Hensley will be busy onboard, between his band and hosting “hangover jogs.”

Carlsbad resident and accordionist Matt Hensley is preparing for a new album with his band Flogging Molly. “We have been meeting in Detroit for writing sessions,” Hensley tells the Reader.

In the meantime, on March 18, the band will embark on the inaugural voyage of “Flogging Molly’s Salty Dog Cruise,” set to leave from Miami, Florida, for a four-day, three-night trip to the Bahamas.

The floating music festival takes place aboard the 1734-passenger ship Norwegian Sky and features over a dozen performers, including Hepcat, GoGo Bordello, Mariachi El Bronx, and the Aggrolites. In addition to Hensley, a number of San Diego–based performers are featured, including Oceanside indie-rockers the Drowning Men, Patric Petrie, and Tim Foley of Celtic folk combo Skelpin.

On the subject of musical cruises, which number in the dozens, ranging from country extravaganzas to a Kiss-centric voyage, Hensley says, “Honestly, I didn’t know when we started to make our Salty Dog cruise happen that a lot of other bands and genres of music have these things going on.... The band has talked about doing nautical stuff [for] 20 years, but this is the first time we are making it happen.”

Hensley will be performing multiple duties on the ship, including playing two sets a night with Flogging Molly as well as DJ sets. He’ll also be leading what’s billed as “Morning hangover jogs.”

Hensley notes the ship has many venues, with music set to run into the wee hours.

The ship’s smaller pub sets will be led by Foley and Petrie. “I’m surprised this sort of thing didn’t become more popular earlier,” Petrie said. “A floating party to the Bahamas for four days, with thousands of people who love to listen to music. And no last call for alcohol?” she said. “What’s not to love?”