NurseCon at Sea Wins the Best Nurse Event for The 2nd Consecutive Year

We’ll be highlighting all of Nurse.org’s 2026 “Best Of” Nursing Award winners for you to get to know over the coming days. You can find the complete list of our winners here!

For the second year in a row, Nurse.org is proud to announce that NurseCon at Sea has been awarded the Best Nurse Event in our 2026 Best of Nursing Awards. This year’s NurseCon at Sea out of Fort Lauderal in April, many Nurse.org staff members and fellow Best of Nursing Awards winners were able to gather together to enjoy a special pre-cruise party, receive their awards in person, and celebrate together.

NurseCon at Sea, which offers fun-filled, adventure-packed cruises for nurses that also fulfil their Continuing Education (CE) requirements, just keeps getting better and better. And we have the inside scoop on what nurses can expect from the NurseCon at Sea in 2026 and 2027.

Mariana Garces, Head of Marketing and Communications for NurseCon at Sea, says winning the Best Nurse Event for the second year in a row is “incredibly meaningful” to the entire team.

“NurseCon at Sea was created to give nurses a safe space to truly celebrate themselves and connect with one another,” she explains. “To receive this recognition again from the nursing community reinforces that what we’re building is making a real impact, and it means the world to us to know that the nursing community loves NurseCon at Sea as much as we love planning it for all the nurses!”

The educational cruises have become even more popular this year, and Garces notes that she believes the events thrive because nurses are craving connection, vacation, and experiences designed specifically for them. “It’s one of the few events where education, entertainment, connection, and vacation all come together in one space,” she points out.

Just how popular is NurseCon at Sea? Well, we have good news and bad news. The good news is, it’s very, very popular. The bad news? 2027 is already fully sold out. And if you’re feeling preemptively disappointed, Garces encourages prospective cruisers to keep their eyes and ears peeled:

“We are always looking for ways to keep expanding our events to ensure that everyone who wants to be a part of them can experience them, so stay tuned!”

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Speaking of expansion, NurseCon at Sea saw many changes this year, including NurseCon Tonight!, a spin on a late-night show, and inviting cruising Frequent Flyers, guests who have attended more than one NurseCon at Sea, to provide their input into programming. Frequent Flyers hosted Country Line Dancing at sea, as well as the first-ever Preceptor Program, designed as a fun and welcoming orientation for Newbies.

“These experiences truly reinforced what makes NurseCon at Sea so special: the NurseCon Family, which is exactly that… a family,” says Garces.

Other NurseCon at Sea highlights this year included:

• Live shows, such as Nurse Blake featuring Steven Ho, the iconic Drag Queens Nina West and Angeria VanMicheals, and a live cover band
• Entertainment like Drag Bingo, the Ultimate Nurse Survey Showdown, and NurseCon Tonight
• Themed parties
• Continuing education sessions
• Meet-and-greets
• Unmatched energy onboard
• New nurse friendships

New guests can look forward to a brand new port as NurseCon at Sea is now sailing to Turks & Caicos for the first time.

“We also already have many exciting surprises and enhancements planned for next year, including new entertainment elements, special guests, and even more opportunities for attendees to connect and create unforgettable memories together!” says Garces.

If you’ve never been to NurseCon at Sea—”It’s equal parts conference, celebration, and vacation,” summarizes Garces—here’s a preview of what you can expect to find on a typical cruise:

• Live entertainment
• CNEs
• Themed nights
• Community-building activities
• Relaxation
• Tropical destinations
• Connection with nurses all over the world

“I have been to five NurseCon at Sea sailings, and I can genuinely say that my favorite part is seeing all the nurses let loose, laugh, and feel celebrated,” Garces says. “Watching how excited all the nurses are to board the ship and later seeing them all disembark feeling energized and connected is incredibly rewarding.”

Garces encourages any NurseCon at Sea first-timers to embrace and make the most of the experience. “Go to the themed nights, meet new people, attend the sessions, and embrace the community aspect of the experience,” she says. “Everyone is there to have fun and support one another. Even if you come alone, you are never truly alone. Everyone is so incredibly nice onboard!”

Nurses can find next year’s sailing dates at nurseconatsea.com, and Garces recommends booking early to take advantage of early bird pricing and to ensure you get your dream stateroom. You can also register for the email list to be notified when the next event goes on sale.

If you aren’t able to nab a spot on NurseCon at Sea, there is still hope. You could register for another exciting nurse CE experience at Camp NurseCon.

Camp NurseCon, Garces explains, is another immersive NurseCon experience created by the famous Nurse Blake, but instead of a cruise, it’s a camp-style retreat experience focused on community, wellness, and adventurous fun. “It’s the Ultimate Nurse Retreat, and it allows nurses to unplug, recharge, and reconnect with themselves and others,” she says. “It allows nurses to experience the magic of NurseCon in a completely different environment.”

Garces adds that Camp NurseCon is especially important to Nurse Blake because it was deeply inspired by the 30 days he spent in rehab, a time that completely changed his perspective on mental health, burnout, and the importance of stepping away to heal. During rehab, he reconnected with himself, rediscovered joy, and learned the value of community, rest, and play.

As a result, Camp NurseCon was created to give nurses a space to experience those same feelings: a chance to unplug, recharge, connect with others, and focus on themselves for once.

“It’s more than just a retreat; it’s an opportunity for nurses to reconnect with their inner child, prioritize their well-being, and remember that they deserve care too,” she explains.

No matter which Nurse Blake-founded event you might attend, Camp NurseCon or NurseCon at Sea, the team behind the scenes wants all nurses to know that every detail of NurseCon is created with the intention of celebrating the nursing community and reminding nurses that they deserve joy, connection, and unforgettable experiences.

“Nurses work so incredibly hard year-round, and they deserve a safe space to decompress and come back to themselves and their why,” Garces says.

Images courtesy of NurseCon at Sea and Camp NurseCon.

🤔 Nurses, have you attended a NurseCon at Sea or Camp NurseCon? Tell us about your experience, and if you’d recommend it to your fellow nurses!