Michael O'Connor / WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
A warm breeze blew and the sun dipped low in the sky as the ship cruised from Miami toward the warm waters of the Caribbean.
Jake Gardner sipped a beer as he stood on deck in shorts and sandals, soaking in the moment. His vacation cruise was about to turn from wonderful to awesome.
A few minutes later, his favorite band — Omaha-bred 311 — jumped on the boat's outdoor stage and began tearing through songs Gardner loves, like “Down” and “Omaha Stylee.”
“It was the greatest four days of my life,'' said Gardner, who lives in Omaha. “Being on the ocean and being able to listen to that music.”
Gardner hopped on a music cruise last March headlined by 311, a big-time band that formed in Omaha in 1990 and now tours internationally, mixing rock, reggae, hip-hop and funk.
The cruises — floating music festivals on passenger ships — are a thriving part of the cruise industry.
Fifteen to 20 years ago, music cruises tended to feature oldies acts such as Frankie Avalon. Those acts are still popular, but these days music cruises are increasingly spotlighting current artists such as 311, Kid Rock, John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band and Blake Shelton, said Dan Askin of cruisecritic.com, an online cruise resource.
You also can cruise with groups like Lynryd Skynryd and KISS — bands that have been around a few decades but still draw passionate fans ready to rock and roll all night.
Jazz, blues and other music theme cruises also are popular, said Lanie Morgenstern of Cruise Lines International Association, an industry trade group.
On rock cruises, other bands join the headliners on multiple stages throughout the boat, giving the couple thousand passengers a high-seas festival from morning until night. On a 311 cruise next month, fans also will rock to Trailer Park Ninjas and The Dirty Heads.
The rock excursions help draw younger passengers, giving the cruise industry a boost, Askin said.
“You're getting people who might not otherwise set foot on a cruise ship,” he said.
Sixthman, an Atlanta-based music cruise organizer, says the average age of its passengers is 35. That's well below the cruise industry average of 48, which has been dropping.
Gardner is 30 and took a regular cruise in 2005, but all he remembers is “cheesy music” and being surrounded by older folks and kids.
“It took 311 throwing a party to get me back on a boat,'' said Gardner, owner of The Hive Lounge, a downtown Omaha bar named after a 311 song.
The cruises attract superfans like Gardner, plus casual fans who enjoy the music but also want to soak up some Caribbean sun and just unplug.
While cruises are certainly a way for bands to earn money, musicians say the trips are a new way to plug into fans and show them some love.
“Our fans take such good care of us,'' said 311 bass player Aaron “P-Nut” Wills, who attended Omaha Bryan High School. “It's so much about the fans and giving them what they want.”
Convenience is a big part of the music cruise appeal.
Head to your local arena for a concert and you'll face some hassles: heavy traffic, long bathroom lines and driving home after a night of partying.
Step on a music cruise and your favorite bands, drinks, food and bed are all right there.
The cruises also give fans a chance to connect with musicians in a way they can't in a 15,000-seat arena, said Ben Ferguson, spokesman for Sixthman, which organizes cruises for 311, KISS and dozens of other artists from Lucinda Williams to Weezer.
Paul Sanne of Norfolk, Neb, jumped on a KISS cruise with his wife last fall and will never forget the concert on the first night. The band, including original members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, walked onto a stage in jeans, boots and no makeup. The musicians told the crowd how pumped they were to join the cruise, thanked the fans and ripped into songs like “Hard Luck Woman.”
“It was more personal,'' Sanne said. “You could tell they were having a good time.”
Another concert featured KISS in full makeup. Sanne, 45, loved that the band played not just hits, but B-side songs fans might not hear at a typical KISS concert.
Sanne sat 60 feet from the stage and remembers band members occasionally missing a chord change or forgetting a few words to a song. He liked that it was spontaneous and a little rough around the edges.
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