By Ramón Hernández

Imagine getting up close and personal with Emilio Navaira, Rubén Ramos, Jay Pérez, La Sombra, Jaimé y Los Chamacos, TexManiacs, Albert Zamora and Grupo Vida; and seeing them as you never had before.

Envision arriving at your job with a deep golden tan and a big smug smile on your face as your pale-faced co-workers stare at you with envy because you traded your blue mood for blue waters and blue skies.

Furthermore, you were shuffling your feet to Tejano music tunes while they had to shuffle their feet to merely keep warm.

"Ahhh" or "Brrr?" What will it be?

Next February 2012, if a ten-year trend continues, most of the country will continue to experience enormous, mammoth, monster winter storms ad cold Arctic air masses plow from the northwest to northeast United States creating some of the most brutal harsh winter conditions in years.

Would you rather walk through cold freezing rain or slush and knee-high heaps of snow, or, would you prefer to wade through warm Caribbean waters?

To keep their body from shuddering, cold-weather residents will have to dress in layers of clothes while some of their neighbors strip down to their shorts or bathing suits and trade in their snow boots for flip flops in a Caribbean island nation.

Now Tejanos and non-Texans can chose between a chilly, frigid walk and a shivering body as a bitter cold wind hits them in the face, or basking in the sun under sunny, cloudless, blue skies.

Visualize trading that job in a snow laden building for four days of leisure aboard a luxury cruise ship that boasts a casino, spa, nine-hole mini-golf course and a Universal pool area which includes a waterslide.

The icing on the cake is the enjoyment of four nights of live dances on multiple stages and that translates to Tejano Cruise III.

Next February 13, a Carnaval Triumph cruise ship will depart Galveston, Texas with 2,500 Tejano music lovers headed for the paradise destination of Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico, a tranquil oasis where the heavenly blue skies kiss the earthly blue sea.

So as Rene Rene’s top ten hit says, "Vamos a Cozumel." That sure beats the Rod Stewart/Dolly Parton duet of "Baby, It’s Cold Outside."

Tejano Cruise is the brainchild of Jacob Dominguez, also owner of Soundwave Cruises Travel Agency where his wife, Martha Ybarra serves as CEO and treasurer.

This year, 1,100 deprived Tejano music fans from 32 states enjoyed a humongous beach party at a private beach upon their arrival in Cozumel. In gratitude for their support, all alcohol was free as unlimited quantities of tequila, beer, margaritas, other mixed drinks and straight liquor flowed freely for all to enjoy.

"Some people took a well-deserved advantage of the ‘all you can drink’ booze and all these bands had never done this before, but they’re ready to go and do it again," the Tejano cruise founder said with a smile.