By Maria Riegel, Special Writer
Some 300 South Brunswick High School seniors attended the annual Senior Dinner Cruise Sunday, Jan. 20 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the Spirit of Philadelphia Cruise ship.
Seniors had to arrive at SBHS at 3:15 p.m. to catch district buses departing for Philadelphia at 3:30 p.m.. Students were admitted onto the cruise ship at 4:30 p.m. for a 5 p.m. sail. The annual event was only for the Class of 2013.
The Class rented out the second and third floors, both with tables accommodating two to six people.
The third floor had a balcony, where students were able to look down and watch the other students dance on the dance floor. Students were also given the opportunity to go out on the ships outside deck and take pictures of the Philadelphia skyline.
When students arrived there was an open, non-alcoholic, bar for drinks. Later in the evening students were given a buffet dinner and danced to music provided by the ship’s DJ
Originally, the Senior Dinner Cruise was scheduled for Nov., but because of Hurricane Sandy, the cruise was postponed, according to Co-Senior Class Advisor Anastasia Marcella.
Ms. Marcella said in the past, SBHS has had there dinner cruises in New York but this year switched to the Spirit of Philadelphia because of the smoother drive as well as the quality of the food. She said that when traveling to Philadelphia the buses did not have to get on the New Jersey Turnpike and there were no tolls to pass through, allowing the travel time to be faster.
”I’m really glad we went out of Philly,” Ms. Marcella said. “I thought that the drive was better, the food was better and the boat was better. The crew on the boat was awesome.”
She said that the crew on the Spirit of Philadelphia was more friendly and accommodating. The crew invited the bus drivers on the ship as well according to Ms. Marcella.
Ms. Marcella said that even though the cruise was postponed there was not a decrease in the amount of attendees.
The only disadvantage to the cruise being postponed was that the boats sail earlier on Sundays than they would on other days of the week according to Ms. Marcella. As a result instead of students leaving at 4:30 p.m. and arriving back at SBHS at 11p.m, students arrived back at SBHS about an hour and a half earlier.
”The time changes were not communicated to us as early as they should have been,” Ms. Marcella said.
Ms. Marcella said that she “liked that fact that everyone seemed to have a good time.” She also said that she as well as the senior students enjoyed seeing Co-Senior Class Advisor Alex Witkowski (‘Mr. Wit’) being brought onto the dance floor by several students.
Ms. Marcella said that she recommends the Spirit of Philadelphia to future senior classes when planning the Senior Dinner Cruise.
”I hope the other classes continue to use Philadelphia,” Ms. Marcella said. “I would be willing to help them with their planning so they could have as fun as a time as we did.”

