March 16-21, 2026-Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc. Convention Cruise, Port Canaveral, FL

ABOUT THE DEEP SOUTH CONVENTION

FREQUENTLY ASKED CRUISE QUESTIONS

Revised Cruise schedule:
Mon, Mar 16: Depart Port Canaveral, FL
Tue, Mar 17: Nassau, Bahamas
Wed, Mar 18: At Sea….DSGC Awards and Scholarships, fundraising
Thu, Mar 19: At Sea…DSGC Workshops
Fri, Mar 20: Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Bahamas
Sat, Mar 21: Arrive Port Canaveral, FL and have a safe trip home!

Are you ready for some FUN? Are you ready for an adventure on the high seas? Are you ready for a relaxing vacation? All this and so much more can be found on the novel Deep South Garden Clubs 2026 Convention aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line “Explorer of the Seas”. Yes, the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc is hosting the 2026 Deep South Convention March 16-21, 2026 at sea and is personally inviting YOU to join us. This will be a first for the DSGC and will be the only ZERO budget convention ever held!

This invitation is open to ALL garden club members, your family and friends--everyone is invited! Plan a family reunion, a girls’ trip, or a romantic get-away! Meetings for the convention will only take a few hours away from your cruise schedule, leaving you with plenty of time to enjoy tours and ship excursions, pool time, spa time, casino time and whatever makes you happy!

As you can see from the itinerary flyer, this 5-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise will have pricing starting at $599 (plus tax) per person, double occupancy for an interior cabin. If you wish to upgrade to an ocean view cabin or cabin with a balcony, the price will be slightly higher. The price includes your cabin, all your meals, all entertainment and all DSGC meetings/workshops. Save your spot by making your reservation with a deposit of $200 to Shelley Atkinson, our travel coordinator. She can be reached at [email protected], or 850-386-7327, ext. 208. It’s so easy! An additional cost will include the daily gratuity for your service staff. The final payment isn’t due until 12 December 2025.

The ship will depart and return to Port Canaveral, FL. If you wish to drive or carpool down, there is a terminal parking garage available for a daily fee. If you wish to fly to Orlando, Shelley can help with flight reservations and with the shuttle transfer from Orlando International Airport to the port. She can help you time your arrival and departure so no additional hotel costs will be involved but, if you want to include a tour of the NASA Space Center or visit the Mouse on this trip, Shelley can help with that as well! Yes, you will need some form of identification: a passport is preferred (Be sure to apply now: https://travel.state.gov), or a Valid Drivers License with the new star in the corner.

We have two at-sea days to hold our convention meetings and workshops in the onboard conference rooms. Optional workshops include short topics such as Awards, Parliamentary Procedure, Flower Shows, Horticulture, Membership, Fundraising, etc. presented by well-known instructors/experts from the 6 Deep South states. These will also be held on the at-sea days so it will not interfere with any port activities.
Imagine having your choice of 5 different chef prepared entrees, appetizers, and desserts instead of the single hotel selections you get at a convention! Imagine enjoying nightly shows and top entertainment! Imagine having all your accommodations and meals paid for in one package deal! It all awaits you 16-21 March 2026 aboard “Explorer of the Seas”. Come join us!  If you have questions, [email protected].

On Board Programs:
Who are the speakers and are the meetings on At-Sea Days?  Yes, meetings are scheduled to happen on the 2 at-sea days. Here is the Tentative Schedule of Events:
 
Monday, 16 March 2026
Port Arrival 11am-4pm
 FREE Welcome Aboard Cocktails, 4pm, conference room*
*All DSGC events will take place in the conference room located on the 2nd deck, aft
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Tuesday, 17 March 2026
8-9am Executive Board meeting
9-10am Business meeting
10-noon- General meeting*
Noon, Lunch options
2-2:45pm Scholarships presentation
2:45-4pm Awards presentation
State photos before dinner
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Thursday, 19 March 2026
Workshop 1-9-10am-Scholarships- Bonnie Stockel
Workshop 2- 9-10am-Parliamentary Procedure- Carolyn Lowry-Nation
Workshop 3- 10-11am--Awards- Sylvia Scwartz for Roxanna Champagne
Workshop 4- 10-11am-Flower Shows-Gina Jogan 
Workshop 5 11- noon-‘Save the Waves’ Program- Ship’s Environmental Officer
Workshop 6- 2-3pm --Flowers-Tina Tuttle
Workshop 7- 3-4pm-Bees-Christy Linke
Workshop 8  4-5pm Trees-Mona Johnston
Workshop 9 4-5pm --Birds-TBD
 

Hello all Deep South Garden Club members!
Here is your monthly update on the preparations for the Florida-hosted DSGC 2026 Convention. We are now referring to this as the “Unconventional Convention”!!

We understand that many of you still are on the fence about taking the cruise with us so in this update, we will try to answer all your questions.

​Please don’t wait too long to sign up!
I contacted our cruise coordinator/registrar, Shelley Atkinson, to see what were the questions being asked most often by you.

​Here are the top FAQs:

1.  Can we have two beds? Yes, your cabin can be configured with 2 singles or1 double or even bunk beds.  Just let us know what you need!

2.  When is the final payment due? Once you put your deposit on the cruise, your final payment balance is due December 12, 2025 - We can easily split payments between the two roommate participants if needed.

3. Can I bring a friend or husband?  Do they have to be a DSGC member? Yes, you can bring anyone, member or not.  All are welcome!! This is the perfect opportunity to rekindle the romance in your marriage or have a family or friend reunion. Get the band back together and have some FUN!

4.  Last but not least...For the past several months, the cruise ships have been going to Nassau in place of Haiti. Not to worry, you will not be put in harms’ way.

​Come join us!  If you have questions, [email protected].​

Testimonials

I thought you might be interested in some Testimonials from the January 2025 Garden Club Cruise aboard RCCL:
“I had so much fun and got to boogie my butt off!”
“The food was fabulous-delicious options—I had escargot every night!…and Ice Cream anytime of the day!”
“Entertainment was top notch, especially the ice-skating performance. Not only the comedians and dancers performing on the main stage but very talented musicians in every lounge and bar.”
“Fun, competitive offerings nightly. We didn’t win but had fun participating.”
“It was so relaxing to sit by the pool and read my book…and people watch!”
“Great to see so many friends and have the time to really get to know others in our group.”
“Nice to see couples, families and friends enjoying time together…husbands are often left out of our garden club events.”
“The price was right…well worth the money!”
“The ship was so clean and the staff was very accommodating”
“So nice that they had a tribute to all the military members aboard!”
 
***Be on the lookout-----After you register with your downpayment, look for emails from RCCL for exciting discounts up to 30% off on excursions and onboard events. If you are a RCCL frequent cruiser, you will receive even more discounts and special perks!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact registrar Shelley (850-386-7327, ext 208 or [email protected]) or Chairman, Tina Tuttle, ([email protected], 850-341-2361).
I’m ready for a vacation!! See you at the port! Tina

2026 DSGC Convention Cruise Update #3!
​I want to first apologize for all the confusion surrounding the 2026 Deep South Garden Club Convention. In accordance with the DSGC Bylaws and the approval given during the Valdosta convention, Florida will host the official DSGC convention at sea 16-21 March 2026. The Royal Caribbean ship, ‘Explorer of the Seas’, is to set sail from Cape Canaveral, FL and I truly hope you will be onboard! As the coordinator for the convention, I can assure you that the cruise is still ‘full steam ahead’ with plans in the works for fun and educational workshops, meetings, presentations, programs and so much more!!

Please note that the ship is offering wonderful incentives to us including a free Welcome Aboard Cocktail reception the first night, free use of the 4 conference rooms on the second deck, aft, free audio-visual services and a free berth with every 16 cabins booked! Plus, they will pay DSGC a bonus depending on the number of cabins we book. The price of this 5-night cruise is very reasonable at $599 considering all the wonderful food, entertainment and ports of call! This price is all inclusive, no additional registration fee is required! And please don’t worry about the scheduled port call in Labadee. Royal Caribbean has been adjusting their itinerary due to the unrest in Haiti and they would NEVER pull into that port if there was even a hint of trouble. You may have seen in the news that the RCCL ships have been rerouting to the popular Bahama port of Nassau for the time being.

If you haven’t already made your reservations, call our travel agent, Shelley Atkinson, at her office in Tallahassee (850-386-7327 or email [email protected]) to book your cabin and pay your $100 deposit. Final payment for the cruise will be 12 December 2025. Do you have your passport up to date? You still have time to get that paperwork completed. Do you need help with your airline reservations into the Orlando International Airport or with transfers to the port at Cape Canaveral? Shelly can help you with that as well.
Don’t you deserve to treat yourself to a little pampered vacation along with the DSGC convention?  Whether you are laying on the white sandy beaches or at the pool or playing the slots in the Casino or dancing the night away or competing for prizes in the nightly game shows, whether you come solo or have a family reunion or girls vacay or romantic plans, you can find it all on this cruise. The fun awaits!!

I hope you were able to use the information I provided at the NGC convention in May.  I have attached the same flyer and letter to this email. Please help spread the word about this amazing and unique cruise and convention opportunity on your website, in your state newsletters and magazines, on Facebook and Instagram and in your travels around your state! EVERYONE is invited to join us!

2026 DSGC Convention Cruise Update #4!
Are you still on the fence about taking the Deep South Convention Cruise? Don’t wait too long to get your reservation at the special pricing afforded to our garden club members! Just $100 will hold your double-occupancy stateroom. Final payment will be due 12 December. You can attend the executive, board and general meeting by Zoom prior to the cruise but all the workshops, awards and fundraising will be aboard the “Explorer of the Seas”. Come join us!! Call our cruise agent, Shelley Atkinson, today at 850-386-7327, ext 208 or [email protected].
Port of Nassau is confirmed! No need to worry about your safety. Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas and the largest city. It lies on the island of New Providence. A popular cruise-ship stop, the city has a hilly landscape and is known for beaches as well as its offshore coral reefs, popular for diving and snorkeling. It retains many of its typical pastel-colored British colonial buildings, like the pink-hued Government House.
Fundraisers for the Deep South Scholarships program include a Silent Auction of several small but wonderful items which will be displayed and 50/50 tickets which will be available in our convention conference space during meetings and workshops. We hope you will participate generously to support our efforts to give scholarships to college students in our region.
Have you downloaded the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line app yet? Go ahead and do that so you can begin the check in process on 30 January 2026. You’ll see your cabin assignment (I’m on Deck 9), optional shore excursions, beverage packages (alcohol and soda), dining options and onboard activities including spa and wellness, fitness, gifts and gear, etc. When on the app, you’ll see a Daily Planner that lists all the fun onboard activities. You may wish to sign up for the internet package if you want to keep in touch with family at home while cruising.
Use your SEAPASS, this is a cashless cruise. All onboard purchases, including your bar tab, will be entered on your credit card account. You can check your balance at any time.
Shelley will soon be sending our cruisers tags for your luggage as well as helpful information for boarding. Look for this after the new year begins. Access to your cabin will not be available until after 1pm. You will sign up for your check in time, anywhere between 10am and 2pm. Gangway up at 3:30! You’ll need to decide if you wish to keep your luggage with you until the room is available or drop off your luggage as you enter the parking garage and proceed to check in. The ships’ Windjammer and bars will be open for you to eat lunch, tour the ship, enjoy the pool area until we set sail. If you are considering flights into/out of Orlando International Airport, Shelley can help make the reservations so you arrive in time to set sail and get home after the cruise is done.
We will have reserved dinner seating as a group. You will be randomly assigned, by number, to one table for evening dining for the entire cruise. This facilitates your gratuity for your server. So, on the first night, if you are not happy with your table assignment, find someone to swap places with. Hopefully you will enjoy meeting new people no matter what table you are assigned!
So, get your bikini ready and make plans to join in the fun of an unconventional convention at sea! You’ll create memories to last a lifetime and make so many new friends to enrich your life!!