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Party Cruise
Miami Travel Tale
by Lorry Patton ...
Port's of call are an important part of cruising; however, on the newer giant-size ocean
liners, the ship itself is often the destination. In fact, some ships have so much appeal, some
passengers never leave the ship at all! And mostly it's because the fun-loving and enthusiastic
passengers are eager and willing to laugh at themselves.
For example, the minute we boarded one of those quickie cruises from Miami, a pepsodent-smiling social
director stuck a mike in our faces and asked us why we were there. We answered carefully and
properly, fully aware we were being watched by a pepsodent-smiling video-toting photographer.
Others took
the opportunity to be creative and silly and ... well .. the funniest response was the couple that
said they were still at home and this was an out-of-body experience. ( In case you're wondering,
their out-of-bodies were sharp and clear on the reruns that they played back to us that night. )
Further hilarious moments were during the male nightgown contest when gutsy
passengers in every shape imaginable -- and age, too -- "strutted their stuff" before us in their
wives' or girlfriends' flimsy negligees.
Others exposed their souls on newly and oldie wed games and their I.Q.'s in trivial pursuit
contests. Still more demonstrated their extraordinary talents in a beer-guzzling competition, in a
pillow fight, and on the not-so-amateur amateur passenger show. Actually, although perhaps not
star-search material, some of the performers were truly gifted. During our excursion a 300 pound
Elvis impersonator got a standing ovation!
Many of us participated wholeheartedly in organized get-togethers such as single's parties
and piano bar sing-along's. And nearly all of us responded wildly -- practically tipping the boat --
to birthday, honeymoon and anniversary salutations presented by the dining room crew. "Happy
Birthday to you ..." or "Happy Anniversary ..." or "Happy Honeymoon ..." we'd
boisterously join the dozen or so arm in arm swaying waiters singing loudly and off key.
The rare moment there was nothing to do, we'd hit the deck with an oversized sun hat and
a radio and practiced diligently for the midnight lip synch contest still to come.
If we wanted to see what we looked like, our antics were all too realistically recorded
by that pepsodent-smiling roving photographer. The video was for sale, too, so that back home,
when friends ask, "What did you do on your cruise besides eat?" all we have to do is pop the
video into the VCR.
| Travel Tales in Related Destinations |
| Florida Keys |
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| Orlando |
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| Pinellas Sun Coast |
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