Although it bears a striking resemblance, this is not the Overlook Hotel. However, I do feel a case of cabin fever coming on.

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Psychedelic Elements in Design and Decor Aboard the M/S Oosterdam

When pondering the aesthetics of the typical lodging establishment—hotels, motels, resorts and cruise ships included-—cutting-edge design does not come to mind. Instead, there are flashes of burgundy, flower patterns, stripes and beige--mentally and spiritually apathetic exercises in blandness and safety. But every now and then someone, somewhere, on some corporate staff in the hospitality industry, has a vision that materializes on the walls and the ceilings and the floors and the stairs. On the couches and the chairs.

And sometimes, just sometimes, it’s a full-on acid-inspired, psychedelic vision such as the one that so evidently consumed the M/S Oosterdam. I had the strange pleasure of being aboard this tripped-out cruise ship recently, and I’m here to tell the tale of crazy fun house-style mirrors, the liberal use of hot pink and much, much more. Enter the high seas psychedelia below.

Wow, Dionysus is looking pretty fucked up.

“Hi, I’m couchy, come sit a spell. Don’t mind the swirly white pattern growing on that door over there.”

Ahhh! This must be some strong stuff.

Is that ... is that SIX door knobs? Don’t most doors only have two? And is it just me, or are they ... blue?

I think I’m starting to see tracers.

Yes, I’m definitly seeing tracers. This one kind of resembles a trilobite, no?

Whoa, man. There are trilobites all over the walls! What does it MEAN?

I’m ... floating ... rocking ... back and forth ... I think I crossed over ...

Maybe I’m not even alive. Maybe I never existed at all.

Nah [maniacal laughter]. But check it out: What if MY blue is different from YOUR blue!?!

I see some glowing stairs, going up. To heaven. A stairway to ... never mind.

Everything is shimmering. I think I’m peaking, I think I’m peaking.

Did I say that twice?

I now know the truth, the underlying force, I have entered the spirit world and now I must return to the mortal realm and share my wisdom with the others. But first, a trip into outer space.

Spaaaaaaacccceee. Look, there’s Jack Horkheimer.

That constelation resembles a bow tie. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ...

There’s the alien space craft. It’s. so. beau. tif. ful. Farewell, planet earth. I’ll see you again in a few hours!!