Spotlight On The Country Music Cruise
2016 Story & Photos by Glenda S.
Paradee
This
years Country Music Cruise 2016 was spectacular. It was held
January 16 - 23, 2016 on the Holland America's m/s Westerdam.
It started off in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and visited Ocho Rios,
Jamaica, Grand Cayman and then returned to Ft. Lauderdale,
FL. This cruise is surely a country music fans dream cruise!
Day One: We set sail and started off the
cruise with a Sail-Away Party with some great music from Shenandoah,
and was hosted by Lorianne Crook. During the day, Deborah Allen
hosted a Backstage Pass Live Interview with The Bellamy
Brothers. The Oakridge Boys played in the main showroom this
evening. They put on two fantastic shows. Also Johnny Lee
and the Quebe Sisters put on fantastic shows throughout the
night. More music all night long with T. Graham Brown, Chuck Mead
& His Grassy Knoll Boys, and nightly, the Elvis Tribute
Artists. Nightly The Piano Bar Entertainment was with Jimmy
Maddox.
Day Two: Johnny Lee got our toes tapping at
the Lido Pool. The legendary University of Oaklahoma and
Dallas Cowboys former coach Barry Switzer put on a talk called
Coach's Corner which was hosted by Jason Venner. Starmaker -
Stories behind the Stardom Q&A was hosted by Lorianne Crook
& Jim Halsey. Deborah Allen hosted another Backstage Pass
Live Interview with The Oak Ridge Boys. This nights entertainment
in the main showroom was B.J. Thomas. That man can sing! He
performed two great shows. Throughout the evening, there was
fantastic entertainment by Shenandoah, Wade Hayes, the Quebe
Sisters, and Tiffany Dowhan.
Day Three: The day started off with the
Gospel Hour featuring The Oak Ridge Boys & Friends. It was
wonderful. At the Lido Poolside there was a Country Music Cruise
T-Shirt Party with Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys. There
was a special Guitars In the Round with Wade Hayes and friends. A
special autograph Session was held with the Oak Ridge Boys, B.J.
Thomas, Johnny Lee & T. Graham Brown. There was a Country
Faith Seminar with Shenandoah, Hosted by Deborah Evans
Price. Also, there was a Songwriting Seminar with Jamie O'Neal
& Deborah Allen. Hosted by Lorraine Crook. The Quebe Sisters
performed poolside. Deborah Allen hosted a All Access Pass Live
TV Interview with B.J. Thomas. This evening main showroom
entertainment was with The Bellamy Brothers. Those guys still
got what it takes. The put on two great shows. Other
entertainment in the evening was with Deborah Allen, Tiffany Dowan,
Jamie O'Nial, the Quebe Sisters, and a Deck Party with Riders in the
Sky.
Day Four: The Westerdam arrived in Ocho Rios,
Jamaica. A fun time was had by all in Jamaica. Back on
board, the B.B. King All Star Band played poolside. Lorianne
Crook hosted a All Access Pass Live TV Interview with Kenny
Rogers. This evening the main showroom entertainment was with
Kenny Rogers. He put on two fantastic shows. They had a fun
Red, White & Blue BBQ Under the Stars by the pool. More
entertainment throughout the evening was with Riders in the Sky,
Shenandoah, and a fun jam session.
Day Five: The day started off with Elvis
in Hawaii Luau with the Elvis Tribute Artists and Blue Suede
Review. Then there was a special Grand Ole Opry show at sea:
Featuring Riders in the Sky, T. Graham Brown, Wade Hayes, Chuck Mead
& the Quebe Sisters. It was such a wonderful show. The
Quebe Sisters then performed again at poolside. A fun time was
had during the Cooking Show with The Bellamy Brothers hosted by
Lorianne Crook. They made some yummy 'hot' soup. There was
another autograph session with Shenandoah, Wade Hayes, Chuck Mead
& Tiffany Dowhan. Later in the afternoon, Jamie O'Neal hosted
a Wine Tasting. Kathy Mattea held a very special meet & greet
with her fan club members. Then tonights main showroom
entertainment was with Randy Owen. He really put on two great
shows. Later in the evening, T. Graham Brown, Chuck Mead &
His Grassy Knoll Boys, Wade Hayes, and Deborah Allen, all put on
some more great concerts.
Day Six: Today The Westerdam anchored in
Grand Cayman. It was a wonderful place to visit. Back on
board, Kathy Mattea's band, which also included Jon Vezner,
performed a jam sesson. Kathy Mattea joined in on a few
songs. It was so awesome. Then there was a Sail Away Party
with The Bellamy Brothers. Then Deborah Allen hosted a All Access
Pass Live TV Interview with Kathy Mattea. It is so wonderful
to hear the stories of how the artists started. Deborah Allen
really knows how to get the artists to open up with some great
stories. This night was formal night and it was fun to get all
dressed up. I attended a special dinner with my friends Kirt
Webster from Webster Public Relations and Associates, Jeremy Westby,
Scott Adkins, Derrek Kupish, Mike Jason from Time Life, and also
Deborah Evans Price and her husband Gary. Thanks guys it
was great! This evening, the main showroom entertainment was with
Bobby Bare. It was sure great to hear this man sing again. He
put on two terrific shows. More entertainment this evening was
with Jamie O'Neal, Tiffany Dowhan, Riders in the Sky and a fun Pool
Deck Party with T. Graham Brown.
Day Seven: Well today was the last day on
board. It started off with Gospel Hour with the Elvis Tribute
Artists. They were all so great every night. Deborah Evans
Price then held a Country Faith Seminar with the Bellamy
Brothers. Tiffany Dowhan performed poolside. Deborah Evans
Price held a special Book Signing. Chuck Mead & His Grassy
Knoll Boys performed poolside. Then another autograph session was
held with Riders in the Sky, The Bellamy Brothers, and Deborah
Allen. A fun time was had at the Family Feud Game show with team
leaders Johnny Lee and T. Graham Brown. A Women's Only Seminar
with Jamie O'Neil, the Quebe Sisters, hosted by Lorianne
Crook. Deborah Allen held another All Access Pass Live TV
Interview with Bobby Bare. It was fun to hear all his fishing
stories! The main showroom entertainment this evening was with
Kathy Mattea. She put on two awesome shows. I love her
music. There was more music in the evening with Wade Hayes, Jamie
O'Neal, Johnny Lee, and Tiffany Dowhan. The All Elvis Hits with
the Elvis Tribute Artists & Blue Suede Review put on another
great show.
Next years Country Music Cruise 2017 is already on sale. It
will sell out, so get your tickets now at
countrymusiccruise.com. 2017 cruise will have entertainers: Vince
Gill, Charley Pride, The Oak Ridge Boys, Brenda Lee, Lee Greenwood,
Tanya Tucker, Moe Bandy, Joe Stampley, Dailey Vincent, Jimmy
Fortune, Wade Hayes, Jo-El Sonnier, Sylvia, Chuck Mead, Lorianne
Crook and the Grand Ole Opry at Sea.
A Very Special Performance Event.

Thanks For The Music! |