It's Like The Love Boat For Free Minds & Free Markets! Announcing Reason's First-Ever Cruise, February 2011!

Regular readers of this site and subscribers to the print edition of Reason already know that we're shoving off on our first-ever cruise in February 2011. Get more shiver-yer-timbers details here.

Among the Reason staffers who have already been shanghaiied into participating are Matt Welch, the Capt. Stubing of this voyage to the bottom of the Caribbean; Jacob Sullum, the bartender for our cruise; Ron Bailey as the ship's doctor; and I'll be filling the role of…Ted McGinley? I'm drowning here, folks, metaphorically speaking. Throw me a life preserver already.

Our special guest stars include best-selling author Matt Ridley, whose latest tome The Rational Optimist is due out this spring, and Patri Friedman, the visionary behind The Seasteading Institute. More speakers will be announced soon…

Here's what you'll get on the Reason cruise:

	Moderated panel sessions featuring Reason editors and guest speakers, along with plenty of discussion.
	Special additional sessions hosted by our cruise partner, The Seasteading Institute.
	Many chances to meet and spend time with our editors and special guest speakers.
	Exclusive parties and dining with our editors and guest speakers. You will dine with your fellow Reason cruise attendees, so that you have the chance to meet many of your fellow freedom lovers.
	Admission to Reason seminars and ad-hoc sessions
	Admission to numerous Reason cruise private cocktail receptions.
	Admission to Reason group excursions.
	Port charges, taxes, fuel surcharges, and government fees.
	Accommodations and all meals.

We set sail from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on January 30 next year and return, god willing, February 6, after visiting exotic ports of call in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Antilles. We'll be shipping out on Celebrity Cruise's Solstice, a big mother of a ship every bit as unsinkable as the Titanic and James Cameron's career put together. Double occupancy cabins start at around $1,500 per person and spaces are limited.

So come aboard, we're expecting you!

Comments

[Jeff P.]

So imagine a boatload of Libertarians get shipwrecked...

[Jeffersonian]

Win!

[Tapeworm]

So imagine a boatload of Libertarians get shipwrecked...

FIFY

[Pope Jimbo]

Well, first off not enough gals to have Ginger, Mary Ann and Luvvie. Probably only Luvvie.

What you would have a ton of is a lot of rich, uncaring Thurston Howell III types swimming ashore and immediately incorporating (General Coconut, etc.) in order to exploit the poor crew.

The island would be blessedly free of building codes, allowing people to run straight through hut walls without fear of injury.

With no government, there would also be no roads on the island. Survivors would have to follow primitive animal trails to the lagoon.

[anon]

He said libertarians, not anarchists.

[James]

Market anarchism is usually regarded as falling under the broad umbrella of "libertarianism". Though, you do have a point in that someone who calls themselves a libertarian is most likely not a market anarchist.

[D.J. Drugs]

We can't all be Rothbardian supermen.

[ed]

Matt Welch, the Capt. Stubing of this voyage

I'm thinking KMW will have to be your pubescent daughter, or was she the Doctor's daughter? And why was she on that ship, anyway? To get in trouble with the Filipino crew? That seems contrived.

[Groovus Maximus]

Vickie (Jill Whelan) was the good Captain's spawn. And an accompanying action figure to boot. Not sure what her backstory was; the Stubing probably knocked up some dock rat and when they docked at the same place at a later date, "Surprise!"

[Groovus Maximus]

Vickie, played by Jill Whelan, even had a Love Boat action figure!

[Citizen Nothing]

Sovereign Individuals of the Flies.

[Tapeworm]

Sweet!

[Warren]

If you can get a commitment from Kerry Howley, I'll consider it.

Or is this a cabal members only thing?

[franz kafka]

unlimited drinks?

[Rich]

Reason!

[Jeff P.]

Also, that's immediately after the 70000 Tons of Metal music festival cruise
http://www.70000tons.com/home.htm
If ever two groups needed to share a boat...

[Citizen Nothing]

It'll be cleaned between cruises, right?
RIGHT?!!!!

[ed]

Relax. There's only a small chance--barely one in a hundred--of falling overboard or catching a tropical disease that makes your dick fall off. And think of the food!

[Tim]

Cheonan? Lusitania?

[SIV]

I hope the Solstice isn't a norovirus disease-ridden floating sewer like the Celebrity Mercury

[SIV]

I hope the Solstice isn't a norwalk-virus ridden floating sewer like the Celebrity Mercury

[sage]

Any chance we could keelhaul MNG? Or just make him walk the plank? Or make him spend five minutes alone with the privacy bot?

[anon]

Just leave it out there and seastead 😉

[T]

Nothing personal, but I'm not sure I want to see some of my fellow commenters in person. I'm much happier imagining what y'all look like, and the reality would probably be depressingly mundane.

Plus, I'm really kind of sunlight averse and a Carribbean cruise doesn't play well to that.

[CrackertyAssCracker]

+1.

If I met some people in real life, I might start adhering to normal social conventions n stuff. You know, not being an asshole whenever I felt like it. That would suck all the fun out of the Reason blog.

[Sudden]

I will just neglect to mention my reason handle. Matter of fact, I will likely claim to be Episiarch while I'm on the boat just the fool people.

[qwerty]

I'm a 36-24-36 supermodel.

[Banjos Kick Ass!]

You too?

[Richard Head]

I've got a cool helmet

[SIV]

I keep trying to link to Celebrity's norovirus issues but they get spam-blocked
http://www.cruiselinefans.com/.....rcury.html

Floating sewer?

[SIV]

repeatedly spam-blocked for linking to Celebrity's norovirus issues

[SIV]

This:

http://www.cruiselinefans.com/.....rcury.html

[Xeones]

I'm much happier imagining what y'all look like, and the reality would probably be depressingly mundane.

Actually, i am stunningly handsome.

[SugarFree]

Whereas I look no worse than most. But I do have beautiful gray-blue eyes that you could just gaze into for days at a time.

[Groovus Maximus]

You do know that is significant symptom Saccharin Man? Now watch your hypochondriasis go apeshit!

(grabs popcorn and a coke)

[SugarFree]

(grabs popcorn and a coke)

A carb and a sugary drink. Why all the antidiabetism, GM?

[fresno dan]

The very sight of me would cause all but the most strong to barf uncontrollably, and lose all control of their bowels. Only the most freedom loving would not be turned to stone. And those are on the days I bathe.

[Slut Bunwalla]

I have a pretty epic beard.

[Paul Krugman]

Me too! Can I come?

[wayne]

You're a dude? Man, that sucks, I have been imagining a slut of the female variety, which is my very favorite kind.

[Marc]

But I do have beautiful gray-blue eyes that you could just gaze into for days at a time.

Is it like hearing the Beatles for the first time?

[Warty]

I have bulging muscles, bottomless blue eyes, and a pleasingly shiny dome.

[Groovus Maximus]

The Larger Swimwear Cups should accentuate those features of yours quite nicely then. May I suggest a earthen tone?

[OO=====D]

I'm just a giant buldge with legs.

[T]

I look as good as can be expected for a lazy early middle-aged American male: I'm devilishly handsome and slowly getting fat.

[SIV]

Seems to be the cruise forum site listing norovirus outbreaksthat is an issue

Your post (#1700650) has been marked as spam by a third-party spam filter. If this is a mistake, please email [e-mail].

[Wood Jones]

OH wow, looks like that is going to be a lot of fun dude. Wow.

Lou
http://www.online-anonymity.tk

[Naga Sadow]

I'll go if anyone can get the anon bot to go.

[The Art-P.O.G.]

That would also push me from "on-the-fence" to "committed".

[SIV]

Dont't sail on Celebrity's Mercury

[smartass sob]

Who gets to be Gopher?

[EJM]

Mr. Grandy is currently unemployed, so Reason could bring him in to reprise his role.

[Tim]

Writing back and forth isn't bad enough? You'd actually want to be trapped on a ship with us?

[Slumpbuster]

Solstice is an awesome ship. I sailed on it last year.

[Colonel_Angus]

Its a fucking cruise ship. You didn't sail on it.

[Slumpbuster]

Okay, point taken. I think, however, that people got the point.

[ed]

How was the listeria? Good?

[wayne]

Kind of minty, with a warm tingle after you spit it down the sink.

[Tim]

One of the definitions of Libertarianism is eating at the buffet but never washing your hands.

[bigbigslacker]

Load your plate of food first, and then wash your hands after handling all the utensils used by the snot-nosed kids. That's the buffet way. Libertarians, due to our well-known superhuman abilities, don't need to worry about germs.

[Clich? Bandit]

Germs don't recognize individual's rights to property.

Bastards

[CrackertyAssCracker]

Isn't that why they have the tongs and the sneeze shields? So you don't have to wash your hands?

[ed]

I make it a point to avoid any place with sneeze-shield food. It's bad enough that possibly illegal aliens with a grudge are doing unspeakable things to my food in the kitchen, but allowing the leprous, unwashed public to handle the food out front is just too much.

[Zeb]

I doubt very much that illegal aliens will look for or be given a job on a ship that crosses international boundaries.

[Mexican undocumented passenger]

Reason is OK with us just sneaking aboard and helping ourselves to the paying passenger's food and cabins?

[Liberaltarian]

As long as you do our laundry, we'll look the other way.

[dfd]

Utterly inapt analogy. A truly pathetic attempt, but indicative of the level of thinking on that issue by far too many.

[Warty]

70,000 tons of libertarianism

[Colin]

A more interesting cruise would be around the coast of Somalia

[Kroneborge]

+1

[Sudden]

Drink!

[prosmoke]

No smoking ON THE BALCONIES of PRIVATE cabins on this ship. Odd choice for libertarians? Or are cruises now like flights, no smoking on anything that touches the free ol US of Antismoking?

[Tom Walls]

I was on this ship's maiden voyage and did not mind not smoking on the balconies. It means a lot fewer butts to clean up and less smoky smell. There are plenty of places to smoke on board and you can smoke an e-cig or chomp on a cigar anywhere. I've quit in the meantime.

[Sudden]

Love the e-cigs.

Fuckin things are saving my life.

[heller]

Well since the boat itself is private property (including the balconies) the owners have the right to make whatever smoking rules they want. If you don't like it, don't go.

[Slumpbuster]

Since fire is the biggest concern on any ship, the owners deciding to safeguard their property by limiting the place where people can smoke seems eminently reasonable to me.

[Zeb]

It is also quite reasonable to complain about it if you don't like it.

[prosmoke]

No smoking ON THE BALCONIES of PRIVATE cabins on this ship. Odd choice for libertarians? Or are cruises now like flights, no smoking on anything that touches the free ol US of Antismoking?

[prosmoke]

No smoking ON THE BALCONIES of PRIVATE cabins on this ship. Odd choice for libertarians? Or are cruises now like flights, no smoking on anything that touches the free ol US of Antismoking?

[Warty]

US law doesn't apply on the high seas, fucktard. The ship's owners make the rules, and there's no contradiction between that and libertarianism, you thick-headed sodomite.

[Lamar]

He's angry because he can't smoke after sodomy.

[Tony]

And you wonder why some see libertopia as a world of no freedom because it's just a collection of mini-autocracies.

[Warty]

A ship is an autocracy, you simpering buffoon. It's always been that way since the dawn of the world. Moron.

[Tony]

As well it should be. But libertarians are always deferring to the rights of authority figures to exercise their authority unfettered, as long as they're not in government. Most people spend 8 hours a day in a mini-autocracy, and you do your best to defend the rights of the employers to be autocrats and then call it freedom. That you recognize a practical application of a more freedom-restricting form of government for a ship or a workplace makes me wonder why you claim that freedom is most threatened by one of the few democratic governments people engage in.

[skr]

Apparently "monopoly on violence", is a foreign concept for Tony.

[Warty]

Actually, come to think of it, 17th & 18th century pirate ships were often quite democratic, and much more pleasant places to work than, say, a Royal Navy ship.

The concepts that you continue to miss are the monopoly on violence, as skr says, and consent. Think real hard about them and how they might apply here. But don't feel too bad when you miss the point yet again.

[Tony]

I take responsibility for not really having a point to start with, it's just that I'd never go on a cruise that didn't have go-go boys.

Having a monopoly on the legitimate use of force defines any government, without which you'd be in a failed state. I just suspect that in libertopia the vast majority of people would have the "freedom" merely to choose among several mini-dictatorships, but little else.

[Lamar]

A marketplace of mini-dictatorships?

[Marc]

I take responsibility for not really having a point to start with

That would be a first, doubtless.

[qwerty]

The difference is that in libertopia, I'd get to choose whether or not I want a mini-autocracy.

[Oh no not this again]

Which actually does nothing to solve the problem.

I bought my tickets, and i can't wait.

[Warty]

The "Swimwear: Larger Cups" ad is my new favorite. Goddamn, goddamn.

[Groovus Maximus]

Prophet, thy name is me! Look up a few posts...

[Warty]

I just wish I could grow an afro like that.

[Groovus Maximus]

It's overrated. Trust me.

[fresno dan]

I lOVE the larger cups ads - but I wonder why they advertize on Reason? Are there a number of busty women reading this?
They should post. And post pictures of their busts...in the interest of free expression.

[Warty]

That's a picture of Dagny, dude. Didn't you know how proud she is of her fro?

[BakedPenguin]

I lOVE the larger cups ads - but I wonder why they advertize on Reason?

They probably got a lot of click-throughs.

[Jeff P.]

Are we allowed to lash trolls to the prow once in international waters?

[Pope Jimbo]

All I care about is what deck will host the monkey knife fights once we are in international waters.

[T]

If we can't shoot rocket launchers off the fantail while high on smack once we're in international waters, it's not really a libertarian cruise.

[Jeff P.]

I'm more concerned that someone will figure out that a lot of mouthy libertarians all together on one ship would make an easy target.

[T]

Just acceptable the inevitable SWAT raid upon reaching port again in the US and plan accordingly.

[Death Panelist]

You're just going to let the ship go where the currents take it, aren't you?

[Lamar]

Who will play Ted McGillespie's role? Oops. Gave away the punchline there.

[Tapeworm]

And two hard-boiled eggs.

Honk, honk.

And two more hard-boiled eggs.

[what]

only if Lobster Girl will be there.

[rac]

I will go if Nipsey Russell and JoAnn Worley, are on board. Previously married, but looking for a wild weekend, they find out that in fact, they were really in love after all.

[Jersey Patriot]

I don't want to think about what Steve Smith would do in international waters.

[Steve Smith]

You won't need to speculate any further. I'm going.

[Solanum]

? Rape, exciting and new
Come Aboard. We're expecting you.
Rape, life's sweetest reward.
Let it flow, it floats back to you.
The Rape Boat soon will be making another run
The Rape Boat promises something for everyone
Set a course for adventure,
Your mind on a new romance.
Rape won't hurt anymore
It's an open smile on a friendly shore.
Yes RAPE! It's RAPE!
Rape Boat soon will be making another run
The Rape Boat promises something for everyone
Set a course for adventure,
Your mind on a new romance.
Rape won't hurt anymore
It's an open smile on a friendly shore.
It's RAPE! It's RAPE! It's RAPE!
It's the Rape Boat-ah! It's the Rape Boat-ah! ?

[Disgusted]

Disgusting post.

[prosmoke]

No smoking ON THE BALCONIES of PRIVATE cabins on this ship. Odd choice for libertarians? Or are cruises now like flights, no smoking on anything that touches the free ol US of Antismoking?

[Lamar]

You know what I haven't heard for awhile? This: "US law doesn't apply on the high seas, fucktard. The ship's owners make the rules, and there's no contradiction between that and libertarianism, you thick-headed sodomite."

[Warty]

That's a pretty good line. Mind if I borrow it?

[Lamar]

If I let you borrow the line, you won't ever have the incentive to be creative.

[SIV]

You can smoke to your heart's content. Just pay the $250 fine/cleaning fee.

[Xeones]

This is gonna be the best spring break ever.

[Warty]

Those nerds don't stand a chance against us in the Greek Carnival!

[Ben P.]

Damn you, Warty. Now I have the "Clap your hands, everybody..." song, from the skit competition, in my head.

[Marc]

Everybody now clap your hands

[H man]

When are the monkey knife fights?

[Tim]

Ha! He ain't so pretty no more!

[Stef]

I hope they'll let us back in port when the cruise is over. The Big Government party might gang up to come up with some unconstitutional law to prevent us from re-entering.

[Joe Biden & Joe Lieberman]

What a great idea!

[Joe Lieberman]

Say! That's a great idea...

[The Gobbler]

WTF kind of Libertarian Boat Ride bills you for "Port charges, taxes, fuel surcharges, and government fees"?

[Tim]

Better than the Missouri boat ride...

[The Gobbler]

You know That's exactly how I heard Libertarian Boat Ride in my head as I typed it. That is my favorite western.

[josey]

Mine too.

[Solitudinarian]

And just how much is this voluntary exchange of goods and services gonna cost me? And will I get to see the Reason gang in their cups?

[Lamar]

If I only had an extra $3,000 right now.

[Scott Allen]

Will the RKBA be allowed on this cruise?

[Ben P.]

I know a few of us regular readers live in Fort Lauderdale or the immediate area, so mayhap we could even host or facilitate some pre-cruise gatherings for those who arrange to come in early. Just sayin'.

[Tom Walls]

I've already suggested this, but Doug Stanhope would be great libertarian entertainment for this cruise. He's been pushing reason a lot lately on the Facebooks.

[God]

What's the over/under on single, straight, attractive females? I say 0.5, and I'm taking the under.

[Pimpy McPimp]

Me and my 20 lovely ladies will take your wager...

[Russell Seitz]

This is not a two pipe problem - you picked the wrong boat:
Celebrity Cruises

Where You Can Smoke: Cigarette smoking is only permitted in designated indoor and outdoor areas. Examples include the port side of the pool deck and sundecks on each ship; the port side of the Sunset Bar on Celebrity Century and on Celebrity's Millennium class of ships; and the port side, aft, outside of Winter Garden on Celebrity Galaxy and Celebrity Mercury.

Where You Can't: Effective in early October, smoking will be prohibited in cabins and on balconies. Also, smoking is not permitted in any dining venue, casino, theater, hallway, elevator or corridor. On Celebrity's new Solstice, the Lawn Club and the Sunset Bar at the Lawn Club will not allow smoking.

Cigar and Pipe Smoking: Cigar and pipe smoking is allowed only in specially designated sections of the open decks.

[Louie Mandrell]

Dude that is like totall insane dude.

RT
http://www.total-anonymity.se.tc

[The Mossy Spaniard]

Totall, dude. Dude.

[CharlesWT]

So do the staterooms have Internet connections and room service and will someone be blogging the cruise so that I can keep up on what's going on on the cruise and comment on same without leaving my stateroom?

[Urkobold?]

Moderated panel sessions featuring Reason editors and guest speakers, along with plenty of discussion.

Special additional sessions hosted by our cruise partner, The Seasteading Institute.

Many chances to meet and spend time with our editors and special guest speakers.

Exclusive parties and dining with our editors and guest speakers. You will dine with your fellow Reason cruise attendees, so that you have the chance to meet many of your fellow freedom lovers.

Admission to Reason seminars and ad-hoc sessions

Admission to numerous Reason cruise private cocktail receptions.

Admission to Reason group excursions.

Port charges, taxes, fuel surcharges, and government fees.

Accommodations and all meals.

TRY AS HE MAY, THE URKOBOLD SEES NOTHING ABOUT HOOKERS AND BLOW. THE URKOBOLD IS CONFUSED, AS HE THOUGHT THESE WERE CENTRAL TENETS IN LIBERTARIAN PHILOSOPHY.

AH, "private cocktails" AND "fellow freedom lovers." SAY NO MORE--THE URKOBOLD UNDERSTANDS.

[Pimpy McPimp]

Sorry, Mr. Urkobold, I was delayed at another engagement.

[leviramsey]

How much did the Germans subsidize the construction of the Celebrity Solstice?

[Rhywun]

When I first read this in this month's issue while sitting on the can earlier today, I thought for sure you guys had been doing cruises all along; just now I realize I probably had "National Review" in mind (I used to be a regular reader). I bet your cruise will be a lot more fun.

[wayne]

I will go if Jennifer does. Nothing says fun like an ex-stripper small town reporter with a grudge.

[Mad Max]

THE REASON CRUISE SONG (these guys):

Fifteen hosts on a Reason cruise
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
The medicinal marijuana is more popular than the booze
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
NICK'S leather jacket was at the menders
So he wore a golf shirt and red suspenders
And WELCH'S snark was not much liked
He got beat up by critics around the nation;
Everyone sprawled on deck, passed out from dissipation
At break o'day they all went to bed
With yo ho ho dancing in their heads

Fifteen hosts kicking out the jams
SULLUM said, "you know what's legal in Amsterdam?"
BAILEY didn't hear when they rang the ship's bell
He was trying to harvest KERRY HOWLEY'S stem cells.
VIRGINIA POSTREL would not be caught nappin'
She explained how she'd once been a much better captain.
All the men hit on KATHERINE MANGU-WARD
But RADLEY BALKO tased the suiters once Katherine got bored.
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN couldn't keep his gun in its holster
When he came across a Communist Muslim from Ulster.
PETER SUDERMAN sat alone with his flagon
Trying to interest people in a game of Dungeons and Dragons.
Because Pirate Radio was JESSE WALKER'S beat
He broadcast Radio Libertopia right from his bar seat.
DAVID W. gave a guest the boot
When the guest confused him with Wayne Allen Root.
Near the rail, if you cared to look
You could see BRIAN DOHERTY (I hear he wrote a book).
The fifteenth host was sinister and hard to spot
But I hear his name sounds something like "Spock."

[Mad Max]

I meant Damon W. Root, not David.

[Lucy]

Clap clap clap clap.

[Drugs are Bad mm-Kay]

Are you sure its safe for you all to be in one place at the same time?

[Me]

I think I would rather go on the JAM Cruise the month before. Sorry but going on vacation to talk about all the shit that pisses me off all the time I am not on vacation seems a bit futile.

[Polynikes]

Free Minds and Free Markets? Thrown in Free Love and I'm in...

[The Art-P.O.G.]

Not enough women for that.

[Enyap]

NTTAWWT

[Stoner]

Port charges

Yo, at first I thought that said...

[Frank S. Robinson]

Those interested in Ridley's very good book might wish to know about my own book, THE CASE FOR RATIONAL OPTIMISM (Transaction Books, Rutgers University, 2009), which makes quite similar points and arguments, but develops the case for optimism over a broader range of subject areas. See http://www.fsrcoin.com/k.htm