Ian Witlen

The S.S. Coachella returned safely Wednesday morning after a relatively wobbly night's sail across the Caribbean Sea. The voyage was a success. The boat didn't sink, and constant forced Purell-ing kept us all from contracting tropical illnesses or just the flu from our diseased shipmates.

Three days, 400 meals, 30 cocktails, 15 clothing changes, and probably like 50 concerts later, arriving back on U.S. soil was a relief but also left us wanting more. Meals, that is. Oh, and concerts.

After a day of reflection, it's clear that there were absolutely awesome things about the trip and some other things that were not so great. Here's the best and worst of the S.S. Coachella.

See also
- Top Ten Finest Fashion Moments on the S.S. Coachella
- S.S. Coachella: Stalking Pulp's Jarvis Cocker
- S.S. Coachella Cruise, Day One: Father John Misty, Yeasayer, !!!, Pulp
- S.S. Coachella: Getting Our Nails Done with Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss
- S.S. Coachella: Drinking Wine With James Murphy in the Ocean

More »

Ian Witlen

Yes, this happened.

Most of the people we met on the S.S. Coachella had never been on a cruise before. Like us, they weren't so sure what to pack or how to dress for three days of awkwardly saying hi to their favorite bands on a floating building at sea. But, like the festival, the fans also brought their desert style to cruisin' with mixed results.

We could sit here and talk about all the "types" of people who sailed out to Nassau, but really, we'd rather just show you. These are the most memorable fashion moments we caught on the maiden voyage of the S.S. Coachella. Get your eyebrows ready to raise.

See also
-S.S. Coachella: Stalking Pulp's Jarvis Cocker
-S.S. Coachella Cruise, Day One: Father John Misty, Yeasayer, !!!, Pulp
- S.S. Coachella: Getting Our Nails Done with Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss
- S.S. Coachella: Drinking Wine With James Murphy in the Ocean

More »

Ian Witlen

Old punk guys and fancy wines, two things that make sense together only now, mere days before the end of the world.

Nothing is more a "sign of the times" than James Murphy and Justin Chearno hosting a winetasting in the middle of the ocean for a handful of people both able and willing to ride the S.S. Coachella. It has all the elements of things we want as a culture: exclusivity, intimacy, rock stars, and, of course, booze. The two-evening Real Wine talk really captured the oddity of the experience, in a more wholesome way than two people discreetly doing it in the Sky Lounge to a live soundtrack of Cloud Nothings.

See also
-S.S. Coachella: Stalking Pulp's Jarvis Cocker
-S.S. Coachella Cruise, Day One: Father John Misty, Yeasayer, !!!, Pulp
- S.S. Coachella: Getting Our Nails Done with Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss

More »

Timothy Norris

Taken in L.A., but you get the idea.

No one's really interested in reading about the actual performances taking place on this musical ship of contradictions, the S.S. Coachella, amirite? Instead, you want a spoonful of gossipy anecdotal sugar, straight from the decks of this funny ship.

As you might have seen, Pulp was the largest name at the top of the S.S. Coachella flier. The band played almost two power hours on Sunday night, making cruisers swoon with Anglophilic adoration. But Jarvis Cocker -- the man whose name was being whispered all around the ship -- didn't sit in his room or hide out like James Murphy (the chupacabra of the boat, whom only I have spotted offstage).

See also:
-Girl Talk on S.S. Coachella and the Art of Getting Your Cat to Meow to Collective Soul
-S.S. Coachella Cruise, Day One: Father John Misty, Yeasayer, !!!, Pulp
-S.S. Coachella: Nail Master Class With Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss

More »

Courtesy of Sephora

Alexis Krauss is all about the nails, girl.

Fashion and music are the funniest-looking twin sisters. They're always together, always kinda sloppy. Sometimes they dress up like a swan or wear a big mouse head. Together, they're always looking to make a bold statement.

If you follow Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss on Instagram (@KraussingAround), you know what she's trying to say through fashion these days: It's all about your your nails, girl.

See also:
-Top Five S.S. Coachella Acts You Shouldn't Miss
-Girl Talk on S.S. Coachella and the Art of Getting Your Cat to Meow to Collective Soul
-S.S. Coachella Cruise, Day One: Father John Misty, Yeasayer, !!!, Pulp

More »

Photo by Ian Witlen

Jarvis Cocker and Pulp aboard the S.S. Coachella.

The S.S. Coachella set out to sea rather unceremoniously. There weren't horns, not a streamer in sight, and no one smashed bottles against the body of the ship.

But we'd all been aboard the Celebrity Silhouette for about four hours at that point, and Father John Misty was launching our oceanic musical journey in the Sky Lounge. A 180-degree view of the sea spread in front of us, and a group of maybe 100 music fans with stars in their eyes didn't even notice where we were as the shore lights faded away.

See also:
-Top Five S.S. Coachella Acts You Shouldn't Miss
-Girl Talk on S.S. Coachella and the Art of Getting Your Cat to Meow to Collective Soul
-S.S. Coachella: 10 Things You Must Bring on the Cruise
More »