Bart, in a slump, wants the family to go on a cruise. When they get aboard, they have a lot of fun, but Bart wants the fun to last longer.
Full Story[]
Bart is stuck in a rut, doing the same day-to-day all the time. But on TV, a solution appears, an ad for a cruise line. Bart begs for the family to go, but finds out they can't afford it. Even after selling all of his objects (including all future meals to Homer), he is only two-thirds of the way there. Taking pity on Bart's problem, Lisa sells her rare jazz records; Marge sells her fine china, and they also sell Homer’s mini pool table without his knowledge. Soon, they have enough cash to fill the jar the rest of the way. Homer complains about how family vacations are only fun for the kids, well the parents still have to work instead of relaxing. When they get to port, the family is informed that the economy room they got was over booked, so they get an upgrade (followed by a double and triple upgrade). Bart is happy to know that now the family is on the perfect trip.
It goes well for the family. Homer and Marge get the suite to themselves, allowing them to 'snuggle' with the help of the motion of the ocean; Lisa is with the "KidZone Elite," a place where all of the ship’s high-class kids are performing more scientific tasks, and Bart enjoys all of the activities on the ship, and later joins his family for dinner. The ship's activity director, Rowan Priddis, sings a song that reminds Bart that the fun only lasts a week. Not wanting to go back to his boring life, Bart decides to make the vacation last forever. The next night, Bart plays a clip of the movie called Pandora Strain over the cruise ship’s screens where a general informs them that a deadly pandemic has taken place on land and all ships are to remain at sea. With no ways to communicate with the mainland due to Bart sabotaging the controls by squirting hot fudge on it, the cruise ship is forced to remain at sea.
12 days later, the cruise ship has fallen into a post-apocalyptic style civilisation, where lawlessness is rampant and Rowan Priddis acts as the unofficial leader of the ship. Despite Bart being joyous of their eternal vacation, the rest of the Simpsons are despondent. Bart’s prank is rumbled by Marge and Lisa after they find The Pandora Strain in their DVD collection. They inform Rowan Priddis and the rest of the ship, who grow angry with the Simpsons and eventually strand them in Antarctica as punishment.
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The family is irritated at Bart, calling him selfish. Bart explains that he did it for the family too, claiming that they were happier than they were back home stating that made friends with children just like and Homer and Marge were happier. On the way to a research station to take them home, they find a rookery of penguins. When Bart makes an example of how life is not fun most of the time, Lisa points out that well life is not perfect, one should just enjoy perfect moments when they happen. They belly-silde down the hill with the penguins, with Bart realizing that it will be one of many cherished memories. The episode ends with an older Bart looking at his photos of joyous memories, to which he considers life a good ride.
Behind the Laughter[]
Reception[]
This episode was well praised by fans and critics alike, with praise going to the episode showing an emotional side to Bart.