Correct on both thoughts. It was a ton of fun, but we were exhausted by the time it was over. HOTHS events take place throughout the cruise, but there is a day/night with costume parties, trick or treating, etc. We were fortunate to be able to drive to the port in NYC, so luggage space wasn't an issue for this trip, but definitely lots of costumes. We were notified at port of a schedule change that meant Halloween and Pirate Night were on the same day (not a great decision IMO). Halloween costume party in the afternoon, followed by trick or treating, followed by a costume change, followed by Pirate Night (and if you wanted to be a pirate and participate in the adults costume party in a different costume, that would have meant another costume change since the adult costume party was after the Pirate Night festivities). It was a little nutty, honestly. If I had learned of the schedule change before leaving, we would have been pirates for Halloween.