All Aboard The 20th Anniversary Groove Cruise: An Inside Look At 96 Hours Of Nonstop House And Techno Madness
Uproxx doesn't actually navigate. All due respect to those who do, but the idea of being stuck in the middle of the ocean with thousands of strangers playing bingo and watching corporate entertainment doesn't sound that great. (There is also a reluctance among the shipping industry to take sustainability issues seriously.)
exception? When talking about world music.
That's right, 96 hours of non-stop house and techno music. Crazy sound? Two weeks ago, Groove Cruises celebrated its 20th anniversary on the high seas with its largest cruise ever from Miami to Great Stroup Cay. After Norway's award-winning show, 5,000 members, or “Captains” as the brand calls them, danced on 11 stages across 18 floors in front of a world-class electronic lineup that included Tiesto, Jon Summit, Diplo, Markus Schulz and LP. Gioppi et al.; Halina, Joel Corey, Trifecta, Mika, JJ Magri, VNSSA, Lily Palmer, Gene Faris, Max Styler, Bitsits, Disco Lines, Broadcaster Honey and others.
Apart from the cruise ship's extensive amenities, the familiarity of the festival and the spirit of partying in the middle of the ocean is what keeps fans coming back to Groove Cruises every year. It's really fun, and Uproxx does it right and right. Here's what we like...
Part One - Ship
This ship truly sets the stage for the perfect party playground with spacious rooms with balconies overlooking the ocean, 40 bars and restaurants, two multi-deck water slides, a casino and more. Those looking to dance can experience the largest roller coaster at sea, a 10,000-square-foot outdoor laser arena, a virtual reality gaming site, and more. There is never a dull moment on board. Even customizing deck 17 for lounge chairs or a hot tub is quite fun.
For those seeking more luxury, The Haven offers rooms on the 17th and 18th floors. Located aboard a ship, The Haven offers 24-hour service, a private terrace, restaurant, private solarium, and billiards room, as well as luxury private suites and penthouse apartments with walk-in closet and incredible 270 degree ocean views.
If you're curious enough, you can find secret spaces indoors, like Deck Six's Social Lounge, which offers the best techno and trance sets of the weekend, or the cool Texas Roadhouse and Red Light Club sets. Make room for crunchy bass and dubstep. Deepfake may claim the title of most sought after host with its secret room Razzle Dazzle, which features the most discriminating corporate and rebel content from a select few.
View this post on Instagram
Everything you need is at your fingertips. After a few hours of dancing, you can enjoy a full buffet at any time of the day or night on the terrace next to the main pool and in the garden cafe next to the stage. I definitely ate a lot of soft serve ice cream cones because of this, but...it was really fun. The luxury of having your own room is always having a separate bath and shower or a quiet place to take a “disco nap” during the day.
“Groove Cruise is a great example of what life could be like on many other planets,” a Mars Circus performer told Approximate Life. “Everyone is fed, loved, and encouraged to dance until they drop as we take this beautiful journey to heaven together.”
Part Two - Scenes: Eating, sleeping, delirium, repetition
When do people eat? All the time. With more than 20 dining options on the Groove Cruise, no one will leave hungry. Garden Cafe is famous for its 24-hour buffet. Sometimes the food looks better than it tastes, like beautifully carved fruit or a thoughtfully presented dessert, but it's the variety of dishes throughout the day and the location that makes this restaurant the MVP of the weekend.
Dreams are not important, at least not in the truest sense. According to LP GOB, the only way to stay on the path to success is to take disco naps throughout the day to keep your energy levels up. Since many high-profile shoots take place between 11pm and 7am, sleeping through the night is considered taboo. Chilling out for an hour or two a few times a day and bringing your favorite party favors is perfect for dancing the night away and enjoying the best sets.
Whether you're dancing on the main pool deck, dining at the Garden Cafe, or making your way to the next stage, the people you'll ever meet or meet are some of the most passionate and energetic people on the planet. planets. . Everyone was very cheerful, so it was almost impossible for them to get upset about anything. And if you're upset about something, there's a Tiki-themed Twister game that will blow your mind.
As for the people watching, well... it was probably the best show ever. As the festival announces its day and night themes, twice a day you'll see a new stage with attendees roaming around in wild jungle costumes, Nintendo costumes with hundreds of Princess Peaches, racing gear, silver and chrome alien lettering, and a fun disco. Special costume. . This is where the crazy people appear (in large numbers and confidently). If you don't dress up, you will stand out. It's the perfect place where you can wear whatever you want: skimpy swimsuits and the most beautiful dresses in the world without a care.
Surprisingly, the elevator told the best story of the week. Every day new messages appear, we watch the mood develop, and the messages themselves tell a story.
Day 1 - “Happy sailing!”
Day 2 – “Are you kidding me?”
Day 3 - "How is everyone?"
Day 4 - No words. Just a bunch of pop-up discos and partially deflated balloons.
This is how I felt on day 4, FWIW.
Part Three - Music
It's hard to explain what 96 hours of non-stop house and techno music feels like. Let's clarify something here. When they say 96 non-stop music, that's what it is. The only place where you can find silence is your bedroom, and even then you can probably hear your neighbors fighting. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
However, it is impossible to catch everything. But that's part of the fun and beauty of an event like Groove Cruises. You are pulled in many directions, following the most important rhythms that call to you at any given moment. It's a once-in-a-lifetime moment that can only be fully understood by those present and the waves they ride.
“Joel [ Corey ] and I met this year, we hit it off, and at the last minute we decided to start a b2b group,” acclaimed artist Markus Schulz told Uproxx Life. "We planned it for an hour, went ahead and refined it. Groove Cruise is the perfect DJ environment where you can go and work and collaborate with other artists. It's really a showcase of the ship's artists... I've been playing Groove Cruise for about 15 times and it's amazing."
Some of the music events this weekend include:
- Markus Schultz and Joel Corey took us out to sea for the Sunset Main Pool Deck Sail Away party.
That night all the DJs had a big cast coming for the Benjamins.
“This is my second year and I think this community is one of the strongest communities ever,” LP GOB told Uprox Life. “It was magical and truly amazing to be able to double the sets, costumes and events on our 20th anniversary... Fame House is my non-profit organization that teaches DJing to many women and genders. We want to work in the live space to give women more opportunities to DJ and see themselves represented there and on stage; Groove Cruise was actually one of the first promoters to contact us and partner with us on an unannounced DJ competition.
Part Four - Great Answers
Over its 20-year history, Groove Cruises has built a respected global community that gives meaning and purpose to its floating parties. Groove Cruises founder Jason Bekema runs the non-profit Whet Foundation (501c3) to provide local communities in the Bahamas with essential needs such as clothing, food, school supplies, beach and community cleanups, as well as funding arts events.
Additionally, this year the Foundation made its annual donation to the Great Harbor Island community. Whet Travel, a short boat ride from Great Stirrup Cay, anchored the Groove Cruise on Saturday, collecting $20,000 in musical instruments for the community as well as building materials donated to a single mother who lost her home in April 2023 due to a fire.
Through a partnership with 4ocean, each boat captain receives a handmade bracelet made from recycled materials, with each captain removing five pounds of trash from the world's oceans, rivers and beaches.
***
Of course, Groove Cruises will return in 2025, sailing from Miami, Florida to the private island of Labadee this coming January. Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, the 37th cruise on one of the world's largest ships, will be the largest musical cruise in history. Accommodations for 6,780 passengers include seven escalators, 40 stairs, a restaurant, a spa with flower service, a fitness room, a water park, a fluoride surf simulator, an amusement park, a zip liner, an ice rink and more.
Here you can save on your sailing space in 2025. Packages start at $1,500.
More photos from the Grove trip.
Uproxx is hosted by Grove Cruise but has not reviewed or approved this editorial. More information about our press travel policy can be found here.
