The Mystery Cruise

Name: The Mystery Cruise
Genre: Resort/Vacation, Mistaken Identity, Pet, Old Friends
Released: 2013-01-01
Duration: 1 h 22 min
Rating: 5.8
Cast: Gail O'Grady, Michelle Harrison, Venus Terzo, Chris Humphreys, Peter Benson

5.8/10 · 378 ratings20131h 22mWeirdness 5/10Bingo card

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The premise

Two friends who are taking part in a murder mystery game on board a luxury liner suspect there might be a real killer among the guests.

Themes:Trusting your instincts Female friendship The blurred line between fiction and reality Professional partnership

How unusual is it?

Middle of the road, with a twist — mistaken identity keeps it from being totally by-the-book.

Who’s in it

Lead

Gail O'Grady

as Alvirah Meehan

Lead

Michelle Harrison

as Regan Reilly

Alongside them

Show all 10 cast

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Douglas Barr

Written by

Wait, what?

The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.

The protagonist's partner is a lottery-winning former cleaning lady who speaks in rhymes.
The 'game within a game' structure where characters are constantly confused about whether a crime is scripted or real.
The antagonist sings a version of 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat' about escaping to kill again while her husband is tied up.
A subplot involving a card shark using counterfeit money that feels like it belongs in a different movie.

Every trope, all in one place

Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 25 to find more movies that do the same thing.

How it all plays out

Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.

Full story (spoilers)

The film opens with Regan Reilly and Alvirah Meehan successfully rescuing a kidnapped dog, leading Alvirah to push for a formal partnership in a new detective agency. Regan, wanting a break from crime, insists they attend a three-day mystery cruise aboard 'The Taconite' as friends rather than investigators. The cruise is hosted by Regan’s mother, famous mystery novelist Nora Reilly, and features a live-action role-playing game where passengers are assigned characters like 'The Gambler,' 'The Detective,' and 'The Society Belle.' As the game begins, the 'Gambler' is 'murdered' as part of the script, and Alvirah is secretly assigned the role of the fictional killer. However, Alvirah’s sharp instincts lead her to believe a real crime is occurring: she observes Serena, the wife of a wealthy passenger named Casper, acting suspiciously and finds evidence of a real struggle. Meanwhile, a subplot involves Alvirah's husband, Willy, losing a large sum of money to a card shark named Oliver, who Jack Reilly (Regan's husband and NYPD detective) eventually discovers is a professional con artist using counterfeit bills. As the fictional mystery deepens, Alvirah witnesses Serena attempting to suffocate Casper with a pillow in the infirmary. Regan initially dismisses Alvirah’s concerns as being too 'into the game,' but eventually realizes her friend is right. They discover Serena is actually an identity thief and serial 'Black Widow' named Ethel who has murdered previous husbands. In the climax, Serena attempts to flee the ship on a lifeboat after tying up Casper. Regan and Alvirah confront her, and during a struggle, Serena nearly falls into the propellers, but Regan saves her life. The film concludes with the real criminal arrested, the card shark exposed, and Regan finally agreeing to form the 'Meehan & Reilly Detective Agency' with Alvirah.

Beat by beat

Opening
Regan and Alvirah rescue a socialite's dog, prompting Alvirah to suggest they open a private eye agency together.
Inciting Incident
The characters board 'The Taconite' for a murder mystery cruise where a fictional murder is staged for the guests.
Midpoint
Alvirah notices Serena's suspicious behavior and a bloody glove, realizing a real murder plot is unfolding alongside the game.
Rising Action
Jack Reilly discovers a card shark on board is using counterfeit money, while Alvirah catches Serena trying to suffocate Casper.
Climax
Regan and Alvirah confront Serena as she tries to escape on a lifeboat; Regan saves Serena from falling into the water.
Resolution
The real killer is apprehended, and Regan officially agrees to become Alvirah's business partner.

Did you know?

A few things that make this one stand out once you stack it up against every other Hallmark movie.

It's the only Hallmark movie in the catalog where the lead just won the lottery.

25 tropes in one movie

We counted 25 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.

The backstory

Music by Claude Foisy.

How it stacks up

Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.

Among the lower-rated Hallmark movies — the median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog The Mystery Cruise belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

BINGOThe lead returns to their hometownA single parentPlans get derailed by the weatherA slow-burn romanceA best friend who has all the answersA wise elder dispenses adviceA shared meal around a crowded tableA mystery novelist hosts the cruiseA quiet moment under string lightsA calendar reminder raises the stakesA meaningful look held a beat too longA card shark fleeces a passenger★A guest is assigned a costumed character roleSomeone changes career for love or familyAn amateur partner pushes to open an agencyA character is hiding a secretA charming local cafe or dinerA big event everyone is preparing forPassengers play a scripted murder gameThe love interest is a police officerThe town pulls together for one of its ownA handwritten note or letterSomeone’s guard finally comes downSet in summer

Hallmark Bingo

Your The Mystery Cruise card is dealt.

Twenty-four squares pulled from this movie’s own quirks — the cosy classics, a few only-in-this-one curveballs, and a couple of decoys. Mark them as you watch.

Open your card

Lines worth quoting

The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.

“When dinner talk in the family home is about murder and mayhem, what else are you going to be when you grow up?”
— Alvirah MeehanDescribing Regan's upbringing with a mystery writer mother and a funeral home owner father.
“I've got $50,000 reasons that say otherwise.”
— Alvirah MeehanArguing why they should open a detective agency after receiving a reward.
“I'm the one who needs to apologize. Me telling you to ignore your gift... it would be a crime not to open up a detective agency together.”
— Regan ReillyThe final resolution where Regan accepts Alvirah as her partner.

Meet the characters

Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.

Regan Reilly
Lead
Private Investigator
ProfessionalSkepticalAthleticDaughter of a famous author
Alvirah Meehan
Lead
Lottery Winner / Amateur Sleuth
Best friend and aspiring partner
IntuitiveEccentricBoldObservant
Serena (Ethel)
Antagonist
Identity Thief / Con Artist
Fellow passenger and target of investigation
DeceptiveCold-bloodedManipulative
Jack Reilly
Supporting
NYPD Detective
Husband
SupportiveCompetentProtective
Nora Reilly
Supporting
Mystery Novelist
Mother
CreativeTheatricalFamous

Questions people ask about The Mystery Cruise

Where can I watch The Mystery Cruise?

The Mystery Cruise is available via fuboTV, Philo, and Hallmark+ Amazon Channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is The Mystery Cruise?

The Mystery Cruise runs about 1 hour and 22 minutes, and was released in 2013.

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