SQL Cruise Caribbean 2015 Recap

UPDATED: Don't just take my word. Read the feedback from others.

• SQL Cruise Caribbean 2015: More Than A Cruise With Classes. Much More. - Jes Borland
• SQL Cruise Caribbean 2015 Wrap Up - David Klee
• Caribbean: The Final Sql Frontier - Mickey Stuewe

I wish I could just re-post my article from last year about SQL Cruise and change the dates and pictures.The event is just that good.

I still believe this is one of the more premier training events offered for SQL Server. The amount of 1-on-1 time you get with the technical leads is absurd. You can get classroom time at any training conference, but what happens when the session is over? Most instructors head off to their next engagement and you never get a chance to speak with them. On SQL Cruise, that interaction continues well beyond the classroom session, beyond the next session, beyond the day, and even well beyond the week.

Last year I met Andrew Kelly (b|t) and Argenis Fernandez (b|t) aboard SQL Cruise. Andrew was one of the technical leads and Argenis was an attendee. To this day I correspond frequently with both of them about SQL Server as well as other stuff. Andrew has become a great mentor to me and has helped me develop my presentation skills. Argenis was instrumental in helping me decide if joining Microsoft was the right fit for my career goals. I will say that both of those individuals have had a lasting impression on my life. How many times has that happened to you at the PASS Summit? I’m guessing not too many.

This year I got to spend time with a few of the same technical leads from 2014, Grant Fritchey (b|t) and Kevin Kline (b|t), but I also got to meet and learn a lot from the new ones, Jes Borland (b|t), David Klee (b|t), and Jeff Lehmann (w). This year’s topics covered things such as query performance tuning, infrastructure optimization, virtualization, data recovery, PowerShell, and even cloud solutions. Every one of the sessions provided me with valuable information that I can use immediately upon return to work.

But I also got a chance to meet and hang out with a lot of the attendees. As it turns out they are just like me. They are passionate about SQL Server, they want to learn as much as possible, and they want to succeed in their career. That’s the cool thing about SQL Cruise; the attendees are dedicated to SQL Server and want to learn. This is not a vacation for them; it’s an educational experience above all else. The other great thing is all the attendees have a wide range of background, and of course issues to resolve. That’s a great combination for learning new tricks from each other.

 

Now of course the cruise and exotic islands are quite a lot of fun, but they are not a distraction from class. They actually help everyone relax and become more comfortable around each other, which leads to more open discussions in and out of the classroom. There really is no stress when this is the backdrop of a conversation.

Once again, a great conference always has great sponsors. This year the sponsors were Amazon Web Services, Red-Gate, SQL Sentry, and B-Side Consulting. All of these companies use and make products that enhance the SQL Server product. Being a sponsor of the conference shows their commitment to the product and the community. Of course, a great conference always has great organizers, so I have to thank Tim Ford (b|t) and his wife Amy for putting together another great conference. Their hard work and dedication has been a huge help to me and I know to a lot of others.

In the group picture below, almost half of the people are referred to as the "Plus Ones". They are the family members and/or friends of the attendees and technical leads. SQL Cruise encourages the attendees to bring their family members, so they can enjoy the adventures on the ship as well as on the islands. The Plus Ones are invited to every group event, group dinner, and even are allowed to sit in on the classroom sessions. My wife absolutely loves being a Plus One. She has a bubbly personality and can quickly make friends, which turns her week of vacation into quite the adventure. So much so, that she has already made plans for SQL Cruise 2016 without even asking me if I plan to sign up.

This was my second SQL Cruise, and it sure won’t be the last. Now it’s your chance to become part of this elite group with the SQL Family. SQL Cruise 2016 will be setting sail in January 2016, so head on over to the site to learn more or sign up. If you need help convincing the boss, just let me know and I’ll put in a good word for you. And if you need help convincing your own Plus One, let me know, because my wife would be happy to explain all the advantages of attending.