21Nov

Celebrating the life of Paul Smith, Michael’s Dad…

November 21, 2015 MichaelWSmith.com 88

Paul Whitaker Smith went to sleep on November 20, 2015 and woke up in Jesus’ arms. He was 82 years old. Born in Kenova, WV, he was the devoted son of Elmer and Mary Smith.

Born in the house his grandmother built, he played football and baseball at Ceredo-Kenova High School for the CK Wonders. However, the greatest wonder of his life was falling in love with Barbara Ann Spradlin. The fourteen-year old girl caught the eye of this sixteen-year old boy, but he waited to date her until he graduated so as not to “rob the cradle.” It was a convenient relationship, as she lived across the street. After seven years of courtship, they were married January 11, 1957.

As a member of First Baptist Church of Kenova from 1957-1994, Paul devoted himself to serving as a deacon and singing in the church choir, lending his baritone voice to a number of solos over the years. He was lovingly nicknamed “Saint Paul,” chaperoning countless youth choir trips for his own children and so many more.

Whether it was coaching baseball, serving as a deacon at his church, chaperoning “New Generation” choir tours, or serving the homeless at Room in the Inn, Paul had the most generous servant’s heart one could find. People who met him received much more than a meal and a handshake. Paul truly loved people, serving them deeply and intentionally. More than just a coach, Paul was a mentor to countless young men who needed a Christ-like influence.

A 37-year employee of Ashland Oil, he moved in 1994 to Franklin to be close to his family. For the past 22 years he remained right in the middle of his family, just as he always had. As his new home was under construction, Paul supervised every board sawed and every nail hammered. The house remains one of the best built in the neighborhood.

Paul had a nickname for everyone he knew and adored, including his two children he lovingly referred to as “Bubs” and “Suze.” If Paul knew you long enough, you were sure to receive an affectionate nickname too.

His life is celebrated by his wife of almost 59 years, Barbara Spradlin Smith; his children, Michael (Debbie) Smith and Kimberly (David) Bennett; eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren: Ryan (Patti) Smith and their four children; Whitney (Jack) Mooring and their two children; Tyler (Sarah) Smith and their three children; Anna (Rhen) Bovi and their daughter; Emily (Sam) Hancock and their daughter; and Mary Claire, Caroline, and Sarah Kate Bennett.

Far greater than the adoration he had for his family, church, friends, and even strangers, Paul had an incredible, unmatched love and heart for Jesus.

A lover of music, baseball, building, and people, you may honor Paul by supporting Rocketown, Adoration Hospice, and Church of the City.

Friends and family visitation will be 4:00-7:00 pm on Monday, November 23rd. Open-to-the-public Celebration Service will be at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, November 24th at Church of The City.

14Oct

Michael W. Smith to Honor Service Members at 2015 USO Gala

October 14, 2015 MichaelWSmith.com 66

USO will host 1,000 guests and recognize service heroes from each branch of America’s Armed Forces at annual awards dinner in nation’s capital

WHAT: 2015 USO Gala: Honoring Those Who Serve

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015
6:00 p.m. Welcome Reception/Red Carpet
7:00 p.m. Dinner & Evening Program

WHERE: Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place, NW
Washington, DC 20001

WHO: Master of Ceremonies: Robert Patrick, star of CBS’ “Scorpion”
Featured Entertainment: Michael W. Smith, Grammy Award winning recording artist
Special Guest: Robert Irvine, celebrity chef and 2014-2015 USO Gala menu designer
Special Guest: Phil Heath, current and five-time Mr. Olympia
Dr. J.D. Crouch II, President and CEO of the USO
2015 USO Service Member of the Year Award Honorees:
• USO Soldier of the Year: Specialist Christian T. Sheers, Beast Troop, 1st Squadron, 33rd Calvary Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) (Fort Campbell, Kentucky)
• USO Marine of the Year: Staff Sergeant Joseph P. Bednarik, Company E, 2nd Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment Marine Corps Recruit Depot (San Diego, CA)
• USO Sailor of the Year: Petty Officer Second Class Jessica A. Jusino, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) (Newport News, Virginia)
• USO Airman of the Year: Senior Airman TJ Brantley, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Journeyman, 2d Civil Engineer Squadron (Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana)
• USO Coast Guardsman of the Year: Petty Officer First Class Angel Leott, Maritime Safety and Security Team Boston (Boston, Massachusetts)
• USO National Guardsman of the Year: Sergeant Aaron Burdash, 204th Area Support Medical Company, 347th Regional Support Group, Minnesota Army National Guard (Cottage Grove, Minnesota)
2015 USO Volunteer of the Year Award Honorees:
• Airman First Class Eric Chun, U.S. Air Force, Volunteer of the Year, Overseas
• Richard “Dick” Anderson, Volunteer of the Year, Stateside
2015 Spirit of the USO Award Honoree:
• USO Congressional Caucus, on behalf of the caucus the award will be accepted by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL)

WHY: “Scorpion” star Robert Patrick to serve as host, Grammy Award winning recording artist Michael W. Smith to perform as featured entertainer, celebrity chef Robert Irvine and Mr. Olympia 2015, Phil Heath to attend the 2015 USO Gala at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC on Oct. 20. Continuing a time-honored tradition of recognizing the heroism of America’s enlisted servicemen and women, the USO will present its 2015 USO Service Member of the Year Awards to a service member from each branch of America’s Armed Forces. The USO will also present its 2015 USO Volunteer of the Year Awards, as well as its 2015 Spirit of the USO Award, which is given to groups or individuals in recognition of their commitment to troops and their families.

With a fall-inspired dinner menu thoughtfully designed by Irvine, as well as remarks by senior military leaders, the 2015 USO Gala program will pay special tribute to our men and women in uniform as well as focus on how the USO helps connect service members with their family, home and country. One thousand guests are expected to be on hand, with attendees ranging from Washington dignitaries, celebrities and members of Congress to USO corporate sponsors and members of the USO Board of Governors.

13Oct

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS wins “CHRISTMAS ALBUM OF THE YEAR” Dove Award…

October 13, 2015 MichaelWSmith.com 59

Newsflash… We were just informed that Michael W. Smith’s Christmas Album, THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, just won the Gospel Music Association’s DOVE AWARD for CHRISTMAS ALBUM OF THE YEAR!

Michael will be on the road this December playing songs from the album and we can’t wait to see you out there. Go here to see the tour dates now: https://michaelwsmith.com/tour

This is the 45th DOVE AWARD of Michael’s career!

02Sep

You’re Invited to join Michael W. Smith & Friends…

September 2, 2015 MichaelWSmith.com 62

Dear Friends,

When we scheduled our first “Michael W. Smith & Friends” cruise, we didn’t know what to expect. Now here we are almost a decade later and each time I get to plan a cruise it’s more exciting than the last.

My family and I could have never anticipated what we would experience on a ship with so many friends. The opportunities to connect with new friends and reconnect with old ones are always the most cherished moments. Of course, there’s also the amazing ports, sights and chances to experience and explore new places.

It is with all of that in mind that my family, my team and I are excited to invite you to join us for our 2016 cruise to the Caribbean. By the time the ship sets sail it will have been 8 years since we last cruised the Caribbean and we’re all looking forward to a cruise in the warm sun.

We are thrilled to be sailing on Royal Caribbean’s OASIS OF THE SEAS, one of the highest rated and most popular ships to ever set sail. This ship will offer more opportunities for my friends and their families to create memories together than any of our prior cruises. In addition to the daily devotions, concerts and events we are planning exclusively for our group – there will be plenty of time built in to enjoy the many shows and other attractions that are a part what makes the OASIS OF THE SEAS so special.

The ports are unique, beautiful and fun to explore… from the gorgeous beaches and delectable restaurants of Dutch St. Maarten and history of San Juan, to Royal Caribbean’s private port in Labadee.

As always, we’ll be adding some very special guest artists to make the week even more memorable. So, I really hope you will join me, Debbie and our family on what will be an amazing week of worship, exploration and relaxation!

We look forward to seeing you on the ship!

God Bless,
Michael W. Smith

Get more details and book your cabin now.

18Aug

An Amazing Testimony

August 18, 2015 MichaelWSmith.com 64

My friend Kathie Lee shares a pretty amazing testimony/remembrance of her husband, Frank Gifford… watch this whole video.

MWS

17Jul

INSPECTION CRUISE BLOG – Day 7: The Final Wrap-up From The Ship.

July 17, 2015 MichaelWSmith.com 67

The Oasis of the Seas… Day 7 – Somewhere Just Southeast off of Florida…

Let’s call this one: The Final Wrap-up From The Ship.

Today, was day 2 of our trek back from St. Maarten. Another day at sea means another day of me spending lots of time on the Flowrider practicing my skills for next year. Not-so-much surfing, but more on the boogie board. I think I took 12 total slides today. So much fun. Today’s also the hottest day of the trip. It’s amazing, the closer we get back to the North, the hotter it’s gotten. But I’ll say this… it’s summer. It’s hotter in Chicago this week than it was in the Caribbean. So if you’re concerned about the HEAT of a cruise to the caribbean… DON’T BE. On the ship, there’s sea breezes that will cool you down. There’s pools to jump in and plenty of water around every corner to drink. Did I MENTION THE ICE CREAM MACHINES?!?!?!?!

Today wasn’t t hat different than yesterday. Great meals, awesome hang-out time with the family, and some really fun shows (No, I didn’t take part in the International Belly Flop competition… but I did go watch it and it was quite hilarious. A 72 year-old man won.

Thinking about the days at sea with next year’s cruise I now know the spots where we can meet up and plan on having our groups hang out. For example: NO ONE hangs out on the chairs at the back of the ship, next to the Flowriders. It’s empty. Makes it a great spot for the teens to hang out and take their shots at some games, flowrider competitions, and put-put, basketball, etc… etc…

For more chilled out, hang times and social spots we’ll recommend that our group members hang out in Central Park. That’s where I know I’ll be during my “down” time. Central Park at night has live violin players quietly.

Want to have a good breakfast on the days at sea? Go to the Main Dining room, Windjammer Marketplace, Park Cafe, Wipeout Cafe or Promenade Cafe. Windjammer gets busy after 9 am, but before 9 am it’s pretty empty.

I do feel the need to call out the entire ship’s crew. The service level on every level has been top notch. Better than any cruise I’ve been on (nobody tell Hunky Dory, you had to be there). At every touch point the service has surpassed our expectations. Every single one. I can’t speak for other Royal Caribbean ships, but this crew, has gotten it RIGHT!

This ship has everything that we’ll need to make this cruise the best one we’ve ever hosted – it’s going to be a different experience from our last few cruises – and that’s what I think is going to make it great. When I get back to my office I’m going to take the time to answer each and every question that we were sent in one blog entry / FAQ and will give a lot of my suggestions for planning you 2016 MWS & Friends Cruise.

If you haven’t already booked your reservation don’t delay – book now. Go here for details: http://www.michaelwsmithcruise.com or call 1.855.476.4889 and ask our friends at Inspiration Cruises for more information.

Now it’s time for me to get back to the office. I’ll be seeing many of you in Asheville, NC at THE RETREAT in less than 2 months!

I’ll write a quick update tomorrow on the below listed social media pages to give everyone an idea on how the disembarkation process goes in Ft. Lauderdale!

Blessings from The Spirk Family as we close-out the #InspectionCruise for the @MWSCruise2016

DLS

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Follow my trip on the following social network profiles:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mwscruise
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/mwscruise/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/MichaelWSmithEvents
Periscope: Live Videos via twitter – MWS Cruise / (Android and iOS App available)

Do YOU have any questions about the MWS & Friends 2016 Cruise? Ask them here and I’ll answer them throughout the cruise: https://michaelwsmith.com/caribbean-cruise-questions/

Thinking about booking the cruise? Get details and reserve your cabin today: http://www.michaelwsmithcruise.com

16Jul

INSPECTION CRUISE BLOG – Day 6: Somewhere East of Cuba

July 16, 2015 MichaelWSmith.com 60

The Oasis of the Seas… Day 6 – Somewhere East of Cuba…

Let’s call this one: The Blog About What Will Make This Cruise “DIFFERENT” Than Ones We’ve Ever Done Before, THE CONCERTS & SHIP ENTERTAINMENT.

Well, here we are, on our way back to Ft. Lauderdale from the islands and I have to say that I’m more excited about next year’s Michael W. Smith & Friends cruise than I was when I first stepped foot onto this ship (which I was already pretty excited). The reason for my excitement is that this cruise is going to feed people’s lives in so many ways. The exclusive concerts, bible teaching, and fellowship moments that you’ve all come to know and love will all be there – even more actually. The cruises full array of entertainment will also be in place – so not only will you get to do the MWS & Friends programming, but you’ll get to schedule whatever ELSE you want to do. Let me explain how this is different than years past.

In previous years we’ve been on ships that were smaller. The theater’s on those ships were lounges, which were small and not really geared for a typical MWS Concert experience. Those theater sizes also made it so that Michael and his guests would have to perform all of their concerts / speaking / teaching TWICE so as to accommodate the entire ship. As a result of that schedule, we had to shut down all of the ship’s standard entertainment experiences, Michael and his staff had to work twice as hard, and we actually had to cut out different concerts or teaching moments because there simply wasn’t time to accomplish everything we wanted to do, while having to do it twice so EVERYONE could participate.

The Oasis of The Seas has a theater that is a 2/3 thrust theater that seats just over 1,400 guests (the 2/3 thrust stage is a technical term… sorry – that means that everyone is surrounding the stage, not just straight back. Everyone is CLOSE to the stage. It’s also REAL theater seating, not a lounge with inefficient couches. The space is just built for WHAT WE DO! There aren’t any seats that don’t have a clear, close view of the stage. Michael and his guests will get to lead morning devotions, Laura Story will get to lead a women’s bible study thought the week (something we’ve wanted to offer for years, but have never been able to do), The teens will get to have their own exclusive place to hang out, EVERYONE will get to go see the full broadway production of CATS on the ship (it was pretty unbelievable seeing it… we’re talking actual Broadway actors and vocalists on-stage, not B-level talent folks – TOP NOTCH). Did I mention the return of our cruise favorite SMITTYOKE? We’ll have locations on the ship that our group can hang out and just TALK. But also, if you’re coming on the cruise and you just want to rest and be with you significant other or family, you can do that here. The dining options as I’ve explained in my previous blogs are second-to-none (Personal favorite, GIOVANNI’S TABLE, in Central Park, deck 8 – the crab ravioli and stuffed Italian shrimp were unbelievable.)

There’s all of your standard cruise fair going on, there’s dance parties, Bingo, duty-free shopping, the Boardwalk activities, the Flowriders, the zipline, the kid’s AdventureOcean Club (my daughter has gone almost daily from 2 to 5 pm… they take such good care of the kids, it’s awesome to watch her come up to us with email addresses of the parents, of her new friends from the ship). Then there’s the four pools, the 12 HUGE hot tubs (2 of which may be the biggest hot tubs I’ve ever seen – they hang out over the side of the ship, so that when you look down over the edge all you see is water), the Solarium for adults who just want to “chill”. For families, the Dreamworks Animation “Move It, Move It, Parade in the Royal Promenade was a fun 20 minute party that you don’t want your younger kids to miss… for the guests who are not interested in that… you can’t even hear it anywhere else on the ship. All cabins are so quiet, it’s just amazing the way they’ve separated these spaces.

In coming weeks, we’ll develop a couple suggested schedules and an FAQ that will tell you how to go about using Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner to build your schedule, because you do need to reserve your spots in the bigger shows/events in advance. That way you’ll be able to ensure that you get to do everything that you want to do. Our goal will be to get you a preliminary MWS & Friends schedule and the FAQ during the month of August to help our group be first in line for your theater and dining reservations if you want to make them.

Some people have mentioned that they feel almost overwhelmed by the amount of things going on. What I’ll tell you about THAT is this… YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO. YOU DON’T HAVE TO TAKE PART IN ANY ACTIVITIES THAT YOU DON’T CHOOSE. The ship, their staff, and their crew are VERY respectful and they actually work hard on keeping the atmosphere fun and lighthearted. I’ve tried to do far more on this cruise than I would EVER do normally, and more than I’d recommend that you do. My goal was to be able to tell you about as much as possible so I can answer as many questions as possible.

I will say this, my personal favorite show so far has been the FROZEN IN TIME (no, not THAT “FROZEN”), Ice dancing show. I went into it fully expecting it to be subpar and cheesy… but once again this ship has shown me, that, that’s not how they do things. My daughter’s favorite show was the high diving show OASIS OF DREAMS at the back of the ship. Just realized I’m typing about a cruise ship and I just mentioned an ICE-DANCING show and HIGH-DIVE show… wow. This is crazy!

Again, none of the big, main theater shows will interfere with MWS & Friends activities, and if any of the “other” shows do, we will give you suggested times to reserve your tickets to see those, so you don’t have to miss any MWS concerts or experiences.

OK, now before I sign-off… I want to encourage you to bring your family and friends on the cruise this year. I’ve been sending a group of my family’s friends telling them all about this cruise and I think we’re going to have a big group of them coming along next year now.

I mean it, if you haven’t booked your cabin yet, do it sooner rather than later… the earlier you book, the faster you can reserve your calendar, and the better experience you will have! Go here for details: http://www.michaelwsmithcruise.com.

Two more blogs to go this week, make sure you watch out for them.

Final wrap-up (Friday)
Disembarkation (Saturday)

BLESSINGS FROM THE CARIBBEAN SEA!

DLS

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Follow my trip on the following social network profiles:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mwscruise
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/mwscruise/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/MichaelWSmithEvents
Periscope: Live Videos via twitter – MWS Cruise / (Android and iOS App available)

Do YOU have any questions about the MWS & Friends 2016 Cruise? Ask them here and I’ll answer them throughout the cruise: https://michaelwsmith.com/caribbean-cruise-questions/

Thinking about booking the cruise? Get details and reserve your cabin today: http://www.michaelwsmithcruise.com

15Jul

INSPECTION CRUISE BLOG – Day 5: ST. MAARTEN

July 15, 2015 MichaelWSmith.com 65

The Oasis of the Seas… Day 5 – St. Maarten….

Let’s call this one: St. Maarten is AWESOME!

Today we ported in St. Maarten, which is actually going to be our FIRST day in port on the MWS 2016 Cruise. Today wasn’t all just me exploring as I took some time to meet with a local church organization who we are probably going to partner with to have the Cruise choir sing with next summer. They’re pretty excited to meet you all and are such great people. I think we all hatched a plan today that is going to leave a great mark on this island and it’s people! Can’t wait to see what is going to happen while we’re here. More information coming on this in the next few weeks.

Again, I have a lot of advice to give on this island and one of the biggest suggestions I have is to tell you that the beaches are awesome, the shopping pretty great, and Maho Beach’s plane landings is world famous and truly something that you need to experience. It’s crazy to be in the water and have a jet liner fly right over you and land (literally only 30 feet above you). Scary, yes. Fantastic, yep!

Another suggestion is that after you go to Maho beach head over to the main shopping area in Phillipsburg and go to that beach. Two chairs, free wi-fi is quite cheap and you don’t need the ship’s excursion to do it. The views are beautiful and the water bright blue and crystal clear.

Tonight we’re already headed out into the Caribbean for two days as we head back toward Ft. Lauderdale (two days at sea that will be filled with me scaring myself while trying the rock walls, probably trying to surf again (don’t laugh), and scream my head off on the zip line (again). As for right now, I’m off to watch the Ice Skating show “Frozen In Time” (no, not THAT FROZEN). But it is an ice show on an ice skating rink – on a ship – this should be interesting.

Tomorrow’s blog will be regarding the ship entertainment and how it will work with our group’s additional schedule.
Friday, will be a wrap-up of the week.
Saturday, I’ll go through everyone’s questions that were asked pre-cruise.

BLESSINGS FROM ST. MAARTEN!

DLS

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Follow my trip on the following social network profiles:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mwscruise
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/mwscruise/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/MichaelWSmithEvents
Periscope: Live Videos via twitter – MWS Cruise / (Android and iOS App available)

Do YOU have any questions about the MWS & Friends 2016 Cruise? Ask them here and I’ll answer them throughout the cruise: https://michaelwsmith.com/caribbean-cruise-questions/

Thinking about booking the cruise? Get details and reserve your cabin today: http://www.michaelwsmithcruise.com

14Jul

INSPECTION CRUISE BLOG – Day 4: FOOOOOOD

July 14, 2015 MichaelWSmith.com 70

The Oasis of the Seas… Day 4 – FOOOOOD….

Let’s call this one: FOOD FOR THE FOODIES…

G’Tuesday from a port in the Virgin Islands! Today we spent the day in a port that isn’t on our cruise. So, I won’t dive too much into THAT.

OK, one of the most consistent topics that people submitted questions about prior to the cruise was how the food works on a ship like this. After all there are 20+ restaurants and places to get food and beverages on the ship.

The Oasis of The Seas “experience” is definitely designed to SPREAD people out across the ship, so not everyone shows up in one location expecting. Something they do VERY well. There are restaurants for every taste. Some are 100% included like a standard cruise, There’s a main dining room (Grand and Silk), Some cost a little bit extra, some are order a’la carte like a normal restaurant, others are pay a cover charge and you get five courses, there’s of course the standard all you can eat buffet as well (The Windjammer Marketplace). I don’t want to bore you by going through every single one… but I can say that the restaurants that you pay a bit extra for are intimate, quiet, and higher quality than most restaurants you’ll find at home. The main dining room is BIG and they serve the food fast and it’s pretty great – of course you can eat as much as you want – but I’m actually preferring some of the smaller establishments more.

Again, I’ll go into GREAT detail about individual experiences in an FAQ that I’ll develop upon my return, but I can say this… the food experience has been awesome. I’ve actually been trying to eat healthy this run and it’s been pretty easy. If you eat at some of the smaller cafe’s where they serve you instead of you serving yourself it’s easier to keep your portions under control. And also the options are a bit more selective. (Aside: Please note, I will admit that the Strawberry Vanilla Swirl ice cream has been a bit of a villain on the cruise for me, I just can’t walk by the thing without getting a cone).

No two restaurant locations are the same. It makes for a much better experience. My favorite indulgence on the ship has been at a restaurant called Sabor. Tomorrow we’re going to the Italian Restaurant “Giovanni’s Table” in Central Park. It looks like a little Italian place you’d find in New York City. So cool.

Specifically during the MWS Cruise next summer we will have one dining time for our group in the main dining room so that all of us can eat together if we want. However, I’ll tell you this… you’re missing out if you eat there every meal. In a few weeks we will announce the full MWS Cruise schedule and I’ll also post my recommended meal and entertainment schedule for you so that you can start making your reservations for the non-MWS events/concerts and restaurants on the ship. Ultimately you can make your restaurant reservations starting pretty early and I recommend that you do that as early as possible. It’s an advantage that you’ll have by booking earlier than others…. OPTIONS!

Which leads me to the discussion about on-ship entertainment, concerts, and special music performances. That’ll be the blog I’ll share on Thursday. Tomorrow I’m going to talk about St. Maarten because that’s where we’re visiting on our cruise!

Wednesday, I’ll blog about St. Maarten and Excursions
Thursday’s blog will be regarding the ship entertainment and how it will work with our group’s additional schedule.
Friday, will be a wrap-up of the week.
Saturday, I’ll go through everyone’s questions that were asked pre-cruise.

BLESSINGS FROM THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS!

DLS

P.S. – scroll down for a picture from an excursion we did today… if you can do an excursion that includes these guys DO IT. So fun and so much personality!

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Follow my trip on the following social network profiles:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mwscruise
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/mwscruise/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/MichaelWSmithEvents
Periscope: Live Videos via twitter – MWS Cruise / (Android and iOS App available)

Do YOU have any questions about the MWS & Friends 2016 Cruise? Ask them here and I’ll answer them throughout the cruise: https://michaelwsmith.com/caribbean-cruise-questions/

Thinking about booking the cruise? Get details and reserve your cabin today: http://www.michaelwsmithcruise.com

13Jul

INSPECTION CRUISE BLOG – Day 3: There’s a “FEW” (hundred) things to do.

July 13, 2015 MichaelWSmith.com 58

The Oasis of the Seas… Day 3 – Day At Sea heading down to the Virgin Islands.

Let’s call this one: There’s a “FEW” (hundred) things to do.

Happy Monday folks! I can say that with a pretty big smile on my face, because my Monday was AWESOME! I spent my Monday doing things that I never thought I’d do. Much less on a cruise ship. We’re on our way from the Bahamas down to The Virgin Islands, not a short trip. So today was a “Day at Sea”.

This morning we woke up at 6:30 to prep for my daughter and I’s “Flow Rider” Lessons. See the pictures below to understand how THAT went (and despite that picture it was so much fun! Then I played mini-golf against Kennedy… she thinks she won (ummm… not-so-much). Although it is the hardest 9 hole course I’ve ever played. Then I did something that I was SCARED-TO-DEATH of, I zip lined across one the Boardwalk atrium, actually about 100 feet above it (I’m deathly scared of heights so this was a victory for me. Then I went on an exploration of every deck of the ship. I posted pictures of each deck on the below listed Facebook pages. Go check them out if you want to see them. Ultimately today has been another great day on the ship. i’ve found lots of great places that we will use as gathering spots during the MWS Cruise.

There are activities for everyone. Cupcake lessons, got it! Ice Skating, did it. Quiet spaces for devos and reading, LOTS of them. Hang out spots for friends to get to know one another and enjoy each others company, EVERYWHERE! Services that will match anyone’s tastes… to many to even describe.

I’ll hit my suggestions in a detailed FAQ after the cruise… I don’t want to bore you with a 100 page blog tonight.

ONE COMPARISON TO THINK ABOUT… BECAUSE IT MATTERS TO THE SPIRK FAMILY.

Every night we order milk and cookies via room service.
Our previous cruises have typically taken 45 to 60 minutes to deliver.
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas Staff took 8 minutes.
#WINNING!

Blogs for the rest of the week….

Tomorrow, I’ll dive into the whole “meal” process.
Wednesday, I’ll blog about St. Maarten and Excursions
Thursday’s blog will be regarding the ship entertainment and how it will work with our group’s additional schedule.
Friday, will be a wrap-up of the week.
Saturday, I’ll go through everyone’s questions that were asked pre-cruise.

BLESSINGS AND GOOD NIGHT FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN (We’ll be in the Virgin Islands tomorrow).

DLS

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Follow my trip on the following social network profiles:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mwscruise
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/mwscruise/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/MichaelWSmithEvents
Periscope: Live Videos via twitter – MWS Cruise / (Android and iOS App available)

Do YOU have any questions about the MWS & Friends 2016 Cruise? Ask them here and I’ll answer them throughout the cruise: https://michaelwsmith.com/caribbean-cruise-questions/

Thinking about booking the cruise? Get details and reserve your cabin today: http://www.michaelwsmithcruise.com