The 2016 Monsters Of Rock Cruise has announced the talent for its official two-day pre-cruise festival (complimentary for all cruise attendees) which will kick off this year's four-day, four-night voyage out of Miami this February 22nd - 26th aboard the NCL Pearl.
 
As if this year's cruise lineup of 40-plus bands wasn't enough, this year's official two-day pre-cruise festival will really amp things up and feature band performances, guitar giveaways, artist meet & greets and a "Monster" beer tasting event at Magic City Casino's Club 305 (450 NW 37th Ave. / Miami, FL 33125) on Saturday, February 20th and Sunday, February 21st.

Day 1 (February 20th) of the pre-cruise festival will be highlighted by a performance from Lynch Mob, with special guests Killer Dwarfs and Kickin Valentina.

The following day (February 21st), cruisers will be invited to "Shredder's Ball”, featuring performances from Sebastian Bach, Steve Vai, Winger, Saigon, D-A-D, Paradise Kitty and a special all-star jam from Hurry, an all-star Rush tribute featuring bassist James LoMenzo (John Fogerty, Megadeth, Black Label Society), guitarist Brent Woods (Sebastian Bach, Vince Neil), drummer Brian Tichy (Bonzo Bash, Whitesnake, Foreigner) and keyboardist Stephen Le Blanc (Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience). The official two-day pre-cruise festival is open to the public (non-cruisers) and tickets can be purchased at the door.

Monsters Of Rock Cruise has announced its biggest line-up ever in its five year history. This year's cruise, appropriately titled Shredders From The Deep, will feature 40+ bands including headliners Tesla, Steve Vai, Extreme, Sebastian Bach, Queensryche; Helloween and Y&T, plus guitar fantasy camps, pre-cruise events and more.
 
This year's cruise itinerary includes pre-parties on February 20th and 21st (complimentary to all cruisers with entertainment/location TBA), visiting the private island of Great Stirrup Cay and the cosmopolitan resort meccas of Nassau and Paradise Island in the Bahamas, plus a full day of Metal mayhem at sea. Cabins are available now, starting at $999 per person (double occupancy), with Special EZ Pay financing options also available for as little as $499 USD per person down (double occupancy), with the remaining balance payable over 12 equal monthly installments beginning the month after the initial reservation is completed. For booking and more info, visit monstersofrockcruise.com and connect on Facebook and Twitter.
 
The Monsters Of Rock Cruise: Shredders From The Deep will transport fans back to the era when Metal wasn't just a music genre, it was a way of life. The final artist lineup for the 2016 Shredders From The Deep cruise include headliners Tesla, Steve Vai,  Extreme, Sebastian Bach, Queensryche, Helloween and Y&T. Joining the headliners is an epic array of hard rock/heavy metal artists featuring: Michael Monroe, Gotthard, Doro, Lynch Mob, Vixen, Dangerous Toys, Kingdom Come, Armored Saint, Saigon Kick, XYZ, Killer Dwarfs, Metal Church, Hardcore Superstar, Akira Takasaki of Loudness, Jeff Scott Soto, Gus G of Ozzy Osbourne, Uli Jon Roth of Scorpions, Joel Hoekstra of Whitesnake, Helix, Michael Angelo Batio, Vinnie Moore, Madam X, Tyketto, Anvil, Hellion, Dio Disciples, Lilian Axe, Soto, D-A-D, Heavy Mellow, Brandon Gibbs, Paradise Kitty and The Kix.

 
New this year to the cruise are Guitar Fantasy Camp at Sea Shredder Clinics, available to all passengers aboard the cruise for free as part of the cabin fee. Clinics will be given by Steve Vai, Vinnie Moore (UFO), George Lynch (Dokken and Lynch Mob), Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne), Michael Angelo Battio and Akira Takasaki (Loudness), with more instructors to be announced. Instructions to reserve these complimentary clinics will be given to cruisers a few weeks before the cruise.
 
According to cruise spokesman, Larry Morand, "The clinics are designed to give our passengers the opportunity to hone their guitar skills in an up close and personal experience with some of rock's greatest shredders. Fans don't just watch the artist perform, they make music with the artists."

In addition to all instruments being provided, artists in each clinic will be giving away an autographed guitar to one lucky fan in attendance.
 
In addition to the performances and clinics, the cruise will feature over-the-top special events only experienced on this voyage, including: Artist Meet & Greets, Monsters Rock & Roll Formal, Monster Gong Show Karaoke, Rock Star Dating, and Cooking with Rock Stars, and a "So You Think You Can Shred" Guitar Competition, with more events to be announced. As an added bonus, TV personalities and cruise hosts Eddie Trunk and Don Jamieson from VH1's That Metal Show will moderate the intimate onboard artist Q&A's. Rounding out the spectacular celebrity line-up are radio personalities Luc Carl from XM's Hair Nation, along with San Francisco bay area radio host Nikki Blakk.

(Photo: Igor Rock Exposure)