Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea XI (Nassau port) 2026

Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea XI: An Unforgettable Blues-Rock Voyage

Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea XI (with a Nassau port stop) sails March 25 to 29, 2026 aboard the Norwegian Pearl, traveling from Miami to Key West and Nassau, Bahamas for a blues-rock cruise experience curated by Joe Bonamassa. For Bahamas-bound music fans, the Nassau port day is the perfect chance to pair world-class live sets onboard with a quick taste of Paradise Island beaches, downtown Nassau color, and that unmistakable “island air” break between shows.

What is Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea XI?

Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea is a music cruise where the ship becomes the venue and the crowd becomes a community for four nights of blues-rock performances, collaborations, and artist-focused experiences. The official event site describes Year XI as “the biggest blues rock party at sea,” built around exclusive performances from Joe Bonamassa, plus special moments like a taping of the Live from Nerdville podcast and sit-ins with artists such as Beth Hart and Jimmy Vivino.

This isn’t a typical cruise with one headline show. It’s designed as a floating festival, with multiple sets, guest jams, meet-and-greets, and themed experiences that happen all over the ship. If “Nassau port” is your search intent, the key takeaway is that Nassau is one of the confirmed ports of call, giving attendees a genuine Bahamas island stop inside the overall cruise itinerary.

Confirmed 2026 Sailing Dates, Ship, and Itinerary (Including Nassau)

The official cruise site confirms the sailing dates as March 25–29, 2026 and confirms the ship as the Norwegian Pearl. The same official source confirms the itinerary includes sailing from Miami to Key West, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas.

The main event page also highlights the “double the fun with two ports” concept and names Nassau specifically as one of the ports of call. For travelers, that means you can plan a quick Bahamas shore experience while keeping your “main venue” onboard, where the core concerts happen.

2026 Lineup: Artists Confirmed

The official lineup page lists a deep roster of performers for Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea XI, led by Joe Bonamassa. Confirmed artists listed include:

• Joe Bonamassa
• Beth Hart
• Los Lonely Boys
• Tommy Emmanuel CGP
• Robert Randolph Band
• Ruthie Foster
• Mike Zito
• Jimmy Vivino
• Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
• Ally Venable
• Bywater Call
• Jared James Nichols
• The Cinelli Brothers
• D.K. Harrell
• Nat Myers
• Sonny Gullage
• Les Greene & The Swayzees
• Lonesome Joy
• Bleau Otis Band

Because the ship is the venue, the variety in this lineup matters. You’re not committing to one sound for one night. You’re getting multiple voices in blues-rock, roots, and guitar-forward performance styles across the voyage.

What Happens Onboard: Concerts Plus Exclusive Experiences

The official site emphasizes more than concerts, including:

• Exclusive performances and collaboration sets.
• Artist meet & greets and guest jams.
• Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation experiences.
• A Live from Nerdville podcast taping featuring Joe Bonamassa.

For first-timers, this is what makes the cruise format special. The distance between “fan” and “artist” feels smaller at sea, because your downtime overlaps with the event environment.

Nassau Port Day: How to Make the Most of Your Bahamas Stop

The official event materials confirm Nassau is a port of call, but they do not publish the exact Nassau arrival time in the captured content. That means your best plan is to treat Nassau as a flexible window and prioritize activities that fit multiple time frames.

Smart Nassau Options for a Music-Cruise Port Day:

• Keep it simple: pick one beach or one walkable district, then return onboard early so you’re not stressed about all-aboard time.
• If you want classic Nassau, focus on downtown color and waterfront views.
• If you want the “postcard Bahamas” feel fast, choose a beach plan near Paradise Island.

One key planning note from third-party coverage is that shore excursions are often released closer to sailing for cruises like this, so it’s normal for final excursion booking to open in the weeks before departure. Even without booking an excursion, Nassau is easy to enjoy on foot with a short, focused plan.

Travel Tips: Planning This as a Bahamas Island Experience

Even though the cruise departs from Miami, the Nassau stop can still be a key “island travel” moment if you plan it intentionally:

• Pack a light day bag for Nassau with sunscreen, a swim layer, and sandals.
• Keep valuables minimal and carry only what you need for a half-day.
• Remember you have concerts onboard, so don’t exhaust yourself ashore.

If you want to extend the Bahamas part of the experience, consider adding extra days in Nassau before or after the cruise using a separate flight plan. The cruise stop gives you a taste, but an overnight stay is where you truly slow down into island time.

Tickets and Pricing (What is Confirmed)

The official site confirms the sailing dates, ship, and itinerary, but it does not display a specific cabin price or ticket tier pricing in the captured page content here. Cruise festival pricing typically varies by cabin type and package, so the most accurate pricing will come from the official booking flow or authorized seller pages rather than static articles.

Attend Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea XI with Nassau on the Route

Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea XI delivers a blues-rock vacation format that’s hard to match on land: four nights of performances and community from March 25–29, 2026 aboard the Norwegian Pearl, plus the added excitement of a Bahamas port day in Nassau. With an official lineup featuring Joe Bonamassa, Beth Hart, Los Lonely Boys, Tommy Emmanuel CGP, and many more, the music is built to fill every corner of the ship. If a Bahamas island stop paired with nonstop blues-rock is your idea of the perfect escape, put Nassau on your port-day plan, keep your schedule flexible, and get ready for a voyage where the soundtrack never quits.

Verified Information at a Glance

Event Details:

Event Name: Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea XI

Event Category: Music cruise / blues-rock festival at sea

Key Dates & Location:

Confirmed Dates (2026): March 25–29, 2026

Confirmed Ship: Norwegian Pearl

Confirmed Itinerary Highlights: Miami → Key West, Florida → Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau Relevance: Nassau is confirmed as a port of call

Artists & Hosts:

Host (confirmed): Joe Bonamassa

Lineup (confirmed examples): Beth Hart; Los Lonely Boys; Tommy Emmanuel CGP; Robert Randolph Band; Ruthie Foster; Mike Zito; Jimmy Vivino (and others listed)

Pricing Information:

Pricing: Not confirmed in captured official page content (varies by cabin/package)