I’m digging in my mind for fine details of this awesome experience. It has been a hot minute (read as “a few months”) since I did any blogs, as we had some technical difficulties – and I got a little lazy and quit doing them while the website was inaccessible.
Well, first, the line-up, per the official Cruise T-Shirt: Bret Michaels, Nile Rodgers & Chic*, OMD, Billy Ocean*, Gary Numan, Berlin, Los Lobos, Taylor Dayne, Sugarhill Gang, Quiet Riot, Glass Tiger, Donnie Iris & the Cruisers*, Dazz Band, Heaven 17, Men Without Hats, Aldo Nova, and Digital Underground. (Kool Moe Dee canceled the last week before the cruise.)
Artists with an asterisk by their name did NOT appear on the cruise ship, but instead at an all-day concert event (“Rocks the Docks”) at the Amphitheater in Nassau. It was a bit of a hassle to stand (even though ECP, the company that produces the cruise, provided folding stools for everyone to sit on that doubled as coolers with bottle openers – they thought of everything, honestly – it was just an awkward experience. There were a few picnic tables on the lawn of the venue, but then you couldn’t see the stage very well. I’m frankly at an age where I’m not going to stand from 3:30 in the afternoon until 9:30 that night to watch concerts without seating. And those little folding stools do not count as seating in my book, lol! We caught the last couple of songs by Donnie Iris, as we made our way out to the venue to try to see Billy Ocean. And, let me tell you, Billy Ocean was worth the hassle of getting off the ship and then some! We stood in the back, near the production tent. People crossed in front of us the entire performance, but watching this seventy-four-year-old master on the stage, still dancing, still hitting all the notes, still doing what he has always done – captivating, entertaining – was quite the experience! I cried like a baby when he sang, “Suddenly.” But if you’ve been reading my summations of these cruises in past years, you know it’s not really a concert for me unless I cry during at least one song, even if it’s not a sad song. (And yes, of course, I cried during “There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) – duh!) But the most tender moment of the whole show was when I was standing there, back leaned against Russ’ front, and Billy sang, “What Is the Color of Love,” and Russ leaned forward and whispered in my ear, “It’s a sassy purple,” because my hair is purple, my nails are purple – purple is my signature color – and I turned around and sobbed into his shoulder. That moment was just about perfect!
As much as I love Nile Rodgers & Chic, we went back to the ship after Billy Ocean and watched Chic on the TV in our cabin. Not much has changed about his setlist since the last time I saw him. I called most of the songs before he sang them. Russ was impressed. It’s a shame that bands as good as Chic and Duran Duran don’t change up those setlists more often. They have so much to work with, and the fans would love a few more surprises. But I guess it is what it is…
The rest of the week… Good golly, where to start??? We did watch one of the game shows this year. We watched Aldo Nova against Men Without Hats. My friend James Turner is a huge Men Without Hats fan, so I promised him I would try to get something autographed for him. Russ was able to reach up and get a t-shirt signed that I got in the Merch Store. Ivan signed it upside down, but James is still wearing it proudly! So, that was a successful venture.
Another day, I spent nearly 2.5 hours in a line to get Glass Tiger to sign a few items and to get my picture made with them. We made a new friend, Chris (and his wife, whose name I’ve already forgotten – I remember Chris because – well, it’s the root of Chrissie). They were huge Bret Michaels fans, so they were really excited about seeing him later in the week. But standing in line together that long, we had the opportunity to chat for a good, long time. They were a really nice, fun couple. I’d sit with them at dinner, anytime. We made it through the line eventually, got our stuff signed, and got the pic taken, met the band – who were really nice. Then made our way to that evening’s concerts – no time to eat until late that night. And that’s the way it goes sometimes on the 80s Cruise. Food is way less important than the entertainment, lol!
Another day, I spent about 2 hours waiting in line to get OMD merchandise signed. It was a limit of one item per person. I had two and Russ was upstairs getting a book signed by the Stuck in the 80s Podcast guys (Steve Spears and Brad Williams). He got to our line just before it started moving – I was waiting in line with Chris again, lol, and we talked more about our lives off the ship that day. He’s a local politician back home, in addition to his job as a business administrator at a school. The cruise coincides with his campaigning season, so he told his wife she has to help him get x-number of signatures to qualify for the ballots or they can’t go on the cruise next year. That’s what I call motivation, lol! So, we got to meet OMD. No stopping for photographs – phones were not even allowed to be out of our pockets — but the line for signing autographs stretched the length of the entire ship! It was insane! They seemed like lovely fellows, but everything was very rushed. (Still, I got merch signed, so I was happy.)
That morning, on our way to the elevators from breakfast, we just happened to bump into Bret Michaels! He was on his way to breakfast from the gym. He was really cool about standing there to sign things and take photos. I had my pic made with him, which was ultra cool. I was wearing my Fleetwood Mac t-shirt that day. He pointed at my shirt and said, “I love Stevie Nicks!”
I said, “So do I!”
Then he went on to tell me that he wrote one of the songs on her TimeSpace album, which I listened to all the time my senior year of high school. “Love Is a Hard Game to Play.” So, if you didn’t know that already, check it out.
Our Alumni Concert was with Berlin. They did some cool acoustic songs, including “Take My Breath Away.” (Yes, I cried.) I remember listening to that song once in the radio while Mom was in the car with me. And she just sorta whispered, “If only for today, I am unafraid, and looked out the windshield to something I couldn’t see when she said it, gazing at some part of her life I’d never been part of. And I’ve never been able to listen to that part of that song without crying ever since then. It always reminds me that, at some point in life, she had dreams, too. I wish she had gotten to pursue them. But then, if she had, I guess I wouldn’t be here…
Best concerts? Hearing Glass Tiger has been on my list for a very long time, and they did not disappoint! “Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone” – made me cry. “Someday” – made me cry. Loved everything they played, although so many weeks have passed, I can’t remember all of it now. Oh, they also played a cover of a Chieftains song, but I don’t remember the name. And the lead singer – who is Scottish, even though it’s a Canadian band – could recite the telephone book to me and I would hang on his every word!
My next favorite concert was OMD. I had no clue they had so many hits! They seriously played 19 songs that were all hits, nothing new, and it was phenomenal. They didn’t even leave “If You Leave” until last. It was the only main stage show Russ didn’t fall asleep through at least some part of. (I don’t know – he may have stayed awake for all of Los Lobos…) But they were absolutely phenomenal. And I met Paul Humphreys one morning on his way to get coffee and got my picture made with him.
And, because of James, I got on this high-energy kick from Men Without Hats. They were so into what they did. I loved their Behind the Music interview. Where Russ got something else signed. And I met Ivan’s niece, who is now part of the band – her father was an original member – and had my picture made with her. They did “Safety Dance” THREE times in their concert, but it was a different style each time, and the crowd went crazy each and every time. Including me! I only wish James could have been there in person. (He loves that t-shirt, though!)
And Bret Michaels is always a great show. High-energy from him and from the crowd. Russ says his whole show is like a curtain call performance. And he’s right. He’s always pumped up, always positive. Although I despise Lynyrd Skynyrd, he did “Sweet Home Alabama” and brought Alan Hunter out on stage (Alan’s from Alabama), and Aldo Nova guested on guitar. I love the collaborations that come out of all those awesome performers being in the same place at the same time and having access to each other. (Although I don’t think ANYTHING will EVER top Sebastian Bach with Air supply in 2024!)
I could talk about my least favorites, but what’s the point? Just because they weren’t my cup of tea doesn’t mean they weren’t good.
I’m already looking forward to next year. Chaka Khan, Loverboy, John Waite – all of whom I’ve wanted to see forever. Stryper – who ever imagined a Christian band on the 80s Cruise?!!?? But best of all – I cry every time I think about it – Sir Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats!!!!! I cannot be =gin to tell you how thrilled I was when his picture appeared on the screen for next year’s lineup. I thought it had to be a joke, or a mistake. Sir Bob Geldof. Man, I have to find a way to meet that man! It’s all because of him that I became a Duranie. He was such a humanitarian inspiration to me in the 80s. And beyond. Band-Aid. Live Aid. I did my 9th grade research project on Live Aid because I was so in awe of it (and so I could sneak Duran Duran into it because Carol Hart told me I couldn’t do my research paper on Duran Duran after doing a whole six weeks’ unit of poetry on them, lol!). I hope this line-up holds! And… It’s leaving out of New Orleans, so I should get to see my awesome friend Tammy Mays Adams, who I haven’t seen since before covid! Our ports of call include Costa Maya, Cozumel, and Belize City. I absolutely cannot wait!!!f
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