Mike and I went on the 2005 Zydeco Cruise last week. The cruise featured Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys and Geno Delafose and French Rockin Boogie.

It left from Houston and sailed for 7 days through the Western Caribbean with stops in Belize and Roatan Honduras. Playa del Carmen and Cozumel Mexico had also been scheduled, but these ports were cancelled due to hurricane Wilma.

Each night there was a dance featuring the bands (alternating nights) in the warm and exceedingly HUMID salt laden air on the large open deck on the rear of the ship.

I couldn't help but wonder what all that salty, humid air was doing to the accordions.

It was a GREAT cruise with close to 600 Louisiana music enthusiasts (out of 2100 passengers) in attendance. MANY were from Louisiana, and you could hear Cajun and Creole accents everywhere.

David Greeley, fiddle player and vocalist in the Mamou Playboys, BROKE his left hand the morning of the cruise while loading up the car for the drive from Breaux Bridge to Houston. After a quick trip to the emergency room, he DID make the cruise. He was able to sing, but was not able to play. Hope he doesn't have any lasting problems from the break.

Isn't it amazing that our favorite artists like in the same little towns that we do. Opelousas, Breaux Bridge, Church Point. Goes to show that even cajun stars are just one of us.

I David recovers soon. What a bummer not being able to play fiddle that week.

Luckily for him, my ex-girlfriend was on the cruise. She's a hand therapist, and was able to help him get the swelling down.

She said he had a "boxer's fracture", which could be problematic.

Joanie,
What would be the approximate cost for a cruise like that, and which company offers it? Do you have a link?
Ciao.......:-)

They're already signing up for next year's 2006 cruise. Same bands and same cruise line ~ Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). You HAVE to sign up through Travel Machine of Lafayette. Price depends on cabin type, but you can get it pretty cheap. Go to http://www.travelmachine.net/zydecocruise.htm (active link above at Website #3)

I visited the cruise site. 'Looks like an awesome cruise!

We REALLY liked the one we went on....SO much that we signed up for Athens, Greek islands, Egypt and Istanbul for next year! LOBE the FREESTYLE approach with no assigned meals or dressing up!