If you’ve been daydreaming about calmer waters, brighter days and beachy raves - you’re in for a treat with FriendSHIP this year. Setting sail from the gorgeous ports in Miami, this 5 day cruise will take place from January 6th to the 11th aboard the Norwegian Joy (the largest ship to date) heading towards Harvest Caye, Belize: a brand new destination for this epic rave cruise.
The Cruise
Cruise the caribbean alongside some of your best mates and favorite DJ’s while enjoying a slew of seaside activities like Dita Von Teese’s Shiptease, and Live Comedy with Nick Thune & Martin Urbano. You can also hang with the official Friendship Pro Skate team (yes there’s a half-pipe on board!), go down the double loop waterslide that hangs off the side of ship.
Make sure to fill up at one of the 20 restaurants on board – from cafes to cocktails to complimentary cuisine as well as a la carte options and a couple of special spots that you do have to pay a cover charge for, like Japanese restaurant Tappanyaki.
FriendSHIP has certainly come a long way since the festivals maiden voyage in 2018, but for festival founder Destructo—aka Gary Richards, who launched the original Holy Ship circa 2012, the festival represents a community that values diversity and acceptance. Take Dial-A-DJ for example: you can quite literally call a DJ to come play in your room. It’s exactly as amazing as it sounds, and it’s just another way to get a more intimate and personalized experience with artists that you love and look forward to seeing!
You can book your trip on the FriendSHIP website here. The 2024 cruise sets sail from Miami on January 6-11, 2024.
The Lineup
Speaking of artists, this year boasts one of the best lineups the festival has ever seen, and it’s not just because Skrillex awaits at Harvest Caye. But it is because of the thought that Destructo put into curating the lineup. The lineup is full of heavy hitters like the effervescent Patrick Mason, Chris Lorenzo, Chris Lake, Rusko, Boys Noize, Bob Moses and Justin Martin.
The team also made sure to diversify the lineup with some delectable Drum and Bass sounds from artists like Nitepunk, soulful Afro-House and Afrobeats from artists like Vigro Deep, Enoo Napa, and Sun-El Musician, Dembow, and Latin beats from artists like Venezuelan born Safety Trance – the list goes on.
As a DJ/producer himself responsible for the creation of HARD events in 2007, Destructo knows EXACTLY what he’s doing. It's clear to see he is striving to ensure the festival is not only relevant but also introduces people to a variety of sounds they might not get elsewhere.
The Venues
Although the venues/official stages haven’t been revealed yet, we do know a few things: the main pool will definitely have its own stage so you can lounge while you listen – which is ALWAYS a vibe. Once you get to Harvest Caye, there will only be one main stage while the boat remains docked – there will be no music on the ship while on the private island, but ShipFam is more than welcome to walk to and from the ship at any time, though there is a bit of walking required. The mainstage backdrop will be a very hard-to-miss lighthouse, which they plan to project some eye-catching visuals on as it is all white.
Not sure what to pack? Make sure to check out our What To Wear To FriendSHIP blog for some outfit inspo and don’t forget about FriendSHIP’s theme nights that Destructo even created Pinterest mood boards for in case you need a little extra inspiration! This year, it’s Pretty In Pink, Slumber Party, and Destructo Had a Farm – a super fun way to connect to your creativity and fellow ravers! Also, make sure to plan for the Official Pre-Party at Oasis Wynwood on Friday, January 5th to catch an exclusive Destructo B2B Boyz Noize set, Flava D B2B Mary Droppinz and more!
What sets/activities are you most excited for? Make sure to follow @iheartraves for more outfit inspo and don’t forget to tag us in your stories and pics!
