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.^[1]

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.^[1] 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.^[1] 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."

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

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: ^[2]

* 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:

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Gem
Sail Date: January 26, 2025
Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Harvest Caye, Belize and Roatán, Honduras
Performing Artists: ^[2]

* stowaway artists
^† soundcheck artist winners

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: ^[2]

* stowaway artists
^† soundcheck artist winners

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: ^[2]

* stowaway artists
^† soundcheck artist winners

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: ^[2]

Artists who were announced but withdrew for any reason:

* stowaway artists
^† soundcheck artist winners

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: January 24, 2020
Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Harvest Caye, Belize and Roatán, Honduras
Performing Artists: ^[2]

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

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: February 1, 2019
Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Key West and Nassau, Bahamas
Performing Artists: ^[2]

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

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: January 30, 2018
Ports: Leaving from New Orleans, Louisiana to Progreso, Mexico and Cozumel, Mexico
Performing Artists: ^[2]

* stowaway artists
^† soundcheck artist winners

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: ^[2]

* 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

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: January 26, 2016
Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Costa Maya, Mexico and Grand Cayman
Performing Artists: ^[2]

^† soundcheck artist winners

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: January 24, 2015
Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico
Performing Artists: ^[2]

^†soundcheck artist winners

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: February 22, 2014
Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas
Performing Artists: ^[2]

^† not officially in the lineup but did one solo show

Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl
Sail Date: February 24, 2013
Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas
Performing Artists: ^[2]

Ship: Carnival Elation
Sail Date: March 1, 2012
Ports: Leaving from New Orleans, Louisiana to Cozumel, Mexico
Performing Artists: ^[2]

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

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

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

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

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

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:

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.

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

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

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

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

• Dexter Freebish
• Sister Hazel

• Official website