Summer cruises: tunes on the water

Somewhere in the Caribbean between Mexico and Grand Cayman, folk and country stars Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin and Shawn Colvin sing backup vocals for singer and guitarist Buddy Miller.

I'm 25 feet away, curled up on a sun-kissed lounge chair on the rum-punched pool deck of a huge cruise ship. I can't believe my eyes - or my ears. But there they are, singing and swaying with the rolling ship. Me? I'm living a music lover's fantasy.

This cruise - dubbed "Cayamo: A Journey Through Song" by its promoters - lured nearly 2,000 passengers to drop at least $849 a piece, double occupancy, to spend seven days on board the Carnival Victory to hear nearly nonstop performances from a eclectic mix of musicians. This February cruise featured Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Edwin McCain, Brandi Carlile, Shawn Mullins, Earl Klugh and a half-dozen other bands in addition to Harris, Griffin, Colvin and Miller...