I set sail again last week on the second annual Rainbow Readers Cruise! After having so much fun the year before, I knew this was an event I didn’t want to miss, despite my packed summer travel schedule. With my favorite emotional support human/road-trip adventure friend, Rory Maxwell, we flew down to Florida last Sunday and set sail on Monday for 4 jam-packed days of connecting with old friends and new readers. We exhausted ourselves so much last year that we made a concentrated effort to find time to chill–especially since we were also better prepared for the heat!
Please enjoy this highlight reel of our fantastic week!
Sunday
Rory and I met up with another cruiser while waiting to board our flight in Baltimore. We proceeded to travel together in the most introverted fashion possible.
Since we arrived at the hotel too late in the evening for the cocktail hour, Rory and I did some last-minute shopping and enjoyed a quiet dinner before the next day’s madness.
Monday
We were one of the first groups to board the Celebrity Reflection, which meant a quick lunch in the buffet before it got too bonkers. We spent the rest of the afternoon lounging by the pool before changing for the rainbow-themed kickoff party! Also: Our decorated cabin door, the first martini (of many) of the cruise, and playing with the frozen martini bar!
Tuesday
Key West essentials: Sunrise from the cabin balcony, dueling selfies, key lime pie, and a few cocks.
We beat the heat by spending the rest of the afternoon in a cabana at the ship’s Lawn Club.
The night’s theme was “dress to impress,” and I’m so bummed that the picture we got with author J.S. Harker doesn’t include my amazing shoes! I changed after dinner before heading back to the martini bar, where I found my new favorite martini (a delicious mint-chocolate concoction).
Wednesday
Zip-lines are one of my favorite things in the world, but I’ve never justified doing the course on Coco Cay (Celebrity/Royal Caribbean’s private island) because it looks kind of…tame. But this year, I hosted an “author excursion” and took 3 readers with me. Each was a zip-line virgin, but I think they were having fun by the last run! I spent my afternoon on the island reading in our fabulous cabana (I’m not burnt, I’m under an orange umbrella) and chatting with people at the swim-up bar. Also: Our ship looks so tiny next to Utopia of the Seas, and we found another cock.
Back at the ship, we dressed for white night! I totally forgot to get any other pictures than this adorable shot of Rory on the balcony and a silly selfie, but I had a fabulous dinner with readers who specifically signed up to eat with me (whaaaat?). That evening, Rory and I, along with author Victoria Sue, hosted a bar takeover at — where else? — the martini bar.
Thursday
The highlight of the cruise’s sea day is the Signing at Sea! This year, a smaller room meant the authors were broken into 4 groups, so we spent most of the day popping in and out to visit everyone’s tables. Shown: A pre-signing balcony selfie, my table, a close-up of the special edition Steel Empires set, and signing for a reader. Not shown: The mimosa fetched by the lovely Alice Winters.
We did make it outside for a stroll around the deck before changing for the final theme night: Pirates! Why, yes, that is my Renaissance Festival outfit. On a cruise ship. With lots of very confused cruisers. I love my life.
Friday
We disembarked the ship and flew home. I definitely slept the rest of the weekend. I can’t wait to do it all over again next year!
Next Up
Attending any of these events? My books are available for preorder!
Final Haul
Note: Links go to my available reviews of any previously read books.
- T-shirt and bag with this year’s awesome riff on the Reading Rainbow logo, plus a water bottle with the classic Rainbow Readers Cruise logo
- Turkish Delights by Trina Lane
- SPECTR Volume 2 by Jordan L. Hawk
- Random assortment of always-fun Nora Phoenix swag