Hey Friends,
This is Odie checking in for this Saturday. I hope you are doing good.
I appreciate all of you who have let me know you are enjoying my vacation recaps from the last two weeks on Saturdays. Click here and here to see the previous posts. Today is the final recap for this year.
Singing At Sea PSA.
Several people have contacted me in the past, interested in the Singing at Sea cruise. I highly recommend this cruise chartered by Templeton Tours! We are planning to go next year!
2025 is already booking up fast for the 49th annual Singing At Sea. Several categories are already sold out. Next year, it will all take place on the Carnival Freedom again. The dates are January 27-February 1st 2025.
The ship sails from Port Canaveral, Florida, on Monday. Tuesday is spent at sea. Wednesday is a port day at Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic. Thursday is also a port day at Grand Turks. Friday is another sea day sailing back toward Florida. Saturday morning, the ship arrives back at Port Canaveral. The bars and casinos are shut down on the ship for the week. You are surrounded by fantastic food, fellowship and great Southern gospel music for your time on the ship.
Contact Templeton Tours here for more information. You can put down a deposit to reserve your spot today. The remaining balance is due in November 2024. The Southern gospel groups on board get credit for every passenger who signs up with their group as your tour host. You can choose any group from the list of entertainers for the week.
11th Hour was our host this year. They were great to sail with, and we highly recommend them as a host group. It will not give you any special perks, but if you sign up for the 2025 cruise, tell Templeton Tours that Andrea Boggs recommended it! 😆
Thanks to Jeff Templeton and Templeton Tours for making an excellent cruise available for the Southern gospel enthusiast and cruise fan! All the groups work hard to give us the music we love! The Singing at Sea is my favorite vacation.
Singing At Sea 2024 Final Recap
I hope you are ready for an extended photo trip on the Singing at Sea 2024. Warning: this is a picture overload! This was 5 nights and 4 days packed with fun, food, beautiful scenery, music and fellowship.
Monday Afternoon
Anthem Edition singing the sail away concert.
Lunch with a view.
Nicole found some friends from Mississippi that she knew.
The Whisnants
Breakfast
Coffee
Soul'd Out
Doug and Kyra McKinney with Odie.
Nicole and Odie in cruise mode.
Sterling C. Sample
How many piano players can play one piano?
Elaine Wilburn introduced special guest Eddie Crook.
Lunch
Voices of Lee
Captain's Reception
Todd, the Cruise Director
Dinner
Pictures with Hope and Gracie Bowling.
Bill Shivers and Odie.
Brian Free and Assurance
The only seat available for Nicole for this set was the drum stool.
Troy Peach Hoast of Southern Gospel Mid-days on Singing News Radio was this venue's MC for the weak.
The Kingdom Heirs closed out Tuesday night.
One of the daily ice creams we enjoyed from the trip. This is usually how we would end the night.
Wednesday
The Taylors
Amber Cove, Dominican Republic
We met the Parsons Family from Goshen, Indiana, on the cruise. This is Bro. Parsons and one of his daughters. It was neat to find that we know many of the same people.
I found friends from Georgia even while shopping in Amber Cove.
Wednesday Night
Carolina Band
Tanner Duckworth
Garrett and Amber's son, Vinny Saunders, 17 months old, was the star of the show.
We got to hear some of their new music coming out soon.
It was great to get to chat with Amber Saunders for a little bit!
Lowie was one of our sweet tablemates at dinner. Karen Peck and New River is her favorite group. I captured this moment of Lowie enjoying Karen's singing.
Tribute Quartet closed out Wednesday night.
Bro. Darren and Sis. Tammy Mize
Bro. and Sis. Long
Grand Turks
Thursday Night
Mark Bishop singing with 11th Hour
11th Hour
Troy Peach
The Erwins
The Matthews Family
Brian Free and Assurance
Sis. Carol from Georgia and Nicole
Dinner
Karen Peck and New River
This little boy in the picture had to come to see Karen Peck after he was in his PJs.
Tribute Quartet
Jeff Tolbert and Primitive Road
I met Joseph Reed. He is the Morning Show host for Singing News Radio. I am listening to his show as I type.
Night Owls Diaries is a weekly show online. It comes from the bus late at night while Matt and Grant drive the Karen Peck and New River bus.
Nicole Odie and Tamara
Friday Sea Day
Breakfast with my favorite view.
Hymn singalong with Wesley Pritchard.
Amy Lambert Templeton
Wesley Pritchard and Odie
Jonathan Wilburn and Odie
Jeff Easter and Odie
The Whisnants
2 Whisnant brothers and 2 Erwin brothers sang together.
Becky Mathews and Odie
Mark Bishop was the MC in this theatre all week.
The Browders
Sis. Carol and Odie
We met the Cruise Director and the Assistant Cruise Director.
2 of our 3 fantastic waiters for the week.
The dining room staff sang for us.
Dinner
Troy Peach and Jeff and Sheri Easter
Levi Mills jumped on the drums for Jeff and Sheri's set.
C.T. Townsend joined them for Party Time.
One more picture with our dinner tablemates.
Odie and C.T. Townsend
It was great to see these ladies and their families on the cruise. Stephanie, Lesley, Tamara and Odie.
My final ice cream of the cruise.
Saturday Go Home Day
Andrea was our room steward for the week. She took great care of us!
Time for one last vacation selfie at the airport with Nicole before we went to our separate flights.
See you later, Florida...
and hello, Ohio.
I came home Saturday night to this warm welcome.
Singing at Sea 2024 was a success! We had so much fun! We got to see most of the groups that sang during the week. We heard many of our favorites sing multiple times. Nicole and I are looking forward to next year. Until then, we have countless happy memories to relive.
Thanks for joining for this week's recap. See you next time!
Odie
You make me want to go!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is so much fun!
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