After explaining the penalties of "jumping ship" early, the students were free to go with $1,000 in Pirate Loot, playable only during the event and could be spent at the casino and games. Their play money was very playable, as the "cash" they won or did not spend could be used to purchase Black Pearl raffle tickets for some big prizes. Each of the "swabbies" were also given complimentary raffle tickets for each color raffle along with their pirate loot.
Many students had the chance to have a High Seas Caricature drawn on paper by Gail Batt and Elaine Adams in the pirates realm, to mark this historic event.
If the swabbies had gambling fever, they had their choice of seven casino games, which included Chuck-A-Luck, Money Wheel, Over-Under 7, Color Dice, Roulette and Beat The House. There was also a blackjack table plus two poker tables. They also had their choice of morning carnival games, which included Ring Toss, Flying Fish, Ping Pong Toss and Tic-Tac-Toe. Many students also attempted the "Minute to Win It" at the Shiver Me Timbers stage.
The Black Pearl Party Ship also provided karaoke, an event which featured "Lighting Entertainment" from 12:30 to 2:30 a.m., on the Davy Jones Locker Stage.
An invitation was also extended to have the weariest of the students removed by the ship’s massage doctor. So, "X Marks the Spot" personal massages were available for students to truly relax. The massages also provided the opportunity to get out the kinks in case they chose to do some "High Sea Sumo Bouts.”
A bountiful appetizer buffet was set up to satisfy the hungriest of pirates The buffet featured pizza, cocktail smokies, bacon-wrapped smokies, jumbo popcorn chicken, mini corndogs, hot wings, ham rollups, puppy chow, fruit, a wonderful veggie selection, chocolate-covered strawberries, cream puffs, chocolate chip cookies, slush, pop and water.
Peggy Davis was in charge of the kitchen committee this year. No one went away hungry.
Karen Nafe served as treasurer and was in charge of organizing the Cap’n Jack’s grand prize drawing. Once again a wonderful array of prizes was presented to the students as they left Sunday morning.
The really big prizes were only available to NRHEG juniors and seniors and were announced at 3:15 a.m. The students had been forewarned that once they had boarded ship, there was no turnin' back and that "jumping ship" early would mean forfeiting any treasures won at the casino on the main deck. The swabbies heeded the warning and all of them stayed aboard
At 3:30 a.m., Gary Tyson, featured entertainer and stage hypnotist, appeared on the Davy Jones Locker Stage. Tyson is a member of the Academy of Martial Arts and The Magic Castle of Hollywood, CA. He created many impossible happenings that mystified even the non-believers. Many left the performance shaking their heads in disbelief after they had witnessed his hilarious program of stage hypnosis.
Barb Billing and Carol Bayerkohler organized the After Prom Party this year and were assisted by many parents as well as people from the community.
The event this year was not really held on a Black Pearl Party Ship on the Seven Seas, but it did allow the students to chase dreams of treasure across the Caribbean. Every one of the students were able to go home winners!
