The travel feature details the colorful JoCo Cruise, named for the singer-songwriter Jonathan Coulton, a former software coder who has a cult following. This year's sold-out sailing took place aboard Holland America Line's Oosterdam, and the 2020 cruise on the bigger Nieuw Amsterdamis reportedly selling fast.
'A zillion fandoms'
What began as a music-themed cruise with Coulton and guest artists has blossomed into what The Times called a 'grand annual gathering of the nerd tribe.' It draws lovers of science fiction and fantasy, cosplay, video and board games and 'a zillion fandoms.'
The JoCo cruisers call themselves sea monkeys — a play on a Coulton song, 'Code Monkey,' about a lovesick software writer. There's a sizable contingent of LGBT folks, too.
Acceptance, fun and enthusiasm
But the common threads seem to be acceptance, making your own fun and enthusiasm — half of the hundreds of activities on Oosterdam's March cruise to Half Moon Cay, Tortola and San Juan were put on by the sea monkeys themselves.
It just underscores popularity of affinity cruises, which Plantation, Florida-based Worldwide Cruise Associates has specialized in for decades.
The JoCo Cruise is organized by Coulton, Paul Sabourin and Greg DiCostanzo of the comedy music team Paul and Storm, and Drew Westphal, the chief operating officer of the partnership.
The magic behind the scenes
'We have been behind these guys from day one and are the magic behind the scenes that make it all happen on the ship and the rainy dock concert,' said Bloss, president of sales for Worldwide Cruise Associates. The dock concert, ashore in San Juan, featured big names like Aimee Mann, Jill Sobule and They Might Be Giants. It got rained out, moved back onto Oosterdam and still deemed a huge hit.
Attracting new people to cruising
'We have been dealing with [JoCo Cruise] for nine years and in fact this afternoon started the wheels rolling for 2021,' Bloss told Seatrade Cruise News. 'These guys are really nice and fun to work with. They truly are attracting an entire new subset of people to cruising.'
The New York Times feature, currently posted online, is also due to appear in the May 12 print edition.
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