A case of whodunit

Deepa Bharath

It’s apparently a thrilling game of “whodunit” -- on water.

Hornblower Cruises and Events will put together a Murder Mystery

Cruise sailing from Newport Beach on Halloween Day. The three-hour

cruise will be aboard one of Hornblower’s “haunted” yachts where

guests will be involved in a search for the “killer.”

This is the first time Hornblower has organized a Murder Mystery

Cruise on Halloween Day, said company spokeswoman Jan Newton.

“We had one in August and that proved to be a success,” she said.

“We can’t wait to see the response for this one.”

The yacht will set sail at about 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31 and circle

Newport Harbor for about three hours, Newton said.

The plot will be an intricate one. Passengers on the cruise will

be joined by a master of ceremonies, a detective character and

several unidentified actors hiding among regular passengers “making

for an evening full of surprises,” Newton said.

“You just never know if the person next to you will survive

between the salad, main course and dessert,” she said.

The person who finds the killer will get a prize. So will the

person who offers the most humorous deduction.

Newton said such cruises are particularly popular in this area

because of the fine ambience they create.

“We have such a beautiful harbor here,” she said. “You can drive

down [Pacific Coast Highway] all you want, but you’ll never get the

kind of view you get from the sea. It’s a truly unique experience.”

Passengers will begin boarding at 7 p.m. Reservations are

required. Tickets are $78 per person and include the cruise, a

three-course meal, tax and tips.

For more information, call (949) 631-2469.