All Aboard The 20th Anniversary Groove Cruise: An Inside Look At 96 Hours Of Nonstop House And Techno Madness
Uproxx is not really a cruise. 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 corporates doesn't sound so good. (Then there's the problem of the cruise industry's reluctance to take sustainability seriously.)
An exception? If there is first-class music.
96 hours of non-stop house and techno music to be exact. Does that sound crazy? Groove Cruises celebrated its 20th year on the high seas two weeks ago with its biggest launch ever with a sold-out cruise from Miami to Great Striper Cay. At Norway's award-winning Encore Theatre, 5,000 audience members - or what the brand calls 'captains' - danced across 11 stages and 18 floors to the sounds of a world-class electronic line-up including Tiesto, John Summit, Diplo, Marcus Schultz. , LL B. Gioppe, HALIENE, Joel Corry, Trivecta, Mija, GG Magree, VNSSA, Lilly Palmer, Gene Farris, Max Styler, Biscits, Disco Lines, Speaker Honey and more.
Despite the many advantages of a cruise ship, it is the intimate nature of the festival and the atmosphere of a party in the middle of the ocean that draws fans to Groove Cruises every year. It was completely absurd and right in the middle of Uproxx. We liked…
The first part is the ship
The ship is already setting the stage for the perfect party venue, equipped with expansive ocean-view terraces, 40 bars and restaurants, two multi-deck water slides, a casino and more. Those looking to trade a little dancing for game time should check out the largest go-kart track at sea, a 10,000-square-foot outdoor laser arena, a virtual reality playground and more. There is never a dull moment on board; Even lounging in the lounge chairs on deck 17 or in the hot tub was a lot of fun.
If you want a little more luxury, you can stay at the Haven Hotel, on the 17th and 18th floors. Located at the top of the ship, The Haven Hotel offers 24-hour butler service, a private terrace and restaurant, a private balcony and pool, as well as luxurious bathrooms and penthouses with walk-in closets and exclusive thermal access up to 270 degrees. Secluded sea view.
If you're curious enough, you can find secret rooms in rooms like the Social Lounge on the sixth floor, which hosts some of the most sought-after techno and trance sets of the weekend, or the Texas Roadhouse, which features interesting club-style sets and features. The Red Light Set... Deepfake is perhaps the most sought after host with his secret Razzle Dazzle room featuring the most unique corporate performances and rebel performances from a select few.
Check out this Instagram post
Everything needed was always at hand. After hours of dancing, you can enjoy a sumptuous buffet at any time of the day or night on the main terrace by the pool and in the garden cafe next to the stage. That's probably why I ate so many soft cones, but... it was a lot of fun. The luxury of having your own room is always having your own bathroom and shower or a quiet spot for a 'disco nap' during the day.
"The Groove Cruise is a great example of what life is like on many other planets," Martian circus performer Approximate Life said. "Everyone will be encouraged to be fed, loved and dance as we embark on a wonderful journey to heaven together."
Part two - Scenes: food, sleep, delirium, rehearsal
when you eat All the time. Groove Cruises has more than 20 restaurants on board, so no stomach will go hungry. The Garden Cafe was most popular due to its 24-hour buffet. Sometimes the food looks better than it tastes - such as perfectly carved fruit or perfectly presented desserts - but the variety of options available 24 hours a day and the location away from the main pool terrace make it a weekend MVP.
Sleep was... nothing. At least not in the literal sense of the word. As LP GOB says, the only way to stay on track for success is to "disco sleep" during the day to conserve energy. With many of the top bands playing from 11pm to 7am, a night's sleep was once considered taboo. Resting your head for an hour or two several times a day with a gift of your choice was the best combination for dancing the night away and making the best combos.
Whether you were dancing on the main pool deck, dining in the Garden Cafe or wandering the aisles on the next stage, the people around you or those you met were some of the most colorful and energetic people on the planet. . Everyone was infectious and it was almost impossible to get upset about anything. And if you're feeling down about something, check out a game of Tiki Twister to erase that frown instantly.
As far as people watching, these are probably the best shows of all time. The festival has daytime and nighttime themes, and you'll be transported to a new stage twice each day as visitors stroll through wild jungle costumes, hundreds of Nintendo peach princess costumes, races, silver and chrome alien presentations and a fabulous nightclub. Suit. . This is where the monsters came out (in large numbers and for sure). You stand out when you are not dressed . It was the perfect place to dress up when you wanted to and don the loosest swimsuits and the most extravagant dresses without the worry.
Unsurprisingly, it was these elevators that best told the story of the week. Every day there is new news and the changing mood and news tells a story in itself:
Day 1 - "Have a nice cruise!" »
Day 2 - "Are you kidding me?!" »
Day 3 - "And... how are you?" »
Day 4 - No words. Just dirty pop up disco balls and partially deflated balloons.
This is exactly how I felt on day 4, FWIW.
Part III - Music
It's hard to explain what 96 hours of non-stop house and techno music is like. Let's be clear: if you're talking about 96 hours of music straight away, that's exactly what it is. The only place you can be quiet is your bedroom, and even then your neighbors may be talking. Keeping him alive was a marathon, not a sprint.
However, it was impossible to capture everything. That's the fun and the beauty of an event like the Groove Cruise. You are pulled in different directions, following the rhythm that calls you. These are once-in-a-lifetime moments that can only be fully understood by the participants and the waves that carry them
"Joel [ Corey ] and I met this year, hit it off, and at the last minute decided to do a B2B set," artist Markus Schulz told Uproxx Life. “We planned for an hour and then we did it. Groove Cruise is the perfect environment for DJs to simply improvise and collaborate with other artists. It's really a demonstration of the artistic level of the artists on board." ...I've played Groove Cruise about fifteen times and it's so cool.
Among the musical highlights of the weekend:
- Marcus Schultz and Joel Corey sent us out to sea for the official "Sail Away" sunset party on the main pool deck.
The cash-rich drums showered tons of benjamins on all the DJs that night.
"This is my second year and I've come to realize that this is one of the strongest communities in the world," said LP GOB Approximate Life. “It's amazing and absolutely incredible that on our 20th anniversary, the decor, clothing and programs have grown 20x...Femme House is my non-profit organization that teaches women and people of all sexual orientations how to be a DJ. We wanted to work in the live space to give female DJs more opportunities to be seen there and on stage - Groove Cruise was one of the first organizers to contact us and partner with us for the Undiscovered DJ Competition!
Part Four - Giving Back
With a twenty-year history, Groove Cruises has built a respected global community that gives meaning and purpose to its floating collection. Jason Bakema, founder of Groove Cruises, runs his non-profit Wheat Foundation (501c3) to help the local Bahamian community by providing essential items such as clothing, food, school supplies, beach cleanups and community programs and funding for arts programs.
The foundation has also made an annual grant to the cause - this year to the Great Harbor Island community. Located just a short boat ride from Great Stirrup Cay, where the Groove Cruise docked on Saturday, Whet Travel raised $20,000 in musical equipment for the community, as well as building materials that were donated to a single mother who rented her home in April 2023 year. Mark lost.
Through a partnership with 4ocean, each ship's captain received a special wristband handcrafted from recycled materials, each removing five pounds of waste from the world's oceans, rivers and coasts.
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The Groove cruise ship is sure to return in 2025, departing Miami, Florida for the private island of Labadee next January. The 37th cruise will be the largest music cruise of any kind 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 and gym, a water park, the Floridarider surf simulator, an open-air theme park, zip lines, ice skating and more.
You can reserve a seat for the 2025 trip here. Packages start at about $1,500 per person.
More photos from the wonderful cruise:
Uproxx is hosted by Groove Cruises but has not been reviewed or approved by the editors. You can find more information about our press trip here.
