Ubersoca Cruise 2016 Review by Christina Mais

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Ubersoca Cruise 2016 Review by Christina Mais

christina-2sml Two Weeks. Two whole weeks. That’s how long it took me to finally get over the fact that Ubersoca Cruise has ended!

So now that I have gone back to reality I feel like it’s my duty as a Soca junkie to let the world know how E.P.I.C the Ubersoca Cruise 2016 really was. I will try to keep this review as concise and informative as possible, I have no doubt that by the end of this article, your fingers will be itching to get online ready to click “book your cabin” for Ubersoca Cruise 2017. This review is 100% from my experiences on the cruise and what stood out to me the most from my perspective.

When I first heard about the Ubersoca Cruise I really thought it was a joke. I could not come to accept that so much greatness could possibly be happening in one place at one time.

It was 5 days and 4 nights of non-stop Soca parties that included a wicked line up of my all time favorite Soca artistes from all over the world accompanied by some of the best djs in the business, honestly it all seemed like nothing more than a pipe dream. So I did all my research, found the website and was completely and utterly awestruck. It was the real deal! From that moment on I lived on that website, checking constantly for updates and watching that countdown clock relentlessly. The website was laid out with all the information one could possibly need on the entire outline of the cruise.

Before I knew it, the day had finally arrived. I rallied my best friend and fellow Soca junkie and we were off, expecting an out of this world experience and best believe that’s exactly what we got!

The parties and activities were endless. I loved the fact that not only did the Ubersoca Cruise team give each guest a booklet of all the activities on each day but every day there was a mini newspaper delivered to your cabin door to tell you in detail the time, location and dj line up of every event.

My cabin was beautifully set up and perfectly fit for two, it was comfortable, clean and had all the necessary amenities.

The ship itself was gorgeous; it was elegantly adorned and had you feeling as if you were at a 5 star hotel. Not to mention the FOOD! There were complimentary options, specialty options that offered a range of delicacies; from burgers and fries to shrimp pasta to Caribbean specialties like ackee and saltfish, to Indian food and even a sushi bar, there was something for everyone to indulge their taste buds. Let’s just say my jeans have definitely gotten a bit tighter since I came home.

There were fetes in the daytime, chill out limes in the afternoon and turn ups with action packed performances from top class Soca artistes at night as well as after parties galore for the pumpers that can go all night long. An added touch of epicness that the Ubersoca Cruise included to the well organized lineup was the “Theatre Turn Up” event. This was my absolute favorite event of the entire cruise.

As we gathered in the exquisite theatre we were treated to the hilarious comedic performances of Jah and Majah Hype which had everyone bursting out with laughter throughout the whole segment. As if that wasn’t enough, Ricardo Drue came out and gave a killer cameo performance of some of his greatest hits and had the crowd jumping and waving. But wait! That’s not all. At the end of the performance everyone was given glow sticks and balloons fell from the ceiling, followed by men dressed in light up suits on stage.

Before you know it the stage was filled with feters pumping up and having a blast! It was truly unbelievable to see everyone enjoying themselves and going crazy in the theatre. We definitely did “Tun Up” that theater in true Caribbean style.

Another highlight of the Ubersoca Cruise had to be the Jouvert in Jamaica. Now I am from Jamaica so I was especially happy to touch down on some home soil. From the very moment I stepped on the port, I could feel the energy and could hear Soca music pumping as I walked towards the beach. Once that first touch of the red jouvert paint caught me, I knew there was no going back. Before I knew it, it was everywhere. However that’s what Jouvert is all about; jumping up and getting on bad in paint and powder and just having a time.

Then it was time for the performances. Kes the Band lit up the stage in true fashion, playing hit after hit and I loved every minute of it. If you have not seen Kes the Band perform in person then I urge you to do so! I must say they have so much vibes and energy on stage, it is a real sight to see and that’s what keeps the crowd moving to every beat straight throughout the show, they will leave you wanting so much more. Lil Rick, 5 Star Akil and Teddyson John, some other favorites of mine also joined Kes on stage as an added treat for the patrons.

The vibes were unlimited with unlimited drinks to match. The thrill lasted even after the party ended and it was evident as persons covered in paint could be seen still chipping down the walkway as they headed back to the ship.

There were tones of other fetes and activities on board such as the “Rum and Water Pool Party”, Sail Away parties, basketball, football and bowling celebrity tournaments and not to mention the Socacise workout classes. I also loved the fact that there were some themed events as well, such as the “Bring Your Own Costume party” and the “All White Party”.

There was one particular activity that stood out to me which was the “Talking Soca” segment. This event allowed Soca lovers to hear from some of their favorite Soca artistes on a more personal note. We heard the journeys that these artistes had to go through to get where they are today and we also heard from the amazing people behind the scenes who get the job done on a daily basis. It was a very insightful, creative segment and a great way to get to know more about the Soca industry on a whole so I really applaud the Ubersoca Cruise organizers for making that possible.

Last but most certainly not least, let us talk about the finale event “Ubertrucked”. What can I say but WOW. This was the icing on the cake, the cherry on top, the big bang of the Ubersoca Cruise. They had us pumping to the hottest djs for the first part of the night then it was show time. Artistes such as Lyrikal, Peter Ram, Fadda Fox and Queen of Bacchanal herself; Destra Garcia destroyed the stage with some high energy, unforgettable performances. But what really made this finale the best was at the end of the show; all the amazing artistes came on stage and topped the show with the greatest freestyle mash up of all time! I really didn’t want to see it end, thankfully the Ubersoca Cruise organizers thought of everything and gave us Soca junkies one more last hoorah with the epic after party in the Atrium where everyone pumped till daylight.

You must be wondering what the low points of the Ubersoca Cruise were. Well, in all honesty the only downfall I can possibly think of that the Ubersoca Cruise had was the fact that it was ONLY 5 days and 4 nights! I mean I wanted more. It was so good that I couldn’t get enough, but if that’s my only complaint then the Ubersoca Cruise must have been doing something right!

While the fetes and activates were more than enough to have you loving every second of the Ubersoca Cruise , the best part of this cruise for me was the feeling that came over me every single day I was on that ship. Even though I was surrounded by a bunch of people I have never met, I felt a sense of home, almost as if I was at a huge family reunion. There was a feeling of togetherness and warmth that I had as I walked through the halls for those 5 nights and 4 days I was on board. The Caribbean community was very much present and just proved that although we may come from all different islands we are all one people.

There was a sense of Unity and Togetherness which ultimately made it ten times harder for me to leave when it was all over. Even the crew who mostly consisted of persons from the Philippines who maybe have never heard Soca music before couldn’t help but move to the beat and pelt waist on the sidelines. But that’s what Soca music is all about, the entire culture gives me this infectious, euphoric feeling that I cannot get enough of. It promotes love and freedom without judgment, can brighten up anyone’s day in a second and unites people from all over the world. The Ubersoca Cruise depicted all of these things and so much more. This is why I love Soca music so much.

The Ubersoca Cruise definitely exceeded all my expectations and only grew my love for Soca music a hundred times more. I am extremely satisfied with my experience and it was worth every penny. I would highly recommend the Ubersoca Cruise to all Soca lovers worldwide because it truly is as the tagline says “….an experience beyond the music.” I have left the cruise with not only new friends but new memories to last a lifetime!

Well, have you already logged on to UbersocaCruise.com?
Have you called up your circle?
Cleared your schedule?

You better get on it because my bags are packed and ready to go!

As I end this article here I have to say a huge Thank you to the entire Ubersoca Cruise team for giving me and my crew an experience nothing short of phenomenal and I can’t wait to see what you have in store for 2017!

Written by Christina Mais