FIRST SHIPROCKED CRUISE
The very first ShipRocked was a five day floating rock festival on the MSC Poesia that departed from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on November 15, 2009 and featured onboard performances by Queensryche, Tesla, Ratt, Skid Row, Broken Teeth, EndeverafteR, Lynam, Niki Barr Band, Stereoside and StoneRider. The original ShipRockers controlled half of the ship, with the other half manned by silver-haired retirees, making for some very interesting and confusing conversations at the buffet line! The main theater stage would alternate between hard rock concerts and traditional cruise shows. Everybody had an amazing time, and the seeds were planted for a truly unique interactive floating festival, where everybody had a backstage pass. As the ship approached port on the final dawn, almost nobody had slept. We spent the night taking elaborate group photos (selfies had not yet been invented) and exchanging contact information. We dubbed ourselves ShipRockers for life, and the rock family began.
SHIPROCKED 2018 CRUISE
As a decade passed, the ships got bigger, the ports of call changed, the family grew, and now the 9th ShipRocked cruise will be onboard the Carnival Liberty on January 21-25, 2018 from Port Canaveral, Florida to Nassau & Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. This years performers, or mission crew, are led by Stone Sour, Seether, In This Moment and Black Label Society. Each cruise has featured an impromptu all-star jam, which has now been formalized into a pre-planned band called The Stowaways. The Stowaways’ 2018 lineup features 20+ artists including Chris Adler (Lamb of God), Corey Glover (Living Colour), Lajon Witherspoon (Sevendust), Shannon Larkin (Godsmack), John Moyer (Disturbed), Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Art Of Anarchy), Morgan Rose (Sevendust), Madame Mayhem, Bruce Fitzhugh (Living Sacrifice), Leo Moracchioli (Frog Leap Studios), and many more. The otherworldly lineup for ShipRocked 2018 also includes P.O.D., Nothing More, Starset, Beartooth, Red Sun Rising, Otherwise, Shaman’s Harvest, Like A Storm, Adelitas Way, Aranda, Stereo Satellite, Badflower, DED, He Is Legend, Joyous Wolf, Palisades, The Letter Black, Doll Skin, and Kaleido, plus comedians Big Jay Oakerson, Luis J. Gomez, and Dave Smith.
Perhaps the best way to understand what ShipRocked is all about is to listen to the people who have made it what it is.
ALAN KOENIG, FOUNDER of ASK4 ENTERTAINMENT and PRODUCER of SHIPROCKED
“We are very proud that the ShipRocked experience continues to grow, and gets better and better with each sailing. This year, we’re primed and ready to take our 9th voyage to infinity and beyond, combining two of our favorite things, space and great live rock music! Blasting off from Port Canaveral with an incredible lineup, 2018’s mission will continue to push the limits and promises to be the most out of this world vacation yet, taking one small step for man, one giant leap for ShipRocker-kind!”
RALPH SUTTON, HOST
“I’ve had the privilege of hosting every ShipRocked since the first, and watched it grow from 1/2 a ship, to a full ship, to a bigger ship, to an even bigger ship, to an institution. I’ve said this before – but I truly believe it no longer even matters which bands are playing. ShipRocked is the event. Everyone going knows that even if they don’t know the bands, they know they’re in for an amazing week. ShipRockers take their music festival at sea very seriously! Amazing costumes for theme nights, pre-made party accessories, and a comradery that’s as strong as family… if not stronger. I have been having my annual discussion with my liver, preparing it for the rock n roll chaos, debauchery and love that is ShipRocked. 9 years strong! See ya on the boat!! #vacationharder.”
RICK HORTON, FOUNDER of CANCER SUCKS! ONBOARD CHARITY
“Cancer Sucks has grown tremendously because of ShipRocked. The passengers on this cruise are just as passionate about Cancer Sucks! as they are about their music and have helped us raise over $500,000 for cancer research! There is NOTHING like ShipRocked and the supporters we have gained by being part of it. I am always humbled by the cruise and so happy to be part of it every year.”
LAJON WITHERSPOON, VOCALIST – SEVENDUST, THE STOWAWAYS – WORLD RECORD HOLDER FOR MOST SHIPROCKED PERFORMANCES
“ShipRocked is an experience that everyone should have. ShipRocked is a family I love to be a part of!”
SHAUN MORGAN, VOCALS/GUITAR – SEETHER
“We’re really looking forward to being back on ShipRocked! We had a blast in 2016 and we intend to go even bigger on the next one!”
NICK REESE, VOCALIST – JOYOUS WOLF
“For a younger group like us to be getting the opportunity to play with such a great company of acts, for probably one of the best rock audiences on earth, is a complete honor. If you would have told us when we started that we’d be on the same bill as Stone Sour and Black Label Society, we wouldn’t have believed it. We can’t wait to show ShipRocked what we got!”
JENNIFER OLIVAREZ, SHIPROCKER
“When I first came aboard ShipRocked 2011, I had no idea what to expect. I thought it was just a bunch of shows on a cruise. I was sorely mistaken. It’s so much more. It’s a group of like minded individuals that share the love of music, great attitude, and have great respect for the artists and their craft. I love seeing and running into fellow ShipRockers throughout the year, but this has become a family reunion and a family in which bonds can’t be broken. I thank Alan, Al, and his crew for creating ShipRocked/Motorboat/Ship-Hop everyday. They have made some fantastic memories.”
FRANK RODRIGUEZ, SHIPROCKER
“To me, ShipRocked means that no matter where we’re from, what we believe in or what kind of battles we fight every day, there is this one, glorious and magical place where none of it matters…AT ALL. At first people come for the music, eventually they come back purely for the family. The world could learn a lot from ShipRocked.”
NICK KISHBAUGH, SHIPROCKER
“Being a ShipRocker to me, is really the comradery you feel when music bonds you together. Music means so much to so many people but the beauty of it is that songs can either be interpreted so many different ways or everyone has the exact same feelings all at once. That doesn’t happen for many things. Once you find your tribe, like what ShipRocked has done for us, you have that feeling of belonging and it’s addictive. There’s no way to truly describe it other than family and for a lot of people, it’s exactly what it’s become.”
ZANDRA and MICHEAL MOEBIUS, THE SWEDES, SHIPROCKERS
“Shiprocked changed our lives forever – friends and family all over the world. It’s more than a vacation – it’s the best cruise ever, and we have been on a lot of cruises.”
EMILIE RAE, SHIPROCKER
“ShipRocked has literally changed my life. I have friends around the world. Alan did something so cool bringing all these crazy people together. Party on, Wayne!”
TIFFANY BERNIER, SHIPROCKER
“You only get one life. ShipRocked makes sure it’s a good one. I have had more laughter, more love, and many more moments to live for, all because this one time, I got on a boat.”
BOOKING
The cruise has been selling out every year, and the best way to get your spot is to take advantage of all pre-sales and registration options available to you. For the latest information, always check the website, join the Facebook groups, and be prepared to join the family.
http://www.shiprocked.com/prices/before-you-book/
ABOUT SHIPROCKED
Produced by ASK4 Entertainment — a premier music theme cruise and destination event producer — ShipRocked is the ultimate rock music cruise vacation with unique performances and musical collaborations, providing guests with the opportunity to vacation with their favorite bands, meet new friends, and reunite with old ones year after year. The full-ship charter provides a one-of-a-kind experience for guests to have the time of their lives with thousands of like-minded friends. ShipRocked activities include photo meet and greets with band members, poolside games, artist Q&A sessions, trivia challenges, game shows, parties, contests and more. The ShipRocked Cancer Sucks! onboard charity auction has raised over $500,000 to date for innovative medical research and finding a cure for cancer.
ASK4 Entertainment: www.facebook.com/ASK4Entertainment
ShipRocked Social Media
Website: www.ShipRocked.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GetShipRocked
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ShipRocked
A full gallery of ShipRocked 2018 artist images can be found below: