I know in Jack Fowler’s perfect world I would be hawking NR’s own upcoming cruise, but I thought readers might get a kick out of this solicitation for The Nation’s high seas adventure:
Dear Nation Friend:
“An SDS reunion on The Love Boat.” That’s how Mary Mapes, the former 60 minutes producer, described her first Nation Cruise. Or as Jim Hightower — a guest on this year’s cruise — once characterized it: “A floating palace of populism.”
Join us this year for our 13th seminar cruise, sailing from New York City to Bermuda, September 26 to October 3, 2010. The best cabins are going fast so book your cruise today!
Some of the special guests who’ll be with us (with more to come):
Jeremy Scahill, Nation Investigative Reporter and Author of Blackwater
Christopher Hayes, The Nation’s Washington Editor and Regular MSNBC Commentator
Judy Collins, Special Musical Guest and Author
Jim Hightower, Radio Host, Writer and Author
John Nichols, Nation Washington Correspondent
Jessica Valenti, Blogger with Feministing.com
Melissa Harris-Lacewell, Princeton Professor, Nation Columnist and MSNBC Contributor
Calvin Trillin, Nation Deadline Poet
The idea? To exchange ideas on the state of the progressive world. To give all of us who know, care about, respect, support, publish, write and read The Nation a chance to meet and talk, face-to-face, one-on-one. To enjoy a much needed vacation that will bring us back to our workday worlds refreshed and reinvigorated in a way that no ordinary vacation could ever begin to do. And to raise some badly needed funds for The Nation.
Your shipmates will include provocative panelists and political portsiders (watch a slideshow from our 2009 cruise) plus a daily array of stimulating seminars and enlivening discussions. Mingle with fellow Nation supporters. Join in conversations with Nation writers and columnists and guest panelists. Enjoy spirited dinner-table debates.
Plus…the usual varied cast of progressives from all over the geographical and political map. Don’t take our word for it! Here’s Henry Alford’s 2008 description in The New York Times:
“The diversity and intellectual accomplishments of the 460 cruisers were fairly staggering – included were many academics, several judges, a founder of The Chronicle of Higher Education, a scientist who worked on the Manhattan Project, a retired Army major, a steel company vice president, a former drug trafficker, four granddaughters aged 15 to 22, State Representative Mike Boland of Illinois, the public health expert Dr. Quentin Young and the feminist author Marilyn French.”
And there’s always time to relax…shore leave at exotic ports of call including St. George’s and Hamilton, Bermuda…work the body as well as the mind with all-weather pools, fully-equipped gym, aerobics classes, personal trainers, court sports, jogging tracks, full-service salon, hydrotherapy pool, yoga classes.
And if that weren’t already enough…High Teas, lectures on great art, luxurious spa, paddle tennis, wine tastings, cooking classes, art auctions, first-run movies, a piano bar, gambling casino with table games and slots, late night action in the Crow’s Nest lounge, and Club Hal for kids and teens (bring the kids!).
Please make your plans now to join us! Certain cabin categories are going fast. You’ll find everything you need to know at www.nationcruise.com We look forward to seeing you on board in September!
Yes, I’m sure over in The Nation’s universe our cruises sound just as horrifying.