First Harry Potter Fan Cruise Coming in November

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Imagine over 600 Harry Potter fanatics, dressed in their finest wizard robes and brandishing magic wands, descending upon a modern luxury liner. That will be the scene later this year as Whimsic Alley, in association with Princess Cruises, hosts its first annual Wizard Cruise.

The four-night California Coastal cruise aboard the Golden Princess will depart Los Angeles on November 27. It marks a first for both Princess and Whimsic Alley. Never before has such a lavish adventure been offered to members of the Harry Potter fan base.

Whimsic Alley's Los Angeles facility has been a premier destination for Harry Potter fans worldwide since it first opened eight years ago. Locals and tourists have likened its avenue of intricately designed shopsfeaturing wands, quills, witches' hats, curios, wizard jewelry and apparelto Harry Potter's Diagon Alley. The Great Hall at Whimsic Alley has been the site of hundreds of parties, teas, balls, banquets and luncheons.

The idea of a Wizard Cruise has been a long-time dream of Whimsic Alley's creator, Stan Goldin. Each year the "Alley" has conducted summer day camps for kids and a 4-day intensive camp for "so-called" grown-ups. "There are a lot of fan-cons and symposiums around the world each year for Harry Potter enthusiasts," said Goldin, referring to the types of events that feature discussion panels, art exhibits, and meetings. Such events are extremely popular among the Potter fandom. "Those fan-cons are terrific, but our camps are very different. We fully immerse our campers in the wizard-world experience. For the entire time they're with us, they become students at a wizarding academy, subject to the challenges and ordeals inherent in that experience."

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