The Texas Wave Writers Retreat
Mariner of the Seas, April 13-18, 2026
The 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
All of these events are optional to attend. If you prefer a quiet night writing on the moonlit balcony to partying with other writers, that’s completely your choice.
Details:
Writing Days at Sea
After breakfast, we will be gathering in a dedicated space for our group for focused writing. There will be occasional writing sprints balanced with a more relaxed writing environment. We’ll break for lunch on your own (or in friendly literary groups), and return for more in the afternoon.
Editor Consultations
Send a chapter (10 pages, double-spaced) and synopsis (2 pages) a few weeks before sailing. You will get a one-on-one consultation to go over your pages and book synopsis. The consultation will be scheduled on one of the two writing days at sea.
Read & Critiques
Share your work and get feedback from other writers. We’ll do small 4 person groups, giving each writer 20 minutes for read and critique.
Social Events
Our group will have reserved tables sitting together in the Main Dining Room each night. After R&C, there will either be a cocktail party, or we’ll be taking over one of the bars on board, starting with the English Pub.
Registration and Payment Information
Today
- Register with our travel partner, Seas'N Sun, at trips.seasnsun.com/tx-wave-writers-retreat-2026
- Pay your Writer’s Fee ($249)
- You will receive an email from our travel agent, Seas'N Sun to help you make the cruise arrangements and pay the $100 cruise deposit.
December 14th, 2025
- Last day to sign up under the guaranteed group rate.
- Joining later is possible, but it will be subject to availability and the prevailing price of rooms at that time.
- Guaranteed group rate is for a limited number of cabins.
January 13th, 2026
- Final Payment Date
- This is the day you must pay off the balance of the cruise price.
- Payment plans can be arranged leading up to this date.
March 13th, 2026
- Send pages of writing to the editor for review.
- Maximum of 10 pages, double-spaced / 3,000 words.
- Also send a synopsis of the work, max 2 pages.
April 12th, 2026
- We advise going to Galveston the day before the cruise, to minimize problems and delays. The ship will not wait for us!
- Group rates for the hotel and parking can be arranged through the travel agent.
April 13th, 2026
- Embark on our epic writing retreat!