AARP Hearing Center
Music-themed cruises have long drawn dance crowds to the seas, and 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:
Rock Legends Cruise XI, Feb. 22–26, 2024
Sammy Hagar & the Circle, ZZ Top’s Billy F Gibbons and Rick Springfield 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.
The ’80s Cruise, Feb. 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.
On the Blue New Horizons, April 5–10, 2024
Another classic rock–leaning voyage, with Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues hosting the Zombies, Alan Parsons, Starship and others. It travels aboard the Norwegian Pearl from Miami to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and Nassau, Bahamas.