Cruising For Murder

Cruising For Murder is a fun mystery to costume for since you can dress up as much or as little as you desire. Personally, we suggest that you go “over the top” in your outfit — whether that means a brightly colored wig or a full-fledged costume is totally up to you! Our research shows that the more you dress up, the easier it is to act out your character and be as crazy as you want to be — I mean, you are wearing a costume it is not really YOU!

Travelers:

• Fancy outfits
• Anything to show wealth
  • gold cane
  • expensive jewelry
  • mink stolls
  • fur coats
  • feather boas
  • watch piece
• Suit with jacket
• Bow tie
• Top hat
• Money tucked into places, like lapel, hatband, etc.
• Long Gloves

Crew:

• Hats
• White coat
• Shirt with large gold buttons
• A Clipboard
• Bow tie
• Vests
• Aprons
• Name tags
• Feathers in your hair (showgirls and cocktail waitresses)

Add to any outfit!

• Boas
• Wigs (think any variety)
• Facial hair
• BLING!
• Gold or silver accesorries of any type
• Fancy headress
• Cigarette extension holders
• Props of any sort!
• LARGE hats
• Fake eyelashes
• Sunglasses

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• In the yard, place a “Cruise Ship Terminal” sign.

• Alongside your terminal sign, put anchors, a ships wheel, with perhaps some fishing nets, toy ships and plastic fish.

Have your guests enter along a gangway. 

• You can lay down planks that lead to the doorway or you can simply use cardboard and paint it to look like planks.

•  Use small poles and rope to line the entrance as they’re making their way aboard.

•  Scatter blue cellophane along the walkway to make water.

•  You could even make cut-outs of fish to lay across the cellophane or make shark fins out of cardboard to have rising from the water (from aluminum foil or gray posterboard).

Greet guests in cruise ship style with a life preserver arch and lots of balloons in red, white and blue. (This is a perfect place for a photo spot!)

• See “creating a photo spot” for more ideas!

• Place a sign at the entrance that reads, “Welcome Aboard! Mystery of the Seas”. Create your own or use the one included with the mystery purchase!
  
• As guests walk in hand out shell necklaces to the ladies and nautical hats to the gents.

• Upon entering, have your guests pose for a photo (see ‘making a photo spot’ below).

• After having a photo, direct them to the purser, who will hand them their party information (name tag, money, “a” objectives, etc.).

• Space Use lots of directional signage to guide everyone through the party, “This way to…” Purser. Galley. Lounge. Casino. Sun Deck. Golf deck. Swimming Pool. Captain’s Quarters. (Signs for areas included with the mystery.)

• Make portholes and place them throughout the party space
  • Directions and designs are included in mystery!
  • Designs for both above deck (horizon) and below deck (underwater scenes) are included!

• Hang life preservers throughout.

• Place Mystery of the Seas “Do Not Disturb” door hangers on all of the rooms that will not be utilized during the party (included in the mystery).
  
• Don’t forget to give Wanda and Wilbur Wed some privace with an “Anniversary Suite – Do not disturb” sign.
  

• Advertise for the Night of Mystery Review show starring Candy Cann by hanging her show posters in your party area!
  

• Have maritime flags hanging! A fun, festive and colorful way to pull the ship together!

• Create some luggage props with travel stickers (included with the mystery) and an old piece of luggage. Don’t have one? Check your local Goodwill and/or thrift store. (We found ours for $3.)
  

Place seafaring items throughout your party space to give it a nautical feel:

• Ship’s Wheel
• Captain’s hats
• Anchors
• Life Preservers (make your own here)
• Cruise Posters
• Map of the ship (enclosed in mystery)
• Fish netting
• Starfish
• Seagulls
• Maritime flags

• A pool/lido deck
  • Purchase scene setters that will give you the ambience and feel of being out on the deck!
  • Set out lawn chairs, patio tables, etc.
  • Drape your furniture with beach towels
  • Create a shuffleboard on the floor with painters/masking tape on the floor.
  • Play some background sea/ocean noise!

• Casino
  • Have gambling tables set up if you wish – real or fake!
  • Consider having ipads, laptops, etc, with gambling apps preloaded for your casino.
  • Decorate with neon signs, ringing noises, and casino scene setters.

• Lounge Area
  • Consider a kareoke machine for entertainment during and/or after the mystery.
  • Kareoke microphone could double and help with announcements

• Bar/Cocktail Lounge
  • Consider using votive candles to enhance some intimate lighting.
  • Serve lifesavers candies in silver dishes.
  • Make sure your guests have plenty to drink!

• Dinner area
  • Create a room for dining or have a buffet table.
  • Use red, white and navy table clothes to accentuate the maritime theme.
  • Set your table with table decorations to give it a nautical feel.
  • See Food & Music page for more ideas!

• Chapel
  • For any impromptu weddings or renewing of vows!
  • Can be made easily by stringing lights or tulle on a wedding arch.

• Salon
  • You can use the bathroom for this with extra pampering details!
  • Have your towels folded into animals (see directions here) – much like you would find on a cruise line!

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A few suggestions:

• Pick a place where there will be good lighting.

• You can make it as elaborate or simple as you want.

• Accessories and decorations can make the difference. Have some extra props on hand that your guests can pose with. Consider extra captain’s hats, feather boas, tiaras, lifesavers, large sunglasses, anchors, etc.

• An easy way to create a background is to use a “scene setter”. These affordable rolls of images transform your room instantly and make for a good backdrop to your picture.

• Make sure there is enough room to fit everyone in to the frame.

• For individual shots of guests, designate someone to be in charge of pictures as your guests arrive.o Consider your character list and which character would fit the role of taking the picture. Ie, if you want mug shots, perhaps ask the investigator to be in charge of taking the pictures.
• For a group picture, take one just before the introduction is read or right after the solution is read (before people may start heading out).
  o These are two times when you can count on everyone being around and attentive.

BACKDROP IDEAS for your cruise ship photospot

• Take a picture as the guests enter on the gangplank.

• Use scene setters to make a simple background. There are many that are cruise themed.

• Create a ship’s wheel for your guests to pose behind.

• Have a additional props such as: captain’s hats, an anchor, life preservers, buoys, etc. Paint your own back drop to pose in front of!

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Cruise ships are well-known for their sumptuous buffets. Serve a buffet to your guests to keep with the cruise ship theme. (This will allow you to make any fare you choose!)

Check out some tips and recipes for making buffets here.

While cruising on the ocean, why not try a menu filled with seafood?
Click on the menu items below to find recipes.
Angel hair pasta with shrimp and basil
Shrimp cocktail
Crab cakes
Seafood stir fry
Flounder with crabmeat stuffing
Find a number of seafood recipes here

• Serve Goldfish crackers
• Submarine sandwiches
• Swedish fish
• Dole Pineapple Fish (they are pre-cut in the can)
• Fish fruit snacks
• Cookies made with a fish-shaped cookie cutter to accentuate your nautical experience
• Starfish Rice Krispy Treats

A few other ideas to add a little nautical flare to your food:

• Use the place cards (provided with the mystery) and name your food to fit the theme.
– Captain’s Shrimp Cocktail, Seafood Salad, Shipwreck Scallops, Cruising Capers, etc.

• Don’t forget to have your menu out (designed menu included with mystery).

• Many cruise ships have ice sculptures to decorate their buffets, so you can add these for a touch of authenticity.

• Make blue jello with gummy fish floating in it.

• Serve tropical drinks like pina coladas and daiquiris that tend to be associated with cruises, vacations and tropical destinations.

• Don’t forget the drink umbrellas!

• Download a tropical drink menu here!

• Download a non-alcoholic tropical drink menu here!

• Serve punch out of a large punch bowl and add a floating toy cruise ship or sailboat on top.

• If you are daring enough – serve the elaborate fishbowl punch!

• Consider blue Jello shots with Swedish fish for the theme!

• Arrange the food along a table and ring a bell when it’s time to eat, inviting everyone to dine at the Captain’s table.
  – Use the table signs (provided with mystery) to denote where the crew and guests should sit.

• Enter your food into the menu (included with mystery) and have it out for the guests to see.

• Label your food with nautical terms (Captain’s capers, Seafaring Shrimp, etc.) and set out by your dishes. (Designed food tents included with the mystery).

• Use a red/navy/white color scheme and set your table using those colors. It can be as easy as using colored table cloths, napkins and plasticware to pull it all together!

• For a formal feel, consider using crisp white linens and blue skirts, crystal glasses, white plates and silver chargers.

• For a more casual feel, drape tables with fish netting fish hooks and anchors (which can easily be made of heavy duty aluminum foil twisted and formed into shapes) and seashells.

• A long row of light brown sugar along the center of the table makes great ‘sand’ onto which you can arrange your table decorations and/or scatter sand toys, sea shells, etc. to create your own table decorations!

• Tie lengths of white rope or cord (not too thin) around the napkins (contrasting color is best…sea blue…perfect.)

• Wrap napkins with twine or white cord and lifesavers.

• For centerpieces, place ice buckets with champagne or wine and silver balloons coming off. Then, use shimmery cellophane to fill the bucket. You can use the champagne bottles to drink OR for prizes at the end.

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• Lounge Music. Since the Captain’s Cocktail Reception will be a formal event, you can order a nice cd of lounge music here.

• Waves Lapping and other Seaside Sound Effects. You may want to have the sound of waves lapping playing when your guests walk to the entrance (up your gangway), if any part of your party is outside, or just in general. You can also look for sound effects with a ship horn blowing, seagulls, etc. You can find free sound effects here to download.

• Make a mix of music about sailing, cruising and the open water. Here are some ideas for songs for your mix.
  Love Boat Theme
  Come on Down to My Boat – Every Mother’s Son
  Rock the Boat- Hues Corporation
  Boat Drinks – Jimmy Buffet
  Sea Cruise- Frankie Ford
  Where The Boat Leaves From – Zac Brown Band
  Sailing Away- Styx
  Lovely Cruise – Jimmy Buffet
  Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)- Enya
  Sloop John B – Beach Boys, Kingston Trio
  Sailing – Rod Stewart
  Sailing – Christopher Cross
  Shipbuilding – Elvis Costello
  Sail On – Crawler
  Sail Away – Randy Newman
  Ship To Shore – Chris DeBurgh
  Sail Away – The Temptations
  My Ship – Tavares
  Son of a Sailor – Jimmy Buffet
  Sail on Sailor – Beach Boys
  I’m Your Captain/Closer To Home – Grand Funk
  Rhythm Of My Heart – Rod Stewart (“Where the ocean meets the sky, I’ll be sailing”)
  Ship of Fools – Erasure
  Ships – Barry Manilow
  Sailing On The Seven Seas – O.M.D.
  Big Ship – Freddie McGregor
  26 Miles (Santa Catalina)  – The Four Preps

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Familiarize yourself with some nautical terms before you embark! Click here

For all of your towel boys and cleaning crew! (Click here)

In the running for the Ambassadress contest? Click here for a guide

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Here are 10 ways to show you know proper cruise-ship etiquette as edited for your Cruising For Murder Cruise!

1. Pay attention at the safety drill. Don’t talk. Don’t drink. Don’t take photos. If there’s a time to be serious on your cruise vacation, this is (not) it. (If your host has gone above and beyond to include a safety demonstration, relish in it!)

2. Be spatially aware. You aren’t the only one on the ship. If there is a line at the elevators and you can take the stairs, take them. If you’re a slow walker, let the person behind you pass in the narrow cabin hallways. At the buffet, if you’re alone at a table for six, consider sharing.  Make sure you are conversing and spreading the joy (and listening on other’s conversations).

3. Avoid being a deck-chair hog.Reserving a deck chair for the whole day at the pool by leaving your stuff, even when you won’t be there the whole time, is not considered courteous. Spend your time in the sun and then clear the space for someone else. Spend your time at the bar, chatting up with your fellow party-goers and spreading as many secrets and starting as much scandal as you can!

4. Don’t save seats for your band of eight in the theater. Make new friends and sit with them! Make sure to find out what secrets they may have!

5. Make choices quickly at the buffet (it helps to take a look before you get in line). The buffet line is also not the time to lecture your child or quiz a chef about every ingredient in every dish. Be sure to tell your host what a great job they did preparing food!

6. Check promptly that the luggage delivered to your room(or outside your door) your nametag and objectives are is your own.

7. Keep your kids under control. Just because you are on a cruise ship doesn’t mean you can stop parenting. The kids should not be running wild. Also, don’t try to sneak youngsters into adults-only areas of the ship – such as the quiet pool, gym, hot tubs, or spa. Follow the age rules. Make sure with your host that kids are invited, as Cruising for Murder does have adult topics within it. Murder, for instance.

8. Talk quietly (no shouting) on cabin balconies and in cabin hallways. Your neighbors can hear you, including when you let your cabin door slam. Especially if you are the murderer. 

9. Arrive on time. When you are at an assigned table at a set time, it’s uncool to keep your tablemates waiting. This goes DOUBLE for your evening of mayhem and mystery— the party can’t start till you are all there!

10. Follow the dress code. Nothing gets the ire of fellow passengers more then when they follow the dress code – putting on a jacket or tie, for instance – and you blow it off, showing up in the dining room carefree in a Hawaiian shirt. If you want to go casual on a more formal night, head to the Lido buffet. Go overboard on accessories, outfits, props, etc. Nothing will delight your host and fellow guests more than a fellow party-goer that has gone all out! Not to mention, the idea of being awarded Best Dressed at the end of the night!

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