Rock The Bells is taking its Hip-Hop cruise into bigger territory for 2026, and the upgrade is not subtle. After three straight sellouts and a waitlist that keeps growing, Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience is back November 1 to 6, 2026, sailing out of Miami with a first-time stop in Montego Bay, Jamaica, plus an extra day at sea to stretch the whole thing into a full-on floating festival.
The biggest change is the ship. For 2026, the cruise moves to Norwegian Joy, a newer, state-of-the-art ship that Rock The Bells says is twice the size of the vessels used in previous years. Translation: more room for shows, more room to roam, and more room for the kind of random moments people always talk about after these cruises. If you have ever wished a concert could last all week and come with a pool deck, this is basically the concept.
Rock The Bells is coming off a 2025 cruise that featured Juvenile, Da Brat, MC Lyte, Lupe Fiasco, and more, and the 2026 lineup is built to keep the momentum going. The announced performers include T.I., E-40, Warren G, Jermaine Dupri, Too $hort, Rob Base, Rah Digga, Public Enemy, Bahamadia, Masta Ace, and more special guests still to come. On the DJ side, the turntables are stacked too, with Jermaine Dupri, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Money, Mannie Fresh, DJ Quik, DJ Spinderella, DJ Scratch, DJ Diamond Kuts, and DJ Epps slated to keep things moving all week.
And because Rock The Bells has always leaned into Hip-Hop as culture, not just a set list, comedy is part of the mix again. Bill Bellamy, Kym Whitley, Tacarra Williams, Alton Walker, and more are on deck, with Roxanne Shanté returning to host alongside Torae. The idea is less “watch the show, go home” and more “you are in it,” whether that means catching a set, sliding into a late-night laugh session, or stumbling into a conversation you did not expect.
LL COOL J, who founded Rock The Bells in 2018, put it plainly in the announcement, pointing to the cruise’s real selling point: proximity.
“The Rock The Bells Cruise keeps leveling up, and 2026 is our biggest year yet. The performances go crazy every year, but it’s the culture and connection that make this experience hit different. A concert can’t give you what this does. You’re bumping into artists at breakfast, hanging by the pool together, and having late-night talks while looking at views of the water. The energy out here hits different because it’s elevated and luxurious, but still feels like a Hip-Hop family reunion. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built,” says Rock The Bells founder LL COOL J.
That “elevated and luxurious” part is not just talk. Norwegian Joy is being pitched as a full vacation setup, with a thermal spa space, an outdoor go-kart track, two water slides, mini golf, a beauty salon, expanded pools and lounge areas, and modernized staterooms. There are also six complimentary dining options and more than twenty specialty restaurants and bars. It is the kind of ship where you can go from a set to a meal to a pool hang without ever feeling like the day has to end.
E-40 also spoke to what makes the cruise different, calling out the behind-the-scenes energy and the way it creates space for artists and fans to actually connect.
“Some of my best memories from the Rock The Bells Cruise were the fellowship between legendary artists, DJ’s, and producers. Having the ability to connect with legends and fixtures like Scarface, Mannie Fresh, Rakim, Jadakiss, Kid Capri, and others from our culture in such an incredible setting was a memorable experience. From the live performances to the impromptu studio sessions to the artist meet-and-greets with fans, I was truly impressed with the overall experience. Rock The Bell’s Cruise serves as a great example of how Hip-Hop has grown and progressed.”
Kym Whitley’s excitement comes through just as clearly.
“Hip Hop is the fabric of my life and America’s culture. I’m going to Rock The Bells in November 2026, with fun, laughter, and music!”
The 2026 cruise is produced in partnership with Sixthman, a company known for building music festival experiences at sea, and Sixthman CEO Jeff Cuellar leaned into the scale of the upgrade.
“Bigger and Deffer! The evolution of Rock The Bells continues by taking the event to the next level on Norwegian Joy. We are excited to offer the Rock The Bells community more days, more balconies, more amenities, more food options, and more Hip-Hop. We even have go-karts! We are going big in 2026; don’t miss out.”
There is also a giving-back component tied to the Jamaica stop. Rock The Bells says a portion of the cost of each vacation will automatically be contributed to Hurricane Melissa relief efforts in Jamaica via Jamaica’s Promise, a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. More opportunities to donate and volunteer are expected to be announced in the coming months.
Bottom line: if the earlier cruises felt like a Hip-Hop family reunion with a soundtrack, 2026 is shaping up like the bigger venue version, except the venue moves, the lineup is everywhere, and the afterparty is basically built into the itinerary.
