In Vivian Marino’s [Venturing Out on the Deep Blue Sea to Learn More About Land[NYT]](http://select.nytimes.com/mem/tnt.html?tntget=2006/02/19/realestate/19cruise.html&tntemail0=y&emc=tnt&pagewanted=print) she talks about cruise patrons, _instead of tossing back Bahama Mamas while observing hairy-chest contests or ice-carving demonstrations poolside with the other passengers, they are ensconced in conference rooms, hearing about Section 1031 exchanges, landlord techniques and residential rehabbing._

I have heard of many specialty cruises, in fact I was momentarily temped by a [MacMania Geek Cruise](http://www.geekcruises.com/top/mm04_top.htm) a while back but then I remembered, although I am a Mac nut, I easily get motion sickness and, oh yes, I have a life.

But real estate cruises? Don’t you have to factor in the cost of the cruise to your return?

_If you are looking for a sign that the real estate economy is overheated, then this may be it._