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.
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."
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Jewel<br /> Sail Date: February 2, 2027<br /> Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Key West, Florida and Cozumel, Mexico<br /> Announced Artists:
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl <br /> Sail Date: January 29, 2026 (for 7 days)<br /> Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Sint Maarten and San Juan, Puerto Rico<br /> Performing Artists:
<nowiki>*</nowiki> stowaway artists<br /> <nowiki>**</nowiki> replaced Judah & the Lion<br /> <sup>â </sup> soundcheck artist winners<br /> <sup>â¡</sup> collaboration between the Meaghan Farrell and Megan Slankard<br /> <sup>ç</sup> on board with Stephen Kellogg but did one solo show<br />
Artists who were announced but withdrew for any reason:
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Gem<br /> Sail Date: January 26, 2025<br /> Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Harvest Caye, Belize and Roatán, Honduras<br /> Performing Artists:
<nowiki>*</nowiki> stowaway artists<br /> <sup>â </sup> soundcheck artist winners
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl<br /> Sail Date: January 30, 2024<br /> Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Key West, Florida and Costa Maya, Mexico<br /> (Original Destinations: Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas and Costa Maya, Mexico)<br /> Performing Artists:
<nowiki>*</nowiki> stowaway artists<br /> <sup>â </sup> soundcheck artist winners
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl<br /> Sail Date: January 23, 2023<br /> Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and Nassau, Bahamas<br /> Performing Artists:
<nowiki>*</nowiki> stowaway artists<br /> <sup>â </sup> soundcheck artist winners
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Gem<br /> Sail Date: November 7, 2021<br /> Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas and Ocho Rios, Jamaica <br /> (Original sailing was postponed due to Covid-19)<br /> (Original Sail Date: January 27, 2021)<br /> (Original Destinations: Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Georgetown, Grand Cayman)<br /> Performing Artists:
Artists who were announced but withdrew for any reason:
<nowiki>*</nowiki> stowaway artists<br /> <sup>â </sup> soundcheck artist winners
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl<br /> Sail Date: January 24, 2020<br /> Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Harvest Caye, Belize and Roatán, Honduras<br /> Performing Artists:
<nowiki>*</nowiki> stowaway artists<br /> <sup>â </sup> The Kin departed early due to family bereavement<br /> <sup>â¡</sup> on board with Amy Gerhartz but did one solo show<br /> <sup>$</sup> soundcheck artist winners
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl<br /> Sail Date: February 1, 2019<br /> Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Key West and Nassau, Bahamas<br /> Performing Artists:
<nowiki>*</nowiki> stowaway artists<br /> <sup>â </sup> dropped out due to illness<br /> <sup>â¡</sup> soundcheck artist winners
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl<br /> Sail Date: January 30, 2018<br /> Ports: Leaving from New Orleans, Louisiana to Progreso, Mexico and Cozumel, Mexico<br /> Performing Artists:
<nowiki>*</nowiki> stowaway artists<br /> <sup>â </sup> soundcheck artist winners
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Jade<br /> Sail Date: February 10, 2017<br /> Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Harvest Caye, Belize and Costa Maya, Mexico<br /> Performing Artists:
<nowiki>*</nowiki> married couple, dropped out due to pregnancy<br /> <nowiki>**</nowiki> replaced Andy Grammer - but also dropped out due to pregnancy<br /> <sup>â </sup> on board with Amy Gerhartz but did one solo show<br /> <sup>â¡</sup> last minute replacement for Walk off the Earth<br /> <sup>$</sup> soundcheck artist winners
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl<br /> Sail Date: January 26, 2016<br /> Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Costa Maya, Mexico and Grand Cayman<br /> Performing Artists:
<sup>â </sup> soundcheck artist winners
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl<br /> Sail Date: January 24, 2015<br /> Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico<br /> Performing Artists:
<sup>â </sup>soundcheck artist winners
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl<br /> Sail Date: February 22, 2014<br /> Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas<br /> Performing Artists:
<sup>â </sup> not officially in the lineup but did one solo show
Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line Pearl<br /> Sail Date: February 24, 2013<br /> Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas<br /> Performing Artists:
Ship: Carnival Elation<br /> Sail Date: March 1, 2012<br /> Ports: Leaving from New Orleans, Louisiana to Cozumel, Mexico<br /> Performing Artists:
Ship: Carnival Inspiration<br /> Sail Date: January 6, 2011<br /> Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Costa Maya, Mexico (port unknown prior to sailing)<br /> Performing Artists:
Ship: Carnival Inspiration<br /> Sail Date: January 7, 2010<br /> Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico<br /> Performing Artists:
Ship: Carnival Destiny<br /> Sail Date: January 17, 2009<br /> Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Nassau, Bahamas and Half Moon Cay<br /> Performing Artists:
Ship: Carnival Imagination<br /> Sail Date: January 19, 2008<br /> Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Georgetown, Grand Cayman <br /> Performing Artists:
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Un-announced artists who played at least one show
Ship: Carnival Legend<br /> Sail Date: January 11, 2007<br /> Ports: Leaving from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos<br /> Performing Artists:
Ship: Carnival Elation<br /> Sail Date: January 14, 2006<br /> Ports: Leaving from Galveston, Texas to Playa del Carmen and Progresso, Mexico
Performing Artists:
Canceled due to Hurricane Katrina*<br /> Ship: Carnival Sensation<br /> Scheduled Performers:<br />
<nowiki>*</nowiki> 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<br /> Sail Date: October 7, 2004<br /> Ports: Leaving from Miami, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico<br /> Performing Artists:
Ship: Carnival Sensation<br /> Sail Date: August 28, 2003<br /> Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Cozumel, Mexico<br /> Performing Artists:
Ship: Carnival Sensation<br /> Sail Date: August 29, 2002<br /> Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Key West, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas<br /> Performing Artists:
Ship: Carnival Jubilee<br /> Sail Date: August 30, 2001<br /> Ports: Leaving from Tampa, Florida to Key West, Florida and Cozumel, Mexico<br /> Performing Artists: