Expect
What attendees can expect on board
Learn
Explore Sessions
Practical workshops on business systems, sustainability, and specialized topics – taught by working doulas and birth professionals.
Connect
Community Time
Rest
Real Downtime
Open evenings, a spa deck, drinks by the pool – stay connected on the ship’s Wi-Fi or fully unplug, your call. Either way, no one’s rushing you.
Explore
A Port of Call
One full day off the ship to explore together – optional excursions, or just sand and quiet, your call.
Port 04 — Sample Itinerary
A typical day at S.E.A.
This is the plan so far.
Day 1 — Embarkation: Set sail from Tampa
Set sail from Tampa
April 15,2027 – Board in Tampa, FL, get situated in your cabin, and ease into the trip – no formal sessions today, though we may plan a casual meet-up for the evening
Day 2 — At Sea, Education Day
Two morning sessions, one after lunch
Two education sessions in the morning and one after lunch. Evenings are open – explore the ship, relax solo, or gather with the group.
Day 3 — Port of Call: Cozumel
Off the ship, together or on your own
A day in Cozumel, Mexico – no sessions scheduled. Explore on your own or with the group.
Day 4 — At Sea, Education Day
Same rhythm as Day 2
Day 5 — Disembarkation
Early disembark
We disembark early – there may be time for a last coffee together before everyone heads home.
Session topics are still being finalized, but we’re hoping to cover business systems (taxes & bookkeeping), sleep consulting and where it fits into doula work, boundaries for sustainability, contracts, and the tradeoffs between working independently, as a contractor, or as an employee/agency doula.
Port 05 — Final Port: Questions
Frequently asked questions
When does the cruise depart?
Do I need a specific certification to attend?
Will this count toward continuing education (CE) requirements?
How much does it cost, and what's included?
Cruise prices fluctuate based on market rates. The prices for the retreat are discounted, and at the time of publication, they range from the mid-$400s to the $600s per person for double occupancy. This price includes all meals and access to the ship’s activities throughout the five-day (four-night) cruise.
Where does the ship depart from, and what airport should I fly into?
Is the whole ship just for our group?
Will I be able to stay in touch with clients back home?
What if I've never been on a cruise before?
Can I bring a partner or friend who isn't a postpartum professional?
Can I book the cruise portion through my own travel agent?
No, please book through Christina, our contracted travel agent. She’s the only one who can add you to our group block, and conference access is tied to being part of that block.
Christina is highly ranked nationally and can match or beat outside pricing, so you won’t lose anything by booking with her. If you happen to find a lower price elsewhere, just send her the details and she’ll try to match it. She can also help pair up roommates within our group once you’ve signed up.
Save your spot before the tide turns.
Conference registration: $325 Early Bird Special · cruise fare booked separately
© 2026 The Doula Cruise — presented by ABG Doula Training & Tampa Bay Postpartum Doula Services.