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| Nassau City Hall |
Sally
Carpenter is a mystery writer who has worked as an actress, freelance writer,
college writing instructor, theater critic, jail chaplain, and tour guide/page
for a major movie studio. She’s now employed at a community
newspaper. Learn more about Sally and books at her blog.
Hittin’
the High Seas
Tired of winter’s cold and snow?
Then it’s time for a sunny Caribbean cruise!
My new cozy mystery, The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper, was
inspired by a trip I took in 1999. The ship’s layout and activities, as well as
some things that happened to me, were incorporated into the story.
My trip was a special jaunt set
up specifically for Monkees fans. We sailed for three days to Nassau in the
Bahamas on board a regular Carnival cruise with activities reserved just for
our group of about fifty women.
A cruise ship is a floating city with
all the amenities of a resort. One could eat nonstop all day and night (and
afterwards work it off in the gym or jogging track.) Besides the dining rooms
with wait staff one could eat at the outdoor poolside buffet, in casual cafes,
the midnight buffet or at the 24-hour pizza station.
The ship left Miami at 4 p.m.
Friday. At the dock, porters attached ID tags to the luggage and hauled the
bags directly to individual cabins. What a relief not having to carry my
suitcases throughout the ship!
All the guests attended a
mandatory lifeboat drill. We were instructed on how to wear a lifejacket and
what to do in an emergency. With that note of confidence we set out to enjoy
the cruise.
That evening our Monkees group
had a cocktail reception in one of the lounges. We met the other fans from
across the country as well as our guests of honor: Peter Tork; his
then-girlfriend (who was very sweet to the fans); Peter’s long-time performing
partner, James Lee Stanley, a fine musician in his own right; and James’ wife.
After the reception our group
went to our reserved table in a dining room for supper. Some of us then saw a
Vegas-style revue in the largest showroom.
Saturday morning the ship docked
in Nassau. Tourism is the island’s largest income source along with banking
(the Bahamas are home to those mysterious “off shore accounts.”) The wharf area
was a tacky tourist trap full of shops hawking souvenirs. A steel drum band was
playing. My friend and I sat in on the bongos for a verse!
One interesting business is hair
braiding. The local women grabbed me, set me down on a bench and began making
narrow beaded braids in my hair. I didn’t mind until I realized the ladies
charged per braid. I stopped their braiding before I went bankrupt.
I set out on my own to explore
the real city. Nassau is quaint, quiet, clean city. The city shows its
British colonial roots—motorists drive on the left, English is the official
language, and the buildings have a distinct British charm.
Here’s a photo of the Water Tower, a structure built
to watch for smugglers approaching the mainland. An elevator leads to the top where
one finds yet another souvenir shop. The balcony has spectacular views. The
Water Tower is such a unique place I used it for a scene in my book.
I strolled over to the
ultra-expensive and exclusive Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island just off the
coast. I viewed the indoor artwork and outdoor garden until a security guard
chased me out because I wasn’t a paying guest. Really? I bet if I was losing
money in the hotel’s casino, he would have let me stay.
BTW, the city’s casinos are only
used by the tourists. The residents are too smart to risk their money.
By late afternoon I was back on
the ship for the formal dinner. Here’s a picture of me in the dress I bought
for the occasion—and still wearing the braids! One of the characters in my book
has her hair braided on the island, too.
After dinner Peter and James gave
a private concert for our Monkees group. When the concert ended, the fans
gathered on the Lido Deck under the stars for some late night visiting.
On Sunday I went on the galley
tour to see the food preparation area and learn about napkin folding. I also
shopped at the shipboard stores that discounted the expensive merchandise on
the last day to clear out the stock.
Since the cruise took place in
late October, our Monkees group had a Halloween costume party. Before I left
home, I’d found a Southern Belle dress at a local costume rental shop. The
store added a row of fabric to make the dress long enough for me. The skirt
hoops were made of plastic that I could bend and stuff into a suitcase.
My novel closes with a shipboard
Halloween costume gala. I created costumes to fit the personalities of the
various characters. During this party my hero reveals the identity of the
killer.
On the trip the weather was not
too hot or cold. The sky was mostly overcast. In fact, it was too cool for me
to swim in the ship’s pool. I didn’t get seasick but I could feel the ship move
beneath my feet.
Monday morning the ship docked at
Miami. After a final breakfast together the fans said goodbye and we waited
(and waited and waited) on the Lido Deck to disembark.
I had a great time on my trip and
would recommend a cruise as a fun vacation. While you’re waiting for your ship
to come in, you can read a fun tale about a mystery at sea.
The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper
38-year-old
Sandy Fairfax is a former '70s teen idol and star of the TV show "Buddy
Brave, Boy Sleuth." Now he's rebuilding his career with a series of
concerts aboard the SS Zodiac bound for the Bahamas. He makes amends with his
estranged sister, Celeste, who is blind and also a musician, so she will join
his performances. But their cruise hits turbulent waters when Sandy finds a
dead body in his onboard dressing room. He investigates the colorful cast of
suspects while avoiding an old flame and trying to ignite something with his
beautiful choreographer. When Sandy gets too nosy, the bad guys throw him
overboard. Will he sleep with the fishes or escape and unmask the killer at the
ship's Halloween costume gala?
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