Video: Genealogy Cruising

Subtitled: “Megan's Home Movies”

Megan Smolenyak² was one of the speakers on board the recent 2007 Wholly Genes Cruise. She and her video camera went almost everywhere. She has now put together a 14-minute video that shows the essence of what it is like to take a genealogy cruise. The video is now available online on the Roots Television web site.

The video features clips from genealogy presentations, hosted breakfasts, one-on-one consultation sessions, the food in the dining rooms, lounging around the pool in the sun, movies under the stars shown at the same pool late at night, and much more. She also included a few scenes from various excursions on shore in St. Maarten and St. Thomas. If you look quick, you'll see me and newsletter editor Pam riding Segway scooters in St. Maarten.

I especially enjoyed the quick shots of John Titford, a genealogy expert and speaker from England, singing “I AM My Own Grandpa,” accompanied by (Wholly Genes CEO) Bob Velke on the guitar.

Another highlight (?) is the few seconds of video showing Bob Velke wearing bunny ears. Yes, it was Hallowe'en.

Perhaps the best part of all is all the “mini-interviews” that Megan conducted at the end of the video. She asked quite a few cruise attendees about their experiences. You will see lots of enthusiastic responses.

If you have never been on a genealogy cruise, you will probably enjoy seeing what goes on. If you were on this cruise, you might see yourself in the video.

Megan called this her “home movies” although I think it is very well done. Whichever title you prefer, “Genealogy Cruising” or “Megan's Home Movies,” the video is now available at no charge at http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_conferences.php?bctid=1332210438