Insomniac has returned for a second year with the cruise version of their beloved festival, EDC—now known as EDSea. This event captures everything we cherish about the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), but instead of a multi-day land festival, it offers a four-night adventure at sea. The experience includes amazing music, incredible energy from fellow headliners, and outstanding production.
Our time on EDSea felt like one big family vacation, and we heard from many attendees that several improvements had been made since last year’s sailing. Having attended a couple of other rave cruises, we’re excited to share our experience from our first EDSea. Keep reading for all the details.
Vibes: A
From the moment we arrived at the port to check in and board, we knew we were in for a great weekend. Our fellow attendees were already dressed for the first day’s theme, Yee-DC, sporting cowboy hats and boots, and rave enthusiasts in matching cow outfits, among many other themed ensembles, all eagerly waiting to board the ship.
Once we boarded the ship, we were welcomed by beautiful performers and friendly staff who directed us to our cabins. Knowing that we would be on a cruise with so many people for the next few days made it easy to make friends. Everyone was friendly and introduced themselves right away. For instance, after we arrived at our cabin, our neighbors next door were also arriving, and we all met each other. We excitedly shared some EDM Maniac stickers and started planning to hang out later.
As we explored the ship, we recognized many aspects of the EDC culture, from the diversity of ages to the variety of music playing aboard. The PLURR (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect, and Responsibility) vibes were definitely present. Throughout the entire weekend, people were handing out trinkets and kandi, and we received so many wonderful gifts. One of our favorite experiences was discovering what people had left outside their doors for others to enjoy. Some doors had buckets of candy, flower leis, stickers, and kind messages waiting for anyone who happened to pass by.
In the crowd, everyone felt like family, even more so than at your typical festival. One interesting aspect of being on a cruise with so many artists is that you never know who you might be standing next to. Throughout the weekend, we danced alongside Sara Landry, Hamdi, KSHMR, and many others. It turns out that DJs enjoy the rave experience just as much as the rest of us and are all pretty down-to-earth. Attendees also had numerous opportunities to hang out with their favorite artists during hosted activities, such as playing Mario Kart with SLANDER or participating in Wreckno’s catwalk.
We should highlight how outstanding the workers were, including both the Sixthman and Insomniac staff. Everyone was amiable and helpful. Ground Control was also present, mingling, and ready to assist whenever needed. Our favorite team was the hand-washing staff, who sang various songs to remind everyone to wash their hands regularly.
Production: B+
Once again, Insomniac did not disappoint with the production. Even during the pre-boarding setup, there was live music and performers wandering around to greet everyone. Onboard, there were eight stages, each featuring impressive laser displays. Some of the main stages also incorporated fireworks and CO2 cannons.
As we departed from the Port of Miami, the “Kinetic Ocean” stage began to illuminate even more, and suddenly, fireworks erupted in celebration of the party officially beginning. It was magical to witness how Insomniac transformed the main stages of EDC into their cruise ship counterparts.
The “Kinetic Ocean” stage featured a full LED panel adorned with giant EDC owl guardians with tridents on either side. It wasn’t until day two that we noticed the owl’s eyes even lit up. Combined with the fireworks and lasers, it truly felt like we were home under the Electric Sky once again. The “Circuit Waves” stage, located in the theater, was the place to be for laser enthusiasts. It was a nice perk to have comfy seats to relax in while watching our favorite DJs.
Since “Cosmic Coral” was situated in the middle of the ship, it was always bustling with activity, as people often walked by on their way to other stages. We appreciated how they taped off walkways to make traffic flow easier; otherwise, people were trying to navigate through the crowd, weaving around the headbanging fans to get to the other side.
Now, let’s talk about the amazing beach day. The daytime production was stellar, with numerous characters interacting with everyone, and the activities were well-organized. There was professional sandcastle building and hula hooping happening.
Our only feedback is that there seemed to be some sound bleed between the two beach stages, and the amount of haze used at the stages was a bit excessive, making it hard to see the artists and fully enjoy the stage design. However, the lasers and fire dancers made up for it. It was surreal to watch the lasers extend all the way out into the ocean, especially since, unlike in the U.S., there aren’t many rules about where or if the lasers need to terminate at a certain point.
Music: B
The music lineup catered to various genres, ensuring something for everyone, from techno to drum & bass to house and dubstep. Being on a ship for four days allowed the artists to perform multiple sets and allowed attendees to explore different musical styles throughout their time aboard.
Artists like Subtronics, Sara Landry, Nico Moreno, Eli Brown, Mau P, Gryffin, and others delivered numerous sets at sea and on the island. Beyond the scheduled performances, there were many unexpected back-to-back (B2B) sets and incredible surprise performances. A standout moment was the all-female B2B set we stumbled upon at the “Cosmic Coral” stage, featuring talented artists such as Sara Landry, Mary Droppinz, Jenna Shaw, Coco & Breezy, VNSSA, Bailey Greenwood, and Lucille Croft.
Embarkation day was filled with fantastic performances. Levity kicked things off at “Kinetic Ocean,” followed by an impressive set from Dillon Francis, and then an electrifying performance by Subtronics. Moving over to “Neon Splash” for some techno, we were treated to incredible sets from AK SPORTS, Nico Moreno, and Eli Brown. The next day was a beach day in the Bahamas, and we had no idea it would turn into a much longer party than expected.
The beach sets featured San Pacho, Coco & Breezy, HUGEL, Mau P, Subtronics B2B LEVEL UP, Levity, and more, lasting until 3 AM. Midway through the day, an announcement was made that the beach party would be extended. This meant that all the artists scheduled initially for performances on the ship played on the island until sunrise, resulting in an epic seventeen-hour all-day and night beach party.
The following days were packed with more B2B sets, offering opportunities to catch DJs we hadn’t seen yet.
Our final day at sea was a treat for bass enthusiasts, featuring an insane three-hour B2B set by Crankdat and Sullivan King at Cosmic Coral, followed by an epic performance by SLANDER at Kinetic Ocean. To close the event, Matroda, San Pacho, and Wax Motif teamed up for a B2B set that filled the “Circuit Waves” stage, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
Overall, this year’s lineup certainly did not disappoint—especially since we love techno. However, there was also a solid representation of bass artists and other genres.
Venue: A
Raving on a cruise ship offers many perks, with our favorite being the 24/7 food options and having our bed just a few steps away. A cruise ship could be one of the best rave venues, and EDSea did an incredible job transforming the Norwegian Joy into our playground and home for the weekend.
Not only were there plenty of stages to dance and explore, but there were also complimentary restaurants, buffets, and paid steakhouses for attendees to refuel. The ship was complete with go-karts, waterslides, a pool, a casino, and other activities, making it impossible to be bored on board.
The beach club on the island was also amazing, and we were impressed by how nice it was, especially since we spent the entire day and night there. The only downside to our long stay was that food and drinks were not included in the package and came with high resort prices, which wasn’t great for our bank accounts. Fortunately, taking the tram back and forth between the beach and the ship was easy. Many attendees left in the late afternoon to grab food, change clothes, and then return for the nightly festivities.
Despite the ship’s size, the Insomniac team did an excellent job spreading activities throughout. As we walked around, we encountered artists’ live paintings, characters dancing through the crowds, and even Frick Frack Blackjack on our way to the next stage. One of our favorite hidden gems was the Rave Cave, which consistently had a great atmosphere.
Overall, we only had some minor issues during our time aboard. One was that the WiFi wasn’t always reliable, despite having paid for Starlink. Additionally, we discovered that the ice cream machines in the cafeteria weren’t available 24/7, and our cravings hit the hardest during the early morning hours when they were closed. Nevertheless, these were minor problems in an otherwise fantastic experience.
Overall: A-
Overall, the EDSea experience was exceptional. Many attendees from the first sailing in 2023 noted several improvements this year. The island day felt significantly different, and everyone seemed to enjoy the new setup, which embraced an all-day and all-night format.
The vibes were genuinely incredible. Everyone—from the crew to the Insomniac team and, most importantly, the attendees—was amiable. If you’re searching for a festival that offers a perfect balance of vacation energy and good vibes, this is one to add to your list.
This is a festival we’ll be thinking about for a long time. The people, the production, and every aspect of this event exceeded our expectations, and we look forward to reuniting with our EDSea family next year when we sail to Belize.
Featured image courtesy: Insomniac Events.
