Top-down aerial view of a large cruise ship sailing on the ocean.

2027 Beekeeper Exchange Itinerary

A vacation-first beekeeper getaway on the Star Princess, with optional professional development sessions on sea days and unforgettable port experiences in Honduras, Belize, and Cozumel.

7 Nights | Western Caribbean Star Princess

  • Hotel: TBD

    Check-in: TBD

    7:00-8:00PM Optional: Relax + Casual Networking.

    Note: Participants may wish to consider arriving in Fort Lauderdale the day prior to embarkation. Winter travel disruptions can occur, overnight arrival provides added flexibility and a smoother start to the week.

  • Morning: Group continental breakfast at hotel.

    Late Morning/Early Afternoon:

    Hotel-to-port transfer, boarding onto the Star Princess.

    3:30-4:30 | Sail Away Party Networking

    4:45-5:30pm | Welcome & Orientation

    Evening | New-to-Cruising Orientation + Ship Tour

    Join an optional guided walkthrough of key ship areas including dining venues, bars, meeting points, and main amenities. A quick primer on how to navigate the ship, use the Princess app, and where to find daily schedules and activities.

  • 10:00-11:30AM | Exchange Session : Hive Propagation Methods & Replacement Strategies - Topics: Walk-Away-Splits, Grafting vs Non-grafting, Purchased Queens vs Home-raised, Building Nucs, timing splits(Honey vs Increase), Packages as Replacement, comparing Nucs\Packages\Splits

    7:30-8:30 | Optional Networking Mixer

  • 10:00-11:30AM | Exchange Session: Future Planing, Family Takeover, Succession & Multi-Generational Planning, Pathways for Kids, Gradual Buyout Strategies, Joint Operations, Corporation transfers, Shared Family Models, Long-Term Resilience Planing.

  • 9:00AM-2:00PM | Exchange Excursion | Flores Family - Island Honey - Tropical Apiary Field Observation and Applied Beekeeping.

    Learning tropical colony behaviour & management, operation tour, live hive inspections, tropical pest approaches, nectar flows/seasonal patterns, honey tasting , cultural/family context

    Note: Participation in Exchange Excursions are optional and subject to weather, local conditions, and availability.

    7:00-8:00 | Optional Exchange |

    Discussing connecting the days observations to participants own operations. Compare/Contrast Island environment/operation to home environment/operation.

  • Flexible Port Day

    Independent exploration, ship based activities or optional shore excursions booked individually.

    Due to tendering logistics and varied excursion lengths, no scheduled group activity is planned.

    7:00-8:00pm | Optional Networking Exchange

    Informal mixer for participants to connect, share experiences from the day and continue peer discussions.

  • 9:00AM-2:00PM | Exchange Excursion | Mayan Bee Sanctuary

    Discover the Melipona Stingless Bees & Mayan Honey Traditions, exploring traditional stingless beekeeping, cultural significance, and honey tasting.

    Note: Participation in Exchange Excursions are optional and subject to weather, local conditions, and availability.

    7:00-8:00PM | Optional Exchange

    Facilitated group discussion reflecting on observations from the day. Peer-to-Peer networking.

  • 10:30-11:30AM | Exchange Session | Preparing for a Successful 2027 Season

    Staying motivated, realistic workflow planning, staying organized and on task, takeaways from Roatá + Cozumel, wrap-up for the Bee Exchange

  • Morning | Disembarkation

Map illustrating a maritime route from Belize City and Roatán in Honduras to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, passing through the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.