Last week in my blog I asked Mayercrafters to send in some stories and experiences from the MCC2. As promised, here they are! If you forgot to send in your stories, or are just NOW getting around to bringing your brain back to reality, feel free to post them in in the comments section of this post! Thanks to Stacy, Mike, and Sara for allowing me to use your stories in today’s blog.
Stacy K from Ohio: MCC2 was one of the best vacations I’ve had — the music was incredible, we met so many great people (including JM!), and everything EXCEPT the actual boat (ride) went smoothly! Even the choppy waters couldn’t put a damper on things though . . . .not only did we see a lot more of JM this year, but we caught his comedy night in the El Morocco with James Smith and Carl Mayer. I have to admit, I haven’t seen anything that funny in a long, long time! The entire experience was amazing and I can’t wait until next year!!
Mike G. from Michigan : One of my favorite moments was running into Brendan James and his band outside of the soft serve ice cream machine. Apparently the rest of his band had been spending a lot of time there without him so he wanted to see what was so great. It was very entertaining because as I walked up to get a bowl, Brendan told me I had to have a cone. I told him the cone was like eating Styrofoam so I typically didn’t get one, but did this time. Everyone in the band then proceeded to rate my technique and style for twisting the ice cream into the cone. I stood around for a little while longer as they encouraged people to get ice cream when they walked by and then would rate them on their style.
It’s the little things similar to that which make the cruise so much fun and memorable!
Sara from North Carolina (this one is long, but needs to be read!): It is now Thursday morning and I’m suffering from “Post Departum Depression” as John himself describes it. A few examples: If I catch myself standing still for too long, I start to feel phantom boat rocking movements. My brain is still playing all the music I heard over the 5 days aboard The Splendor. I know that it is almost noon Eastern Standard Time but my body is saying it’s 9 am, so where is my lounge chair and drink?
Since June of 2008, my mom and I had planned this trip as my celebration for being cancer free for 10 years. As a 23 year old, this milestone is a pretty big deal for me, so when the MCC2 was announced we knew this was the way to celebrate. Just a week before setting sail, I received my official release from my oncologist’s care, so we had even more to celebrate! Well the MCC2 did not disappoint. Here are just a few of the amazing stories we had upon the MCC2.
- We arrived around 11 am in LA on Thursday after traveling/flying for 10 hours from North Carolina. We checked our bags and were going to walk around since we couldn’t board until 2 pm, when we were told that boarding had already begun. We quickly changed our plans and heading to the check-in. After waiting just a little bit of time, we were aboard the ship and hanging out at the bar in the atrium. After meeting some new friends (The first of many from Canada. Who knew they could party so hard?!) at the bar, we noticed a lot of the bands were boarding the boat and we had the opportunity to see JJ Johnson, Robbie McIntosh, Bob Reynolds and David Ryan Harris. You could tell everyone was super excited to be there and ready to have a great time. Of course, the beginning of the trip got even better when we saw John arrive on the boat and even got a “Hello”. From that point on, I knew this vacation was going to be amazing.
- One Splendid Evening in the “Spec Spec” was incredible. What a great group of musicians and all there for such a great cause. Jordin Sparks & John’s duets were of course the highlight of the night.
- As most of the world now knows, John stepping out on stage as we sail away in those super short captain shorts! That will go down in a lifetime of memories.
- We had the opportunity to attend the sound check party on Saturday. We arrived 45 minutes early and the line was already up the stairs and just out the doors to the side deck. We amused our selves for the rest of the time rating the reactions on people’s faces as they saw how long the line was to get in as they turned the corner. We met a couple that were fellow Beatles & Paul McCartney fans (Meeting fellow music fans was another amazing part of this trip. Glad to know you aren’t the only one out there!) and had a book from a Paul McCartney tour with a young Robbie McIntosh in it.
- Too many awesome stories hanging out with the artists: Stars Go Dim is an amazing group of guys and were very humbled to be there among so many great musicians. My mom tried to convince Brendan James that she really did see whales in the water just a few hours after he had spent the night DJing in the Red Carpet Club. Talking with James Hunter & his wife about this day in Cabo as we waited to board the tenders. And so on…
- James Smith’s comedy sketch turned into the place to be Sunday night. I thought that having him and the magician on board was another great idea by Sixthman (and I’m sure John). “New York has a new airport. It’s in the middle of the Hudson River.” Then probably the best part John and Carl both having a go with the crowd. Carl’s LIGB story was something else (can’t wait to hear about the second time he went next year).
- Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday are all one big day for me. From the time I woke up at 9 Monday morning until I arrived home in NC Wednesday, I had had 2 hours of solid sleep and then about 4 so-so hours on the red-eye home. Even so, it was worth it. We sat out on Lido deck Monday listening to Jessie Baylin, Erin McCarley and Brendan James. They were giving their last shows aboard the ship everything they had. I figured not a half bad way to spend a Monday! Monday night was the Heroes & Villains evening. You may have seen me around the ship, I was the one dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West or Elphaba for those in the know. This was probably my favorite part of the trip, everyone was so excited (or a little freaked out) to see me dressed up (bright green body paint can do that to people I guess). Jessie Baylin and Ryan Miller (of Guster) along with a majority of the crew and guests asked to take pictures with me. The Red Carpet Club was hopping Monday night with John DJing the night away. Tuesday morning came too quickly and next thing I knew, we were heading to LAX to make the journey home.
The MCC2 was everything I thought it would be and then about 100 times better. Thank you Sixthman, John & everyone else. Can’t wait for next year!
