I had two friends go to Holy Ship! 11.0 a couple of weeks ago and asked them to write about their experiences. Alexa took me to my a couple of my first EDM raves when I was first getting into the scene and I met Ralphie through her. Keep reading to see how they took on Holy Ship! together.
What’s a Holy Ship!?
Alexa: There are two ships that happen in January, one is four days and the other is three. After surviving the three day ship, I have no idea how people do the four day, let alone people who do B2B ships. We flew out to Orlando January 9th and slept in an airbnb that did not allow us to get much sleep. Running on strictly adrenaline, we ubered to Port Canaveral in Cocoa Beach to board the ship. Boarding would not have been a problem if it weren’t for the clowns from 10.0 that decided to try to hide on the ship and stay on for 11.0.
The ship itself is huge and the rooms are super comfortable, almost too comfortable when you are trying to get up and rally each day. We set sail around 6pm on the 10th, the music started around 7pm and the party did not stop until we ported back on the 13th.
I have always wanted to go to Holy Ship! ever since I first heard my friend Chad, who has gone over six years in a row now, talk about it when explaining how he believes no other festival can compare. I was under 21 at the time so I could not even fathom ever getting to go on this cruise, but after hearing him describe the people, the scene, and how different it was from any other festival, I knew I had to go.
Ralphie: I actually just recently learned about Holy Ship! this past year! My friend Everett and I were talking about it and he convinced me to put my name in the lottery and when I won a token, I HAD to go because of how exclusive the event is.
What was your overall experience like?
Alexa: It was a dream come true. You know how almost always something goes wrong when traveling? NOTHING WENT WRONG. The whole trip was perfect. The people were amazing. Each artist played more than once and played a completely different set each time. I GOT TO HEAR SNAILS PLAY HOUSE AND I GOT TO HANG OUT WITH HIM. Just because I approached him at the bar and high-fived him with my tiny hand. Everyone just wants to party with everyone and if you are a virgin like we were, the veterans make sure to take care of you. Not to mention people spend time and money making gifts and trinkets to give out to whoever they meet (which explains my two tiny hands, koala beanie baby, and my various kandi pieces I came home with). I have a newfound love for this music scene because of Holy Ship! and I have made friends with some great people from all over the world. Possibly the best thing, is the artists on the ship can play whatever they want to play instead of what is expected from them at festivals. Also, almost every set ended up being a B2B because all the artists want to hang out with each other. It is such a cool vibe and definitely a unique experience from any other event.
Ralphie: I was not as lucky as Alexa. Getting to Orlando was a NIGHTMARE. I’m currently living in southern Oregon so I had to travel from the northwestern corner of the US to the southeastern corner. That morning I arrived at the small regional airport near me 45 minutes early, got through security in 10 minutes, and when I arrived at the gate there was no one there to help me as well as 6 other people on my flight. 20 minutes pass and an employee finally shows up and says that they already boarded the plane and that there was no way we could get on even though the plane was still at the gate. So I go back out to ticketing and see if I can change my flight and guess what? THEY ONLY HAVE FLIGHTS GOING OUT OF PORTLAND THAT DAY WHICH IS 4 HOURS AWAY. Luckily, my friend who lives in Portland was visiting for a few days and was leaving that day to go back. I make it to the Portland airport almost 2 hours early and the excitement finally starts setting in. It takes me 12 hours to get to Orlando so by the time I get to the Air BnB I’m ready to pass out. Next morning we get to the ship and the party starts!
Holy Ship! was a life-changing experience. You always have those people you meet at shows that give off an energy that compliments yours, well on Ship everyone that I met had complimentary energies and I found a few lifelong friends there. This show made me fall even more in love with the scene and its culture. Not only do you get to meet your newfound Ship Fam but you get to meet a ton of artists. I got to hang out with a few of the artists and they are honestly some of the chillest humans ever. I think the coolest thing for not only the artists but for the shippers as well is that the artist are pretty much free to play whatever they want. Going into the Jauz B2B Snails set I was expecting it to be a pretty heavy bass set and then they surprised us and played house (which is my favorite genre)! I loved Ship so much that I want to go every year until I’m able to take my entire rave family!
Favorite Sets from The Weekend?
Alexa: Rezz’s new trippy set, Jauz B2B Snails, FISHER (IS MY NEW FAVORITE PERSON), Slander, Joyryde, Dion Timmer, Valentino Khan B2B 4B B2B GTA
Ralphie: Slander, Jauz B2B Snails, AC Slater (Private Island set), What So Not (Private Island set), Dombresky, Rezz, Louis Futon, Ekali, Chris Lake B2B Chris Lorenzo, Fisher, LOUDPVCK (Hip Hop set)
Would you go again? What advice to you have for someone interested in going?
Alexa: I plan on going until I am too old to pull it off anymore. Once you get a spot, which is very difficult to get, you get invited back each year until you decide not to go, so I feel inclined to go even if it may be my one event of the year. It honestly ruined every other festival for me because really nothing can compare, but don’t let that scare you. Everyone needs to experience what I did at least once.
My first piece of advice is to SAVE UP A LOT OF CASH. Then put your name in the token raffle that happens around May/June (this is how Ralphie got a spot this year). If that doesn’t work out for you, put your name on the waitlist and join the “Holy Ship Tickets” group on Facebook. You’re bound to have some luck if you try hard enough.
Ralphie: I would 100% go again. Like Alexa mentioned, getting a spot on Ship is pretty tough, so I want to take advantage of the amazing opportunity! No other festival can compare to Holy Ship! and I’m probably going to go until I’m old and grey!
My advice to anyone wanting to go go to Holy Ship is to make sure you save a lot of money! Then make sure in the months leading up to the show, you’re taking vitamins, drinking lots of water and keeping yourself healthy (and make sure to wash your hands as much as possible on the ship) because sickness spreads quickly! My last tip is if/when you get on the ship, you have fun and get to know as many people you can!
Thank you so much for writing this piece Alexa and Ralphie! I definitely foresee Holy Ship in my future and can’t wait to join ya’ll one year.
You can find Alexa on Twitter @AlexaGlickman and Instagram @alexahelene and Ralphie on Twitter @RalphaelDupree and Instagram @ralphaeldupree.
Leave a Reply