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Music cruises promise access, good times
Music cruises have been gaining in popularity, allowing travelers to watch their favorite musicians live on stage while being transported to tropical islands or other exotic cruise destinations. In many cases, these voyages don’t involve a single band or musician but are all-out music festivals at sea that promise fun and mayhem.
Two major companies, Sixthman and Entertainment Cruise Productions, have been key players in this travel movement, but others are chartering ships (and selling out the voyages) on major cruise lines – like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and NCL. Making friends with thousands of strangers on a cruise ship is easy when you already have something in common: you all love the same type of music.
Past cruises have included John Mayer, 311, Pepper, Rick Springfield, Boyz II Men, Sister Hazel, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hootie and the Blowfish, Colbie Caillat, Shinedown, Lifehouse, 3 Doors Down, Train, Zac Brown Band, Barenaked Ladies, Guster, and dozens of other artists. Here are several upcoming musical cruises that feature seriously large names in jazz, bluegrass, rock, pop, country, and more on some of the industry’s most well-known vessels.
Kid Rock’s Chillin’ the Most Cruise
Like him or hate him, one thing is for sure: Kid Rock knows how to party, and so do his fans. In March 2014, Kid Rock’s 5th Annual “Chillin’ the Most Cruise” departs on Norwegian Pearl from Miami to Key West for some craziness on Bourbon Street, as well as the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas. The beaches of Great Stirrup Cay will be transformed into a “redneck paradise,” so crack those PBR’s open and get ready for let loose. If four nights onboard aren’t enough, there is also an option to book the “pre-cruise party” and stay an extra night onboard before the main events get underway. kidrockcruise.com/
PRIVATE ISLANDS: The ultimate cruise perk
Jazz Cruises
Holland America takes the concept of the traditional jazz boats of the Mississippi River to a modern level with a jazz cruise to San Juan, Turks and Caicos, St. Maarten, and a cruise-line owned island in the Bahamas. The week-long “Jazz Cruise” departs from Ft. Lauderdale in January 2014 on the Eurodam with a lineup that includes the Clayton Brothers Quintet, Bill Charlap Trio, Ann Hampton Callaway Quartet, Freddy Cole Trio, Ernie Adams, John Allred, and more than 30 additional performers. thejazzcruise.com/2014
For jazz fans on the West Coast who would prefer a sailing closer to home, the same cruise line offers the “Smooth Jazz Cruise” from San Diego this October onboard the Westerdam. The seven-night voyage includes the coast of Baja California, a stop in Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas. Artists include Jonathan Butler, DW3, Richard Elliot, Marcus Miller, Brian Culbertson, Candy Dulfer, Chance Howard, and many more musicians. thesmoothjazzcruise.com/
Mountain Song at Sea (Bluegrass)
In February 2014, the “Mountain Song at Sea” kicks off for the second year from Miami with bluegrass and folk artists like Steep Canyon Rangers, Trampled by Turtles, The Travelin’ McCourys, The Kruger Brothers, David Grisman Folk Jazz Trio, and many more. En route to Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, expect spontaneous artist collaborations, theme nights, Q&A sessions, and of course, fabulous musical performances. Onboard the Norwegian Pearl, there is also a bowling alley, casino, spa, and even a rock-climbing wall among other amenities. mountainsongatsea.com/
Country Music Cruise
Get those dancing boots ready to “stomp the boat” on a week-long cruise from Fort Lauderdale with stops in Grand Turk, San Juan, and St. Maarten aboard one of Holland America‘s newest ships, the Eurodam. More than 16 musicians and bands are already booked for the January sailing, including Kenny Rogers, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers, Ronnie Milsap, Restless Heart, and many others including comedian John Reep. countrymusiccruise.com/
The KISS Cruise
Bring your costumes and your face paint and get ready to rock and roll all night! This October the “KISS Cruise” kicks off from Miami on the Norwegian Pearl. Like the Kid Rock voyage, the ship visits Key West and Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and includes live performances on the deck as well as an indoor rock show. Passengers have an opportunity to take a photo with the band, participate in a Q&A session, and join various activities with each of the KISS members, like a belly flop contest, a guitar pick-throwing competition with Gene Simmons, and a Halloween costume contest. thekisskruise.com/
The Groove Cruise
What’s called the “world’s largest fully charted dance music cruise,” The “Groove Cruise” throws more than a dozen parties onboard the Norwegian Pearl. The event is celebrating its 10th anniversary this January, and has set sail on 19 different cruises from Miami, Los Angeles, San Diego and New York City. Although the lineup had yet to be announced for the next sailing, previous artists and DJs have included Deadmau5, Benny Benassi, Roger Sanchez, Ferry Corsten, Thomas Gold, Mark Knight, and Dirty Dutch. Get ready for private beach concerts, pool parties, and four nights of world-class entertainment and debauchery. thegroovecruise.com/miami/what-is-the-groove-cruise-like/