For many, there's nothing better than the thought of beating the winter blues by sitting poolside, sipping cocktails, and soaking up sunshine; as your luxury cruise ship sails around the blue waters of the Caribbean. But this New Year, some may beg to differ.

 In a spirit that pushes the envelope and perhaps foreshadows the massiveness of 2012 that is to come, Holy Ship! sets sail today, January 6th, well-equipped with all of the above, and a bit more. Ever wanted to rave barefoot on a private white sand beach? Play poker with Steve Aoki? The world-class cruise liner MSC Poesia redefines upping the ante by providing guests with five on-board venues, multiple world-class DJs and 2,500 of their new best friends. Fatboy Slim, Laidback Luke, Skrillex, A-Trak are just a few among many that will hit the decks on the decks, and around the clock music will have passengers dancing up a storm, whether from their private cabins below or up above overlooking the Caribbean Sea. If a break from dancing is needed, the on-board spa is equipped with a steam room and Turkish bath, and, for any experienced festival goer, the concept of a post-show massage as luxurious as it gets.

 While Holy Ship! is not the first event of its kind, it does suggest that this wave of festivals is paving the way for a future of exploration of new frontiers. With the rapid growth of the electronic music scene, it is possible that venues and festival grounds no longer suffice to accommodate the demands of the growing number of fans. If Swedish House Mafia selling out the 20,000-person capacity Madison Square Garden in nine minutes is any indication of this, perhaps the concept of alternative venues is indeed one worth exploring. Holy Ship! and the concept behind it are not without concern though. Whether isolating 2,500 passionate fans on a cruise ship is really the safest idea remains to be seen. But for now – at least to any sensible female fans – the thought of being stranded on a boat with Diplo for three days is quite the desirable one.

 The mayhem kicked off with an official pre-party in Fort Lauderdale last night, Thursday January 5th, and the ship heads to the Bahamas and back over the next three days. For the lucky few to be attending, make sure to pack your finest neon Wayfarers and prepare yourselves for what could very well be a revolution in the festival world as we know it.