Country Music Cruise 2026

From Rock to Country: Why the Country Music Cruise Was One Hell of a Ride

Last year we did MORC (Monsters of Rock Cruise), and it was an absolute friggin’ blast—but it was rock music, loud guitars, and head-banging days and nights. When it came time to rebook for 2026, we decided to shake things up a bit. That’s when we stumbled across the Country Music Cruise 2026.

I casually mentioned it to my cousin… and next thing you know, we were all booked. Looking back now, that decision was made 11 months ago, and as it turns out, our timing couldn’t have been better.

As the months rolled on between booking and boarding, I stayed pretty low-key about the whole thing. Honestly, I even joked that I’d cancel if I could—we’d been traveling nonstop, and I was feeling a little travel-worn. Thankfully, that never happened. Because everything lined up just right.

The weather back home? A mess.
Florida and the Gulf of America? Absolute perfection.

Beating Winter… Barely

We changed things up this time and it paid off big. Sitting on a healthy stash of Hyatt points, we decided to stay at the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport the night before our flight—a first for us. As the weekend approached, it felt like we were about to pull off a minor miracle.

We drove in Friday night, and right on cue, winter weather rolled in, causing traffic nightmares all over North Texas. Saturday morning greeted us with frigid temps and sleet creeping across the DFW metroplex just as we walked into the terminal, car safely parked at the Regency.

Our original 9:00 a.m. flight was canceled (likely airline consolidation due to weather), and we were bumped to 5:00 p.m. Instead of accepting defeat, I made a quick call and snagged seats on a 7:00 a.m. flight, just in case.

Good move… mostly.

After a short delay, we boarded, pushed back, and then sat on the tarmac for another two hours waiting for de-icing and weather clearance. At that point, I wasn’t convinced we were going anywhere. When we finally started rolling toward the runway, I swear the takeoff felt about 10 seconds longer than normal—probably just my nerves talking—but I said a quick prayer and finally…

✈️ We were airborne. Vacation officially underway.

Sunshine, Mai Tais, and Smooth Sailing

We landed in Florida and cashed in some Marriott points for a beautiful beachfront resort. Sunshine, 80-degree temps, poolside loungers, and a couple of Mai Tais later, life was good again. Dinner on property sealed the deal—Day One in the books.

The next morning, it was Uber to the port and time to board the Holland America Eurodam. Even better? Our room was ready when we boarded. We dropped our bags and jumped straight into the action.

An hour or so later, my cousin joined us—and from that moment on… let the fun begin.

Country Music 101 (Crash Course)

Here’s the thing: I love country music, but I don’t exactly know country music. I recognized a few names, but a good chunk of the lineup was new territory for me.

I was about to get a full-blown education.

Most of the guests onboard were repeat cruisers—some for 12 years straight. The vibe was unreal: great people, nonstop conversations, bumping into artists, and a daily schedule packed with shows from about 11:00 a.m. until well past when we should’ve gone to bed.

We were so wrapped up in the music that we skipped meals without even realizing it—grabbing small bites between shows, sipping adult beverages a little more often than planned, and just soaking it all in.

We hit the aft pool on Day One… and that was basically it. There was just too much music to miss.

Fun fact:
👉 We never once made it to the main dining room.

Buffet breakfasts, burgers, pizza, and quick bites carried us through—and honestly, no regrets.

The People Make the Trip

One thing that really stood out was the crew. We connected with so many servers, especially in the buffet, where our main guy treated every meal like a high-end restaurant experience. Drinks were always flowing, smiles everywhere, and before long we were on a first-name basis with half the staff.

Let’s just say… we were never thirsty.

The Eurodam is a bit smaller than some ships, which turned out to be a big plus. Everything was a short walk, the atmosphere felt intimate, and the entire trip just flowed.

Overall? Amazing experience.

The Not-So-Perfect Stuff (Because Nothing Is)

Now, let’s be honest—nothing is ever perfect.

The room felt tight. I usually book a suite, but none were available this time. We only did room service for breakfast once because it felt cramped. The bed and pillows were fine, but wow did we miss our setup at home.

We were on Deck 10 near the front, and you could definitely feel the ship’s movement—which didn’t help with restful sleep some nights.

Still… minor complaints in the grand scheme of things.