Obama fans in Florida plan 'Yes We Can' Cruise to Inaugural

[Dennis Donovan]

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=59913858.blog

Supporters of Barack Obama will be heading to his inauguration by car, bus, airplane and, yes, cruise ship.

With airline seats into the city for the January festivities already scarce and hotels charging sky high rates for an inaugural stay, NBC Washington reports that an enterprising group of Obama fans in Florida have chartered the Regal Empress for a "Yes We Can" cruise to Washington for the festivities.

The voyage will cost around $1,000 per person -- less than the cost of airline tickets and a hotel for the week during the event.

NBC Washington says the eight-night voyage will depart Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 16 and arrive in Baltimore on Jan. 19, the day before the inauguration. Passengers will travel to Washington by bus and train on Jan. 20 to view the inauguration before returning to the ship. The vessel will depart for Florida on Jan. 21 and make a brief stop in The Bahamas before returning to Ft. Lauderdale on Jan. 24.

The 1,475-passenger Regal Empress, a vintage ocean liner that dates back to the 1950s (fans will remember it as the Greek Line's Olympia), has been spending the last few years sailing two- and three-night cruises to The Bahamas out of Fort Lauderdale under the Imperial Majesty flag. The ship is scheduled to retire in February.

I would LOVE to be on that cruise. The MS Regal Empress is a stunningly beautiful classic ocean liner:

[elleng]

1. Floridians should remember

that its WINTER IN JANUARY in Maryland/DC!

[Catherine Vincent]

3. I think that's why they will make a quick stop to the Bahamas.

That's one cruise I wouldn't mind going on.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Wow! I would love to do that, too!

What a wonderful combination, the opportunity to travel on such a beautiful old ship and to attend the most exciting inauguration in history!:wow:

Though I'm not sure it would be worth it, living in Florida...:hide:

I've never been to D.C., except to the airport. Maybe someday... :shrug:

[tomreedtoon]

4. I guess the poor will set up a Hitchhike to Inaugural.

They can't even afford the gas to ride in the back of a fruit truck.

Excuse me, but I can't see a cruise to ANYWHERE as anything but a pretentious, Yuppie waste of money. I even have problems with people flying to the inaugural; that's a waste of money too. If these rich poseurs had any charity in their hearts, they'd charter a bus to the inaugural, and offer free seats to people who lost their homes and retirement and jobs. And maybe buy some balogna-and-cheese sandwiches for the trip up and down.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. Good point, but the OP said it's less expensive than flying and staying in a hotel.

And I'm sure that for many of them, this is the trip of a lifetime. It sure would be for me. And, especially since they're coming from Florida, I'd imagine that many are retirees. They're the ones who have worked hard all their lives and now have the means and the time to travel. Years ago, I traveled with my parents and/or grandmother. And that's what you'd see, it would be me and a group of senior citizens. My parents were considered "youngsters.":-)

But your point is well taken. However, you can be sure that thousands of people are driving, organizing groups, begging rides, hitchhiking or getting there any way they can to witness this historic occasion. This is certainly the exception, but it's nice to imagine a trip like this...:-)