Groove Cruise Announces Daily Themes!
It’s the best of the best, a cruise and a festival all in one! Whet Travel’s flagship event Groove Cruise has unveiled its star-studded lineup for its 2025 event, sailing from Miami to the new destination of Falmouth, Jamaica from Thursday, January 23 – Monday, January 27, 2025 on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas. If you haven’t been on a cruise yet, here’s your chance!
Groove Cruise will continue its 20-year legacy as the first multi-day cruise ship that changes its themes and decor not once, but twice daily? Each day, there are two themes, both daytime and nighttime! This is one of the best parts of the festival! Have fun planning your outfits!
The festival will kick off on Thursday, January 23 with the annual theme of Represent, where attendees can wear something to represent their hometown or favorite sports team. If it was me, I’d do the Iowa Hawkeyes… but that’s just me! First-time Groove Cruise attendees or “Virgins” are encouraged to wear white and returning “Captains” can elect to wear a specific color based on how many Groove Cruise events they’ve attended. The first evening theme will be Nauti Sleepover, which is sure to be filled with naughty pajamas and lingerie. With nonstop music programming, attendees will dance the night away dressed in sleepover-inspired outfits. Sounds like one giant slumber party fun!
The following day, Groove Cruise will boast two vibrant themes for attendees to revel in, as if day 1 wasn’t enough. The festival will transform into 50 Shades of Candyland, with unlimited costume ideas from the nostalgic 1950s board game or any sweet treat! Sounds like a fun and rainbow event! Attendees can explore the creative costumes of Queen Frostine, Princess Lolly, King Kandy, and more. In the evening, Hollywood attire and movie characters will flood the Allure of the Seas for Stars on Deck. The “lights, camera, action” theme will promote costumes such as the attendees’ favorite cartoon character or movie star. Are you all in on the costumes or what?
For the destination day on Saturday, January 25, attendees will disembark at the idyllic location of Falmouth with the tropical theme of Tropic Like It’s Hot, which is aptly fitting. The beach day will excite Captains to wear hula costumes, fruit-forward gear, or island fashion. Back on the ship, the late-night hours will boast the playful theme OnlyFarms – to welcome cowboys, farm animals, and more. Transforming into a mystical farmland, Groove Cruise Captains will don themselves in their country best. I don’t know about you but that’s one theme I’d have to go shopping for!
The fourth and final day will feature the daytime Neon Splash to brighten up the ship with classic rave gear to soak up the sun. Of course, I’m prepped in this area! The festival will close out the evening with the fantasy-inspired Realm of Enchantment to welcome fairies, unicorns, dragons, witches, wizards, and so much more. Oh my, how fun!!!
The festival will feature iconic global dance music stars who will make their Groove Cruise debuts including headliners like audiovisual extraordinaire Eric Prydz, UK partystarter James Hype, Italian powerhouse trio MEDUZA, IN THE MOOD boss and global tastemaker Nicole Moudaber, as well as Ophelia Records founder Seven Lions as a special guest.
Committed to showcasing the ever-changing landscape of the electronic music realm, Groove Cruise will also welcome a bevy of first-time support acts for the monumental 2025 event including iHeartRadio’s 2023 Dance Music Artist of the Year Anabel Englund, German artist BUNT., energetic big room act Cheyenne Giles, English progressive house maestro Cristoph, techno titan Ida Engberg, reality TV star and DJ James Kennedy, Swedish melodic wizard Jeremy Olander, Norwegian duo Kream, contemporary techno selector Layton Giordani, Revealed Recordings favorite Maddix, French tech house producer Matt Sassari, Australian DJ/producer Odd Mob, house music connoisseur Tita Lau, and Finnish melodic king YOTTO.
Additional debut acts taking the Groove Cruise stage for the first time include Los Angeles based producer/DJ AIMMIA, Northern Virginia-based melodic bass act ALLEYCVT, underground queen Annicka, Las Vegas resident DJ Ruckus, Canadian cinematic bass producer Far Out, San Diego act GUDFELLA, Nashville-based artist it’s murph, German progressive house queen Pretty Pink, STEREOHYPE label manager and DJ R3WIRE, American EDM group TELYKAST, Minnesota duo TWINSICK, and New York-based country electronic act Vavo.
Groove Cruise veterans that will be returning to the stage in 2025 include longtime festival favorites Chicago house icon Gene Farris, influential trance act Markus Schulz, GRAMMY-winning artist Roger Sanchez, psytrance boss Blastoyz, multifaceted artist AMIDY, Incorrect Music boss Anthony Attalla, tech house maverick Casmalia, emotive dubstep duo Crystal Skies, energetic act Dada Life, masked duo DEEPFAKE, melodic duo Gem & Tauri, UK tech house ace Joshwa, dubstep artist Luci, house duo Max Low, melodic bass purveyor MitiS, house music act Ranger Trucco, and cinematic bass wizard Trivecta.
Additionally, masters of the trance music genre Ørjan Nilsen and Mark Sixma will bring their brand new collaborative project Nilsix to Groove Cruise for the first time, as well as perform individual sets.
Groove Cruise is well known in the festival community for curating a strong and diverse lineup that includes label takeovers as well. This year, they will welcome a slew of first-time label takeovers for 2025. Nicole Moudaber will host her iconic IN THE MOOD imprint, James Hype will showcase the sound of his STEREOHYPE label, and Seven Lions will be at the helm of the debut Ophelia Records takeover. Additionally, country-electronic act Vavo will host a genre-crossing takeover with Barnyard.
Attendees, better known as Captains, will be able to enjoy everything the festival has to offer and takeovers including from Gene Farris’ Carnival, Anthony Attalla’s Incorrect, MitiS’ RE:BORN, and Adam Scott’s Trance, Bro!.
If the lineup hasn’t already gotten you sold on attending, you get a brand new location for the 2025 adventure! To maintain the safety of attendees due to current conditions in Haiti, Groove Cruise has elected to sail from Miami, Florida to the picturesque destination of Falmouth, Jamaica aboard the Allure of the Seas. As a member of the world’s second-largest cruise ship class, this sailing will mark the world’s biggest music cruise in history with a full capacity of more than 6,780 passengers. That’s a small number, so don’t sleep on tickets!
Awarded Best Large Cruise Ship by GOLD Travvy Awards, Best For Entertainment by Cruisers’ Choice Awards, and Best Individual Cruise Ship by Readers’ Choice Awards, Allure of the Seas will be the largest and most innovative Groove Cruise ship to date and will be the biggest music cruise in history. Allure of the Seas is part of the Oasis Class of cruise ships, the second largest ship class in the world with a length of over 1,187 ft, and 18 total decks. With an original cost of $1.2 billion, Allure of the Seas boasts a gross tonnage of 225,282 GT.
Settled along the shores of the Caribbean Sea, Falmouth will serve as a captivating destination for Groove Cruise Captains. The coastal town is steeped in rich heritage with historic landmarks and museums and offers an array of thrilling activities and attractions including snorkeling, jet skiing, jungle excursions, zip lining, cultural walking tours, horseback riding, ATV tours, river tubing, and more. Falmouth’s alluring beaches, Doctor’s Cave and Burwood, boast crystal clear waters and vibrant coral reefs for attendees to divulge in.
Outside of organizing unforgettable parties, Whet Travel also runs its own non-profit 501c3 organization, Whet Foundation. Started by Groove Cruise and Whet Travel‘s founder Jason Beukema, the non-profit seeks to impact the communities visited by Whet Travel cruises, inviting cruise attendees to donate and volunteer at their events. The foundation gives back to local communities by supplying clothing, musical instruments, food, school donations, beach and community cleanups, painting and art programs, and providing facility repair and improvement costs.
Although Groove Cruise will not sail to Labadee, Haiti in 2025, Whet Foundation will still continue with a charitable initiative for Second Mile Haiti to provide urgent aid. The organization provides nutritional support to save children’s lives and educate caregivers in order to prevent malnutrition. Due to the current situation in the south of Haiti, supplies have become extremely limited for those in need and Whet Foundation will be collecting donations and monetary aid to support Second Mile to avert life-threatening complications to send to Haiti. Donate to Second Mile Haiti here.
Following the smash success of the 20th anniversary sailing in January 2024, the 37th sailing of Groove Cruise will feature 96 hours of nonstop music! In addition to music, make sure you take time to take part in the other activities like daily themes with dedicated parties, Whet Oasis wellness experiences, artist-hosted activities, unique destination excursions, Whet Foundation volunteer experience, mental health panels & workshops, and so much more.
Groove Cruise 2025 is 96% sold out, with very limited staterooms still available via https://www.groovecruise.com/miami2025