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Wikipedia / Rock Boat

The Rock Boat is an annual rock music-themed music festival aboard a cruise ship. It badges itself "the world's greatest floating music festival". It takes place in different locations each cruise, with several dozen bands performing in each cruise.

History and description

The Rock Boat concept was born in 2001 with a joint venture from Gainesville, Florida alternative rock band Sister Hazel and Atlanta, Georgia travel company Sixthman in a partial charter aboard the Carnival Jubilee. Sister Hazel was joined by the band Dexter Freebish and approximately 400 of their fans. The bands performed once on the ship, which sailed from Tampa, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico.

The concept has grown to become an annual event. Destinations have included locations such as Mexico, Nassau, Bahamas, Jamaica, and Turks and Caicos. The event is always hosted by Sister Hazel and includes musicians from all over the nation. Past performers include: Tonic, Red Wanting Blue, Carbon Leaf, Gaelic Storm, Collective Soul, Cowboy Mouth, Pat McGee Band, Zac Brown Band, Michael Tolcher, Vertical Horizon, David Ryan Harris, Ingram Hill, Better Than Ezra, Marc Broussard, Wideawake, Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, NEEDTOBREATHE, Matt Nathanson, and many more. There are generally four or five performing stages constructed on the venue, and performances are scheduled from noon until 3 AM. However, many bands have been known to continue performing well beyond their scheduled set times and often collaborate on stage with other artists until dawn.

The cruise has been described by Ken Block (lead singer and guitarist for Sister Hazel) as "Spring Break for people with jobs", and with the memorable description "If you're on the outside looking in, it's hard to understand. If you're on the inside looking out, it's hard to explain."

Event details

The Rock Boat XXVI

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Jewel Sail Date: February 2, 2027 Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Key West, Florida and Cozumel, Mexico Performing Artists:

† soundcheck artist winners ‡ billed as a "Special Performance"

The Rock Boat XXV

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl Sail Date: January 29, 2026 (for 7 days) Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Sint Maarten and San Juan, Puerto Rico Performing Artists:

stowaway artists replaced Judah & the Lion † soundcheck artist winners ‡ collaboration between the Meaghan Farrell and Megan Slankard § on board with Stephen Kellogg but did one solo show

Artists who were announced but withdrew for any reason:

The Rock Boat XXIV

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Gem Sail Date: January 26, 2025 Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Harvest Caye, Belize and Roatán, Honduras Performing Artists:

stowaway artists † soundcheck artist winners

The Rock Boat XXIII

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl Sail Date: January 30, 2024 Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Key West, Florida and Costa Maya, Mexico (Original Destinations: Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas and Costa Maya, Mexico) Performing Artists:

stowaway artists † soundcheck artist winners

The Rock Boat XXII

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl Sail Date: January 23, 2023 Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and Nassau, Bahamas Performing Artists:

stowaway artists † soundcheck artist winners

The Rock Boat XXI

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Gem Sail Date: November 7, 2021 Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas and Ocho Rios, Jamaica (Original sailing was postponed due to Covid-19) (Original Sail Date: January 27, 2021) (Original Destinations: Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Georgetown, Grand Cayman) Performing Artists:

Artists who were announced but withdrew for any reason:

stowaway artists † soundcheck artist winners

The Rock Boat XX

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl Sail Date: January 24, 2020 Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Harvest Caye, Belize and Roatán, Honduras Performing Artists:

stowaway artists † The Kin departed early due to family bereavement ‡ on board with Amy Gerhartz but did one solo show $ soundcheck artist winners

The Rock Boat XIX

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl Sail Date: February 1, 2019 Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Key West and Nassau, Bahamas Performing Artists:

stowaway artists † dropped out due to illness ‡ soundcheck artist winners

The Rock Boat XVIII

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl Sail Date: January 30, 2018 Ports: Leaving from New Orleans, Louisiana to Progreso, Mexico and Cozumel, Mexico Performing Artists:

stowaway artists † soundcheck artist winners

The Rock Boat XVII

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Jade Sail Date: February 10, 2017 Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Harvest Caye, Belize and Costa Maya, Mexico Performing Artists:

married couple, dropped out due to pregnancy replaced Andy Grammer - but also dropped out due to pregnancy † on board with Amy Gerhartz but did one solo show ‡ last minute replacement for Walk off the Earth $ soundcheck artist winners

The Rock Boat XVI

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl Sail Date: January 26, 2016 Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Costa Maya, Mexico and Grand Cayman Performing Artists:

† soundcheck artist winners

The Rock Boat XV

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl Sail Date: January 24, 2015 Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico Performing Artists:

†soundcheck artist winners

The Rock Boat XIV

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl Sail Date: February 22, 2014 Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas Performing Artists:

† not officially in the lineup but did one solo show

The Rock Boat XIII

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl Sail Date: February 24, 2013 Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas Performing Artists:

The Rock Boat XII

Ship: Carnival Elation Sail Date: March 1, 2012 Ports: Leaving from New Orleans, Louisiana to Cozumel, Mexico Performing Artists:

The Rock Boat XI

Ship: Carnival Inspiration Sail Date: January 6, 2011 Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Costa Maya, Mexico (port unknown prior to sailing) Performing Artists:

The Rock Boat X

Ship: Carnival Inspiration Sail Date: January 7, 2010 Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico Performing Artists:

The Rock Boat IX

Ship: Carnival Destiny Sail Date: January 17, 2009 Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Nassau, Bahamas and Half Moon Cay Performing Artists:

The Rock Boat VIII

Ship: Carnival Imagination Sail Date: January 19, 2008 Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Georgetown, Grand Cayman Performing Artists:

Un-announced artists who played at least one show

The Rock Boat VII

Ship: Carnival Legend Sail Date: January 11, 2007 Ports: Leaving from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Performing Artists:

The Rock Boat VI

Ship: Carnival Elation Sail Date: January 14, 2006 Ports: Leaving from Galveston, Texas to Playa del Carmen and Progresso, Mexico

  • Originally scheduled to leave from the Port of New Orleans

Performing Artists:

The Rock Boat V

Canceled due to Hurricane Katrina* Ship: Carnival Sensation Scheduled Performers:

Guests and artists were invited to Atlanta during the weekend they were supposed to be on the cruise. Around 500 guests and most of the scheduled bands attended the shows, dubbed "Rock For Relief", raising $55,000 for Hurricane Katrina Relief.

The Rock Boat IV

Ship: Carnival Imagination Sail Date: October 7, 2004 Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico Performing Artists:

The Rock Boat III

Ship: Carnival Sensation Sail Date: August 28, 2003 Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico Performing Artists:

The Rock Boat II

Ship: Carnival Sensation Sail Date: August 29, 2002 Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Key West, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas Performing Artists:

The Rock Boat I (officially called Rock 'N Roll At Sea)

Ship: Carnival Jubilee Sail Date: August 30, 2001 Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Key West, Florida and Cozumel, Mexico Performing Artists:

References