Rock the boat: Why artists like Train, 311 and Melissa Etheridge are launching music cruises from Tampa

After an absence of several years, rock cruises -- those floating festivals that allow music lovers to rub shoulders with rock bands and like-minded fans -- are returning to Tampa in a big way.

From October through March, at least a dozen music cruises will set sail from Port Tampa Bay on Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Holland America ships, with more than 200 big-name artists on board: Train, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Melissa Etheridge, 311, Vince Gill, Chris Young, Joe Bonamassa, Yes and many more.

Some of these are maiden cruises, others are long-standing charters moving from Fort Lauderdale or Miami to Tampa. Either way, Tampa is poised to become a big hub for rock cruises for the first time since 2010.

Click here to read our story about the rise of Tampa's rock cruise mini-industry. And after the jump, check out our list of all the rock cruises departing Tampa in the next year. Most start around $1,000 per person for a double-occupancy cabin.

Melissa Etheridge Cruise
Date: Oct. 31-Nov. 5
Ship: Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas
Destination: Key West, Cozumel
Lineup: Melissa Etheridge, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Crystal Bowersox, Arrival From Sweden, Jeffery Austin, Lucy Angel, Olivia Lane, New Hollow, the Cains, DJ Tracy Young, DJ Susan Levine
Info: melissaetheridgecruise.com

Country Cruising
Date: Jan. 14-19
Ship: Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas
Destination: Key West, Cozumel
Lineup: Chris Young, Montgomery Gentry, Charles Esten, Kelsea Ballerini, Clare Bowen, LoCash, Diamond Rio, Phil Vassar, Dallas Smith, Halfway to Hazard, Ray Scott, Viper Creek Band, James Wesley, Clark Hill, Lucy Angel, Olivia Lane, Maggie Baugh, the Cains, Tate Stevens, Lucas Hoge, Wesley Spangler
Info: countrycruising.com

Urban Dream Cruise
Date: Jan. 19-23
Ship: Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas
Destination: Key West, Cozumel
Lineup: Keith Sweat, Tamar Braxton, Joe, Eric Benet, D-Nice, Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Deon Cole, Tommy Davidson, Chris Spencer, Royale Watkins
Info: urbandreamcruise.com

The Country Music Cruise
Date: Jan. 27-Feb. 3
Ship: Holland America Oosterdam
Destination: Key West, Cozumel, Costa Maya
Lineup: Vince Gill, Charley Pride, Oak Ridge Boys, Brenda Lee, Lee Greenwood, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Lee, Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley, Dailey and Vincent, the Statler Brothers' Jimmy Fortune, Wade Hayes, Jo-El Sonnier, Sylvia, Deborah Allen, Chuck Mead and His Grassy Knoll Boys, Lorianne Crook
Info: countrymusiccruise.com

Monsters of Rock Cruise
Date: Feb. 2-7
Ship: Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas
Destination: Grand Cayman, Cozumel
Lineup: Vince Neil, Queensryche, Cinderella's Tom Keifer, Night Ranger, Saxon, Stryper, Slaughter, Danger Danger, D*A*D, Soto, Tora Tora, The Answer, John Corabi, Beasto Blanco, Joel Hoekstra, Inglorious, Heavens Edge, Paradise Kitty
Info: monstersofrockcruise.com

Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea III
Date: Feb. 6-10
Ship: Norwegian Jade
Destination: Costa Maya
Lineup: Joe Bonamassa, Gregg Allman, Beth Hart, Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Anders Osborne, Jaimoe's Jasssz Band, Eric Gales, Larkin Poe, the London Soulus, Mr. Sipp, Mingo Fishtrap, Honey Island Swamp Band, Homemade Jamz Blues Band, Muddy Magnolias, Blind Boy Paxton, King Solomon Hicks
Info: bluesaliveatsea.com

Cruise to the Edge
Date: Feb. 7-11
Ship: Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas
Destination: Cozumel
Lineup: Yes, Kansas, Steve Hackett, John Wetton, Mike Portnoy, Patrick Moraz, Bad Dreams, Neal Morse Band, IO Earth, Spock's Beard, Alex Machacek, Anglagrd, Stick Men, Haken, Pain of Salvation, Curved Air, Electric Asturias, District 97, Scott Henderson, Focus
Info: cruisetotheedge.com

The Rock Boat XVII
Date: Feb. 10-15
Ship: Norwegian Jade
Destination: Harvest Caye, Belize; Costa Maya
Lineup: Sister Hazel, Andy Grammer, Ben Rector, Better Than Ezra, Red Wanting Blue, Gaelic Storm, Green River Ordinace, Grizfolk, Jared and the Mill, Melodime, Wild Adriactc, Andy Suzuki and the Method, Welshly Arms, Amy Gerhartz, Brian Fechino and Friends, Andy Frasco and the U.N., Aijia, Ripe, Wrenn
Info: therockboat.com

Sail Across the Sun
Date: Feb. 15-19
Ship: Norwegian Jade
Destination: Costa Maya, Mexico
Lineup: Train, Matt Nathanson, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Natasha Bedingfield, Arrested Development, Yacht Rock Revue, Simplified, Bastard Bearded Irishmen
Info: sailacrossthesun.com

Cayamo
Date: Feb. 19-26
Ship: Norwegian Jade
Destination: Cozumel; Roatan, Honduras
Lineup: Emmylou Harris, Brandi Carlile, Patty Griffin, Richard Thompson, Buddy Miller, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Kacey Musgraves, Paul Thorn, Shawn Mullins, Aoife O'Donovan, Parker Millsap, Maren Morris, Amy Helm, the Secret Sisters, Angaleena Presley, American Aquarium, Sam Lewis, Gretchen Peters, Randall Bramblett, Ruby Amanfu, Beth Wood, Brian Dunne
Info: cayamo.com

The Outlaw Country Cruise
Date: Feb. 26-March 2
Ship: Norwegian Jade
Destination: Cozumel
Lineup: Blackberry Smoke, the Mavericks, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Joe Ely Band, Shooter Jennings, Jessi Colter, Dale Watson, Old 97's, Elizabeth Cook, Drivin' N Cryin', the Secret Sisters, Roger Alan Wade, Mojo Nixon
Info: outlawcountrycruise.com

311 Caribbean Cruise
Date: March 2-6
Ship: Norwegian Jade
Destination: Cozumel
Lineup: 311, Rebelution, Reel Big Fish, Stick Figure, Ballyhoo!, People Under the Stairs, RDGLDGRN, Los Stellarians
Info: 311cruise.com

-- Jay Cridlin