On the first night of a cruise earlier this month, I watched the sunset from one of the ship’s highest decks and chatted with fellow passengers.
One day, a woman asked me if there was something on my shirt. She reached her hand to pull something out of my sleeve, but where she thought there was lint, she had a fifty dollar bill. This was a surprise since I didn’t have cash.
“Can I keep it?” she asked. That seemed fair to her, considering the woman who was a magician seemed to have scraped money out of thin air.
For me, this trick was the unofficial start of Princess Cruises’ first Magic Castle Conjurer’s Cruise. The line affiliated with magic castle, Los Angeles’ legendary private club, brings the art of magic to the high seas aboard the Discovery Princess. He mentions three things that stood out to him while sailing on theme cruises.
1. There was a lot of magic on display on the cruise.
For those not familiar with magic, a magical-themed cruise may bring to mind card tricks and Harry Potter-style robes and wands. The ship’s week-long voyage along the coasts of California and Mexico did both, with magicians performing illusions on board.
Danny Cole began his set by changing costumes on stage several times during Cruise’s welcome show, seemingly switching between suit and shirt in the blink of an eye.
Then his wife, Stacey Suarez Cole, helped him build a 1950s-era oscillating fan. However, when the task was completed, the box it contained was placed on a nearby trolley and closed automatically. During her solo performance, she appeared to breathe her life into a motionless butterfly in a glass case in smoke.
Erika Larsen, president of Magic Castle Enterprises, said the lineup was carefully selected with diversity in mind.
“There’s a lot of magic performed by top magicians, sometimes twice a day,” said Larsen, whose parents and uncle founded Magic Castle. “They all do different styles and different types of magic. “We are showing off,” he said.
Other performances throughout the sailing incorporated comedy, original music, coin tricks, and even pickpocketing (for show, of course).
2. Cruise now gives you access to Magic Castle
Magic castle has History handed down Located in an early 1900s Hollywood mansion, it serves as a base for lovers of magical arts. But getting in is a trick in itself. Visitors must be invited or accompanied by a member.
But The Conjurer’s Cruise opened the door to a wider audience. Ronak Patel, an investment manager who lives near Dallas, has wanted to visit the Magic Castle for at least a decade, and his wife booked the cruise as a gift for her 40th birthday.
“For at least the last 10 years, maybe 12 years, I’ve been trying to figure out who are the best magicians based in the California area that I can contact,” he said.
Patel, whose uncle taught him magic from an early age, said the trip was “more than I could have hoped for.”
“For us, we wanted to capture the essence of the castle and give it to guests who could never make it to Hollywood, or even if they live in Southern California, enjoy it as a first taste or gateway to what lies within the castle walls. It’s exciting to deliver that,” said Dennis Savvis, Vice President of Entertainment Experiences at Princess.
Princess will double that next year. The line’s new ship, Sun Princess, which will launch in February 2024, will feature Spellbound by Magic Castle, a venue with a bar, music room and 30-seat theater featuring close-up magic. will be introduced.
3. The event felt communal.
The magic-themed event was held in the 950-capacity Princess Theater and smaller venues around the ship, and after attending a few, I saw the same faces over and over again. I felt a sense of camaraderie as I talked to other attendees who were passionate about, or at least interested in, magic.
Theme cruises of all types can foster a sense of community and bring together travelers with a common passion.
Patel, who does magic as a hobby, spoke with professional magicians on board to get their wisdom on “what got them into it and what keeps them there.” He said he was able to narrow it down.
Grace Kim, 51, booked her trip three days before departure after learning about the magical element. The San Francisco-based producer is a self-described “Magic enthusiast” who has visited his Magic Castle seven times and has even been able to attend some of them. During her audience participation tricks, her performers chose her many times.
“I love being brought up on stage because it really immerses me in the magic,” she said. “It’s like there’s magic just for me.” Patel was also pulled onto the stage.
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While some events were open to the entire ship, many were limited to groups of approximately 100 guests who chose the Conjurer’s Cruise option. This option started at $699 for onboard use and included events such as shows, lectures, and group meals. Princess added its first Conjurers cruise to its existing itinerary, which was already full, and the line is considering opening that cruise. next time on board the Sun Princess on November 9, 2024, creating an opportunity for a more immersive experience for the entire ship.
As Kim says, “I wanted more magic.”
The reporter for this article received access to this cruise from Princess Cruises. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of reviews.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.
