Halloween Cruise

Taking a Halloween cruise is usually a fun affair, as the guests dress for the occasion and the cruises do their part to get everyone in the Halloween spirit. Each cruise line is likely to do something different, but we’ve heard great stories of ships transformed into haunted houses and costume contests hosted for the guests. Since no one has to drive for the evening, you are free to drink and enjoy the party! Disney Cruise Lines, this thread at Cruisemates. You can also gather some idea about the expected age range of the other cruise ship guests from this Fox news story about the 2011 singles Halloween cruises.

One Night Halloween Cruises
You don’t have to engage in a weeklong vacation in order to enjoy a little maritime mystery and adventure on Halloween. Nighttime cruises are becoming a more popular way to party on Halloween weekend. From New York to San Francisco, you can find a one night cruise that will spook your friends during sailing.

East Coast
Entertainment Cruises puts on a series of Halloween affairs from the Spirit of Boston Halloween Lunch Cruise for the family or the after dark experience at the Spirit of Philadelphia Boo Moonlight Cruise.

But they aren’t the only game in town. You’ll find the Harbor Lights Yacht in New York City also puts on a Halloween cruise. And Isand Queen Cruises in Miami also has a Halloween Cruise.

In Key Largo, Island Time Cruises is holding a two hour Haunted Cruise called Delirium on October 27th.

West Coast
Enjoy the Kiss Screamin’ Halloween cruise in San Francisco with Hornblower Cruises, the Haunted Harbor Cruise in San Francisco with Flagship, a 50s costume party aboard Argosy in Seattle, or the Portland Spirit Boo Cruise.

If you want an exotic Halloween adventure, try Hawaii. You’ll find your costume contest on the Pride of Maui.

Enjoying a nautical excursion doesn’t have to be a huge affair, though. If you happen to find yourself in Utah, CLAS Ropes course runs a voyager canoe along Provo River for Halloween every year. I doubt that it is the party that you will find on the larger cruise ships, but it would make for an intimate and adventurous date.

No Sailing Necessary
Or, you can skip the sailing and enjoy an evening of amusement aboard a stationary ship such as the Battleship New Jersey, where The Philadelphia Experiment held the Voyage of the Living Dead in 2011. In Boston, you’ll find Nightmare on Boston Harbor put on by Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, a haunted ship docked in Long Beach.

For additional non-cruise halloween options, see our halloween travel section!