All Aboard The 20th Anniversary Groove Cruise: An Inside Look At 96 Hours Of Nonstop House And Techno Madness
Uproxx doesn't really cruise. Total respect to those who do, but the thought of thousands of strangers playing bingo and corporate entertainment in the middle of the ocean doesn't sound too good. (There's also the problem of the cruise industry's reluctance to take sustainability seriously.)
An exception? When it comes to world class music.
That's right, 96 hours of non-stop house and techno. Sounds crazy. Two weeks ago, Groove Cruises celebrated its 20th year on the high seas with its biggest ever sell-out cruise from Miami to Great Starrup Cay. The award-winning encore in Norway saw 5,000 attendees, or 'captains' as Brand calls it, dance across 11 stages across 18 floors to a global electronic line-up from Tiesto, John Summit, Diplo, Markus Schulz, GOB to LP. . , HALIENA, Joel Corry, Trivecta, Mija, GG Magree, VNSSA, Lily Palmer, Gene Faris, Max Styler, Biscits, Disco Lines, Host Honey and more.
Despite the extensive amenities of a cruise ship, the intimate nature of the festival and the spirit of partying in the middle of the ocean continue to draw fans to Groove Cruises every year. It was a true hedonistic bacchanalia and had a hand in uprox. Here's what we liked...
Part I - Ships
With expansive ocean views from the airport, terraces, 40 bars and restaurants, two multi-story water slides, a casino and more, the ship has truly become the ultimate party venue. Those who want to trade dancing for gaming can check out the largest go-kart track at sea, a 10,000-square-foot outdoor laser tag arena, a VR gaming site and more. There was never a dull moment on board. Even the choice of sitting on a sun lounger or hot tub on deck 17 was very appealing.
Those who wanted extra luxury stayed in the Haven, located on decks 17 and 18. Located above the ship, The Haven offers 24-hour butler service, private terrace and restaurant, a private solarium and billiards, as well as penthouses with luxury bathrooms and walk-in closets and exceptional 270-degree ocean views.
If you are curious enough, you can find secret rooms within the rooms, such as the Social Lounge on Deck Six, which hosts the most sought-after techno and trance sets of the weekend, or the Texas Roadhouse, which serves as a chic club. And the lantern is set to red. , which gave way to crunchy bass and dubstep. Deepfake probably claims the title of the most desired host with its secret "Thrill" room that hosts the most exclusive b2b dating for a select few.
Check out this Instagram post
Everything you needed was close at hand. After hours of dancing, you can enjoy a full buffet any time of the day or night at the Garden Cafe, located near the main concourse and pool stage. I may have ended up eating too much soft serve ice cream, but... it was pretty good. The luxury of having your own room always has your own bath and shower or a quiet place to nap at the disco during the day.
"Groove Cruise is a great example of what life is like on many other planets," Martin Circus Performer told Approximate Life. "All ready to be fed, loved and danced until we drop as we embark on a great journey to heaven together."
Part II - Scenes: Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat
When did people eat? All the time. There were over 20 places to eat on the Groove Cruise so no stomach would go hungry. The Garden Cafe was best known for its 24-hour buffet. Sometimes the food looks better than it tastes, like expertly carved fruit or impeccably presented desserts, but it was the all-day dining variety and the backstage location right by the main pool that made it the MVP of the weekend.
The dream... doesn't seem to matter. At least not literally. L. Since many sensational performances took place from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., a night's sleep was considered forbidden. Taking an hour or two off throughout the day, multiple times a day, and choosing the parties you love is the perfect mix to keep you dancing the night away and catching all the best sets.
Whether you're dancing on the main pool deck, eating at the garden cafe or walking down the corridors to the next level, the people you've been around or met are some of the liveliest and most energetic people on the planet. . Everyone was infectiously cheerful, so it was almost impossible to get upset about anything. And if you're upset about something, you watch it and play a tiki-themed game of Twister to get rid of your frown.
For those who have seen it, well...they might be the best show ever. With both day and night themes announced during the festival, you'll see a new scene twice a day as visitors wander around in wild jungle costumes, Nintendo costumes with hundreds of peach princesses, racing gear, alien silver and chrome commentary and delirium. Disco dresses. . Where the freaks come from (at large, in specific numbers). You were standing when you weren't wearing clothes . It was the perfect place where you could wear whatever you wanted, the skinniest swimwear and the brightest dresses in the world without a care.
Ironically, this week's story was best told by the elevator. New messages appeared every day, and judging by the mood and development of the messages, this was self-evident.
Day 1 - "Happy Cruising!"
Day 2 - "Are you kidding?"
Day 3 - "So...how's everyone doing?"
Day 4 - No words. Disco balls and partially deflated balloons spawn randomly.
That's how I felt on day four, FWIW.
Part III – Music
It's hard to explain what 96 hours of non-stop house and techno music is like. To be clear, when they say 96 hours of non-stop music, it was. The only place you can be quiet is your house and even then you can hear the neighbors beating. It was a marathon, not a sprint.
It was impossible to do everything at the same time. However, that's part of the fun and beauty of an event like a Groove Cruise. You are pulled in different directions, following the most distinctive rhythm that speaks to you at any given moment. These are once-in-a-lifetime moments that only those present and the ripples they emit will fully understand.
"Joel [ Korin ] and I just met this year and we hit it off and immediately decided to do a b2b collection," noted artist Markus Schulz told Uproxx Life. “We planned for an hour, went ahead and fixed it. Groove Cruise is the perfect DJ environment where you can simply improvise and collaborate with other artists. It really shows the artistry of the artists on board... I've played Groove Cruise about 15 times and it's a lot of fun."
Some musical events of the weekend:
- Marcus Schultz and Joel Corey take us out to sea for the official Sail Away Sunset Party on the main pool deck.
That night, all the DJs in a huge promotion showered loads of Benjamin's songs.
“This is my second year and I've found it to be one of the strongest communities,” said LP The Life of Jobi Approx. “It's magical and absolutely amazing that 20th birthday decorations, costumes and programs have grown 20x...Fame House is my non-profit that educates women and gender-inclusive DJs. We wanted to work in the live space to give women more opportunities to DJ and be seen representing themselves there and on stage. In fact, Groove Cruise was one of the first promoters to contact us and participate in the Undiscovered DJ Competition.'
Part IV - The Big Comeback!
Over its 20-year history, Groove Cruises has built a respected global community that invests money and purpose in its sailing community. Jason Beukema, founder of Groove Cruises, directed his non-profit (501c3) Whet Foundation to benefit local communities in the Bahamas by providing essential items such as clothing, food, school supplies, beach and community cleanups, and funding arts programs. .
Additionally, this year the Foundation made an annual grant to the Great Harbor Island community. Wet Travel, located a short boat ride from Great Stirrup Cay, where the Groove Cruise docked on Saturday, raised $20,000 for community music equipment and donated building materials to a single mother who lost her home in an April 2023 fire.
As part of the partnership with 4ocean, each of the ship's captains received a special bracelet handcrafted from recycled materials, each of which removes five pounds of litter from the world's oceans, rivers and coasts.
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Of course, Groove Cruises will return in 2025, sailing from Miami, Florida next January to Labade's private island. The 37th cruise will be the largest music cruise of any genre in history on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, one of the largest ships in the world. The ship holds 6,780 passengers and features seven lounges, 40 bars and restaurants, a full-service spa, fitness facilities, water park and Floridarider surf simulator, outdoor garden, zip line, ice skating and more.
You can reserve a place for 2025 here. Packages start at $1,500 per person.
More photos from Groove Cruises.
Uproxx is hosted by Groove Cruises but has not reviewed or endorsed this editorial. More information about our press travel policy can be found here.
