Stories & Songs: MercyMe’s Robby Shaffer on Music and Travel

Our MercyMe at Sea cruise is a much-anticipated cruise experience—and one of the fastest to sell out. The highly decorated and popular Christian music band is known for its soaring anthems, authentic personalities and extensive touring schedule. They travel around the world performing songs that proclaim God’s glory. We have partnered with the band for almost a decade to organize MercyMe at Sea and are honored to work alongside such music legends.

We sat down with drummer Robby Shaffer to ask a few questions about travel’s role in his faith, life and the ministry of MercyMe.

What has travel meant to you?

It’s become a life-giving necessity for me and my family. We love getting away for a time to just unplug from the daily grind. 

Can you share with us a memorable or funny moment you’ve had during a trip or vacation?

My wife and I had the opportunity to visit Rome and Venice for our 20th anniversary. It was the trip of a lifetime.

Another moment was a trip to the Bahamas I took with a group of friends to celebrate a couple of our birthdays. We rented a boat to go see the swimming pigs [at Big Major Cay]. On the way, the boat caught fire when the engine blew up due to sand in the intake. We all decided to jump ship and were stranded in the middle of the ocean for a few hours until we could get help. But it’s hard to complain when you are “stuck” in beautiful, crystal-clear water!

What do you get from traveling that you can’t experience with anything else? 

It gives us a chance to do something or see something we can’t do at home. For me, [traveling] is all about the experience. I also love seeing the beauty the world has to offer— it really stirs my affection for Christ!

How has travel impacted your faith and your worldview? 

It gives me the ability to really see how different the world is. From how we pursue faith to our freedoms and basic luxuries (or lack thereof). You get a better understanding of how blessed we truly are in the USA.

Where are your favorite places to be when writing or composing? 

We recently bought a studio in Nashville and wrote our latest album, “inhale (exhale),” there. We did the same thing for a previous album but rented a cabin in Lake Tahoe instead. In each of those experiences, the scenery really inspired us to get to work.  

Which destinations are still on your travel list? 

Israel, France, South Africa and Greece are all places that I am eager to cross off my bucket list! 

Where did some of your favorite conferences or concerts take place? What made them remarkable?  

My favorites would be Hawaii, Red Rocks, and the Gorge in Washington state. The beauty that you see while performing at those locations is so inspiring.

Click here for more information on the next MercyMe at Sea cruise.