Gothic Cruise is a small, annual electronic gothic-styled music festival that host oversea events relative to the goth culture. It has been operated continuously from a variety of ports within the United States of America with live entertainment venues since 2007. It was founded in 1989 by license advisor Zaida Browne, as she was largely to partly active in the early to mid 1980's, which was when the expansion of the style began to rise in countries, mostly the United Kingdom. The group began to widely expand during the early 2000's, but began to dissipate in passengers in between 2004 until it resumed its festivals in 2007. Like many cruises at the time, the yearly tradition was broken in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sailing resumed for 2021 and 2022, however the company opted for a land-based party in 2023 before resuming cruises in 2024.
History 1989–2003 In 1989 the first event sailed with 10 people and the company claims to have had and average 140 people per sailing by 2003.
They sailed on Premier Cruise Line, Regal Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International.
There were no live bands during this time.
2004–2006 2004–2005 there were no sailings.
2006 – Collide was scheduled to play as the first live band on the cruise, but that sailing was cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina.
2007 Vessel: Carnival Glory on Carnival Cruise Lines.
Passengers: 211
Port: Port Canaveral, Florida.
Live Act: VNV Nation
2008 Vessel: Carnival Glory on Carnival Cruise Line
Passengers: 174
Port: Port Canaveral, Florida.
Live Acts: Combichrist Asmodeus X Phase Theory Red Flag
2009 Vessel: Carnival Legend on Carnival Cruise Line
Passengers: 149
Port: Tampa, Florida
Live Acts: The Crüxshadows Cruciform Injection State of the Union Modulate 2010 Vessel: Carnival Liberty on Carnival Cruise Line
Passengers: 237
Port: Miami, Florida
Live Acts: Covenant Funker Vogt The Crüxshadows Panzer AG DuPont Prognosis
2011 Vessel: Norwegian Sun on Norwegian Cruise Line
Passengers: 112
Port: Port Canaveral, Florida.
Live Acts: God Module Imperative Reaction System Synn
2012 Vessel: Explorer of the Seas on Royal Caribbean International
Passengers: 291
Port: Newark, New Jersey
Live Acts: VNV Nation Icon of Coil Aesthetic Perfection SITD
2013 Vessel: Freedom of the Seas on Royal Caribbean International
Passengers: 142
Port: Port Canaveral, Florida.
Live Acts: Ayria Bella Morte 00tz 00tz Sonik Foundry
2014 Vessel: Carnival Breeze on Carnival Cruise Line
Passengers: 265
Port: Miami, Florida
Live Acts: VNV Nation VNV Classic The Crüxshadows Ego Likeness Ayria Bella Morte Rain Within
2015 Vessel: Carnival Dream on Carnival Cruise Line
Passengers: 147
Port: New Orleans, Louisiana
Live Acts: Angels & Agony Ego Likeness Velvet Acid Christ Stoneburner
2016 Vessel: Carnival Legend on Carnival Cruise Lines
Passengers: 68
Port: Seattle, Washington
Live Acts: The Gothsicles Stoneburner Voltaire
2017 Vessel: Carnival Legend on Carnival Cruise Line
Disclaimer: From this point forward, the Gothic Cruise website doesn't include a passenger count.
Port: Long Beach, California
Live Acts: Covenant Haujobb Lights of Euphoria Hopeful Machines
2018 Vessel: Carnival Glory on Carnival Cruise Line
Passengers: 184
Port: Miami, Florida
Live Acts: The Birthday Massacre Diary of Dreams iVardensphere The Rain Within. 2019 Vessel: Carnival Conquest on Carnival Cruise Line
Port: Miami, Florida
Live Acts:
Das Ich Grendel Ego Likeness FGFC820 The Rain Within
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 Source:
Vessel: MSC Divina on MSC Cruises
Port: Port Canaveral, Florida
Live Acts:
Die Sektor Rain within
2022 Vessel: MSC Divina on MSC Cruises
Port: Port Canaveral, Florida
Live Acts:
Ego Likeness Stoneburner Gothsicles
2023 Source:
The 2023 event wasn't a cruise, but rather the company's first land-based meetup.
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Live Acts:
IVardensphere DSTR Curse Mackey
2024 Source:
Vessel: Norwegian Escape on Norwegian Cruise Line
Port: Port Canaveral, Florida
Live Acts:
Rotersand Combichrist Die Sektor
2025 Info TBD 2026 Info TBD References