In a few short weeks, Jam Cruise 21 will set sail from Miami on the MSC Divina, making tropical stops in Belize City, Belize and Cozumel, Mexico over the course of five days from February 14th–19th, 2025.
While the event regularly books a deep cast of notable bands to perform throughout the voyage—this year’s lineup features STS9, Snarky Puppy, Thievery Corporation, Galactic, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Lettuce, LP Giobbi, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Andy Frasco & The U.N., Tank and the Bangas, and many more—the ship itself becomes a sort of “headliner” as Jam Cruisers roam freely between no less than eight venues on board throughout each day and well into each night.
For the many patrons who fill the luxury cruise ship week after week throughout the winter season, the MSC Divina provides all the amenities and activities an “average vacationer” could want on their nautical getaway. But event producer Cloud 9 Adventures knows that Jam Cruisers are far from “average” and takes virtually nothing on the ship’s map at face value, turning every usable space and amenity into an exciting landmark on an immersive music journey.
With overlapping sets scheduled across the ships venues throughout the week, you can never catch everything (don’t worry, most bands play twice), but the joy of the Jam Cruise experience comes from darting back and forth to catch a bit of this, a bit of that, and a bit of whatever unexpected fun you might find on the way.
Before you set sail, brush up on the anatomy of the ship with this handy guide to the various venues—improvised and otherwise—set to host live performances during Jam Cruise 21. Book one of the remaining cabins on Jam Cruise 21 here.
Pool Deck
While first-timers might hear “Pool Deck” and think they’re going for a swim, Jam Cruise veterans know the Pool Deck as the event’s de facto “main stage.” During Jam Cruise, the pools on the mid-ship top deck are drained, covered, and converted into a dance floor. On one end of the deck, event organizers pop up a state-of-the-art stage with a full P.A. system and elaborate visual production to host performances by the top acts on the bill and one-of-a-kind sets like JC21’s Kanika Moore Super Jam. [Note: If you still want to get wet while you watch, you can always take a dip in one of the stage-facing hot tubs, pop inside to one of the still-active indoor pools on the deck, or wander over to the infinity pool at the Garden Pool stage (details below)].
The tiered upper decks that surround the Pool Deck act as a natural balcony for the converted open-air concert venue, giving fans plenty of different vantage points from which to take in serene sail-away shows, late-night dance parties in the middle of the Caribbean, and more. When people say, “There’s nothing quite like Jam Cruise,” we’d bet they’re thinking of a Pool Deck sunset in their mind’s eye. Plus, it’s conveniently located near on the same level as the 24-hour buffet, so you can quickly grab a bite and get back to getting down.
Pantheon Theater
Alongside the Pool Deck, the Pantheon Theater hosts performances by the biggest names on the artist lineup throughout the voyage. Unlike most of the venues on Jam Cruise, the theater was built for the purpose of mounting high-production live performances—even if most MSC cruises use it for family-friendly evening entertainment rather than headlining sets by some of the top touring acts on the live music circuit lasting past 3:00 a.m. Along with offering plenty of upside for Jam Cruisers (seats!) and housing beloved Jam Cruise traditions (don’t miss Everyone Orchestra on the journey’s final day), the Pantheon Theater’s main floor spits you out into the ship’s casino after the show. Do what you will with that information.
The Atrium
You could call the MSC Divina’s cavernous, crystal-lined Atrium “the hotel lobby” or “the shimmering soul of Jam Cruise” and you’d never be wrong. Sure, this is where you can go chat with Guest Relations or ask someone about the Wi-Fi, but it’s also where you go to catch the most moving, intimate performances the boat has to offer. Built around a grand piano and stacked several decks high with balconies overlooking it, the Atrium plays host to solo piano sets, pickin’ parties, and singer-songwriter sessions in the early evenings. If a Pool Deck or Pantheon Theater set aims to blow your mind, a performance in the Atrium aims to tug at your heartstrings. You’ll need bit of both.
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Brews at Sea Stage
Over the past few editions of Jam Cruise, the Brews at Sea Stage has become a crucial part of the event’s venue makeup. Built at the opposite end of the top deck from the main Pool Deck stage, the Brews at Sea Stage is slightly smaller than its counterpart but no less visually stunning, with lavish LED screens and lighting that cast performers and attendees alike in light and color. Thanks to the fortuitous layout of the deck’s back half, this space becomes the perfect setting for cozier late-night sets and keeps the music playing in the open air while the main Pool Deck stage changes over between headliners. Don’t miss performances by Club d’Elf, The Psycodelics, and lespecial on the Brews at Sea Stage during Jam Cruise 21.
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Black & White Lounge
The Black & White Lounge is one of the most versatile venues on Jam Cruise. By day, it serves as the home base of the on-board Masters Camp at Sea. In the evenings, it features performances by a number of exciting acts on the lineup—including The Psycodelics, Ernie Johnson From Detroit, Mildlife, BERTHA: Grateful Drag, Southern Avenue, Sneezy, Polyrhythmics, Pink Talking Fish, and Dogs In A Pile in 2025. As (most of) the rest of the music on board winds down each night, the Black & White Lounge becomes the legendary “Jam Room,” where nightly hosts lead ad-hoc collaborations with virtually every artist on the bill. Most cruises use this space as a swanky, laid-back evening lounge, but on Jam Cruise fans pack the space for some of the event’s most talked-about collaborations.
Galaxy Disco
The Galaxy Disco, the ship’s built-in nightclub, towers over the Pool Deck unattended for most of the day on Jam Cruise. Then, late at night, it springs to life as selectors like DJ Brownie (The Disco Biscuits’ Marc Brownstein) and Mark Farina take over the booth. Of particular note in 2025, on the final day of the long, strange trip, LP Giobbi will keep the party going as the ship approaches the Port of Miami with a 2:00 a.m.–5:00 a.m. set at the Galaxy Disco. When the hour gets late, there are Jam Room people and there are Disco people. Choose wisely. Or, you know, choose both. They’re not that far apart. Pro tip: take the Disco Express elevator from the Atrium for easy access.
Golden Jazz Bar
The Golden Jazz Bar is the smallest indoor venue on Jam Cruise, but don’t let that fool you—while bigger-name acts draw the majority of the audience to sets at the Pool Deck and the Pantheon Theater in the evenings, there’s often something unique, surprising, and stylistically diverse going on in the “Jazz Lounge.” Plus, the bowling alley is right next door.
Garden Pool
Picture wading in a saltwater pool with nothing but tropical sea and sky around you while you watch a member of one of your favorite bands play a solo acoustic set on an unassuming platform. That meeting of vastness, intimacy, and leisure is what you’ll find at the Garden Pool, located on the back deck of the ship. While it only hosts a handful of stripped-down sets each year—including Brock Butler (Perpetual Groove), Lebo (ALO), and Nick Cassarino (The Nth Power) in 2025—the magic of the setting often makes those performances all the more memorable.
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Basically Everywhere Else
If that didn’t sound like quite enough venues to satisfy your live music cravings, you’re in luck—on Jam Cruise, you’re liable to happen upon unofficial performances just about anywhere. Between the artists on the bill and the many talented fans who fill the boat as spectators, extracurricular live music is a time-honored ship tradition. Whether it’s at the official unofficial late-night acoustic jam outside the Black & White Lounge (affectionately called The Spot), on board the Disco Express elevator, or elsewhere, live music has a way of finding you everywhere on board Jam Cruise.
Limited cabins remain for Jam Cruise 21, sailing from the Port of Miami in Miami, FL from February 14th–19th, 2025. Don’t delay—book your cabin today.