A cosplay cruise?
Nerds, rejoice!
Have you ever dreamed of being whisked away to a tropical paradise with your favorite superheroes? Well, here’s your chance. Palm Beach County’s original Comic-Con, PalmCon, is taking on a true Floridian spirit this year with an inaugural cruise to the Bahamas. The fully immersive geeked-out two-day cruise is set to sail on Friday, Oct. 12.
Whether you’re a comic book enthusiast, wrestler, gamer, artist, anime lover, pop culture connoisseur or even just a casual nerd, PalmCon is the place to be.
PalmCon began in 2011 and has been a scene where artists, vendors and celebrities from across the United States meet up in Palm Beach County for a surge of good ol’ nerd culture.
Cosmic Times publisher and creator of PalmCon Martin Pierro hopes to stand out among the saturated sea of Comic-Con events hosted throughout the year in Florida.
After years of operating in places such as the Palm Beach County Convention Center and with other South Florida ComicCon events right in the backyard of PalmCon, Pierro found the scene in Florida to be overcrowded.
“If you wanted to go to a ComicCon every weekend in Florida, with the exception of Christmas, you can do that,” he said.
The partnership between PalmCon and Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line presented itself as a perfect fit considering the cruise line is also Palm Beach County-based.
Guests will get to enjoy the best of both worlds with all the standard cruise amenities accessible to them but with a twist.
Everything will be ComicCon themed. The cruise is unique to other Comic-Con events because guests are considered “all set” once they purchase their ticket. Meals, amenities and live entertainment are included.
Did I mention guests will get a chance to strut their stuff and party in their best cosplay outfits while rocking out to the Florida-based band Kitchen Killaz? Yeah, it’s about to go down.
Friends, families and folks of all ages are welcome to join. PalmCon hopes to merge demographics with this new, unique experience by capturing the attention of people who have never been to a Comic-Con and even those who have never been on a cruise ship.
Pierro says, “The buzz is really growing right now.” So far, he’s heard positive reactions on PalmCon’s transition to the sea. Even mothers who aren’t into comics are eager to bring their kids aboard to give them something special to do, Pierro said.
“As we have grown as a show, the community has grown and I think it builds on itself every year. Bringing in the cruise element brings a whole new level to it,” he said.
Fun activities are planned for the duration of the trip, but guests are welcome to operate freely by embarking on their own activities and excursions.
The best part? PalmCon attendees will be able to interact with special guests and artists during their stay on the ship. A schedule will be released within the next two to three weeks full of activities like panels, workshops and parties, but Pierro promises, “There’ll be something for everyone.”
PalmCon guests are in luck for the inaugural cruise as Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line has lowered its price from $185 to $170 per person, based on double occupancy.