Groove Cruise Solidifies Spot as Premiere Rave Charter Ahead of 20th Anniversary

Groove Cruise returned to Miami last weekend for a sold-out extravaganza of sun, sea, and phenomenal music ahead of the festival’s 20th-anniversary sail.

On Thursday, January 19th, Groove Cruise set sail out of Port of Miami for a five-day adventure in the Caribbean. Not only was this my first Groove Cruise experience, but this was also my first time on a rave voyage of the sort. From the moment I boarded the Celebrity Summit, I felt enveloped by the magic and culture that is Groove Cruise. Founded in 2004 by Jason Beukema, owner of Whet Travel, the community of the festival has grown from 125 ravers on the first charter, to nearly 5000 for their 2024 rendition. So what has been the secret sauce of success for this floating function that’s had ravers come crawling back year after year?

As a Groove Cruise “Virgin”, a term so affectionately used by festival veterans, I found it to be a treasured topic of discussion just how many charters one has encountered. To my astonishment, attendees and employees alike had returned for five, ten, fifteen, and even 20 years to embrace, enjoy, dance, and dream together onboard. Within moments of meeting Jason, I was brought to tears by the passion he holds for his “GC Fam”, who have transformed from customers into his family. After a decade of attending events and festivals in the music space, I have never felt such hands-on appreciation for guests from an event curator. For Jason, Groove Cruise is a family reunion, a space to love and give, a heartfelt and genuine accomplishment that has grown out of the purest intentions. The intimacy sent ripples across the ship and into the ocean beyond, making it crystal clear to me the devotion that Groove Cruise attendees, or “Captains” hold.

Not to mention the music and daily programming schedule carefully crafted by an excellent staff over the course of the year. From the second we boarded, to quite literally moments until we disembarked, electronic dance music of the finest caliber rocked the ship. Groove Cruise presented a unique opportunity to not only enjoy the music of your favorite DJs but also chat with them after. Snag photos, say hi at the food buffet, or even play a ping pong tournament on the food deck. Where most festivals go through strenuous efforts to separate attendees from talent, Groove Cruise embraced the crossover, reminding us that ultimately we were all music lovers out at sea.

With artists cruise-locked for a five-day excursion, they were inclined to play multiple sets and even extra special back-to-back performances that made for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Though Groove Cruise is limited on talent budget due to the cruise ship’s capacity, the booking team put serious thought into curating a lineup that appealed to the masses. Catering to an audience of house, trance, and progressive fans, we were blessed with standout performances from Claptone, Markus Schulz, Jauz Off The Deep End, and Nora En Pure who headlined the beach day in Labadee, Haiti.

Speaking of Haiti, the island day was by far my favorite. On Saturday morning, we “Captains” woke to the lovely sound of Marc Rebillet’s song “Get Up” along with Jason’s very loud words of encouragement to exit the ship. Despite a long night of debauchery the evening prior, Groove Cruisers left the boat for jaw-dropping views of Labadee. Lush mountainscapes melded into sandy beaches frosted with turquoise blue waters, making for a euphoric visual of vacation pleasure. With a roller coaster ride through the jungle, daring jaunts on the world’s longest water zip line, and a rip-roaring water slide, there was no shortage of fun-filled activities. The most iconic part was the view from the main stage where 2500 ravers danced, swam, laughed, and played to a picturesque backdrop of Haiti and the ship.

Back on board, there was a neverending schedule of activities, from sound baths with a Martian Circus funk band to dinners with DJs, costume parties, buck wild bingo games, a savage spelling bee, spa retreats, massages, spiritual experiences, body painting, hair braiding, arts & crafts, you name it. There was something for everyone, every moment of the day and night. With no enforced bedtime and soft-serve ice cream at your beck and call for 96 hours straight, we went through some downright inner child healing while onboard.

And maybe that’s exactly what’s so special about Groove Cruise. The unique opportunity to throw normal life overboard, go offline, and form lifelong connections through genuine playtime. With other rave cruise competitors popping up, many of us were curious what Jason had to say about the rise of similar excursions in the market. With a confident smile, the founder simply explained that others have tried in the past, and most have failed.

The difference is found in the community. The love and care that Groove Cruise employees put in day after day to bring a profound experience to attendees. And with that, the culture of Groove Cruise will continue to grow and expand and remain untouchable from the copycats of the industry. Because even after my “Virgin” sail, I left feeling homesick and desperate to return. To hug the new friends I’d made and bottle up the indescribable experience I had. Without a shadow of a doubt in my mind I am a part of the GC Fam for life, and cannot wait to be back.

And return I will, as Groove Cruise 2024 is set to be the biggest and best year to date in celebration of the festival’s 20th anniversary and 36th sailing. The event will take place on the massive Norweigan Encore from January 24-28, chartering 4500 “Captains” to a stunning private island. This ship will set a new standard for Whet Travel in its 20th year, with 40 bars and restaurants, two huge waterslides, a race car track, and even a laser tag arena. The future is oh-so bright for Groove Cruise, so I highly suggest you jump on deck as soon as possible and join the GC fam.