Love & Harmony turns 10 with Mother’s Day celebration at sea

Love & Harmony Cruise turns 10 next year, and organizers are busy preparing to celebrate the anniversary with a milestone sailing over Mother’s Day weekend.

The six-day, five-night “reggae voyage” aboard the Norwegian Jewel departs Miami May 6-11, 2027, with stops in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Nassau, Bahamas. Headlining the voyage will be reggae icon and Love & Harmony “Captain” Beres Hammond, who will be featured alongside heavyweights Sanchez, Aidonia, D’Yani, I-Wayne and gospel star Kevin Downswell.

According to Ronnie Tomlinson, director of public relations and marketing, combining the 10th anniversary with a Mother’s Day celebration was a happy coincidence.

“It actually wasn’t planned from the start,” Tomlinson explained. “After securing the ship and confirming the dates, we realized that our 10th anniversary sailing would also fall around Mother’s Day weekend.”

“It really became two celebrations in one, and because Love & Harmony has always been about family, love and bringing people together, it worked out perfectly.”

Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9, 2027, will be spent at sea, allowing families to celebrate without having to rush to a port. Children 12 and younger sail free, paying only applicable taxes and fees, as organizers encourage guests to turn the anniversary voyage into a multigenerational vacation.

The entertainment lineup mixes veteran reggae stars with contemporary dancehall, roots reggae and gospel. Tomlinson said the combination reflects Hammond’s own appreciation for different generations of Jamaican music.

“Captain Beres Hammond has always embraced different generations of Jamaican and Caribbean music, so having veteran artists alongside some of today’s contemporary voices really reflects what Love & Harmony is about,” she said.

Hammond may also deliver a few surprises.

“The Captain is excited about the lineup too. He’s looking forward to attending some of the performances himself — and you never know, we may even see him share the stage with a few of the artists during the sailing,” Tomlinson revealed.

After enjoying massive success on the last cruise, comedy will return, with Trixx and Jamaican-British comedian White Yardie, who will make his Love & Harmony debut.

MONTEGO BAY BEACH PARTY PLANNED

One of the major attractions of the anniversary voyage will come when the Norwegian Jewel arrives in Montego Bay on Saturday, May 8. Love & Harmony will take the celebration ashore for a special beach party at Tropical Bliss Beach, hosted by Aidonia.

“The response to the lineup has been extremely positive, and the addition of our Montego Bay beach party has generated a lot of excitement as well,” Tomlinson said.

Food will remain another major component of the experience. Celebrated Jamaican chef Basil Jones earned rave reviews from Harmonizers during the previous sailing, and organizers plan to expand the culinary offerings for the anniversary.

“Chef Basil was a tremendous success, and the feedback from our Harmonizers was extremely positive,” Tomlinson said. “Our guests can expect the culinary experience to continue getting even better.”

Caribbean favorites will again be featured, while Jones and the culinary team are expected to reveal additional anniversary menu details in the coming months. Beyond concerts, guests can expect themed parties, DJs, karaoke, comedy, poolside activities, cultural programming and the popular Captain’s Dinner.

Tomlinson says early interest suggests the milestone cruise could sell out sooner than last year, despite consumers being more cautious about discretionary spending.

“We understand the current economic climate and that people are being more intentional about how they spend their money,” she said. “That makes it even more important for us to deliver real value.”

With additional artists, DJs and anniversary surprises still to be announced, Tomlinson says the objective is simple: “We want people to feel that from the moment they step onboard, they’re getting an experience worth traveling for.”