A WOMAN has revealed she went on a gothic cruise complete with a masquerade ball and a Saints and Sinners party.
Heather Blood, 31, went on the week-long cruise with her boyfriend, Jesse, 35, and 150 strangers in March, traveling from Orlando, Florida, to the Bahamas.
To fully indulge in the special occasion, Heather — who posts as Vessel of Blood on YouTube — dressed up in 18 different styles, including a skeleton wetsuit and a leather dress.
She enjoyed every moment and loved being comfortable wearing what she wanted, free of judgment.
“It was a lot of fun. I loved the masquerade ball. Everyone wore big dresses with big hoop skirts," said the New Yorker.
“I love being creative with how I look.”
Heather has enjoyed dressing up in a gothic style for the last 10 years.
“I didn’t know there were different ways of looking. When I discovered different styles on Pinterest I fell in love and started experimenting," she said.
When a travel agent from All Genre Travel reached out asking if Heather wanted to go on the cruise, she immediately jumped at the chance.
The company runs private-themed events for a group as part of a normal cruise.
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Heather revealed she had prepared for the cruise for a year, hand-making the majority of her 18 different outfits.
The couple set off from Orlando on March 2, 2024, and traveled to the Dominican Republic, a private island between the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands.
On their first day, after disembarking from Port Canaveral, they met the other goth enthusiasts on a packed itinerary, filled with a goth-themed orientation, group dinner, and even a private goth dance party.
The week-long activities included typical vacation offerings like shore excursions on the Dominican Republic islands but also featured specialty unorthodox events.
“Everyone was so friendly and nice," Heather said.
In the following days, the group partook in activities like water sliding, swimming with sea turtles, a Victorian-themed masquerade ball, and nightly dinner parties.
I didn’t know there were different ways of looking. When I discovered different styles on Pinterest I fell in love and started experimenting.
Heather Blood
Each evening there was a themed party and private concert for the group to enjoy.
"The first was a themed Saints and Sinners night and private concert. We all got to dress up," Heather said.
One of Heather’s top outfits on the entire cruise was her ensemble for the special party.
“It was kind of scandalous. I wore all red. I was a saint but in lingerie and five-inch platform boots," she joked.
Although Heather is confident in her style, she added that she tends to dress more conservatively in her day-to-day outfits.
On the ship, however, she was able to dress exactly how she wanted.
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"In public, I am a bit more conservative. People say I’m doing it for attention. There is a lot of judgment. While I was on the cruise I was able to be myself," she said.
The cruise package starts at $998 per person but can go up to $4,800 for a spa suite.