Students will sail into prom
By John Gregory
Students attending the 2024 Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS) prom on June 1 will be the first to enjoy a floating prom on San Diego Bay.
This year’s dance will be held on one of the Hornblower harbor cruise ships.
“This is the first time that our school district has approved a prom on the water,” said Trishaa Camp, the faculty ASB advisor for the SRHS prom. “We pushed for it, and they approved it. So, it’s exciting for us. We’re kind of the trailblazers.”
The event is sure be one to remember.
“They are going to sail the bay, under the Coronado Bridge, through the whole area. So, they get the skyline of downtown, the Rady Shell. They’ll have some really gorgeous views from 6 to about 9 o’clock,” Camp said. “It’s three levels. The dance floor is on the bottom level. We wanted to make sure it’s accessible to all students.”
The prom will offer more than beautiful views on the water, according to Camp.
“There’s going to be dancing and desserts, photo booths and things like that,” she said. “They have beautiful desserts … It’s not like these tiny, little things. It’s really nice, elegant desserts.”
The cruise will not include dinner because the prom committee learned that a dinner cruise would raise ticket prices considerably. So, prom attendees are encouraged to have dinner or a late lunch before they board the ship.
A deejay will spin the tunes for the dance portion of the evening. Students put together a playlist and the deejay will mix them together.
This is a formal event and there is a dress code: suit and tie or tuxedo for the males, and gowns for the females (or something along those lines).
“We’re hoping that they dress to the nines. So, no casual attire,” Camp said.
Those planning to attend should start arriving at the dock between 4:15 and 5:30 p.m. They will start boarding at 5:30 p.m. But don’t dare be late; the ship sails at 6 p.m. “We’ll pull away from the dock at 6 p.m. and they will cruise the bay, and then we will return back to the dock at 9 p.m.,” Camp said. “But the prom doesn’t officially end until 10. So, if kids want to stay on the boat and continue dancing, they can. We’ll just be at the dock.”
Camp suggests that students carpool or get dropped off near the dock for prom. However, the ASB purchased a block of parking nearby for students who will be driving, and students may purchase parking passes in advance from the ASB.
Camp recommends prom attendees dine downtown at one of the many restaurants in the area before prom. She also suggests students take their prom photos near the harbor this year.
“Get there early. There’s a gorgeous park across the street from where we are going to be boarding. So, that will be beautiful for them to go and take photos,” Camp said. “Or, where we’re boarding is right by the Midway Museum.”
Deadline for purchasing prom tickets is May 31. Tickets are $120 per person for students with an ASB card and $140 per person for those without a card. Prom forms for students and their guests are available in the attendance office, at the office front desk and at the ASB room. It’s important that students clear all their unexcused absences, tardies, truancies, etc., before getting approved for prom attendance.
Students on the prom committee are Evelyn Su, senior class president; Isabeau Triolo, senior class secretary; Kai Sarti Guerrero, ASB president; and Emily Acosta, senior class vice president.
The SRHS senior class held fundraisers to help pay for their prom. Camp said she encourages local businesses to contact the school to help sponsor future SRHS proms.
All the planning is about to come to fruition for the students.
“I’m excited for them,” Camp said. “I really want every senior from Scripps Ranch High School who wants to attend their prom to attend their prom.”
She is not the only one who is excited. The ship’s captain sent a special message.
“On this special night, let the beauty of San Diego’s coastline be the backdrop to your unforgettable prom,” said Captain John Valente, one of the Hornblower captains. “As captain of this vessel, it’s my honor to host you on this momentous occasion.”
