Groove Cruise is an Electronic dance music cruise festival that sets sail from various U.S. ports, offering an experience that combines, music, dance, travel and philanthropy. It was founded in 2004 and is known for its performances by well known DJs and producers within the EDM community. It is the world's longest running dance music cruise and as of 2026, it is the world's largest music cruise based on attendance.
History Groove Cruise was founded in 2004 by Jason Beukema. The event initially started as a small gathering of 125 electronic music enthusiasts; but by 2011, the event had grown large enough to charter an entire cruise ship, making Jason the youngest person to single-handedly do so. Since then, Groove Cruise has chartered over 20 cruise ships.
Whet Travel, the parent company of Groove Cruise, has received Partner of the Year Awards from both Norwegian and Carnival Cruise Lines, been in the Inc 5000 list three times and been featured in media such as USA Today, The New York Times, Travel Channel, MTV, NBC, Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Mixmag, and Forbes. In 2026, Whet Travel remains the largest independent music cruise company.
Groove Cruise was ranked among the world's Top 100 Festivals by DJ Mag in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Over the years, Groove Cruise has hosted events out of ports in Miami, Orlando, Florida, Los Angeles, and San Diego. The destinations have included The Bahamas, Haiti, Mexico, Key West and Santa Catalina Island (California), and the cruise has featured performances by Kaskade, Tiësto, Eric Prydz, Green Velvet, Deadmau5, Oliver Heldens and John Summit.
Concept and format
Each Groove Cruise event features an extensive lineup of DJs, live performances, daily themed parties, and curated activities for attendees. The festival offers a multi-day experience aboard cruise ships, where passengers have access to events, beach parties, and private island stops.
Groove Cruise offers 24 hour music and performance programming during the duration of the entire cruise, across 10 or more stages in various locations on the ship. The event mainly features dance music, but has also included a variety of other genres such as emo music, country music, and throwback hip-hop. Pop music was introduced on the 2025 sailing in the form of a Taylor Swift tribute party.
Attendees also have the opportunity to interact with the DJs on board through artist-hosted activities. Past activities have included dinners, blackjack tournaments, scavenger hunts, pickleball, wine tasting, hot wing eating contests, jet ski tours, roller coaster rides, ziplining, and kayaking. The proceeds of paid artist activities benefit Whet Foundation, Whet Travel's 501c3 that offers programs and initiatives to children in South Florida, the Caribbean, and Mexico.
Additional cruise activities include:
Celebration of Life, a ceremony to honor loved ones who have died, in which participants have the opportunity to share their stories. Volunteer opportunities at the cruise destinations in partnership with Whet Foundation as part of the Destination Donation Initiative, such as reconstructing schools and churches, engaging in music and arts activities with local children, and delivering supplies. All festival attendees are encouraged to pack essential items to be donated to underprivileged children. Financial donations are encouraged as well. Mental health talks and workshops. Music industry panels and demo listening sessions.
Venues and locations The event typically departs from major U.S. cities like Miami, and Los Angeles and travels to destinations such as the Caribbean islands, The Bahamas, and Mexico.
List of events EventDatesCruise ShipDestinationGroove Cruise 2004November 7–14, 2004Royal Caribbean Explorer of the SeasBelize, Cozumel, Mexico and Cayman IslandsGroove Cruise 2005May 20–23, 2005Royal Caribbean Monarch of the SeasCatalina Island, California and Ensenada, MexicoGroove Cruise Armada 2006May 2006Royal Caribbean Freedom of the SeasCoco Cay and Nassau, BahamasGroove Cruise Los Angeles 2006July 21–24, 2006Royal Caribbean Monarch of the SeasEnsenada, MexicoGroove Cruise Miami 2006November 12–19, 2006Royal Caribbean Monarch of the SeasCozumel, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay, and LabadeeGroove Cruise Miami 2007May 11–14, 2007Royal Caribbean Majesty of the SeasCoco Cay and Nassau, BahamasGroove Cruise Los Angeles 2007July 20–23, 2007Royal Caribbean Monarch of the SeasEnsenada, MexicoGroove Cruise Miami 2008January 21–24, 2008Royal Caribbean Majesty of the SeasCoco Cay and Nassau, BahamasGroove Cruise Los Angeles 2008July 25–28, 2008Royal Caribbean Monarch of the SeasEnsenada, MexicoGroove Cruise Miami 2009January 23–26, 2009Royal Caribbean Majesty of the SeasNassau and Coco Cay, BahamasGroove Cruise San Diego 2009October 1–5, 2009Carnival ElationCabo San Lucas, MexicoGroove Cruise Miami 2010January 29-February 1, 2010Norwegian SkyGreat Stirrup Cay and Nassau, BahamasGroove Cruise New York City 2010August 4–9, 2010Carnival GlorySt. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorGroove Cruise Miami 2011January 21–24, 2011Norwegian SkyGreat Stirrup Cay and Nassau, BahamasGroove Cruise Miami 2012January 27–30, 2012Norwegian SkyGreat Stirrup Cay and Nassau, BahamasGroove Cruise Miami 2013January 25–28, 2013Norwegian SkyThe BahamasGroove Cruise Los Angeles 2013September 27–30, 2013Carnival InspirationMexicoGroove Cruise Miami 2014January 30-February 3, 2014Norwegian PearlCozumel, MexicoGroove Cruise Los Angeles 2014October 2–5, 2014Princess Cruises Golden PrincessCatalina Island, California and MexicoGroove Cruise Miami 2015January 28-February 1, 2015Norwegian PearlThe BahamasGroove Cruise Los Angeles 2015October 2–5, 2015Carnival InspirationCatalina Island, California and Ensenada, MexicoGroove Cruise Miami 2016January 22–26, 2016Norwegian PearlJamaicaGroove Cruise Cabo 2016October 28-November 2, 2016Norwegian SunCabo San Lucas, MexicoGroove Cruise Miami 2017January 23–27, 2017Carnival VictoryCaribbean, Grand Turk IslandGroove Cruise Los Angeles 2017October 6–9, 2017Carnival InspirationEnsenada, MexicoGroove Cruise Miami 2018January 26–29, 2018Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the SeasCoco Cay and Nassau, BahamasGroove Cruise Cabo 2018October 10–14, 2018Norwegian PearlCabo San Lucas, MexicoGroove Cruise Miami 2019January 10–14, 2019Celebrity InfinityKey West and Cozumel, MexicoGroove Island 2019September 29–30, 2019N/ACatalina Island, CaliforniaGroove Cruise Miami 2020January 9–13, 2020Celebrity InfinityCosta Maya, MexicoGroove Cruise Los Angeles 2020 (Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)October 2020Norwegian BlissMexicoGroove Cruise Miami 2021 (Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)January 7–11, 2021Celebrity InfinityCosta Maya, MexicoGroove Cruise Orlando 2022January 20–24, 2022Royal Caribbean Mariner of the SeasFree Port, The BahamasGroove Cruise Cabo 2022October 19–24, 2022Norwegian JewelCabo San Lucas, MexicoGroove Cruise Miami 2023January 19–23, 2023Celebrity SummitLabadee, HaitiGroove Cruise Miami 2024January 24–28, 2024Norwegian EncoreGreat Stirrup Cay, BahamasGroove Cruise Miami 2025January 23–27, 2025Royal Caribbean Allure Of The SeasLabadee, HaitiGroove Cruise Miami 2026January 22–26, 2026Royal Caribbean Wonder Of The SeasNassau, BahamasGroove Cruise Miami 2027January 21–25, 2027Royal Caribbean Allure of The SeasParadise Island, Bahamas
Artists and lineups Groove Cruise has hosted EDM artists such as Kaskade, Tiësto, Eric Prydz, Green Velvet, Claude Von Stroke, Markus Schulz, Seven Lions, James Hype, Deadmau5, Oliver Heldens and John Summit. The festival's lineup includes over 100 artists on each cruise and encompasses multiple sub-genres of EDM, including house music, techno, trance music, melodic dubstep and drum & bass.
Groove Cruise also provides aspiring artists the opportunity to play on board by competing in a DJ contest. Cruising For Kindness, which also includes a charity component that raised over $23,000 for the Whet Foundation Hurricane Relief Fund in 2024.
The cruise is notable for its efforts to support diverse talent representation, with over 40 female artists on the lineup for the 2026 sailing.
Reception and impact
Groove Cruise has received acclaim for its immersive music festival experience, with fans praising the atmosphere and DJ performances. According to Billboard, the event has significantly contributed to the growing popularity of EDM festivals and the crossover between music and travel.
In 2020, the Whet Foundation raised over $50,000 for the COVID-19 Relief Fund through the Groove Cruise Virtual Sail Always live streams on Twitch and Groove Cruise has raised over $104,000 for various charities and initiatives since 2020.
Groove Cruise has been sponsored by brands such as Red Bull, Bacardi, Pernod Ricard, Jameson, and Molson Coors.
Future and developments Groove Cruise Miami 2027 set sail to Nassau, Bahamas from January 21–25, 2027 aboard Royal Caribbean Allure Of The Seas.
In upcoming years, Groove Cruise plans to expand its offerings by exploring new cruise routes and incorporating more international destinations to provide a global EDM experience.
See also List of electronic music festivals Rave
References