Our FIRST Back-to-Back Cruises!!

After we booked our first Rock Boat Cruise this year, we got a great deal on Michael Franti's Soulshine at Sea Cruise just before it on the very same boat, so we said, hey, why not!! Let's cannonball!! 

Tuesday, November 2 - We flew down to Miami this afternoon after work and spent the night at the nice Marriott Miami Biscayne Bay Hotel to await our boarding and departure tomorrow of the Michael Franti Soulshine at Sea Cruise!   

Flying out of Nashville at sunset was lovely.  Let's hope for more great sunsets coming our way!

Wednesday, November 3 - This was our nice little breakfast view this morning at Biscayne Bay as we ambled over to a nearby Starbucks for a light breakfast before heading to the cruise-port to get checked-in, Covid tested and board the ship.  We both worked remotely this morning before heading over to the port which we will have to have to do the rest of the week as well since we aren't officially off work until next week's cruise. 

We got vaxxed, tested and are ready to go!!   It feels nice to know everyone on board will have gone through these same rigors to provide a safe and fun atmosphere. 

This was my first of many white Russians of the trip for me as I gazed out at the swanky new NCL Terminal before departing from Miami this afternoon.  Drinks are unlimited and included in the dirt cheap price we got for this first cruise. 

Another white Russian as Franti says "raise your glass for no fuckin' reason!" - so we did!!  Michael and the Spearhead band put on an awesome sail-away show on the way out of the port.  

The weather clouded up as we headed out to sea, but the rain held off and the Miami skyline looked kinda cool all shrouded in gray.  

One of other main reasons to jump on this great deal of a music cruise was that one of favorite bands to see live, Fitz and the Tantrums, were aboard.   They put on a great show out on the pool deck tonight.  

Thursday, November 4 - Soulshine Cruise Day 2  The ethereal Allen Stone had a great show today on the pool deck stage.  We've seen Allen a few times as an opener. but this was our first time seeing a full set by this gifted artist. Great singing voice, catchy tunes and pretty damn funny! 

We also enjoyed today sitting in on the taping of the Michael Franti's podcast,"Stay Human" with Michael Fitzpatrick of Fitz and the Tantrums.  

The buffet food on The Norwegian Gem was surprisingly creative and good.  We never once went to the sit-down formal dining room for any evening meals because it also usually conflicted with a musical show of one sort or another. 

Friday, November 5 - Soulshine Cruise Day 3 - We were dodging weather all day today as we had our one stop on the cruise at Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. 

While NCL owns part of the pretty and private Bahamian isle, they don't have a dock there and so we had to tender over to Great Stirrup Cay from the ship.  The water was a little choppy, but not bad and we dodged a pretty heavy downpour as well on the way in.  

The Norwegian Gem and ominous clouds.  Amazingly, we only got a few drops of rain on us while we were on the island. Ashlee even ran into Spearhead guitarist, JB , and got a selfie with him!

After some morning work on the boat, we were able to get some afternoon beach time in, hit the also-included bar, and a swim in the beautiful waters of Great Stirrup Cay.

Back on the boat after our beach time, it was Fitz and the Tantrums time again on the pool deck stage, but this time under a dark, threatening sky.  The show was good but we were a tad disappointed that it was basically the same show as the first one (included the same silly pre-song banter?) and felt a little canned. Well, hey, they're from LA where everything is canned...but even pretty Noelle who now lives in Nashville kind of blew us off when we ran into her in the halls of the ship later on.  Well, everyone can't be Michael Franti...unfortunately.  

One our best "finds" in new-to-us music was the band, Tropidelic, out of Cleveland, OH.   The funk, soul and hip-hop musical group are entertaining to watch and hear.  

Back out on the pool deck stage later, Michael Franti and Spearhead blasted on through light to moderate rain.  The show only had to cut a little short by weather.  Watch and learn, Fitz and the Tantrums....Spearhead drummer, Manas Itiene. was all smiles despite the weather. 

Saturday, November 6 - Soulshine Cruise Day 4 -  The Miami skyline was once again in view today, but this time decked out in several shades of blue.  Note the huge tanker ship running parallel with us along the shoreline. 

Sunset on our last full day of Soulshine was a fitting end to a beautiful trip with Franti and friends.

We and Franteeeee!  We love you, Michael!! Thanks for a great cruise!  

Sunday, November 7 - Time to dock and then rock!  It's (finally) Rock Boat time for us! We've been trying for years to get on this floating music festival, but it continually sells out fast with tons of repeat cruisers.  I guess the only good thing about Covid is that it allowed us to scamper on board when others couldn't or wouldn't as this awful pandemic continues to linger. 

Hey there, Scarlett Lady, we hope to get a ride on you or one of your sisters soon. ("That sounded kinda dirty, fella"...- Jim Gaffigan).   What we do hope is to eventually take a trip on the fairly new Virgin Cruise Line.  If it's as cool as some of their hotels, it should be worth it.   It was a beautiful day back in the Port of Miami as we closed out on music cruise for another one on the same boat! 

Maybe staying on board instead of leaving the ship during the transition was not the best choice, but we got through it with a bit of waiting and patience.  We got tested again and cleared protocol and were back on the deck in the sunlight again before too awful long.   Best thing was we didn't have to move any of our crap since we had the exact same room for both cruises! 

We try and stay positive on this blog, but we have to say that the hosts of The Rock Boat, Sister Hazel, who we used to really like are a shell of themselves now.  Mainly because frontman, Ken Block, has basically lost his voice.  They sound awful and it's painful to watch and listen too.  It's probably time for new hosts to take over this cruise.  Our first show of mention (and our vote for new hosts of The Rock Boat) was and is Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness (photo above).

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Same boat, so same great food in the buffet.

Monday, November 8 -  Rock Boat Day 2 - Hello, Big Blue!  We were supposed to be back at the  Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas today.  But despite pretty weather, the seas were deemed too choppy for tendering into shore.  Since we were off work officially now.  We spent the unscheduled full-day-at-sea day relaxing, lounging and reading out on the deck watching Big Blue do her thing. 

Despite no beach time today in the Bahamas, Andrew McMahon still got to ride the waves tonight in his next show out on the pool deck.  What a great show and what a great performer!!  

Tuesday, November 9 - Rock Boat Day 3 - We've crowned this the best day of music overall on The Rock Boat.  Up until now, we were actually a little underwhelmed overall.  But today changed our minds with great shows all day and night.  We started by attending the Jon and Andrew Show, a back-and-forth of songs by the front-men of the two of the biggest acts on the ship.  We came for Andrew McMahon, but we were very impressed with Jon Foreman of Switchfoot.  He's got a great voice.  We now have to put their shows on our to-see list after this.  
We saw another great acoustic show by the two of the guys from Bowling for Soup.  They are basically the American version of Barenaked Ladies with sort of silly songs with clever lyrics that just kind of stay with you.  Their banter was even funnier. 

Nashville was well-represented with long-time Rock Boat alumnus, Will Hoge, putting on some of the best shows on the ship.  His vow to not play any of the same songs on all of his shows was impressive and only adds to his legendary performer status.  Take a hint, Fitz and the Tantrums...and he talked to us genuinely on the elevator one day...take a hint, Noelle, of the Tantrums...

The guy's got a thing for pool floats, you know?  What made this even better was that Andrew's "friend" in this show was a life-size version of our beloved Chad beverage pool floaty from our pool.   Kudos to Ashlee for snagging this great shot.  

That's Cuba and a downpour in the distance.  Another beautiful day at sea as we sailed toward Jamaica. 

Wednesday, November 10 - Rock Boat Day 4 - Welcome back to Jamaica!  This time we were on the north side of the island in Ocho Rios.   We were supposed to go to the Dominican Republic to start with, but Covid does what Covid does.  We had a waterfall excursion planned for the DR, so we were happy to see a similar trip ashore here. What we didn't realize what that this one more than a "just look at the waterfalls" trip.  Here at The Blue Hole Falls we were given the opportunity to jump in the base of it!!  And we did!  But not from the high platform seen behind the tree.  We chose to jump in down and to the right of it.  It was still a jump and still thrilling and a little scary, but we did it!  

Oh, yeah, there was a second jump!!

As a change of pace, we were asked to climb UP nearby Konoko Falls which cascades over brown-sugar-looking rocks for a couple hundred feet plus.  And we did it! (with some nice lifeguards' help). What a fun day and the weather held out nicely for us despite a dreary forecast.  

The Ocho Rios overlook from the Konoko Falls Park was stunning.  Look at our pretty (giant) boat! 

Making friends in Jamaica.  The Konoko Falls Park has a small zoo as well and we were able to have this beautiful parrot sit on both our arms, and I also got to hold my first large iguana.  Very cool!   What a fun day in Jamaica, yea mon!  

We were in the 2nd row for the 2nd Will Hoge show out on the pool deck stage tonight.  I think Will would be impressed with my rhyming skills there!  

The most unique and beautiful sunset of the entire trip was tonight as we were leaving Jamaica. 

Thursday, November 11 - Rock Boat Day 5 - Just a man and his piano...looking for a pool float, no doubt.  Love the Buc-ee's sticker on Andrew's piano.  

Better than front row, we were at the stage for the final Will Hoge show on The Rock Boat. 

Friday, November 12 - We docked today, and disembarked with no issues.  We were set to fly home in the early afternoon, but after 5 delays and 3 gate changes, we finally took off around sunset.  We each got a great view of The Everglades as we had back-to-back window seats on our American flight home.  It was a great trip and a learning experience as well.  We learned that back-to-back cruises are fun, but a big commitment.  We learned that The Rock Boat is great, but we are not sure it's the be-all end-all in terms of music cruises.  And we still believe Michael Franti should run for president with Will Hoge as his VEEP!! 

Saturday, November 13 - Will even answered me on Facebook!  Maybe Franti should be the VEEP?