Groove Cruise Celebrates 20 Years of Domination as the World’s Best Floating Festival

February 5, 2024

Groove Cruise achieves Major Milestone: 20 years of sailing, leagues above the rest.

Consistency and attention to detail are the words that initially come to mind when discussing Groove Cruise 2024. This long-standing floating music festival has endured the test of time – promising 96 hours of straight musical madness for a jaw-dropping two decades. Many have tried to emulate the experience that founder Jason Beukema has so expertly crafted, and though bold, the effort is ultimately fruitless. For what sets Groove Cruise apart is the community. The impalpable feeling you get when you first board the ship along with 5,000 of your closest “Groove Cruise Fam,” a unified heartbeat that began in 2004 and with each year grows in size. The little nuances and inside jokes that exist only within the festival are remiss in the “normal world,” but the moment you step on the deck you find yourself a part of the humor. And with each coming year, the team behind Groove Cruise finds complacency to be a nonoption. Instead, bigger and better are the resounding themes – and boy was 2024 the perfect example.

The 20th anniversary brought about the biggest ship the festival has seen to date. The colossal Norwegian Encore left Miami on Thursday, January 5th en route to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas with 5,000 eager attendees. When Groove Cruise says 96 straight hours of music, they aren’t joking. From the moment you arrive at the port to the moment you step back on Miami soil, the tunes are bumping. With over 100 artists and performers, excursions, activities, themed parties, workshops, games, and other entertainment, there is no rest to be had while onboard. *Insert the classic GC Fam phrase, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” As founder Jason likes to remind his guests – lovingly referred to as “Captains” – it’s “impossible” to do it all while onboard. And this is precisely what keeps the family returning year after year – the pursuit of partaking in the events that you missed the sailing prior. It’s an addicting loop and impossible to break out of, simply because there is always more to do. And because Groove Cruise is one of the best experiences you will encounter in this lifetime.

And on the note of Jason, you rarely find an event founder who is so involved with his attendees. This man makes it his purpose to have a personal connection with his Captains, so much so that he has reached celeb status on board – even more than the top-tier artists he books. The Groove Cruise fam dearly loves Jason and his righthand man John Anthony (Skeeter) Porrata. This year the festival launched “Skeeter’s Juice”, an IPA on tap throughout the boat that sold out over 12 kegs within one day. Walking around the boat with either Jason or Skeeter is the equivalent of accompanying a star on the red carpet. Everyone wants a photo and a hug from the dynamic duo that keeps the ship afloat. As if planning this lattice grid of an event wasn’t enough – the Groove Cruise team also operates the non-profit organization, Whet Foundation, to give back to the islands they visit. In 2024, the organization donated to the local Bahamian community, providing them with essentials such as clothing, food, school supplies, and more. Whet Travel also raised $20k for a single mother on the island of Great Harbour who lost her home in a fire back in April.

Highlights of the 2024 sailing included an appearance from the Godfather of EDM, Tiësto, making his Groove Cruise 2024 debut on the island port day in Great Stirrup Cay. Diplo hosted his first Higher Ground stage takeover at sea, with appearances from Gene Farris, Biscits, and more. John Summit closed the pool deck on Sunday with a late-night party and continued into the early hours of the morning for an impromptu b2b2b2b with Max Styler, Kyle Walker, and Ranger Trucco in the ship’s theatre. LP Giobbi brought the most ethereal vibes of the weekend, hosting an all-female lineup for a Femme House stage takeover on the mainstage pool deck with Casmalia, VNSSA, Max Low, and Mija. The casino was also the hotspot all weekend, hosting some incredible female talent including Las Vegas’ based bass-house star Collelo and London-located tech house hottie Kyliente (shameless self promo.) Affectionately called the “Love Boat” by long-time attendees, Groove Cruise also played host to six weddings, three proposals, a vow renewal, and several babymoons for lovers at sea.

Arguably the best part about this floating festival is the dedication to costumes. Here at Exron Music, we’ve collectively attended thousands of events worldwide, but never have we experienced such dedication to the costume. This year, the Captains went all out, showing off their expertly crafted looks for day/night themes including U Are The Universe, Dancing Through The Decades, 50 Shades of Nintendo, Naughty Nautical, and more. The creativity that Groove Cruisers possess is truly unmatched, and it is clear that months of work and preparation go into their garb.

Musical talent aside, the festival programming is over the top and created with the Captains in mind. Activities such as Frick Frack Blackjack, The Great Bingo Revival, Drag Brunch, body painting, arts and crafts to create your very own Captain’s hat, and a plethora of games is enough to keep you occupied for hours on end. But when it’s time for some relaxation, the Whet Oasis is the perfect spot to unwind. Here we took part in yoga, moon meditations, car buffer massages, and simply rested to the sounds of tranquil tunes.

As Groove Cruise 2024 wrapped, it was difficult to return to reality. The unadulterated bliss felt while exploring the boat, meeting friends, listening to amazing music, and soaking in the sun amid the long winter feels like an idyllic dream. It’s this feeling that keeps fans coming back for not one, but two decades. Groove Cruise is a bewitching experience – a ship that becomes your home within four days and a community that becomes your family for life.

With the 20th anniversary done and dusted, Captain preparation for the 2025 sailing from Miami, Florida to Labadee, Haiti is fully underway. Boarding Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas will mean the largest and most innovative Groove Cruise ship to date. This monster ship boasts a nearly 7,000-person capacity, 18 total decks, and 7 full neighborhoods with 40 bars and restaurants. Next year will undoubtedly mark a new chapter for Groove Cruise, as the family expands to welcome 2,000 more attendees. Few cabins remain, so book now and join the Groove Cruise family for the biggest reunion yet.