The first day of SQL Cruise is always filled with energy.  Everyone rushes to get through the lines to embark and get that first fruity drink… then they see how much drinks cost on the cruise ship.  We meet for our first taste of the buffet for our initial SQL Cruise meal and kick off the evening with the Red Gate Search the Ship Contest.

This year was like the other cruises past.  We assembled on the SQL Cruise Lido Deck and divided into teams of 2 or 3.  Each team is issued a sheet with 26 items, people, or locations they need to have themselves photographed near.  After one hour the teams – Cruisers, Guests, Speakers all working together – return to the SQL Cruise Deck.  Points are tallied and prizes are given.  This year Red Gate really came through with some great prizes for the winners.  A year license for their SQL Toolbelt collection of software (of which I’m a long-time user and fervent advocate of) and this cool little camera that has one foot in the digital age, one foot in the Polaroid era, and well, was designed by Lady Gaga.

Congratulations to Ivan Rodriguez Camejo who won the camera and Brandon Leach who has use of the Red Gate SQL Tools for the next year!

Sunday starts the SQL part of SQL Cruise with presentations from myself and Brent Ozar.  I’m really looking forward to getting everyone in the classroom so they can start to see what it’s like to train at sea.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter.  We will be using the hashtag #sqlcruise when we have internet access.  Likewise we will be using the hashtag of #sqlcruise2012 on photo sites such as Flickr, SmugMug, and Instagram.  Please keep an eye out there for glimpses into the fun we’re having onboard.