Whether you like to line dance, swing dance, rock out, salsa or just chill and listen to tunes, there’s a music- themed cruise for you. Mix all the best components of a music festival with the ease, amenities and excursion opportunities of a cruise, and you can see why music lovers are ready to set sail. In the past 20 years music cruises have proved popular, with just about every genre represented.
One of the largest producers of music cruises, Sixthman Productions, offers cruises such as the Rock Boat, KISS Kruise, Outlaw Country Cruise and Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea. Or choose Broadway, disco, soul and even cruises themed by decades.
In addition to the performances, music fans also enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere on most music cruises. “All rules are relaxed and changed,” said Scott Burnett, marketing director, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. “There is no formal dining and no dress code. Even the ship personnel are in a different vibe and mood.”
PHOTO: © TROY A. WALSH
Some music cruises encourage a different type of dress code, with popular theme nights like Pajama Night, Mardi Gras or Wig Night.
Laura and Tom Calk of Atlanta, Georgia, went on a week-long cruise one year with Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise to celebrate their anniversary and see Tom’s favorite band, Tedeschi Trucks. According to the couple, “We had a blast. There was a theme night every night. One night we dressed as Gumby and Pokey. And we rode the elevator with members of Tedeschi Trucks!”
Fans also flock to music cruises to meet and chat with musicians, an experience you seldom get at a concert or music festival. Scheduled opportunities to meet artists include meet-and-greets and autograph sessions.
And you are literally in the same boat with all the musicians you came to see — they hang out by the pool, attend the same concerts, dine in the same restaurants and go on the same excursions.
Robert Levy from Glen Allen, Virginia, sailed on three music- themed cruises.
“I like the chance to see so many acts back-to-back-to-back and to meet the musicians and talk to them like normal people, one cruiser to another,” he said. “I met John Lodge of the Moody Blues at Ernest Hemingway’s house in Key West, Florida, and we just hung out and talked, one tourist to another.”
“We loved sitting in the audience with members of other bands,” Laura Calk said. “You may find yourself sitting next to a musician you had just seen play.”
On some cruises you can even jam with musicians. The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise hosts nightly jams, and guests can join in and play or sing. It’s not unusual to see guests board a music cruise with a guitar or other instrument.
The artists love the jam sessions, as well. “Sometimes musicians get on the stage with other musicians they have never played with before, and you can hear combinations of artists you’ve never heard,” said Legendary’s Burnett. “Some of the magic happens with these open jam sessions.”
While music cruises can offer a place for emerging artists to play — and many started their careers that way — big-name musicians love to perform on board as well, including Melissa Etheridge, Kiss, Yes, The Moody Blues and Peter Frampton. After Johnny Winter played the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, he said, “This blues cruise was better than Woodstock!”
Burnett said a week-long Legendary cruise can present more than 100 acts, resulting in an intense pace. “Some people go to bed right after dinner and set an alarm to wake up later for their favorite acts,” he said.
No worries if you need a quiet moment away. “We loved hanging by the pool and seeing so many different acts. But I needed a break sometimes,” Laura Calk said. “I could always find a quiet place to escape and read three novels on my cruise.”
The percentage of repeat visitors on music cruises remains high, with fans returning for encore performances of their favorite bands every year and forming bonds with other fans.
“We have about a 70 percent repeat rate,” said Burnett. “We typically have guests from 15 to 20 countries on board. I’ve seen many of them make lasting friendships, then stay in touch through our chat room or on Facebook.”
© TROY A. WALSH
FESTIVALS AT SEA
Find your favorite genre among these music-themed voyages. Cruises fill up fast, so book early.
1940s Transatlantic Crossing with the Glenn Miller Band
ahoyvintagecruises.com/glenn-miller- orchestra-crossing
Jam Rock Reggae Cruise
welcometojamrockreggaecruise.com
The Jazz Cruise
thejazzcruise.com
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
bluescruise.com
Outlaw Country Music
outlawcountrycruise.com
The Ultimate Disco Cruise
ultimatediscocruise.com
Read This Next
Party at Belgrade’s Best Bars and Clubs
April/May 2022
Jun 22, 2022
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedAirlines
Nov 17, 2024LATAM Upgrades Boeing 787 Cabins
LATAM Airlines announced a multimillion-dollar investment to modernize its fleet of 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, updating both Premium Business and economy cabins. Modernization began September 2024 and will be completed around mid-2026.
Sponsored Content
Discover the Pristine Beauty of the Sporades Islands
Nestled in the northwest Aegean Sea, the Sporades Islands are a hidden gem of Greece, offering breathtaking natural beauty and unique experiences for every traveler. Comprised of four main islands — Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos and Skyros — this island cluster is renowned for its lush pine forests, crystal-clear waters and idyllic beaches.
November 2024
Nov 16, 2024Discover The Cotswolds’ Quintessentially English Villages
Famous for rolling green hills, quaint villages and distinctive honey-colored limestone buildings, the Cotswolds (an 800-square-mile region in central southwest England) carries a designation as an Area of Outstanding Beauty. More than 80 percent is still farmland, meadows and woodlands.
Airlines
Nov 16, 2024Brussels Airlines Expands Fleet, Invests in New Cabins
Brussels Airlines will grow its long-haul fleet with three new Airbus A330 aircraft, bringing its widebody fleet to 13 in the coming years. These additional aircraft comprise the airline’s greater initiative to strengthen its position in Africa following increased demand for air travel across the continent. The airline will mainly use the extra long-haul capacity to reinforce its Sub-Saharan African network, making Brussels Airlines a European hub for flights to and from Africa.
Sponsored Content
Extraordinary Egypt
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME JOURNEY INTO THE ANCIENT WORLD OF THE PHARAOHS
Daily
Nov 15, 2024SLS Barcelona Opens This December
SLS Hotels & Residences makes its European debut this winter on Spain’s Mediterranean coastline in Barcelona, where the city’s excellent climate keeps winter temperatures pleasant. SLS Barcelona hits the waterside district of Port Fòrum, where a large marina is 15 minutes from city center.
Six Senses Hotel to Debut in London Next Year
Hotels
Nov 14, 2024Daily
Nov 13, 2024Discover the Birthplace of Cacao in Ecuador
Chocolate is made from cacao beans and Ecuador, the birthplace of cacao, has long been a significant player in the world of chocolate. Although historians once believed cacao was first used by Mesoamerican cultures, more recent studies from scientists around the world confirmed the cacao bean was first cultivated by indigenous tribes in what is now Ecuador.
Sponsored Content
United Airlines First to Purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel for ORD
Chicago O’Hare International Airport will soon receive sustainable aviation fuel, all thanks to United Airlines, which became the first airline to purchase SAF for use at the airport, one of the largest in the United States. Neste, a producer of SAF, will provide up to 1 million gallons of its Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The first supply arrived in August.
November 2024
Nov 13, 2024Drink It All in During a Stay at Hotel Manapany on Swanky St.-Barth
Vacationers travel to the posh island of St.-Barth for its ritzy shops, tucked-away local beaches and elevated cuisine melding classic French technique with flavorful Caribbean ingredients. Guests staying at Hôtel Manapany, an eco-focused boutique property on picturesque Anse des Cayes beach, can also sip their way through beverages that showcase these two distinct yet remarkably harmonious cultures.
ShareThis