Sail the Caribbean or Mexico with your favorite DJs on a world-class ship? It can happen. With intimate performances and chances to meet the artists face to face, a music-centered cruise is the vacation experience of a lifetime.
It is no surprise that the Groove Cruise has been making a splash for the past 11 years. Founded by Jason Beukema in 2004, this music cruise has become the world’s most epic electronic dance music (EDM) dance party.
What started as a group of 125 friends going on a cruise in 2004 quickly has become the world’s largest fully chartered floating dance music festival. Beukema describes the Groove Cruise experience this way: “96 nonstop hours of dance music, 2,500 people, 40-plus DJs, 9 Stages, 6 Theme Parties, 2 days on a private island, and 1 massive cruise ship.” You'll get a taste of it by watching this 3-minute video of Groove Cruise Miami in February 2015:
What you'll find on a Groove Cruise
Geared toward those who love dance music and who live by the mantra of ‘work hard and play harder, the Groove Cruise appeals to a young professional crowd. The average age of attendees is 31, with a 50/50 male-to-female ratio.
The Groove Cruise has two voyages a year: one from Miami to the Caribbean early in the year and another from Los Angeles to Mexico during the fall. This unique experience attracts passengers from all of the world.
Beach parties, theme parties, special events — it's all part of the Groove Cruise. On board, passengers join the world’s best dance music artists such as Markus Schulz, Erick Morillo and Morgan Page, among other big names. The Groove Cruise is the only event in the dance music industry where there's true artist-fan interaction. You never know who you might be running into at lunch. (Hey, celebrity DJs need to eat, too!)
Most recently, The Groove Cruise was featured by the Travel Channel as the No. 1 place in the world "to get your groove on," beating out Mykonos, Negril Jamaica, Las Vegas and Paris.
What sets the Groove Cruise apart is that the experience begins from the moment passengers buy their tickets. This is the moment passengers become a part of the #GCFAM, a community with a strong online presence (see #GCFAM on Instagram, on Twitter and on Facebook). Here, passengers can connect with other passengers going aboard the Groove Cruise. The sense of community is ultimately what makes the Groove Cruise a unique experience.
It's also worth mentioning that through the Whet Foundation, Groove Cruise gives back to the communities they dock in, offering exciting experiences to deserving children in South Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico.
The details
Average age: 31, with a 50/50 female-male ratio. Minimum age 21.
Sets sail: Twice a year in winter & fall
Itineraries: Miami to Caribbean; Los Angeles to Mexico
Ships: Carnival Inspiration and Norwegian Pearl
Next sailings:
- Miami to Jamaica (round-trip), January 22-26, 2016, aboard Norwegian Pearl
- Los Angeles to Catalina Island and Mexico (round-trip), coming fall 2016.
Cost: Fares start at $669 for a solo traveler sharing a room and $969 per person based on double occupancy for Groove Cruise Los Angeles, and $899 for a solo traveler sharing a room and $1,049 per person based on double occupancy for Groove Cruise Miami.
Inside tip: We're told if you use the coupon code "GrooveCruiseChris," you'll save $50/person on your booking.
Where to book: www.thegroovecruise.com (Note: Cruiseable receives no fees of any kind for reporting on this)
