Book by: ASAP
Travel by: March 27-31, 2009
The deal
Musician John Mayer knows how to throw a party, and he has invited a few talented friends to help him out. After the success of the concert cruise he hosted last year in the Bahamas, the “Mayercraft Carrier” has returned with a longer itinerary, fresh line-up of performers, and a newly-launched ship. This March, the Carnival Splendor will be invaded by artists and fans for five days and four nights of live beats and musical mayhem on route to Cabo San Lucas. So, for anyone who missed the boat last time, you can now set sail with the stars, as Mayer proves once again, that the journey is half the fun.
This cruise has all the ingredients for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at an affordable price. Picture the latest and largest ship in Carnival’s fleet with 22 lounges and bars, Red Carpet dance club, full-service casino, 270-square-foot outdoor movie screen, and a 3,006 passenger capacity. Now, add on two days spent at sea filled with non-stop music, contests, parties, karaoke, trivia, flip-cup tournaments, theme nights, and the coup de grace — performances from as many as 20 artists. The current lineup includes Guster, Martin Sexton, Ryan Shaw, Justin Nozuka, O.A.R., Erin McCarley, Matt Hires, James Hunter, Brendan James, DJ Logic, Jessie Baylin, and of course the host of the voyage himself.
If you can’t quite keep pace with the celebrities, take a break in the Thalassotherapy pool filled with vitamin-rich ocean water to remove some toxins from your body, or stop by the Cloud 9 spa for relaxing massage treatments. With so much action onboard, you may even forget about the port of call, but the once small fishing village of Cabo will not disappoint. It offers breathtaking scenery, beautiful beaches, and incredible activities like snorkeling along the coastline or ATV rides in the Baja desert.
When five days just isn’t enough, for an additional $199 all the die-hards can board the ship a day early on “Mayer’s Eve” for an open-bar filled night of debauchery. Or, if you need to rest up the night before, starting from $129, passengers of the cruise can also opt to stay on the retired ocean liner and luxury hotel, the Queen Mary. Rates for the Mayercraft Carrier 2 cruise include admission to the performances and start at $624 per person for a quad room, with triples from $699, and doubles available from $799. The ship sails from Los Angeles on March 27, 2009.
The dollars
All prices are per person and include entertainment fees. Alcoholic beverages are not included. Add $149 per person for taxes, pre-paid gratuities, and additional fees.
The catch
Partying like there’s no such thing as the real world leaves a wicked hangover when you eventually return to it.
is a guide to top travel deals and destinations. Sign up for Sherman's Top 25 e-newsletter which features the best editor-screened deals from hundreds of travel providers and is delivered to over 4 million subscribers, free, each week. ShermansTravel also publishes trip ideas and travel features to inspire, guide, and go.