SERIAL THRILLER
Exotic ports of call, scrumptious food, breathtaking views… What could be better than a relaxing, decadent cruise? How about sailing with a boatload of fellow travelers who share
Haven’t missed your beloved daytime drama since 1972? Time to fess up: You’re a soap opera addict. It’s OK – you’re not alone. The only difference is that, as millions of fellow devotees must settle for TV, you’ll be adrift with 15 stars from the hottest shows: All My Children, Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless, As the World Turns, One Life to Live, General Hospital and Guiding Light.
your passion for … knitting? Or sailing the ocean blue with your favorite soap opera stars? Welcome to the wonderful, wacky world of theme cruises, where mystery aficionados can solve deadly crimes after relaxing poolside and passengers wishing to contact the dearly departed may do so before the midnight buffet. Prefer to cruise in the nude? There’s a voyage for you, too (we’re not kidding). Better get going, though – you don’t want to miss the boat!
NAKED TRUTH No shirt? No pants? No problem. On a Bare Necessities cruise, once the captain bellows, “OK you can get naked now,” clothing is only required in the dining room (and in port). The in-the-buff cruises, offered about four times a year, give passengers a chance to vacation “in a nonthreatening environment where the appreciation, wonder and compatibility of nature and the unadorned form can occur,” explains Bare Necessities Tour & Travel Company’s Web site. “People who leave their clothing behind in a social setting are also more able to check their egos at the door and be themselves,” adds Nancy Tiemann, company president. Sans-clothes trips also lead to an acceptance of your body, imperfections and all, she promises. There’s also less anguish about what to pack. And imagine not having to worry about fitting into
your pants after those heavenly midnight buffets!
Passengers get up close and personal with celebrities the minute they embark and continue with autograph and photo sessions, cocktail and beach parties, a trivia game and a chance to create a soap opera script and act it out with the stars. Ready to act on your instincts? The next Soap Cruise leaves Miami January 28th, 2010 and the first 150 people to sign up for the fourday trip aboard the Celebrity Century will dine with the stars during an exclusive VIP breakfast.
The cruise, hosted by soap hunk Cameron Mathison, stops at Key West and Cozumel, and in between there are plenty of opportunities to interact with your favorite actors and actresses. Perhaps you’d like to dish with Nadia Bjorlin about Chloe’s affair with the doctor on Days of Our Lives or catch up on Jessica‘s One Life to Live antics with Bree Williams. You could end up playing the slot machine next to John Brotherton (Jared on One Life To Live) or watching the sunset along with Greg Vaughan (Lucky on General Hospital) There are, however, some verboten activities. The stars’ cabins are offlimits. And no, you can’t shower with them. “You wouldn’t believe what we’ve been asked,” quips Mike Gold, president of Celebrity Events Group, which sponsors the annual cruises. Although, he adds, passengers are always “amazed” at how much quality time they get to spend with the stars. Cruises start at $925. For more information, call 888-381-4654 or visit soapcruise.com.
The cruises, which range from eight to 15 days, include events like “Undressed To Kill: James Bond Night.” The eight-day FantaSea Fest Fun Cruise aboard the Carnival Miracle this October will dock in Key West during Fantasy Fest and in Cancun during the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. “In our 19 years of clothes-free cruising, we have found that no one enjoys a good costume party more than nudists,” the Web site states (are we the only ones that find this a bit ironic?). The revelry continues at sea, with activities including body painting, parties and a Halloween ball. Now, for the practical information: Without pockets, where do passengers keep their key cards? They use wrist packs. Rates begin at $1,700. For more information, call 512-499-0405 or visit barenecessities.com.
Clockwise from Top: Austin Peck (Brad on As the World Turns) acts out a scene on stage with a lucky fan. Front Row, Left to right: Ricky Paull Goldin (Jake on All My Children), Bradford Anderson (Spinelli on General Hospital) and Christian LeBlanc (Michael on The Young and the Restless) were joined by 15 other soap opera stars on a soap cruise. A cruise passenger holds up an autographed script from The Bold and The Beautiful.
J u n e / J u ly 2 0 0 9
67