June 2013 Newsletter
Welcome to the First Edition of The Country Music Cruise Connection
The Country Music Cruise promises to become an annual favorite for country music fans from all over the world, and we thought it would be great to start a newsletter for Guests, our friends and those who are simply interested in great country music. Our goal is to keep you up to date with what is going on with the inaugural 2014 The Country Music Cruise, to offer some special gifts and incentives to our Guests, and to try and provide you with some insights about the cruise and the performers.
We hope that you will enjoy these newsletters, which will go out every other month, or more, if needed.
- The Staff of The Country Music Cruise
The Country Music Cruise Sails in Eight Months!
Less than eight months from now, we will be sailing on the first-ever The Country Music Cruise. As the cruise approaches, we have a number of important announcements including an update on cabin sales, news on special payment plans and pricing, as well as a special offer for Florida residents. Make your Connection!
Cabin Pricing Update and Special Florida Residents Offer
CMC Fan Favorite Pricing Extended: We have just announced that the CMC Fan Favorite Pricing, starting at $1,925 per person, will be in effect through July 8. These prices are “cruise only” and are per person based upon double occupancy, except for Singles. The price does not include port charges, airfare, ground transportation, onboard purchases, purchased drinks onboard or excursions. It does include all meals, shows and onboard events produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
Special Offer for Florida Residents: We will pick you up, take you right to the pier for The Country Music Cruise and take you home when the cruise is over ... for free! The Country Music Cruise Motor Coaches will pick up Guests at four Florida locations: Sarasota, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Daytona and Jupiter. The precise locations will be identified shortly. If you are interested, just contact the office at 888.852.9987 or write to reservations@ecpcruises.com.
Meet Our Featured Artist
In each edition of the Country Music Cruise Connection, we’ll feature a chat with one of your favorite stars on the cruise. To figure out who our first interviewee is, please guess using the following hints: Member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1988, won a Country Music Association’s Vocalist of the Year award in 1996, and a Grammy in 2011 for Best Bluegrass Album.
An interview with Patty Loveless
The answer to our quiz is country star Patty Loveless. Ms. Loveless hasn’t been actively touring, which means The Country Music Cruise will be one of the very few ways for her fans to see her perform in the near future. We had a chance to ask her a few questions.
Have you ever cruised before?
I did do a cruise back in 1989. I had just released my third album, "Honky Tonk Angel," and "Timber I'm Falling In Love" was my recent single.
What do you think of the lineup on this cruise?
Many of the artists, I have toured with throughout my career, and it will feel like we're all part of a reunion festival, especially being aboard with my longtime friend Vince Gill.
You have such a great history with Vince Gill. Any chance you’ll do a song with him on the cruise?
Whenever we're both together, like we'll be on the cruise, we always end up performing together. I'm sure the chance is highly possible.
Do you have any plans to go into the studio and record a new album?
I'm hoping to do an album that will be quite different from anything I've ever done.
Updates on the Programming
The onboard programming for The Country Music Cruise continues to build.
[Larry Gatlin Video] In addition to music performances by country music’s most beloved stars — Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Milsap, Larry Gatlin, Patty Loveless, Jo Dee Messina, Restless Heart, Andy Griggs, Wade Hayes, Ty Herndon, Jamie O’Neal, The Warren Brothers, Bryan White, Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys, everyone’s favorite TV personality Lorianne Crook and comedian Jon Reep — all kinds of other activities have just been announced.
Featured events include Larry Gatlin hosting a Gospel Hour, Lorianne conducting a special cooking demonstration, The Warren Brothers talking about writing hit songs, a Q&A with your favorite stars, Open Mic night during which Guests can jam with the musicians, wine tasting, line dancing, trivia contests, the Belts & Buckles Ball, BBQ under the stars and many, many others.
Artist Update
An update on just a few of The Country Music Cruise stars
VINCE GILL
Just back from a fabulously successful headlining appearance at the Country to Country event at the prestigious O2 Arena in London, England, Vince is resuming his appearances in support of the new album by The Time Jumpers, released in September 2012. He remains one of the Grand Ole Opry’s most popular and regular guests. Later this year, he appears at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center with his wife, Amy Grant, and Ben Folds, and he will appear alongside Larry Gatlin and others at the Third Annual Johnny Cash Music Festival in Jonesboro, Ark.
KENNY ROGERS
The Country Music Association announced that Kenny Rogers will become the newest member of the revered Country Music Hall of Fame. Rogers will be inducted along with Bobby Bare and “Cowboy” Jack Clement during a ceremony later this year, bringing the total membership of the Country Music Hall of Fame to 121.
In other Kenny Rogers news, 55 years after his first record was released, Rogers finally sat down to reflect upon his life and career. The result, "Luck or Something Like It," is now a best-selling book. And, after 55 years, Kenny’s career is heading in new directions. Last year, he was one of the headliners at the Bonnaroo Music Festival, singing “The Gambler” with Phish and “Lady” with Lionel Richie. “The 73-year-old star fit in beautifully with the festival’s tie-dyed [audience],” wrote Spin magazine. He’s still taking his music on the road, and has just overseen the re-release of one of his best-selling records, “The Gambler,” on LP. Some of his songs were recently featured on the History Channel’s top-rated mini-series, “The Bible.”
LARRY GATLIN
Forty years after Larry Gatlin’s first hit, he’s still a man in motion. His concerts consistently sell out, but these days he’s just as likely to be seen on Fox Business Network as a commentator or on other top-rated Fox TV or Fox News Radio shows. Sometimes, he guest hosts for Don Imus. His new record, “Johnny Cash Is Dead and His House Burned Down,” is a single that honors those who came before him and gave him a helping hand. He’s a regular on the Grand Ole Opry and a huge hit whenever he appears on Thursday night’s Opry Country Classics show at the Ryman Auditorium.
Larry Gatlin explains why he's excited about The Country Music Cruise.