Genealogy cruises seem to be growing more popular each year - an interesting way to combine the benefits of the traditional genealogical conference with a vacation at sea. The genealogy lectures, seminars and workshops typically take place only during the days at sea, leaving plenty of time for fun, relaxation and exploration at each port of call. The lineup of speakers found on most genealogy cruises equals what you'll find at a traditional genealogy conference. Best of all, however, is the opportunity to book passage on the same cruise for family members who may not have any interest in family history. While you're expanding your knowledge of the latest family history techniques, they can be enjoying all of the many onboard amenities.

In July, the annual Legacy Genealogy Cruise sets sail on a 12-day European exploration of the Baltic Capitals, with featured speaker, DearMYRTLE. Unlike most genealogy cruises, the Legacy cruise is primarily geared toward users of Legacy Family Tree software, although there are a few classes that are more general in nature. It's also a summertime cruise, making it more accessible to those genealogists like me who have school-aged children at home.

Several other genealogy cruises are planned for the fall, including the RootsMagic Family History Cruise which will sail from Los Angeles in September. This 7-day Mexican Riviera cruise features popular genealogy speakers Dick Eastman, Diana Crisman Smith, Gary M. Smith, Elizabeth Shown Mills and George G. Morgan. While there are several classes geared specifically for users of RootsMagic genealogy software, the majority of the sessions are geared toward genealogists of all levels and interests.

In October, the fourth annual Wholly Genes Genealogy Conference & Cruise brings together nationally known speakers such as Elizabeth Shown Mills, Barbara Vines Little, Tony Burroughs, Megan Smolenyak, Craig Scott, and Cyndi Howells for a week-long learning adventure departing from New York City, with stops in the West Indies, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. All speakers, including several others not mentioned above, will conduct a limited number of private 15-minute research consultations.

That same October week also offers the option of the Royal Caribbean Genealogy Seminar at Sea departs from Miami, Florida for a week-long cruise through the Caribbean islands. Sponsored by Fly Away Travel, this genealogy cruise features three days of seminars by a host of well-known genealogical speakers, including John Philip Colletta, George G. Morgan, Michael Leclerc, and Paula Stuart-Warren (and many others!).