Woman gives inside look at the dark delight of going on a gothic cruise

By Emma Dunn via SWNS

A woman spent $4.8k on a gothic cruise - complete with a masquerade ball and a saints and sinners party.

Heather Blood, 31, went on the week-long cruise with her boyfriend, Jesse, 35, and 150 strangers in March 2024 - from Orlando, Florida to the Bahamas.

Heather dressed up in 18 different outfits - such as a skeleton wet suit and a leather dress - and loved being comfortable wearing what she wanted - free of judgment.

Heather, a content creator, from New York City, said: “It was a lot of fun.

“I loved the masquerade ball. Everyone wore big dresses with big hoop skirts.

“I love being creative with how I look.”

Heather has loved and dressed in a gothic style for the last 10 years.

She said: “I didn’t know there were different ways of looking.

“When I discovered different styles on Pinterest I fell in love and started experimenting."

When a travel agent from All Genre Travel reached out asking if Heather wanted to go on the cruise she immediately jumped at the chance.

The company run private themed events for a group as part of a normal cruise.

Heather had been preparing for a year before she went – hand-making most of her 18 different outfits.

Heather and Jesse set off from Orlando, Florida, on March 2, 2024, and traveled to the Dominican Republic, a private island in the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands.

On their first day, they were able to meet the other people who had signed up for a gothic cruise for dinner.

Heather said: “Everyone was so friendly and nice.”

In the following days, the group was able to do activities together such as water sliding, swimming with sea turtles and a brunch.

Each evening there was a themed party and concert for the group to enjoy.

Heather said: “The first was a themed saints and sinners night and private concert.

“We all got to dress up.”

One of Heather’s favorite outfits was for a Saints and Sinners party.

She said: “It was kind of scandalous.

“I wore all red.

“I was a saint but in lingerie and five-inch platform boots.”

Although Heather is confident in her style she does find herself being more “conservative” in her outfit choice day to day.

On the ship, she was able to dress exactly how she wanted.

She said: “I can dress how I want.

“In public, I am a bit more conservative. People say I’m doing it for attention. There is a lot of judgment.

“While I was on the cruise I was able to be myself.”

The price of the cruise starts at $998 per person but can go up to $4.8k for a spa suite.

Heather's Gothic cruise itinerary:

Day 1: Embarkation at Port Canaveral

• Goth Cruise Orientation (Q&A, schedule for the week)
• Goth Group Dinner
• Private Goth Dance Party

Day 2: At Sea

• Goth Group Brunch
• Waterslides as a group
• Private Goth Group Dinner
• Saints and Sinners Party
• Private concert with Die Sektor

Day 3: Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic

• Shore Excursions
• Private concert with Rotersand

Day 4: St. Thomas

• Group Goth Shore Excursion: Swimming with Sea Turtles
• Private Goth Party: Victorian Masquerade Ball

Day 5: Tortola

• Shore Excursions
• Private concert with Combichrist

Day 6: At Sea

• Goth group brunch

Day 7: Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian’s private island)

• Private Goth Beach Party
• Private Goth Dance Party on the ship

Day 8: Disembark at Port Canaveral