Unless you LOVE your work and just want a change of scene while doing what you love.

Then don't go on a cruise. There are plenty of places with great scenery AND great connectivity. But a cruise ship is not one of them.

Just seems like a lot of expense that by working you're decreasing the value.

Also depends on who you're traveling with / anyone.

I've been on trips with the "I have to work" folks, it's a pain, they're not really "there" you end up trying to schedule around them. Then they just show up unaware / uninvolved in whatever is going on.

i think you needed to set expectations. on every trip, i reach a point where i don't have any social-interaction points and so i go back to my cave and code.

Oh I have, I just don't go with the "I have to work" people, or everyone is on the same page and it's just not a thing.

... and even if you're just on vacation it's not like you're doing nothing else but being online, OP ...