Crissy Fitzgerald needs a change of scenery. A well- established hair stylist, Crissy has been lucky in career, but so far unlucky in love. In an attempt to shake up her life and move on from a recent broken heart, Crissy takes a leap of faith and embarks on a month-long cruise with her slightly wild friend, Jenny. Jenny's goal is to break Crissy out of her shy shell and help her have a little fun for a time. Crissy is less optimistic that the cruise will heal her hurt, but thinks the cruise might be fun.

On the cruise, Crissy and Jenny meet up with a varied bunch of characters from the rich and famous to hangers-on. Crissy soon meets Mark Vilos, son of the owner of the Sea Nymph, who quickly becomes enamored of her. Crissy is intrigued by Mark, but is hesitant to become involved with him. Everything about him does not add up. He spends most of his time in his cabin, does not interact with other shipmates and is rather offensive in his opinions of others, plus he has a very large mysterious trunk he's brought on the ship. To balance the relationship with Mark, Crissy meets Luca, the Sea Nymph's cruise doctor. Luca is warm, gracious and very interested. Crissy spends most of the journey juggling the two relationships.

Jenny's cruise experience and path to true love takes a different turn. She has less than virtuous goals for her trip -- to find a rich husband. Finally deciding on the aging and old money Dr. Von Meckling, Jenny sets her sights on becoming his wife.

As Crissy and Jenny's ventures on the high seas progress, each will be changed. New bonds with shipmates will be forged, friendships will be tested and the entire ship will be on a path to destruction if not stopped in time. Gould writes an evocative story of a woman's desire to feel loved and valued for who she is. DREAMBOAT, while not complicated in its storytelling, presents a satisfying conclusion that true love can conquer all and that bad guys don't always get away.