Mixing water and gremlins is not a good idea, according to the popular 1984 movie.
Mixing water and Comic-Con? We’re about to find out.
It’s not the Love Boat. And it’s not a “three-hour tour.” But Comic-Con is hitting the high seas next year when it debuts “Comic-Con: The Cruise,” a themed cruise ship excursion that is offering a different experience for fans of the pop culture event.
The cruise is scheduled to take place Feb. 5-9, 2025. It isn’t replacing the annual event held at the downtown convention center. That will continue separately. Instead, it’s being billed as a unique opportunity for fans to enjoy a more intimate version of the massive convention.
“It’s a fully immersive experience where our guests get to celebrate their love of all things, in this case pop culture,” said Greg Laubach, executive director of Entertainment Cruise Productions, the company organizing the event.
The St. Louis-based company has been around more than 20 years and organizes a variety of themed cruises, including Stark Trek and ‘80s cruises.
“Our cruises are really epic,” said Laubach.
But this is the first time it has worked with Comic-Con International. And it won’t be the last as Laubach said the company has a multi-year agreement to do more cruises.
For the inaugural cruise, fans will board Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas ship in Tampa and then sail to Cozumel, Mexico, before returning to the U.S.
Organizers are promising screenings, panels, photo opportunities, themed cosplay parties, competitive tabletop and video gaming and karaoke. Plus, there will be early and late evening shows. Celebrities scheduled to appear so far include actors Warwick Davis, George Takei, Ernie Hudson, Mary McDonnell, Michael Trucco, Felicia Day and author Robb Pearlman.
Laubach said that fans and celebrities being on the ship will lead to more casual and personal encounters.
“Our celebrities don’t come on just to perform,” he said. “If you’re in the buffet at one of the restaurants, you’ll see them. You’ll sit with them at times. All of our guests are encouraged to walk around and greet and participate. Just the venue itself creates this intimate gathering where you feel you’re one on one.”
Although Comic-Con each year attracts about 135,000 attendees, the cruise will be capped at 2,000 guests. The ship will be solely used for guests of the themed cruise. Tickets start at $990 per person and go higher for balcony rooms and suites. Information is available at comicconthecruise.com.
Laubach, who will be aboard the ship helping to coordinate all the activities, isn’t even calling it a convention.
Instead, he said, “It is the ultimate fan adventure.”