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By Lindsay Rinehart
Aug. 18th, 2005 05:21 pm
The inaugural Groove Cruise of 2004 was waved off from Miami’s port and sailed into its first week-long Caribbean getaway.
The Royal Caribbean “Explorer of the Seas” didn’t know what was going to hit them when this group loaded up and was totally ready to rock the boat…literally. With friends and DJ’s from all across the US, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Vegas, NYC, Detroit, Atlanta and even as far as Anchorage and Sydney Australia, we all managed to come together with open arms and a very hefty open bar tab.
We couldn’t have had a better cruise ship. The “Explorer of the Seas” was introduced to the ocean in 2000 and is one of the largest cruise ships in the world. Equipped with multiple pools and hot tubs, climbing wall, ice skating rink, spa, workout facility, basketball court, inline skating, full casino, shopping promenade, and many dining halls, this boat will keep you guessing which direction you need to go for the entire trip.
Our first port we anchored at was in Belize. The majority of our group all piled into an hour long bus ride through the savannah and into the tropical side of the country. Once we hit the foothills of the mountains we were geared up (and partially sober) for extreme cave tubing. Even though Belize is in a considerably warm climate, the spring fed river wasn’t as warm as their so-called “winter air.” We all carried our inner tubes and head lamps for a 45 minute stroll through the tropical jungle where some actually sampled a Belizean treat…termites! “Belize it or not” these little critters taste somewhere in-between peppermint and carrots. Crawling pests don’t spark my appetite; however the cave tubing did put a sparkle in my eyes. Wading down the river through dark caves with bats, beautiful rock structures, and stalagmite and stalactite formations was awesome! (Note: this only took a low level of physical activity, so virtually anyone could join the group!)
Every night there was something on the agenda. One of our first dress-up bashes was a “Golf Pros and Tennis Hoes” party. We dressed like the sporting pros that we would be if drinking was an Olympic sport and embarked on a pub crawl that stopped at 6 out of the 21 bars on the ship before ending up at a private pool party on the upper deck with our very own DJ’s. (“Pack-n-Go” DJ’s….nice). Finally, good music locked in for the whole trip so we don’t get stuck with the overplayed Britney and Cher.
With good music, a plethora of fruity drinks, body shots and stocked bars on a multi-Billion dollar boat, this party never found solid ground again and remained SOS for the rest of the week.
Costa Maya was our next stop which was more for relaxing, massages on the beach, shopping for trinkets and enjoying the Mexican culture (a.k.a. a few cervezas). Our group had a nose like Toucan Sam and sniffed out the nearest pub on the port for dancing to a newest twisted rendition of a Jimmy Buffet song, “Marijuanaville.” The only sparse sun shower we had the entire trip led the way for our departure, so we all boarded and set sail into the sunset.
Time for getting crazy in beautiful Cozumel! This island off the coast of Mexico is known for its colorful water and ocean life. With a fairly chill day in Costa Maya the day before, we were revved up for a wild time. We planned a beach party at Mr. Sancho’s beach club and getting there was half the fun! At the port you can rent mopeds or dune buggies that are more economical and a hell of a lot more fun than taxis and you can tour the island on your own. With water this blue, our very own DJ’s with music that will make anyone happy and an open bar, there was no way to dodge the rambunctious behavior…we unleashed the beasts...
After the beach party, whoever was still standing (or could stand at all) dressed in their finest cut-offs or tight rolled jeans, jelly bracelets and crimped hair for an 80’s night at the club, The Chamber. These party people had attire for everything and dressed to the “T” for the decade of honor. (Note: I was one of the people who couldn’t stand after the beach party so I don’t have any recollection of the 80’s party!)
The last pit stop was Grand Cayman Island. Most of us used this stop to shop, kiss stingrays at Stingray City, or enjoy the island by pure relaxation. With a short, $4 cab ride to Seven Mile Beach, the crystal clear water was ripe for snorkeling and diving to enjoy the reefs, colorful marine life and coral. Just off the coast were sea urchins, flounder, vivid schools of fish and even 5lb. lobsters!
The entire trip never lulled in the entertainment department. Between the onboard parties, island excursions, and watching a very large portion of our group of guys show up to dinner in mullet wigs or drag gave us all some memorable laughs and some good pictures to roll home with. While some were carried off the boat waving a white flag to surrender and others strolled off excited about firm ground to stand on, the trip concluded with new friends and fresh memories. If you’re in the market for a vacation in the near future, a cruise is the way to go and the Groove Cruise is ready to set sail again in the near future.
For more information on the next Groove Cruise and pictures from 2004, please see below or e-mail Jason at travel@armadamag.com.
About the DJ’s – These bad-asses made the trip what it was…a never-ending party. Check out their websites to see if they will be in an area near you or a city you might visit, it will be worth it.
DJ Kalendr – Detroit - www.djkalendr.com
DJ {K}alendr has quite a resume. From MTV Campus Tour 2K3, spinning for after parties for Eminem, and opening for Memphis Bleek, D-12 and 2 Live Crew all at the age of 24, he’s got a lot going on. For a complete Bio check out his website.
DJ John Grammatis – Chicago - www.johngrammatis.com
John is the Sound-Bar Resident, spinning with Oakenfold and Deep Dish in Nov '04. He’s got a sweet record of hitting the tables with some big names around the world. Whether you like trance, house or hip hop, John will always please his crowd.
DJ Greg Bauer – Chicago - www.narcisse.us
Greg has been around…he’s a 12 year Chicago DJ Legend. He has spun at nearly all the major bars/clubs in Chi-Town but is currently a Narcisse and Zella Resident. Besides the Groove Cruise, Greg has spun at other special events such as the 3rd annual Summer Solstice Booze Cruise, a 500K+ crowd Pride Parade as well as the HUSTLER Music Tour.
DJ Greenup – Las Vegas - www.mgmgrand.com
You can find Greenup at the Tabu Ultra Lounge in the MGM Grand. Vegas won’t let just anyone hit the tables. Besides being extremely good looking, Greenup has it going on, for real.
Advise/Tips for Travel
• Get there one night early and participate in the launch party. You will get to meet the majority of the people that will be on the boat in your group.
• Be ready to keep the party going; like the Energizer bunny. There is so much to do on the boat and all the excursions, it can be tiring.
• Make the trip what you want. If you’re tired or in the mood to go on your own excursion on one of the islands, it’s no problem! It’s your vacation!
• Bring plenty of sun block and protection. The Caribbean sun is very powerful.
• Get some sleep so you can really take in the beauty of the islands and ports that your cruise stops.
• Indulge in all the food! Buffets, desserts, formal dining 24 hours a day.
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