Sea, Songs, & Unforgettable Stories: On Board the MercyMe Cruise!
Sea, Songs, & Unforgettable Stories: On Board the MercyMe Cruise!
Hello from the high seas! We have officially set sail, and to say the energy on this ship is electric would be a massive understatement.
As a writer, I am always hunting for moments that spark pure joy, inspiration, and a great story. Well, this leg of the journey delivered all three in overflowing supply. The moment we stepped on board, the anthem of the week was clear: We are here! We are here!
Here is the recap of an incredible kickoff on the water.
🎶 The Music: Intimate Nights & Out-of-Control Fun
The moment we boarded, rumors were flying that the members of MercyMe were casually walking around the ship. (My personal mission? Spot them all and give out hugs—though more on that in a second!).
The week kicked off with a welcome-on-board MercyMe concert in a cozy 600-person venue. Photos simply don't do it justice. Being that close made it feel like a giant family living-room party—everyone singing, dancing, and shouting back and forth with the band.
Over the course of the trip, they played three distinct concerts (including incredible Wednesday and Friday night shows). We got a mix of timeless classics, brand-new hits, and even a sneak peek at unreleased songs! You could tell the band was having just as much fun up on stage as we were in the crowd.
We also had the privilege of seeing Tim Timmons and Sam Wesley (MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard's son!) perform. If you haven't seen I Can Only Imagine 2, put it on your watchlist immediately—and while you're at it, pick up Tim Timmons’ book, Waking Up Again. It is absolutely brilliant!
📖 Morning Devotionals: Laughter, Magic, & Miracles
Our mornings on the water were anchored by a stellar lineup of speakers and artists during devotional time:
Drew Worsham: A phenomenal illusionist, magician, and comedian who left the entire room completely awestruck and laughing out loud.
Tim Timmons: Hands down one of the happiest humans on the planet. Hearing his heart, music, and message is extra powerful when you know his story—he was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer 25 years ago and given five years to live. Seeing his joy today is a walking miracle.
Our Guest Preacher from CA: Exceptionally down-to-earth, hilarious, and inspiring.
We were fortunate enough to meet, chat, and hang out with these wonderful men throughout the week.
🤝 The Great Hug Heist (Or: How I Didn't Scare Bart Millard)
Alright, time for the story of the day.
When I booked this cruise, my ultimate goal was simple: get a big hug from MercyMe’s lead singer, Bart Millard.
Naturally, it was after booking that I learned a crucial piece of trivia: Bart notoriously hates hugs. 😅
When our turn came for the official band meet-and-greet, the host directed us to the table. I seized the moment, turned to the band, and cheerfully announced that the guy directing the line told us we were allowed to give them all huge hugs and squeezes!
The entire band cracked up... except Bart, who looked genuinely panicked.
I immediately laughed and told him the truth: “I booked this whole cruise wanting a hug, then heard an interview where you said you hate hugging, and I was crushed!”
As Bart slowly started to stand up looking super uncomfortable, I gently placed a hand on his shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, I’m not going to invade your personal space!”
The instant relief on his face was priceless. From that second on, he relaxed into the hilarious, warm guy everyone knows from interviews and stage shows. The rest of the band thought the whole exchange was hysterical. They didn't rush anyone through—they were kind, generous with their time, chatted with everyone, and signed autographs.
And hey... I got the signatures, made the band laugh, and technically still got to touch Bart's shoulder! I’m counting that as a absolute win! 🥳🤗
Writer’s Log:
I am filling up pages of my notebook every day while we sail between ports. Keep an eye on my social media channels whenever we dock for real-time photo drops, and stay tuned for more long-form stories once we wrap up this wild Alaskan adventure!
Next up: More ocean views and port stops ahead! Catch you at the next dock!
Kathy