For those attending Jam Cruise 10 this is a very exciting time. We’ve got less than one month until the MSC Poesia departs Fort Lauderdale filled to the brim with talented musicians. Over the years a community has developed of not only those who continue to pick Jam Cruise as their musical adventure each January but also the musicians who embrace the cruise’s “anything goes” ethos and win invites year after year.
When I headed off for my first Jam Cruise in 2010, I didn’t know what to expect. My mind was blown within a few hours of departure, yet it took me a few days to get my feet under me. I would’ve loved tips from Jam Cruise vets to help guide me on my way. With that in mind, for this week’s B List we’ve asked a long-time cruiser, a Jam Cruise staffer and several musicians who have done the trip before for advice that they would give to first-time cruisers.
Keller Williams (Keller and the Keels: Pool Deck – January 10 @ 1:45PM | Theater – January 11 @ 11:15PM
- Pace yourself. It’s not a sprint but a marathon
- In the unfortunate event of high seas, don’t drink too much in the theater shows. The indoor motion mixed with alcohol can be bad.
- Don’t play tennis in crocs.
- Don’t forget to sleep.
- Learn to love pizza and hot dogs.
- Be liberal with sunblock and shade.
- Don’t take your kids.
Anders Beck (Jam Cruise 10 Special Guest)
The advice that I was given before I departed for my first Jam Cruise was that “it is a marathon, not a sprint.” I ignored this advice and treated it like a “sprinting marathon” and had one of the best weeks of my life. Here’s a few tips to make sure that you feel the same way…
- Once you get the layout of the boat figured out, it’s not that big. You can get from one show to another pretty quickly, even just to check it out and pick which one you like better.
- Make sure to see at least one sunrise. When was the last time you saw the sun rise over Cuba or Haiti from the middle of the ocean? Hmmmm? It’s freakin’ beautiful and the light is amazing (plus, there’s a good chance i’ll be there to serenade you on dobro). Jam Cruise is built for “playing through”…
- After sunrise go get breakfast and pretend you just woke up.
- Sleep when you’re tired. For a little while at least. Sure you might miss something, but there will be something equally cool happening when you awake!
- Make sure to go explore the islands that we stop at. Sure, it’s all about the music on Jam Cruise, but exploring Haiti and Jamaica is about the coolest set breaks you could ask for.
- Don’t be late getting to the port or back to the boat. Seriously!
- Finally, take time to make new friends. The boat is filled with some of the coolest people on the planet, as far as I can tell, and it’s certainly worth getting to know everybody around you. Sounds obvious… and maybe it is, but it’s certainly worth mentioning, I think.
Annabel Lukins (Cruise Director – “Julie McCoy”)
Click here to view the embedded video.
- Pace Yourself. Jam Cruise is a marathon, not a sprint. You might want to race straight from the start but you’ll burn out fast. Stay up late but not that late. Sleep! Drink water and eat every meal. You’ll be much more prepared to rock out each night.
- Knock on your neighbors’ cabin door and make friends with them. The relationships made on Jam Cruise last a lifetime. Our community has become so tight that it’s simply one big family spending a special holiday together every year. But the friendships build over the year because we just miss each other so much. So make a new buddy next door or down the hall or dancing next to them…
- Spend a lot of time in the Jam Room. The Jam Room, created because musicians approached us years ago asking for a place they could jam with their friends in different bands that they never get to play with, is one of the most unique experiences not only on board, but in jamband history. Never before and never again seen moments happen late night, artists who have never shared the stage before let loose and feed off each other to create complete and utter magic…
PAGE TWO = Mike Dillon, Jefferson Waful, Skerik, Kyle Hollingsworth & Steve Allen
For more tips be sure to read the FAQ and ask the users of the Jam Cruise Forum.