Rock Cruises: 8 amazing festivals on the high seas

Rock and heavy metal are musical genres that unite people from all over the world. For fans, one way to make this gathering even more immersive is to take a cruise with performances from various bands, essentially transforming it into a floating rock festival.

Themed rock cruises offer the unique opportunity to see legendary bands in exotic locales, while also enjoying other activities and classic attractions typical of this kind of voyage.

If you’re considering a rock cruise, here are our recommendations with important information and tips to inspire your choice.

Get ready for an unforgettable experience that combines your passion for rock with the fun of being on a cruise for a few days.

70000 Tons of Metal

Itinerary: United States – Caribbean (round trip)
Time of Year: January/February
Previous Acts: Kreator, Nightwish, Exodus, Epica, Grave Digger, Accept, Kamelot, Krisiun, Napalm Death, Paradise Lost, Soulfly, Cannibal Corpse, Primal Fear, Sepultura, Samael, among others.
Average Cost: $1,200 to $6,000

The 70000 Tons of Metal is considered the largest metal cruise in the world. It spans 5 days (4 nights), with 60 bands and 120 live shows from various metal subgenres across 4 stages, attracting an audience of 3,000 fans.

In addition to performances, there are activities such as clinics and workshops, contests, and excursions involving musicians. The bars are open around the clock, creating a relaxed environment for fans. There are no exclusive VIP areas at the shows, giving all fans equal access to the performances.

Monsters of Rock Cruise

Itinerary: United States – Caribbean (round trip)
Time of Year: March
Previous Acts: Extreme, Doro, Queensrÿche, H.E.A.T, Gotthard, Helloween, Slaughter, Saxon, Skid Row, U.D.O., L.A. Guns, Quiet Riot, Mr. Big, Warrant, among others.
Average Cost: $2,200 to $8,700

The Monsters of Rock Cruise lasts 5 days and offers nonstop activities, entertainment, and fun, combining music with a luxury cruise.

The package includes meals and most experiences, although some additional events, as well as alcoholic beverages, other restaurants, and VIP tickets, may incur extra costs. Some bands also take photos with fans during the trip, captured by the ship’s professional photographers and made available for free download.

The Rock Boat

Itinerary: United States – Caribbean (round trip)
Time of Year: January/February
Previous Acts: Sister Hazel, Collective Soul, Ed Kowalczyk, Better Than Ezra, Tonic, Bowling for Soup, LIT, American Authors, among others.
Average Cost: $760 to $9,700

The Rock Boat has held over 20 editions and is organized by the American band Sister Hazel. Each year, they invite a variety of artists to join the journey with fans. It’s described as a true Rock Camp, with 5 days of live music, collaborations between musicians, stops at paradisiacal beaches, and the chance to chat with some of the participating bands.

In addition to the shows, there are various activities to foster interaction among participants, aiming to form new friendships and groups that can return in subsequent years.

All shows, meals, and basic beverages (water, juices, teas, and coffee) are included in the basic package.

Rock Legends Cruise

Itinerary: United States – Caribbean (round trip)
Time of Year: February
Previous Acts: Sammy Hagar, Deep Purple, ZZ Top, Alice Cooper, Peter Frampton, Sebastian Bach, Ace Frehley, America, Uriah Heep, among others.
Average Cost: $770 to $8,500

The Rock Legends Cruise has been conceived in 2010 by a nonprofit organization, the Native American Heritage Association (NAHA), which supports Native American families in need, particularly those facing hunger and basic necessities.

The cruise aims to raise awareness for their cause through rock music with the support of major musicians and their fans.

Full Metal Cruise

Itinerary: Germany – Norway (round trip)
Time of Year: September
Previous Acts: Amorphis, Freedom Call, Sonata Arctica, HammerFall, U.D.O., Apocalyptica, Steel Panther, Destruction, Grave Digger, Rage, among others.
Average Cost: Starting from €1,400 per person

Europe also has interesting options for rock and heavy metal cruises. The Full Metal Cruise, for example, sails between Germany and Norway for 5 days.

The aim is to celebrate metal, with shows and a variety of activities to promote fan interaction, such as comedy performances, metal karaoke, meet-and-greets with musicians, readings, cinema, tattoo sessions, and various workshops.

The package includes a range of beverages, such as beer, soda, coffee, tea, cocktails, and wines.

ShipRocked

Itinerary: United States – Caribbean (round trip)
Time of Year: February
Previous Acts: Suicidal Tendencies, Lamb of God, Stone Sour, Steel Panther, Seether, Five Finger Death Punch, Halestorm, Helmet, Alter Bridge, Papa Roach, Korn, among others.
Average Cost: $1,100 to $9,600

The ShipRocked is a thematic cruise that creates an environment inspired by literary and cinematic horror within a luxury cruise.

The 7-day (6-night) trip combines live shows, visits to paradisiacal beaches, diving activities, meet-and-greets with musicians, karaoke nights, charity auctions with items from major bands, contests, and themed parties.

Most artists perform several times throughout the trip. There are special events to meet and take photos with the bands.

Nordic Metal Cruise

Itinerary: Finland – Sweden (round trip)
Time of Year: February
Previous Acts: Ensiferum, Ihsahn, Moonsorrow, Dark Funeral, Ember Falls, Leprous, Abbath, Dark Tranquillity, among others.
Average Cost: Available upon request

For those seeking a more underground experience, the Nordic Metal Cruise is an excellent choice.

This cruise, unlike the others, departs from Finland and features 4 bands, offering a more intimate setting for the shows.

Cruise to the Edge

Itinerary: United States – Caribbean (round trip)
Time of Year: March (but has also been held in May)
Previous Acts: Marillion, Yes, Focus, Kansas, Mike Portnoy, among others.
Average Cost: $970 to $6,600

The Cruise to the Edge is a rock cruise primarily dedicated to progressive rock. Each year, they organize activities and shows aimed at building a loyal community, offering returning travelers priority for the following year’s purchase.

The 5-night trip includes many live performances open to all passengers. However, there are VIP packages with priorities for taking photos with the bands, reserved seats at shows, and other perks.

Tips for Planning Your First Rock Cruise

• Reservations for cruises are made well in advance, sometimes up to a year before. Therefore, remember that you need to have not only the days of the cruise free in your schedule but also a few days before and after for traveling to and from the port.

• Cruise prices vary greatly depending on the length of the trip, the type of ship, and the cabin chosen. Most basic packages include meals, use of attractions, and access to shows. However, some may have extra packages for alcoholic beverages and VIP experiences. Review these details carefully before making your choice.

• As with festivals around the world, remember that there may be some unexpected issues with your favorite artist. So, choose your rock cruise based on the overall experience and not just for a single show to align expectations.

• On the day of embarkation, arrive with plenty of time to spare. Lines can be long, especially for larger cruises.

• Bring comfortable clothes. On a ship, there are many activities to do, and you will spend a lot of time standing, at shows, walking, and talking with people.  Check if the cruise you chose will have themed parties to prepare costumes – if you want to participate.

A rock cruise is a unique experience. Enjoy the music, make new friends, and create memories that will last a lifetime!