An impressive roster of acts is booked for the 2018 voyage of the Welcome to Jamrock Cruise set to take to the seas from December 1 to 6.

The cruise, which is organised by Damian “Junior Gong” Marley, will take passengers from Fort Lauderdale in Florida, spend the second day at sea, arriving at its first port of call Ocho Rios, Jamaica, on December 3. On December 4 the cruise stops at its second port, Falmouth, Jamaica, and the following day will be spent at sea. The trip will culminate in Fort Lauderdale on December 6.

In addition to the other on-board activities, a string of concerts and performances are in store for passengers aboard Royal Caribbean Cruiseline’s vessel Independence of the Seas. This is the fifth staging of the cruise and the acts booked cover some of the top artistes in their respective genres, from roots reggae and dancehall to the leading sound systems and selectors.

Heading the list of acts are the Marley brothers — Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian. They will be joined by other reggae acts such as Mykal Rose with Sly & Robbie, Third World, Queen Ifrica, Jah Cure, and Tarrus Riley. Vintage acts have also been included on the line-up and passenger will experiences the likes of The Skatalites, Ken Boothe, Leroy Sibbles, and Horace Andy. The Welcome to Jamrock cruise will also tap into lovers of the neo reggae movement, as acts such as Chronixx, Kabaka Pyramid, Jesse Royal, and Jah 9 have been booked.

The dancehall fraternity has not been left out. Bounty Killer, Agent Sasco, Konshens, Elephant Man, Aidonia, Shenseea, and Dexta Daps will take to the stage. Lovers of dancehall music from the 1980s and 90s will also be satisfied as Spragga Benz, General Degree, Red Rat, Buccaneer, Johnny Osbourne, Admiral Bailey, and Pinchers will take to the stage

Sound systems are also part of the entertainment package. Stone Love, Renaissance, Mighty Crown, Tony Matterhorn, Kingston 12 Hi-Fi, Bass Odyssey, Heavy Hammer and Black Scorpio along with selectors and hosts including DJ Rory, Mutabaruka, Bambino, Big A, Nikki Z, Colin Hines, ZJ Liquid, DJ Roy, Spex, Robbo Ranz, Rassarella, G T Taylor, Ron Muschette, Seani B, Westafa, Steelie Bashment, Shacia Payne, Foota Hype, Supa Hype, and Hotta Rice.

The organisers of the have already announced December 9 to 14, 2019 as the dates for next year’s cruise.

— Richard Johnson