The Blues Titan teams with Sixthman for the tenth annual cruise
Blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa and Sixthman have announced the milestone tenth voyage of their world-famous blues-rock party at sea, Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea X, sailing March 21-26, 2025 from Miami, FL to Harvest Caye, Belize and Costa Maya, Mexico aboard the opulent Norwegian Gem. To celebrate the cruise’s milestone, the voyage has been extended to include five days and five nights of the ultimate blues-rock experience with and all-star lineup, as well as an additional port excursion, making this landmark edition an even more extraordinary voyage than ever before.
Pre-sale sign-ups are available through March 10th at 11:59 pm ET with the pre-sale bookings ending on March 12th. The public on-sale begins on March 13th at 2 pm ET, exclusively at bluesaliveatsea.com. Three different payment options will be available, with automated monthly billing allowing for a deposit as low as $100 per person through July 21st, while supplies last.
Hosted and curated as always by the Blues Rock Titan himself Joe Bonamassa, Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea X will present five days and five nights of onboard performances and unforgettable collaborations by such blues and blues-rock superstars as Bonamassa (performing two unique shows), Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Larkin Poe, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Samantha Fish, Eric Gales, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Jimmy Vivino, Eddie 9V, Thunderstorm Artis, Taj Farrant, and many more to be announced. In addition, the cruise will feature an array of inimitable activities, including intimate acoustic morning sets, once-in-a-lifetime collaborations, live podcasts, autograph sessions, guest jams, guitar clinics, tastings, M&G’s and much more.
Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea X is dedicated to championing incredible, emerging live talent, a commitment reflected in this year’s lineup, where the current lineup artists collectively have received ten Grammy nominations, three of them from the 2024 award season alone. This recognition, highlighted by Sunday night’s Grammy Awards where Larkin Poe won Best Contemporary Blues Album, underscores the caliber of artists we feature. KTBA’s focus on up-and-coming talent not only enriches the onboard experience for guests to have an unmatched musical journey at sea but also aligns with its mission to support growing artists and provide them with a platform and an audience.
The Norwegian Gem will provide everything needed to make Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea X the most luxurious cruise vacation ever, with fully stocked bars at (virtually) every corner, tasty dining options, the Pool Deck (with multiple hot tubs), the Gem Club Casino, Mandara Spa, Body Waves Fitness Center, Sports Court, and much more.
For the first time in cruise history, Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea will pay visits to not one but two spectacular ports of call, allowing cruisers the chance to explore and enjoy the serene beach on the private island of Harvest Caye, Belize and the local culture and crystal blue waters in Costa Maya, Mexico. Please note: Shore excursions will not be available until four to six weeks prior to sailing. Cruisers will be able to book an excursion upon receipt of their official booking number.
The announcement of Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea X comes on the heels of the 2024 Blues Music Award nominations, where Bonamassa earned nods for both Blues Rock Artist and Blues Rock Album. These nominations cement the triumph of his latest studio album, Blues Deluxe Vol. 2, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. Recently, Bonamassa shared his journey in the documentary Guitar Man, now available for a limited time to watch on his store for free. Bonamassa continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his relentless touring and musical innovations. Fans can look forward to more electrifying performances as tickets for his 2024 tour, covering major cities in the U.S. and Europe, including a return to the iconic Royal Albert Hall, are now available.
Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea X will once again benefit the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation (KTBA), dedicated to providing students and teachers and musicians the resources and tools needed to further music education. Founded by Bonamassa in 2011, KTBA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to fuel the passion for music by funding programs and scholarships for students and teachers who possess the desire, but lack the resources or access to achieve their potential within music education. With total donations approaching $2M from fundraisers, merchandise sales, and more, KTBA has impacted the lives of over 90,000 students in all 50 states via weekly donations to music programs in schools across the US, as well as funding other merit-based scholarships and extracurricular initiatives nationwide. In 2020, KTBA took its mission a step further by forming the Fueling Musicians Program, an emergency relief plan for touring musicians affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fueling Musicians Program is now a permanent part of the organization, providing financial assistance for essential living expenses to help struggling musicians on their feet and on the road.
