I am home sweet home, but boy do I already miss the open seas! I had the most fabulous time on our cruise last month, and I wanted to share with y’all some of the fun we had. This was my third annual Paula Deen Cruise, and let me tell you- they just keep getting bigger and better. Every year, I get so tickled meeting so many different and interesting people, and the best part is that I get to spend an entire week getting to know them. And what a better way to escape the cold and dreary month of January than to hop on a ship and sail the Caribbean!


My family and my new friends set sail on the awesome Nieuw Amsterdam cruise ship by Holland America. The talented staff at Alice Travels put together such an amazing week of fun and festivities. One of my favorite events was the Deen Family Olympics. Y’all, just because I might be old enough to be your grandmother doesn’t mean this girl is too old to let her hair down and get in the middle of a competition with the rest of them! It was such a hoot. My family and the rest of the guests on the cruise competed in a handful of just-for-fun events like an egg race. I got so worked up trying to carry that egg in a spoon across the finish line that I nearly just grabbed it in my hand and sprinted!


Michael, my son Bobby, and my sweet brother Bubba all had their own excursions like hosting a BBQ and exploring some of the local sites on the islands. Those boys had a blast meeting y’all and I know they can’t wait to do it all again next year. The glam squad, Jamie Cribbs and Courtney Fix, hosted some Makeovers, and let me tell you, those ladies looked even more beautiful than they already were when Jamie and Courtney worked their magic on them!


Here are some of my favorite moments from our week at sea.

Here’s the glam squad striking a pose with two of their makeovers. Don’t they look fabulous!

Y’all I had so much fun at the cooking demo. Look how delicious this is.

I’m so glad that I got to spend quality time with my family on the ship as well. Here I am visiting with my Aunt Peggy.

Here we are at the newlyweds game. It was hysterical this year!

One of my favorite parts of the cruise was the food. Y’all, this year the food was absolutely spectacular.

Here are some of my favorite girls and one of my right-hand men, Hollis, at the farewell party.

The best thing about the cruise had to be getting to meet all of the wonderful people that decided to come sailing with me. I hope you all just as much as I did!

Photography credit: O’Neal Bailey, Bailey’s Photos

Want to join us for the 2012 cruise? Get details now!