Groove Cruise teams up with DJ Lovers Club for Undiscovered DJ Contest
Groove Cruise, Whet Travel’s flagship event and the world’s largest floating music festival, is teaming up with leading dance music media, experiences and community brand, DJ Lovers Club, for the annual undiscovered DJ contest.
For over two decades, Groove Cruise has been a launchpad for unforgettable performances at sea, and now the iconic festival is inviting undiscovered talent to seize the opportunity of a lifetime: a chance to perform on Groove Cruise Miami 2027, sailing January 21-25 2027.
The first round of the contest sees entrants submitting a 30-minute DJ mix by November 8 which the Groove Cruise and DJ Lovers Club team will review. Round two takes the voting public for approved entries, where free votes and donation-generated votes (the paid votes will support Whet Foundation's Destination Initiative, benefiting Ranfurly Homes for Children and the Boys & Girls Club of The Bahamas) will be combined to determine the round 1 standings. The voting in this portion determines the Top 20 only. For round three, Groove Cruise/Whet Travel and DJ Lovers Club will review the Top 20 based on technical DJ ability, track selection and programming, creativity and originality, flow and energy, overall fit with Groove Cruise programming, professional readiness and artist potential, and then for the final round, the top 10 finalists will be evaluated by a panel of Groove Cruise artists where one winner will be crowned.
Details and specifications include that fans can vote free once per day for each DJ during round two. Paid votes will support Whet Foundation’s Destination Donation initiative benefiting Ranfurly Homes for Children and the Boys & Girls Club of The Bahamas. Every 1 donated through Tiltify counts as two additional votes for the selected DJ. (unlimited). Free and paid votes only determine the Top 20. Vote totals do not carry into the later judging rounds.
The grand prize package includes a DJ set on Groove Cruise Miami 2027, a complimentary stateroom for two (excluding taxes and fees), up to 600 in travel reimbursement, Groove Cruise merchandise, DJ Lovers Club merchandise, a DJLC feature and promotion, 1 of 1 Custom Pro Series Earplugs, and more. Prizes are valued at over 5,000.
Jason Beukema,Owner & Chief Excitement Officer of Groove Cruise and Whet Travel, adds; “There are talented DJs in this community who just need someone to give them a shot. I want our Captains helping us discover someone they believe in, then giving that artist the opportunity to share their music with the GCFAM along with supporting Ranfurly Homes for Children and the Boys & Girls Club of The Bahamas through Whet Foundation. And I’d love this campaign to create a positive ripple beyond whoever wins. That’s the Groove Effect”
All entrants must submit a 30-minute DJ mix by November 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The winner is scheduled to be announced on November 17, 2026 during State of the Ocean. Full contest details and entry information can be found here.
With Groove Cruise and DJ Lovers Club joining forces, this contest offers more than just a performance slot - it’s a chance for an artist to launch their career on one of the most celebrated stages in dance music culture. The sea is calling, and for one talented DJ/producer, the journey toward discovery is about to set sail.
ABOUT GROOVE CRUISE
Over the course of two decades, Groove Cruise has evolved from a sailing of 125 friends into one of the most loyal and emotionally connected communities in live music. Now entering its 39th voyage, Groove Cruise is less a traditional event and more a recurring transformational journey at sea. A floating cultural ecosystem where strangers quickly become family, artists step off the stage to connect with fans, and sunrise sets turn into conversations, breakthroughs, and memories that stay with Captains long after they return home.
For 2027, Groove Cruise will stage the first ever private takeover of Royal Caribbean’s brand new Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. This dynamic beachfront destination features the Floating Flamingo, the world’s largest swim-up bar, along with multiple pools, private beachfront zones, local island flavors, and curated spaces for both celebration and reset. Reserved exclusively for the #GCFAM, the takeover marks the next evolution of a movement that has transformed nearly 100,000 lives at sea.
The 2027 lineup brings together artists from across house, techno, trance, melodic, bass, drum n bass and beyond. Headliners include techno kingpin and Drumcode founder Adam Beyer, Groove Cruise fan favorite BUNT., beloved fun starter Disco Lines, hard-groove house and techno force KETTAMA, and techno trailblazer Eli Brown. They are joined by a wide-reaching cast that includes Andrew Bayer, CID, DJ Susan, Ely Oaks, Mitis, Sam Feldt, Tom Higgenson of Plain White T’s, Travis Clark of We The Kings, Trivecta, and many more.
What sets Groove Cruise apart is not just who is on the lineup, but how the experience is built around connection. Across four days and nights, over 6,500 Captains will navigate through 13 stages, over 100 artist-hosted fan experiences, 8 immersive theme parties, wellness programming, surprise moments, and environments intentionally designed to break down barriers and build community. It is one of the rare music experiences where the line between artist and audience softens, where strangers quickly become family, sunrise sets turn into deep conversations, and longtime attendees return to reunite with their GCFAM they only see at sea.
ABOUT WHET TRAVEL
For the past 20 years, Whet Travel has curated and produced more half-and full-ship music cruises than any other independent company. Partnering with some of the cruise industry’s most recognized and trusted brands, the revolutionary company has executed more than 60 wildly successful events, including Groove Cruise, Motorboat, Zen Cruise, Salsa Cruise, and Groove Island, among others. Innovators since their launch in 2004, Whet Travel was named Inc. Magazine’s No. 4 fastest-growing travel company in the country, has won the prestigious “Charter Partner of the Year” award from Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Lines, and has been featured in USA Today, Billboard, Forbes, and more.
ABOUT WHET FOUNDATION
The Whet Foundation is a Florida-based 501 (c) (3) organization that offers grassroots disaster relief for those experiencing hardships, mental health programming year-round, onboard ocean clean-ups, and conservation efforts in partnership with 4Ocean. It has built homes for single mothers in Mexico and the Bahamas. The foundation creates impactful experiences for underprivileged children in South Florida, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Through the Community Captains and Destination Donation programs, Whet Foundation strives to help those less fortunate in a meaningful and engaging manner while positively impacting an entire generation. The foundation gives back to local communities by supplying clothing, food, school supplies, donations, beach and community cleanups, painting and art programs, providing facility repairs, and assisting with home and school structural improvement costs.
ABOUT DJ LOVERS CLUB
DJ Lovers Club (DJLC) is a dance music media, experiences and community brand connecting fans with the artists, music and moments shaping the culture through interviews, original storytelling, festival coverage and curated live events.
