For all the hope and optimism that brought it about, the ''Yes We Can 2009 Cruise,'' unfortunately, can't.

The organizers of the cruise, which was originally aimed at providing an affordable way for local Barack Obama campaign volunteers to attend his inauguration in Washington, D.C., were unable to gather enough people to commit to the eight-day boat trip.

''We just couldn't get the critical mass going, because I don't think the timing was in our favor,'' said Lauderhill City Commissioner Dale Holness, who helped spearhead the cruise effort. ``I know there are budgetary concerns because of the economic times, but I think more than anything else the people were too focused on the holiday season within the time frame we had to make it happen.''

Many of the 200 people who signed up may still be able to go to Washington nonetheless: the travel company that helped coordinate the cruise has put together a bus-trip proposal that they have distributed to the volunteers.

''Our heads are a bit bloody but certainly unbowed,'' said HotelBlox managing partner Lephate Cunningham Jr.

``When the cruise project unfortunately sailed away from us, we put together another option because their ultimate objective was get those folks to the inauguration.''

Chicago-based HotelBlox partnered with the volunteers to organize the cruise on the Imperial Majesty line's MV Regal Empress ship. The cruise was slated to include an onboard inaugural ball and a half-day stop in the Bahamas.

Regular passengers were offered a rate of $1,500 for the all-inclusive trip, while 200 Obama volunteers were reserved a special rate of $1,100. The organizers had to sell 300 of the full-price tickets to meet the cruise line's minimum requirement, but the deadline came during Christmas week, which organizers say made sales difficult.

The bus trip is a more modest endeavor, scheduled to depart on Jan. 18, with passengers staying in hotels in Baltimore. The cost starts at $379 per person for the two-night trip.

''It's important because these are the people who helped the president-elect get elected, and I think they should have the closure of being able to go to the inauguration and see him be sworn in,'' said Karen Phillips, who helped organize the cruise effort. ``It's crucial to see this come to fruition.''

Despite the challenges they faced, Phillips and other Obama volunteers have not given up on the inauguration cruise plan: they're already talking about another attempt for the 2012 inauguration.

''We have not given up on the dream of bringing a cruise of Floridians to D.C. for an inauguration,'' Phillips said.

``We will immediately begin working on the next inauguration cruise.''

Anyone who is interested in the HotelBlox bus trip can contact them at

reservations@HotelBlox.com or 312-474-1213.

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