Groove On A Cruise: Music Festival Cruises Around The World

28 September 2016
Read Time: 2.6 mins

Hankering for a tropical holiday that combines both beachside bliss and live music nights? Why not jump aboard a music festival cruise? From jazz and blues to rock and heavy metal, Pitbull to pop, there are floating festivals cruising oceans right around the world. Take a look at the cruises with beats to float your boat!

POP MUSIC

John Farnham hasn’t drawn the curtain on his musical career just yet. He’s one of many fine acts to take the stage on the Cruise N Groove, which sails from Sydney to Noumea and Fiji. Or if real 80’s style music is more your jam, The 80’s Cruise takes in Florida, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios and Cococay with a whole host of 80’s inspired activities, aerobics classes and of course live music.

 Aerobics at sea. Image courtesy of The 80's Cruise

EDM

Dance music and festivals go hand in hand. Combine both with sailing the high seas and you’ve got The Groove Cruise. The Groove Cruise, which sails from Miami to Grand Turk in the Caribbean is the largest floating dance music festival, setting off in January 2017. The 2nd largest EDM cruise festival in the world, It’s The Ship cruises from Singapore through the Straights of Malacca and back in November 2016.

ROCK

If rock is your sound of choice then a floating festival will not be hard to find – there are more rock cruises than any other kind. Cruising the Caribbean in early 2017, you can hop on Shiprocked, one of the largest cruises, Rock the Boat, or Monsters of Rock. Later in the year, in October 2017, Rock The Boat heads down under with a Sydney to Noumea and Fiji leg too.

JAZZ & BLUES

Can you imagine anything more romantic than a double bass playing while you sip a drink and sway to the rhythm of the sea? Well that is exactly what you’ll get on a jazz and blues cruise. There are four setting sail in 2017, with the Rhythm and Blues Cruise and The Jazz Cruise both kicking off in January, Keeping The Blues Alive At Sea III in February and Soul Train sailing into March.

hard to believe #bluesaliveatsea is over already. such a good time! | | @rrtfb @keepingthebluesalive @sxmliveloud

A photo posted by caitlin thomas (@caitlintphoto) on

COUNTRY

Get ready for some heel clicking and line dancing drama because a country music cruise is a full immersion in the western groove. If that sounds like your kind of holiday, take a look at The Country Music Cruise in January 2017, or The Outlaw Country Cruise in February 2017.

The best place to see jazz #thejazzcruise #jazz #marcusmiller #paradise A photo posted by @burwellsax on


Never set sail before? 12 Tips For First Time Cruisers 

Stay above the sway: 7 Tips To Nip Seasickness In The Bud


METAL

Those who dare to set sail on a heavy metal cruise know one thing is for sure – you will party hard and need some recovery time booked for when you dock! The largest metal cruise sailing the sea is renowned 70,000 Tons Of Metal, running from 2-6 February 2017. But there are a few more worth mentioning – Def Leppard: Hysteria On The High Seas sailing in January, and Holy Ship, for which you’ll have to wait as 2017 dates are already sold out.

RAP AND R&B

If rap and RnB are more your jam, it’s time to get down with Pitbull, on his Pitbull After Dark Party cruise, setting sail in March 2017. With two shows by Pitbull himself, and a host of other artists over 3 days, you’ll get a taste of celebrity lifestyle in the Bahamas – yes please!

Vicki Fletcher

Experience Vicki's experience

Head of Content and Social for Flight Centre, Vicki loves road trips down unknown tracks, hiking into mountain ranges, following locals to the best food in town, and spending long afternoons people watching in city squares. She's written for publications across Australia and Europe. Top travel tip: always look up. Follow Vicki on Instagram @vickijanefletcher.