Pictures, Recap: Jan’s Recap: Danny Gokey Cruise 2012

Cruisin’ with Danny Gokey for SHF to the Keys and Cozumel!

Plus, Toni and Jan add a new adventure….

The second annual Danny Gokey Cruise to benefit Sophias Heart launched from Miami, Florida, on February 2nd through 7th. Some people have been inspired by Danny’s music.  Some have been inspired by his heartfelt story about overcoming the grief of losing his dear Sophia and using it as a catalyst to help others.  While my friend Toni has been inspired by both of these things, she’s also been inspired to…..

Try zip-lining.  Yup.  Toni and I take on ziplining over the treetops in Cozumel!

But back to Cruisin’ on the Second Annual Cruise for Sophia’s Heart.

Danny and his guest, Matt Giraud, entertained about a hundred die-hard Gokey fans aboard the Carnival Cruise Line’s Destiny to Key West and Cozumel, Mexico.

There were lots of great events available:  Formal Night Meet and Greets with Photos, Private Serenades with the Artists, Dinners with Danny (for just two additional guests per night),  a Super Bowl Party, Danny items to bid on, front row seats at the concerts AND a chance to shake it with Danny on the dance floor!  And three concerts:  Matt’s, Danny’s and a Matt and Danny combo! (With Brandon Fraley, too!)

The first concert featured Matt Giraud.  Danny introduced his lovely new bride, Leyicet.  They seriously were on their honeymoon with us.  (I don’t know how she agreed to that, but let me tell you, I wouldn’t have let Ed take me and 90 other women on our honeymoon, LOL!)  Matt put on a great performance, Danny told us that he would be filling us in on his music at his solo concert on Friday and then it was time for dinner and exploring the cruise ship‘s entertainments.

On Friday morning we were able to go ashore at Key West. Some of the other ihearties and I strolled up to Ernest Hemingway’s house.  Other than his writing and his four wives, what is he famous for?  Yup, cats with 6 toes.  See picture….

When we returned to the boat, it was soon time for Danny’s solo concert.  I had bid for a front row seat (Yeah!)  Danny had said he would answer questions, so I pulled out my list. (Anybody surprised by this?) The ladies next to me probably thought I was a bit OTT— but I was not going to end up unprepared!

Someone started the questions by asking about whether he had a new music label deal?  Danny explained that he did have labels interested in him, but that he wanted to take his time and make sure it was a good fit.  And that the label would let his soulful voice out. He said that on MBD, he was sent home to rest his voice if it was too gravelly…. He talked about the advantages that a label brings to the making of an album, but that you do lose control to others.  He also talked about wanting to support Sophia’s Heart, but balancing it with his music career.  Frankly, he did confuse me at times.  But when I had a chance, I asked him three separate questions:  What genre would he be following:  He said he would be soulful country, but that he would have lots of other influences.  I asked about the song he cut with Ma$e.  He said it would be on Ma$e’s next album.  I asked how he was going to combat the Idol “fade” that often occurs?  He said he felt that using social media was the way the music business was going and he would fully utilize it.

Danny sounded confident.  BUT…. Some of us were still thinking that the second CD that was originally announced to come out at the end of 2011 ….And we wanted something more definite.  After the concert it was time to get ready for formal night in the dining room.  A few of us got “decked out” and met the photographer for pictures with Danny (black jacket) before dinner .

Saturday we got to sleep in and we arrived in Cozumel at 1PM. Do you remember Danny talking about going zip lining in skinny jeans back in Wisconsin around Thanksgiving?  Well, I think that inspired Toni.  (Not the skinny jeans, the zip lining….) She decided we needed to try zip lining!  Now, I am not afraid of heights, and generally feel that I am not going to die until I’m 95.  (Unless a bus takes me out when I’m jaywalking…).  Toni, on the other hand, hated crossing a rope bridge when we were over the Royal Gorge in Colorado.  But she was ready for this adventure.  So zip line we did! I think I may have been the oldest person getting harnessed up to fly the line 40 feet in the air— but hey, I’ll never be younger .

Sunday was going to be a jam packed day.  Matt and Danny’s concert was to start at 1 PM!  Food and drinks were provided as Danny, Matt and Brandon entertained us with their great sense of humor, solo songs and duets.  Check out the great videos.  Danny announced at the concert that he would be putting out an EP by late April– Big applause for the crowd hungry for new music from him!  And to top it off?  Danny and Matt threw in some table dancing AND Danny announced that he was honoring fan requests for a “dollar” dance with him before the full group Meet and Greets.  What a great opportunity to jump on the stage and do a slow or fast dance with Danny.  And some of us were fortunate enough to get to do a few spins with Brandon, too!  (An added bonus? Brandon talked a little more about the EP they would be working on and indicated it would be “country”.)

My finale event was for 16 of us to join Danny for a private Superbowl party in the Piano Bar.  Now, nothing will substitute for a Superbowl featuring my fave team, the Green Bay Packers, but we were treated to a mini DJG halftime show.  And it was so sweet when Danny called Amanda up to play and sing “What Hurts the Most” with him. Awww…. Finally, Nancy broke out some champagne and we toasted Danny and Leyicet to many, many happy years of marriage.

And another DJG Cruise came to an end, too soon.  But I have to say:

“Danny, if you ever decide to try sky diving, will you give me a heads up first?  I have to condition my heart for Toni’s next inspiration………”