Booking choice: The Cancun Hip Hop Sessions party, from $105 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Party cruises are easy to oversell, and this one is sold hard. So we went through recent Viator and Tripadvisor reviews for the Cancun, Cabo and Punta Cana parties and sorted what guests consistently love from what they consistently complain about.
Short version: the crew, the hosts, the music and the crowd carry the afternoon. The food, the well drinks and the sun are where the complaints land.
The quick answer
Yes, for adults who want three hours of hip hop, dancing and nonstop shots: the Cancun party rates 4.8 from 2,020 reviews and Cabo 4.7 from 787. Skip it if you want good food, premium drinks, sightseeing or a refundable ticket.
What do guests love about it?
The staff and the energy: hosts who keep the party going, DJs, shots that keep coming, champagne showers and a crowd that came to dance.
Reviewers name individual hosts and photographers, mention twerk contests and games, and say they made friends on board. Many booked it for a birthday or a girls' trip and call it the highlight of their vacation.
What are the most common complaints?
Basic food, sweet or weak well drinks, heat with little shade, and a boat that spends much of the time anchored near the shore.
- Food: a plain sandwich in Cancun, three tacos in Cabo.
- Drinks: the punch is sweet; shots are strong; premium costs extra.
- Sun: Cabo guests in summer describe roasting with no air conditioning.
- The cruise: one guest said the boat went out a short way and sat in the ocean.
- Logistics: a few missed the boat after struggling to find the pier.
Is the open bar actually open?
Yes for well drinks: rum, tequila, vodka and beer are unlimited, and hosts pass round shots throughout.
Expect house spirits rather than brands. Bottles are sold separately, and a Cabo reviewer reports about $30 for anything beyond the well menu.
Like what you hear? Check the live calendar for the Cancun party.
Check dates for the Cancun Hip Hop Sessions partyIs the music current or old school?
Current: the regular parties play today's hip hop, R&B and Afrobeats, heavy on party and twerk tracks.
A couple of reviewers wanted more variety and said requests were not taken. If you want the classics, Cancun runs an Old School Hip Hop Sessions party on Thursdays.
Prefer the golden era? Old School Hip Hop Sessions sails from the same Cancun pier on Thursdays.
Explore Old School Hip Hop SessionsIs it safe?
Guests describe a well-run boat with life jackets for the swim, but it is a heavy-drinking event in the sun, so pace yourself.
One reviewer put it simply: do not get on if you cannot handle your alcohol. Drink water between shots, keep cash and cards in a pouch, and be careful handing card and ID details over on board.
Who should skip it?
Anyone who wants sightseeing, snorkelling, a good lunch, quiet time on the water, or a ticket they can cancel.
For a full day with a beach club lunch, snorkelling and an island, the adults-only Isla Mujeres party cruise is the alternative, and it cancels free up to 24 hours before. It rates lower, at 3.7, so read its reviews too.
Want a refundable day out instead? Check the Isla Mujeres party cruise.
Check dates for the Isla Mujeres party cruiseHow does Cancun compare with Cabo and Punta Cana?
Same format everywhere: Cancun has the most reviews and the most days, Cabo adds desert cliffs and El Arco, and Punta Cana sails only on Saturdays.
See every port compared for meeting points, days and ratings.
Our verdict
Book it if the crowd, the music and the party are what you are after; do not book it for the food, the drinks list or the scenery.
Eat before you go, bring cash and ID, arrive early, and you will get what more than 2,000 reviewers mostly loved: a loud, sunny, three-hour party on the water.
Convinced? The Cancun party sails five days a week.
Check dates for the Cancun Hip Hop Sessions partyFrequently asked questions
Is the Rockstar Boat Party a scam?
No. It is a real, heavily reviewed party cruise run by Rockstarcrawls, rated 4.8 from over 2,000 reviews in Cancun. Most complaints are about food, drinks and logistics, not about the party failing to happen.
Does the boat go to Isla Mujeres?
No. The Cancun party leaves from a pier beside the Isla Mujeres ferry terminal, but it cruises the Hotel Zone coast and returns to the same pier.
Can you bring your own alcohol?
No. Outside drinks and bottles are not allowed; premium bottles are sold by the operator.
Ready to book
Choose your party
Rockstar parties are adults only and non-refundable; check the cancellation line on each listing. Prices are from-prices in USD and move.
Rockstar Hip Hop Sessions, Cancun
- Open bar of well rum, tequila, vodka and beer, plus sodas, water and juice
- Guest DJs (hip hop, R&B, Afrobeats), party hosts and games
- Champagne shower and professional photos
Rockstar Hip Hop Sessions, Cabo
- Party boat from 12 to 3 PM
- Open bar of well spirits, beer, sodas, water and juice
- Guest DJs, party hosts, games and a champagne shower
Adults-Only Party Cruise to Isla Mujeres
A full day with snorkelling, lunch and a refundable ticket
