Silicon Valley by sea: Titans of tech pay $10,000 to party on networking cruise that offers everything from sunrise yoga and world-class cuisine to a live talk with Edward Snowden - but no Wi-Fi

  • The second-annual Summit of the Sea set sail on November 13 featuring an invite-only guest list with some of the biggest names in tech
  • Among those who spoke at the event were Edward Snowden, Martha Stewart, Google's Eric Schmidt, Travis Kalanick of Uber and John Legend
  • Tickets to the exclusive event started at $3,000 and went as high as over $10,000 for the four-day trip 
  • Guests could also enjoy sunrise yoga, calligraphy workshops, 3D figure painting classes, and live demonstrations on shark tagging
  • The ship did not have Wi-Fi however, and only 10 computers in the main lobby had Internet access 
  • The event was the work of Summit Series, an organization created with the aim of attracting a younger and 'cooler' set of entrepreneurs

The biggest names in tech traveled across the country from Silicon Valley earlier this month for a four-day, invite-only cruise that set sail on November 13 from Miami.

The second-annual Summit at Sea was both a networking event and party for the 3,000 carefully curated influencers onboard.

And while the lineup of impressive speakers may have been the main draw for most of those on the trip, there was also a wide variety of classes that were offered including sunrise yoga, calligraphy workshops, 3D figure painting classes, and live demonstrations and tutorials on shark tagging. 

Best of all, guests had plenty of time to enjoy this wide variety of classes as well as the panels over the course of the four days - which included a live interview with Edward Snowden - because there was no Wi-Fi access on the ship save the 10 computers in the main lobby.

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All aboard: The second-annual Summit of the Sea set sail on November 13 featuring an invite-only guest list with some of the biggest names in tech

All aboard: The second-annual Summit of the Sea set sail on November 13 featuring an invite-only guest list with some of the biggest names in tech

Big money: Tickets to the exclusive event started at $3,000 and went as high as over $10,000 for the four-day trip

Big money: Tickets to the exclusive event started at $3,000 and went as high as over $10,000 for the four-day trip

A good thing: Martha Stewart was interviewed by Guy Raz of National Public Radio at the event

A good thing: Martha Stewart was interviewed by Guy Raz of National Public Radio at the event

All of him: John Legend spoke on a panel about art and social justice and later performed a cover of Bob Marley's Redemption Song

All of him: John Legend spoke on a panel about art and social justice and later performed a cover of Bob Marley's Redemption Song

Snowden participated in a much buzzed about Google Hangout at the event where he was interviewed by Silicon Valley venture investor Chris Sacca - who previously worked for Google - and answered some audience questions.

Other high-profile speakers on this year's cruise included Martha Stewart, Google's Eric Schmidt, Uber founder Travis Kalanick and John Legend.

Legend not only spoke but also performed a cover of Bob Marley's 'Redemption Song' for guests after his panel about art and social justice alongside Equal Justice Initiative Founder Bryan Stevenson and actor and activist Harry Belafonte.

The most anticipated event of the four days however was the opening session during which Schmidt interviewed Kalanick on the way technology is transforming modern society.

Business Insider reports that during the interview Kalanick attacked the taxi medallion system by labeling it 'a corrupt system that’s bad for society' while also discussing the future of driverless tech.

He also shared the most amusing Uber story he had ever heard which came from a passenger who learned his driver had put his wife in the trunk of the car because he did not think she should be sitting with him while he was working. 

Wild rich man: Guests were also able to enjoy a variety of concerts, as well as the ship's requisite water slides and hot tubs

Wild rich man: Guests were also able to enjoy a variety of concerts, as well as the ship's requisite water slides and hot tubs

Feel the burn: There were a variety of classes offered to guests, including many different forms of yoga

Feel the burn: There were a variety of classes offered to guests, including many different forms of yoga

Crowded house: The main draw at the networking event was the wide array of accomplished speakers

Crowded house: The main draw at the networking event was the wide array of accomplished speakers

Calming energies: There were also multiple meditation classes offered over the four-day trip

Calming energies: There were also multiple meditation classes offered over the four-day trip

Reservation fees for the cruise started at $3,000 and went all the way up to over $10,000 based on room selection aboard the Norwegian Getaway, which sailed from Miami to the Bahamas and then back over the course of the four days at sea. 

The event was the work of Summit Series, an organization started in 2008 with the aim of attracting a younger and 'cooler' set of entrepreneurs to their conferences.

Summit hosts all its other events, conferences, and retreats at Powder Mountain in Eden, Utah, which they purchased for $40million in 2012.

Summit at Sea also serves as a fundraiser, with the 2011 event raising $1million to protect a marine reserve in the Bahamas.

Big draw: The opening session featured an interview of Uber founder Travis Kalanick conducted by Eric Schmidt of Google

Big draw: The opening session featured an interview of Uber founder Travis Kalanick conducted by Eric Schmidt of Google

Deep thoughts: Multiple guests posted photos of this piece done in the style of Jenny Holzer that was installed on the ship

Deep thoughts: Multiple guests posted photos of this piece done in the style of Jenny Holzer that was installed on the ship

Heading out: The four-day trip went from Miami to the Bahamas and then back to Miami

Heading out: The four-day trip went from Miami to the Bahamas and then back to Miami

Pool time: Guests were also able to learn all about shark tagging with a live demonstration and tutorial

Pool time: Guests were also able to learn all about shark tagging with a live demonstration and tutorial

Loic Le Meur, the co-founder at LeWeb and a guest on the ship, wrote about the very private affair for Business Insider

'Lots of inspiring talks, great music, some art, many many great people in a closed offline environment and some weird stuff such as special meditation techniques. Loved it,' wrote Le Meur.

She said the ship 'feels like you’re in Las Vegas inside' and that while it was comfortable 'the decoration is pretty tacky and slot machines are all around (which very few people from Summit used).'

The food was also a bit lackluster according to Le Meur, who said the good restaurants were almost all booked before the ship departed, though she did note everything was included in the reservation fee. 

Mark it up: The cruise attracted mostly millennials between the ages of 25 - 40

Mark it up: The cruise attracted mostly millennials between the ages of 25 - 40

Letting loose: The days begin with sunrise yoga, and end with concerts on the top deck

Letting loose: The days begin with sunrise yoga, and end with concerts on the top deck

Super jazzed: Guests were given access to all the panels and talks on the ship

Super jazzed: Guests were given access to all the panels and talks on the ship

Almost like the real thing: A flip-flopped young man perches in front of a rock wall on the ship

Almost like the real thing: A flip-flopped young man perches in front of a rock wall on the ship

Le Meur, who was a guest on the first Summit of the Sea cruise in 2011, said the networking was a bit intense with so many 'A-types' and described the demographic as 'a mix of 25–40 year old entrepreneurs, artists, musicians and people doing interesting projects.' 

She wrote that she enjoyed the musical acts selected for the event, the wide array of unexpected classes which included Afro-Brazilian Dance and History of Mushrooms: From Ancient Mystics to Modern Medicine, and the ship's watersides - after having a few beers.  

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