Holy Ship!

Holy Ship! is an annual three-night, four-day electronic dance music festival held aboard a 4,000 capacity cruise ship, which leaves out of PortMiami in Miami, FL. 2016 will mark the event’s fifth year since its inception in 2012,^[1] as well as the second year the event debuts two sailings; the first is held in January, with the second sailing occurring in February. Well-renowned in the EDM festival circuit, Holy Ship! is one of the first EDM cruise ships to be held of its size. The event kicks off with a pre-party held in Miami the night before disembarkation, featuring top DJ acts that will sail out with the music cruise the following morning.

Itinerary

The event leaves out of PortMiami in Miami, FL and travels to the Bahamas, making a stop to a private island for an all-day beach party before arriving back to Miami. The event is put on by music production companies Cloud 9 Adventures, HARD, and The Bowery Presents. ^[2]

The private island party features a daytime dance party, with a surprise artist arriving by helicopter and a lineup of DJs performing on the island from the top of a pirate ship. Every year, the event has sold out during the pre-booking phase and guests wanting to get onboard must join a waiting list. Previous headliners for the festival cruise include Skrillex, Knife Party, A-Trak, Zedd, Flume, Boys Noize, Rusko, Steve Aoki, Fatboy Slim, and Pretty Lights. Special guest appearances include Pharrell Williams, Kaskade, Disclosure, and Tiesto ^[3].

Holy Ship! has a devoted following of fans, self-titled as “Shipfam”, who have meet ups in cities around the globe. HARD creator Gary Richards, and talent buyer for Holy Ship!, is also known musically as Destructo and has gained notoriety from his "Sunrise Sermon" sets on Holy Ship! and loyal Shipfam following ^[4]. The event draws fans from a multitude of countries, including a strong Australian following. The event incorporates artist-led activities and workshops, allowing participants to get up close and personal with their favorite DJs.

The non-profit division of Holy Ship!, Positive Legacy, holds a silent auction during the event, in which the proceeds are donated to current Positive Legacy service projects. Positive Legacy is a 501(c)(3) charity organization committed to integrating live music and service by taking actions that positively impact people and the environment in the communities they visit. In addition to the auction, Positive Legacy also offers guests the chance to offset their carbon emissions from traveling on the cruise, as well as holding a donation drive for the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel in Nassau.

References

^ "Holy Ship: Dance Music's Wild Party on the High Seas". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
^ Gentile, Jessica (1 January 2012). "Holy Ship: Inside The 3-Day Fest That Ran Aground, But Never Stopped Partying". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
^ "Skrillex, Pretty Lights and Knife Party to Headline Holy Ship! Cruises". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
^ Medved, Matt (18 February 2015). "Ship To Ship: HARD CEO Gary Richards Talks Holy Ship's Origins and Horizons". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 22 April 2015.

[1] "Holy Ship: Dance Music's Wild Party on the High Seas". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 April 2015.

[2] Gentile, Jessica (1 January 2012). "Holy Ship: Inside The 3-Day Fest That Ran Aground, But Never Stopped Partying". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 22 April 2015.

[3] "Skrillex, Pretty Lights and Knife Party to Headline Holy Ship! Cruises". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 April 2015.

[4] Medved, Matt (18 February 2015). "Ship To Ship: HARD CEO Gary Richards Talks Holy Ship's Origins and Horizons". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 22 April 2015.

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