#SeaTweetup – Networking on the High Seas

This past weekend, 40 social media enthusiasts from around the globe took the term, “tweetup,” to an entirely new level. While sailing away to the Bahamas aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Sky, twitter users (and non-users) came together for the first ever #SeaTweetup.

#SeaTweetup was a 3-day cruise to Nassau which included special activities just for #SeaTweetup passengers. We organized a Social Media Scavenger Hunt and a MillerCoors beer and food pairing before even departing the Port of Miami. Once at sea, we hosted multiple tweetups sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Line and CruiseDeals. Señor Frogs even hosted one of our tweetups once we arrived in Nassau. One of the most valuable and exciting events on-board was the Social Media Roundtable Presentations where a handful of social media gurus gave seven five-minute presentations covering an array of social media topics such as listening, brand identity, measuring analytics, Klout, supporting local businesses using social media, video integration, and Twitter tips. Another perk of #SeaTweetup – each attendee was given complimentary WiFi minutes from MTN to tweet, post on Facebook, blog, and upload pictures!

All the unique activities made #SeaTweetup a fun, social media-friendly cruise. However, it was the networking and newly created friendships that really made the experience unforgettable. As one of the #SeaTweetup committee members, I knew we had organized a really unique experience for those in the social media sphere, but it blew away my expectations! People literally flew from around the world to attend, with all different backgrounds, and founded new relationships out of nothing but a common interest in social media (at first). Most networking events are two hour events consisting of “what do you do?” #SeaTweetup changed the game because we had three days to get past the “what do you do” question and dig deeper to find out who they really are.

I will never forget the first #SeaTweetup and all the new relationships I made. If everything goes as planned, we’ll soon welcome you aboard the second annual #SeaTweetup, so don’t miss the boat!

Check out the full #SeaTweetup itinerary and view the cruise pictures on Flickr and Facebook!

#SeaTweetup sponsors and organizers include:

Kaufman Rossin | @KaufmanRossin @Aubrey_Swanson

Norwegian Cruise Line | @CruiseNorwegian

CruiseDeals | @CruiseDeals

Soul of Miami | @SoulofMiami @thepumagirl

Social Esquire | @SocialEsquire @roriffic

SocialBuzzTV | @SocialBuzzTV

iamJeffCohen | @iamJeffCohen

MillerCoors | @ScottNovak14