EDSea’s third sailing featured a plethora of fantastic performances, fun activities, and a crowd filled with some of the scene’s finest ravers.
EDSea is still one of the newest experiences for dance music lovers seeking a touch of adventure and an intimate atmosphere. Insomniac, Sixthman, and Vibee brought this festival cruise to life in 2023, filling a void that was left after Holy Ship! transformed itself into an island party and then disappeared into the night. The first two sailings of EDSea saw the three brands begin to hone in on what this festival on the high seas would look like, and the third promised to continue that trend with another fun-filled week spent aboard the Norwegian Joy.
The most recent EDSea sailing saw the festival expand to a whopping five days with a new destination in its sights: Harvest Caye, Belize. After all, a full island takeover solely dedicated to the festival was a much-wanted upgrade after the first two years. Yet I also found myself stoked on the extra time spent on the boat. I felt it would give me more time between sets so they wouldn’t stack on top of each other, and also give me the chance to make more friends and take the experience in at a slower pace. This thought would prove to hold true.
Getting on board the Norwegian Joy this year wasn’t as chaotic as previous EDSea editions, but I know I speak for many others when I say how helpful it would be to have a megaphone announcing which group was currently boarding. Outside of that small hiccup, the boarding process was pretty quick, even more so for those who sprang for the priority boarding add-on.
Another minor thing that seemed to change this year was that, instead of the sweet keycard holders given to attendees in past years, they were replaced with a waterproof phone case that came off as a bit of a downgrade. Mine ended up sitting in my room the whole trip, as it was too big for just my keycard and too small to hold my phone, go figure. That said, as in previous years, other gifts arrived throughout the week. The annual water bottle with a new design has continued to be a hit, and there were keychains and tote bags, which were nice touches.
Music was the focus for many on board, and the additional day allowed for the schedule to be a bit less crammed.
The lineup for EDSea might not be as large as other festival cruises, but there was a pretty wide range of genres to explore. House, techno, progressive, dubstep, trap, and drum and bass all received representation throughout the sailing, and I’d love to see trance and hardstyle make a comeback in 2027. Due to the nature of EDSea, you had multiple chances to catch most of the artists while onboard, which helps with any conflicts and gives them space to also throw down sets out of the norm.
Standout sets for me included those from Disclosure, Jerro, OMNOM, Armand Van Helden, Noizu, it’s murph, Westend, OGUZ, Dombresky, LP Giobbi, Player Dave, Sota, and Marsh. I also thoroughly enjoyed catching Sara Landry and Dimension in the rain, because getting dry again took no time at all with my cabin close by. Deorro and BOLO also brought Latin heat to EDSea, with some of the most jampacked sets that even included a marriage proposal!
Because of the laidback nature, there was plenty of time for some special back-to-back action. Blood Oath brought Sara Landry, ALLEYCVT, Jenna Shaw, CHYL, and more to the stage for some drum and bass action. Meanwhile, OMNOM and Noizu both had friends join them on stage during their sets, adding even more house music fun into the mix.
While I’m not a headbanger, I’ve heard great things about the performances by ISOxo, Liquid Stranger, Ganja White Night, YDG, LAYZ, Chef Boyarbeatz, and other bass acts billed. Unfortunately, if you missed those artists when they performed outside, the limited space at the Cosmic Coral stage made for a bit of a nightmarish situation as the line to get in ran the length of the ship. I’m not sure how to address this going forward besides not having popular acts on smaller stages, but this was a major complaint from the bass lovers on board.
Harvest Caye was exceptionally cool, but we needed to have more time on the island.
I loved the concept of a full island takeover from Insomniac, and true to form, they really decked out the experience. The stage from last year’s adventure to Bimini returned with what seemed to be an expanded aura. There were also massive pools to swim in, which was crucial because the beach itself was closed for water activities after dark. There were plenty of bars and food options as well, so grabbing a drink or a bite to eat wasn’t an issue. I also thoroughly enjoyed dancing in the sand to sets from Disclosure, LP Giobbi, and Dombresky during the sunrise at the Sonic Paradise stage.
There were really only two glaring issues with Harvest Caye. The first was a lack of time. Prior to the EDSea, attendees were informed that we would be losing hours on the island preemptively due to environmental policies. Instead of 11am, the arrival time was shifted to 3:30pm. That, paired with a lag once docked, didn’t leave people much time to swim in the ocean or enjoy the sun. While I understand it’s because of the timing of EDSea’s departure from Miami, missing out on those hours was a downer.
The other issue wasn’t really an issue, but it felt more like an overcorrection. Past sailings saw all of the music shift to the island during time spent there, with nothing happening on the boat. This year changed that, but it left a sour taste in the mouths of bass music lovers along the way, as all of the dubstep, trap, and drum and bass acts were only on the Kinetic Ocean stage on the ship. Adding to the confusion was the fact that the Harvest Caye map included a second stage, Beach Dive Disco, which was underutilized and featured no major artists. While far too small an area for the sheer volume of bass lovers on the ship, it could’ve been worked in a bit better, especially considering that side of the island was devoid of people for most of the night.
Beyond the music, there was plenty to do throughout the sailing.
The Character Brunch, Volta Beauty Bar, morning yoga classes, kandi-making station, comedy show, rave bingo, and video game tournament all returned as activities this year. The standard offerings on Norwegian Joy, such as the spa and gym, were available for use. You could also try your luck in the casino, although I wish there were more branding on the tables and chips with the EDSea theme, as there was in previous sailings. And, of course, there was plenty of food to eat at various restaurants, and it was all pretty good with the Norwegian Joy offering a wide variety of options.
This year saw the introduction of a few experiences on EDSea that spiced up the sailing. Hibachi Anonymous brought ravers together at the Teppanyaki restaurant to mix and mingle while dining, while Rave Family Feud pitted teams against each other for a fun-filled experience. Those of us sailing on EDSea for the third time had access to the OG Party, which featured free cocktails and an exclusive set from Galantis as a thank you. I can’t wait to see what they do for OGs in 2027!
Additionally, Salvage City Supper Club, which has typically made a home at EDC Las Vegas, also found its way onto this sailing. The lunch/dinner show, dubbed The Last Saloon, was well put together, featuring exclusive performers and food options that fit the Western theme. This was enticing because you could book a time when there wasn’t much else happening on the ship, unlike EDCLV, where it cuts into your experience at the festival itself. I enjoyed checking out this show, though I felt a tad rushed as a slow eater. If it returns in 2027 and you want something off the beaten path, I’d suggest making the jump.
Where EDSea shone brightest was through its community.
As someone who attends some of the largest festivals on the planet, I yearn for intimate experiences that take me back to the days when I started raving. The lower number of attendees and the fairly high entry-level point price-wise lead to a crowd that comes off as more mature, more responsible, and, quite honestly, more PLUR.
While everyone on EDSea was certainly in party mode from the moment they hopped on board, interactions were almost always positive ones. I can’t tell you how many times compliments were given when people passed by or danced, and it was refreshing to be in such a polite crowd that seemed to be looking out for each other. The sheer volume of fun, unique trinkets was also constantly on display, whether being passed around or gifted through the doors of their cabins.
You could seemingly make friends wherever you went, not to mention running into artists constantly while they were in between sets. I loved making new friends and reconnecting with old ones, playing Blackjack at the same table as Westend and Riordan, and catching up with Chef Boyarbeatz while eating in the diner. The community vibe on EDSea might not be as strong as on other festival cruises, but in year three, it’s safe to say it’s growing into something special.
EDSea is Insomniac’s best festival experience, so don’t sleep on the 2027 sailing.
I’ve run the gamut of experiences when it comes to Insomniac, and I can safely say that EDSea is my favorite by far. The intimate vibes, the positive crowd, the curated lineup, and more all contribute to an experience that you just can’t get elsewhere from the world’s largest electronic music promoter. I loved every minute of EDSea this year, and I cannot recommend it enough for anyone who wants to check out something off the beaten path or is looking to find their spark in the scene again. See you on board in 2027 on Deck 14!
