Written by: Gabriela Lopes Beydoun

While most of us spent January in hibernation, the world’s largest floating music festival headed over to the Bahamas and set sail for 96 hours of nonstop music. Coming back for its 20th anniversary, I had the honor of attending Groove Cruise 2026, and to say it exceeded my expectations is quite frankly still an understatement.

Setting sail for four days from the port of Miami, Groove Cruise is a house- and techno-focused festival with melodic, deep, and tech-house flavors. While that is its reputation, I must say I had a taste of bass at least once a day on the boat. From Skylounge surprise sets to casino pop-ups, there is truly something happening everywhere, all the time. As someone who primarily listens to bass, I can wholeheartedly say Groove Cruise became my favorite festival and planted a seed for my house era, which has been progressively growing ever since.

I came in with a must-see artist list based on the lineup and my fellow house friends’ opinions, and between Chris Lorenzo, ToBeHonest, Joshwa, and Max Styler, and so many others,  I discovered so many new artists and sounds that a bass girly like me had never really dived into before. It was really cool to be in an environment centered around a genre I’m not usually exposed to.

With that being said, the production was absolutely phenomenal. The sound quality was loud and clear on every stage. At one point, I was literally blowing bubbles and could see them vibrate as they floated through the air. It was energetically immersive all around.

Groove Cruise is also a 21+ event, which made the experience feel more mature and responsible, if that makes sense. I’m 22, so I was probably one of the youngest people on the boat, but everyone around me had so many stories and experiences to share OR they were baby ravers my mom’s age. Either way, it was once again something I’m not used to at the other festivals I attend, and it was honestly amazing. So welcoming. So loving. The Groove Cruise family is real.

Now, the food … SO delicious. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was a very happy, well-fed girl. I prioritize eating well and eating enough, which I sometimes struggle with at camping festivals, but that definitely wasn’t an issue here. I had a New York strip almost every night, something new every day for lunch, and unlimited butter rolls for 2 a.m. sets (lol). I also really enjoyed being able to go back to my room and shower whenever I needed to, which is a luxury you don’t necessarily get at a camping fest.

As an active gym-goer, being able to wake up every morning and work out before getting ready and doing photos was a luxury in itself. To top it all off, the themes were so much fun, and everyone went all out for all four days. It felt like a giant costume party, and I personally love dressing silly at festivals because it makes everything more interactive — which is what festivals are all about. It’s the community. It’s the interactions and the people. Seeing everyone walking around the boat, eating fancy dinners in the silliest costumes and outfits, was so wholesome and enjoyable in itself.

Lastly, the water slides. I’m not joking. I spent a morning trying every water slide, the surfing simulator, I went on the zip line twice, I felt like a kid and the fact that there were no kids on the boat meant no line for any of it. I didn’t stand in a single line all weekend.

It was an experience I will truly treasure forever, and I am so grateful to have been a part of it.

If I had to choose one annual festival moving forward, Groove Cruise would be it — no questions asked. Aside from Jason’s incredible creation, coming into this experience with the Festival Babes made it even more special. We all arrived not knowing each other or what to expect, and I think I speak for all of us when I say the Groove Cruise effect is real.

See you next year? 🚢✨

Photos by: Zoey Dyment