About Me: I’m a 34 year old male who sailed solo on the Groove Cruise (GC) on Norwegian Pearl from January 22 – 26, 2016. I’m an avid cruiser and lover of House and Trance music but I do not attend the land-based festivals such as EDC, WMC/ Ultra, Electric Zoo and other EDM festivals. I, however, am not new to cruising. This Groove Cruise was my 35th cruise and my 23rd with Norwegian Cruise Line. Other cruise lines I’ve sailed with include Princess, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Carnival. As a seasoned cruiser, this review centers not only on the GC experience but also on the ship and the crew. I hope you enjoy the review as it’s presented in chronological order…

Day 1 – Maimi, FL – Embarkation Day

Last year when I first attended this festival the security was already increased two-fold from what a regular cruiser would see. This year was even more heightened with carry-on luggage screenings and pat downs when you crossed the gangway into the ship. This enhanced security plus the high winds and torrential rains caused major embarkation delays. At one point the gangway had separated from the ship to the point where embark was stopped for an hour. It never recovered. However, the ship sailed only a little late. Given what happened with the Mad Decent Boat Party on the same ship late last year, I’m not surprised by this enhanced security. It’s to make it a safer environment for all. Read more