Sixthman Cruises Pivots to Social-Distanced Event Planning in Light of COVID-19

Sixthman — the cruise company responsible for the Kiss Kruise, for one — has been effectively grounded since the COVID-19 pandemic began spreading across the world. As such, the company is now launching a branch called Sixthman Services to brands, bands, promoters, conferences and communities looking to throw socially distanced events.

According to a Sixthman rep, the company has retained much of its staff and now plans to offer up those resources for socially distanced, outdoor, on-land events. “With the expansion of Sixthman Services, we are now fully set up to take our passion and experience to help others to create and produce successful events of all sizes and styles,” CEO Anthony Diaz said in a release. “We couldn’t be more excited to have the opportunity to help brands, bands and event holders bring communities back together in venues of all kinds when the time is right, and together virtually in the meantime.”

The company is now looking toward 2021, with its first booking being John Prine’s All The Best Fest in May in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Prine died from the complications related to COVID-19 in April, so the second edition of the festival will serve as a tribute to the musician, with performances from the likes of Jason Isbell, Steve Earle, Margo Price and more. A rep said that plans for enhanced screening, hospital-grade filtration systems and other measures will be in place should the pandemic still be at large in 2021. The company is also eradicating high-fives between crew members and passengers.

Sixthman is not the only company to pivot in light of COVID-19. L.A.-based Choura Events, for one, switched from outfitting music fests like Coachella to building emergency medical facilities at the start of the pandemic.