Niche cruises are a thing, and they’re getting popular as hell. No longer is the classic cruise filled to the brim with retirees playing bingo and drinking too make white wine spritzers before hitting the D-grade karaoke machine, they’re specialised, detailed, and…kinda cool.
The latest in the line of waterborne experiences is the New York Times Crossword cruise. Now I know what you’re thinking and it’s probably something similar to “oh man, that cruise looks like a big ol’ boat of nerds.” and you know, you’re probably right but mate, being a nerd is good and nice. Crosswords are great for challenging your brain, and a very lovely Sunday morning activity when you’re sitting in the sun with a coffee.
The Crossword Crossing is a seven-day trip from New York to the U.K‘s Southampton port this December, celebrating the 75 years of the paper’s crossword which started in 1942.
The cruise features some of the NYT’s best wordsmiths, including Wordplay columnist, Deb Amlen, and digital puzzles editor, Joel Fagliano. Folks on the cruise also get to try their hand at making their own version of the world-famous crossword, in case you’re into that.
You can even challenge some of the paper’s puzzle experts in the Crossword tournament and prove yourself as the #1 Brain Genious.
Also apparently if you book directly from the NYT, you can have a pre-departure brunch at the paper’s Manhattan HQ with Mr. Puzzle Man himself, Will Shortz.
The cruise itself is on the recently-revamped Queen Mary 2, which looks more like a bloody castle on the inside than a boat after its $160m entire ship makeover.
The QM2 is also the only ship that has cruise kennels so you can absolutely bring along your pup for some fresh sea breeze.
If you’re less into puzzles and more into comics, then there’s whispers that the Curnard cruise team are joining up with NYT again next year for a niche cruise about their famous cartoons.
No nannas playing bingo on this cruise, folks.
