Soulmates to Sailmates
Have you ever felt as though the universe put you in the right place at the right time? That’s exactly how I felt when I met my soulmate and went on the first ever EDSEA cruise ship.
It was a chilly night in November, and I had gone out with some friends to our small town bar to listen to a dj set. We arrived, grabbed a few drinks, and sat down where we saw some friends to catch up with them. As we talked at our table, a guy slid into the booth across from me and introduced himself as a friend of a friend. His intentions were clear, he kept the conversation and his eyes on me. Back then, I wasn’t looking for a relationship, but he was attractive and attentive, so I went with it and we ended up talking until we got up to see the dj.
From that night on, we were basically inseparable. The more we hung out, the more we realized how many commonalities we had, one of them being EDM music. Just a few weeks later, he asked me to join him and book a room together on the first ever EDSEA festival cruise. It was a big gamble, since we had only known each other for a short time and weren’t even dating, but we couldn’t resist the one of a kind opportunity. What’s even weirder, is we didn’t know the two others that would be living in our room with us. My boyfriend had met this guy online who had two spots open in his balcony room. So the odds were completely stacked against, with disaster waiting to happen. Instead, we fell in love, made a groupchat with the strangers we were rooming with, and made it through a whole 8 months before we all got together and went on the cruise.
A Festival on a Cruise
Our trip started with us boarding the ship in Miami. We set sail with happy and excited hearts, eager for what was in store for us. It was amazing how music connected us in ways we never thought possible. We all shared our love for music and our excitement for the festival ahead.
The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the music festival on the ship. The festival featured heavy bass artists such as BTSM and Ray Volpe, but also many house artists like Galantis, Drum and Bass like Dimension, and my personal favorite artists, Zeds Dead and Wooli. Watching them perform live on a boat in the middle of the ocean was surreal– the energy, the music, the sunsets,the vibes were just immacculate! Being a festival lover, it was so unique how the sets were more intimate, with 100-200 people dancing. This compared to a massive crowd of 1000 people on a farm was rare to me. Everyone had space to dance, and we danced to our heart’s content all night long.
Being that everyone is literally stuck on a big boat together where no one can escape, we got to actually meet and talk to many of the performing DJs on this trip. The DJs themselves were also there to relax and have a good time, so the environment was perfect for them to let loose and connect with their fans. If you don’t believe me, I’ll add in a picture of my boyfriend and I getting a workout in and snapping a picture with one of his favorite artists, Kai Wachi.
The Dirty Deets
Our itinerary included visits to Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, where we enjoyed the local cuisine and calm beaches. But don’t think for one second that the party ever stopped, because they would set up a huge stage for daytime artists to perform on up until it was time to set sail again. You could also choose excursions like visiting the city of Atlantis, or renting some jet skis and shredding some waves. All of this and the beautiful weather made EDSEA stand out from anything else I had experienced prior.
The food options on the cruise were beyond diverse, with an array of choices from Indian to Italian cuisine. We never went hungry, and the wait staff was always courteous and helpful with our dietary requirements. For example, because of my boyfriend’s dietary restrictions, one of the restaurants on board would prepare him with 6 boiled eggs and 4 pieces of white toast every single morning. (I know, it sounds crazy because it is). Needless to say, we enjoyed every meal that was offered to us as part of the all inclusive package. If you also wanted the fine dining experience, you could reserve a table at a selection of places for an additional fee. Everything was taken care of for us from room service to medical assistance, so we had nothing to stress about during our stay. The whole experience was perfect.
EDSEA is a must-see
There were simply too many activities to get through them all, but we made sure to try our hand at as many as we could. From playing at the casino, or riding go-karts, or just chilling in a jacuzzi, there was something for everyone on board. One of my favorite little activities on board was a kandi making station where you could make a bracelet for free and talk to other sailors. The cruise allowed us to create new memories with like-minded individuals, all while enjoying the fantastic music festival experience.
In conclusion, my experience on the first ever EDSEA festival cruise was unforgettable. I met amazing people, saw my favorite artists perform live, and enjoyed great food and service throughout the trip. It was an unreal experience that brought me closer to my soulmate and led to good friendships. We already made plans to attend the 2024 EDSEA cruise, and we can’t wait for what they plan for next year. EDSEA is truly a unique festival experience, and I would highly recommend it to any edm music lover out there. It’s an experience worth trying out at least once in your lifetime.
– Sarah Cooper; IG: @sarah.cooper