Dave Holmes & Robin Wilson Go Full 90s Cruise!

January 14, 2026

The two give us a sneak peek of Robin’s onboard performances (including who he might pop up on stage with), what his son Grey will be up to onboard, and Robin’s favorite artists to watch out for onboard. 

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DAVE: You’re our musical host this year. What does that entail?  

ROBIN: I’m going to be involved in some of the events on the boat, like, I’ll be doing a behind the music interview with Edwin McCain. Every once in a while, I’ll get to be on stage going “Coming up, En Vogue,” or whatever. Most importantly, I’m going to be doing a solo covers set during the cruise. I’m working up a bunch of really fun cover songs that everybody’s gonna be able to sing along to, focused mainly on 90s stuff. It’s gonna be a blast. What’s also really cool is that my son Grey is coming along with me. He’s a very talented multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, and he’ll be performing in the set. I might even let him sing one.  

We were both on the first 90s Cruise last year, and I have to say your solo covers set was one of my highlights. Out by the pool at the magic hour, special guests popping in.  

That was my idea. I wasn’t even contracted to do that, it was just something I wanted to do. It did bring a lot of spirit to the cruise, I think that may be one of the reasons they hired me to be one of the hosts this year.  

I loved the spirit, and I loved the set list. I wasn’t expecting Madonna into the Smiths into Hunters and Collectors, but that’s just what I needed.  

This set will be a little similar. I’m working up a lot of fun stuff like that. I’m gonna try to get lots of the other musicians involved, like last year. As a matter of awesome coincidence, Dan Lavery, the bass player of Tonic, is going to be playing bass for Gin Blossoms next month. So I’ll have Dan up there playing bass, I’ll probably bring Emerson [Hart, lead singer of Tonic] up to do a couple of tunes. I’m learning a Tonic song as we speak. Honestly, I’m getting pretty psyched. I got new luggage and everything.  

Who else on this year’s 90s Cruise are you excited to check out? 

Oh, Sponge is one of my favorites. I mean, all the groups are really high quality and I’m friends with most of them. I’ve toured with Tonic and Sugar Ray, I’ve done lots of shows over the years with Edwin McCain, so it’s going to be really, really cool. But I think of all of the other acts that I’m excited to see, I would say my number one is En Vogue. They’re gonna crush it.  

What are some of your highlights of the first 90s Cruise?  

Well, I’d been on The 80s Cruise, fronting The Smithereens, so I thought I kind of knew what I was in for. But on The 90s Cruise, I got to keep jumping onstage with the other bands. Getting to do a song with Lit was cool. Having members of Everclear and Blues Traveler in my solo set was pretty awesome.  

One of the big highlights for me was Fastball’s closing night set in the Dial-Up Lounge, with Lisa Loeb singing lead on David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream” and you singing The Plimsouls’ “A Million Miles Away.” My soul left my body and ascended to Heaven.  

You know what, that night, I was starting to get sick, and my voice was giving out. But I’d told Fastball I’d sing with them, and I wanted to be there for them and support them, so I thought “I’ve got to get up there and try.”  

Well, it worked. You know, one thing that really surprised me about last year’s cruise was how friendly everyone was. Everyone was down to mingle and shoot the breeze. Not just the passengers, but the artists.  

Yeah, it was cool. I was quite gregarious on the cruise last year, and I wasn’t the only one. You know, the kind of people who want to go on a 90s Cruise are generally pretty fun people. They’re the kind of people who want to be out of their rooms and see three shows a day. So, more power to them.  

People were excited for the shows but also excited to celebrate the decade. What is it about the 90s that we miss so much?  

I mean, obviously, the world was simpler. We didn’t have social media, but what we did have was record stores. People liked to buy records. I think that’s part of why Gin Blossoms was successful, was that we had a hit record at the very peak of music industry’s commercial powers. I guess I miss that. And I miss being able to hear a lot of cool new music on the radio. Not to be one of those people who says, “Our high school sucks since we graduated,” but you would hear something like Soundgarden or Smashing Pumpkins on the radio, and it gave you a sense that we were living in an exciting time. I’m confident that young people today have the same kind of emotional connection to music that we had back then; it’s just a different delivery system.  

Who’s an artist from right now who’s got you excited about music?  

Oh, White Reaper. They’re fucking awesome, as good as any band I’ve ever heard. I’m as excited by their music as any band that I’ve ever listened to. I hold them up among my all-time favorite bands, and I’m talking Cheap Trick and the Cure and Oasis. When I hear White Reaper, I get the same feeling that, you know, rock and roll is the greatest of human inventions.  

Okay, well, it’s just about time to start packing. So, what’s one thing Robin Wilson needs to have in his suitcase on a cruise?  

The basic stuff, like vitamins and cool clothes, you know? This year, I have room to pack a new jacket for every day. I told you I got new luggage, right? 

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With just one week to go, the countdown is on. Rock the high seas with Dave and Robin—book now using codeBESTfor $550 off per person.