MUSIC-THEMED cruises have long been drawing dance crowds to the seas. Now that the travel industry is back at full force post-pandemic, the ships are rocking again, with popular acts booked and often interacting with passengers too. “We tear down the walls between artists, celebrities, creators and their passionate communities by fully taking over a ship to provide immersive experiences,” says Taniqua Martin, senior marketing and communications specialist for Sixthman, a company that has staged more than 150 music-themed vacations at resorts and on cruises since 2001.

Here are some upcoming music cruises that might float your boat.

The ’80s Cruise February 29–March 7, 2024
Featuring 38 Special, Soft Cell, Debbie Gibson and others, this cruise is hosted by former MTV VJs Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter and Downtown Julie Brown. It travels from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Willemstad, Curaçao, and Oranjestad, Aruba, on Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas.

Rock Legends Cruise XI February 22–26, 2024
Sammy Hagar & the Circle and ZZ Top’s Billy F Gibbons headline the latest version of this “floating rock festival with a cause,” which sails from Miami to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas. It’s staged by the Native American Heritage Association.

Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Mediterranean August 17–22 
Blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa rocks with Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Blackberry Smoke on this cruise from Athens, Greece, to Dubrovnik, Croatia, and Santorini, Greece, on the Norwegian Jade. —Craig Rosen