Premiere electronic music cruise HOLY SHIP! has completed its 2017 tours aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Epic, presented in partnership by HARD Events, Cloud 9 Adventures and The Bowery Presents. For its sixth consecutive year and eighth and ninth editions of the cruise, as well as its first turn aboard its new home on the Epic, HOLY SHIP!'s annual two sailings went back to back--8.0 (January 6-10) with headliners DJ Snake, Tchami, Duke Dumont, A-Trak and Marshmello and 9.0 (January 10-14) with headliners Fatboy Slim, Griz, Claude VonStroke, Jauz, Maya Jane Coles and Hot Since 82.
Aboard 8.0 cruisers were treated to a day at the beach on Great Stirrup Cay with special sets from Duke Dumont and DESTRUCTO (who was joined by rap legend Too $hort) along with yoga from Gina Turner. Favorite parties of the 8.0 venture included: A-Trak x Gotta Dance Dirty "Blog Haus Revival" feat. A-Trak, Busy P, Drop The Lime (Curses), Staccato (Gina Turner b2b Louisahhh), GDD™ DJ's, and the Pardon My French Pool Deck Takeover feat. DJ Snake, Tchami, Malaa, Mercer, Shiba San, Point Point, Azaar, Busy P, Dombresky. There were also activities like karaoke with Kill The Noise and Snails and Beer Pong with Wax Motif and live sets in the ship's glamorous theater from Bob Moses, Big Gigantic and Rüfüs Du Sol.
Highlights of the 9.0 sailing included a special sax performance from GRIZ during DESTRUCTO's cherished sunrise sermon set
(listen now at https://soundcloud.com/hardfest/destructo-holy-ship-sermon-2017),
along with appearances from Doc Martin, DJ Tennis, Kaz James, Justin Martin, Gina Turner, Soul Clap, and Mija culminating with a #ShipFam wedding in front of the entire ship to end the Sermon. Favorite parties of this edition included: Maya Jane Coles & Friends feat. Maya Jane Coles, J. Phlip, Dita Von Teese, Kim Ann Foxman, Hannah Wants, and Eli & Fur, as well as Night Bass feat. AC Slater, Jack Beats, Destructo b2b Wax Motif, Redlight, Chris Lorenzo, Bot, and Stranger. The second edition of the 2017 HOLY SHIP! season also saw two special 'HOLY STRIP' shows from Dita Von Teese. The burlesque star shared on her instagram, "Thank you @destructohard for another fantastic @holyship party! When I went to my first #rave in 1990, my life was forever changed. I found a new creative community to dance with, to perform for, and I met many people that turned out to be lifelong friends.(...including party mastermind @destructohard) I have to say, being a #clubkid formed a lot of who I am today, and I wouldn't trade my nights at those dance parties for anything...Thank you to the #shipfam#stripfam for joining me to put up a #burlesque show in the beautiful #holyshiptheatre."
Dirtybird also offered on both sails a double extravaganza that featured their labels favorites: Claude VonStroke, Justin Martin, Green Velvet, J Phlip, Will Clarke, Christian Martin, Worthy, Ardalan, and Dateless.
However, the true stars of HOLY SHIP! were the 8,000 #SHIPFAM that came aboard over the two sailings. The tight-knit community came together to partake in good times, including theme nights (Emoji Night, Game Night :: Studio 54, Friday The 13th), the incredible line-up curated by HARD's Gary Richards and and a totally immersive onboard experience cultivated by concert vacation pros Cloud 9 Adventures. HOLY SHIP!'s 8.0 Snapchat Live Story garnered over 146 million views with the #SHIPFAM sharing their adventures and epic hangs with their favorite artists and friends to the world.
Look for HOLY SHIP! to return in 2018.
