Groove Cruise Miami 2025 An inside look at the largest music cruise in history
A non-stop 96-hour transformational journey at sea filled with unprecedented B2B performances across 15 stages, two private beach parties in Labadee, Haiti, eight outrageous theme parties, an immersive 360 experience in Studio B, the return of Abraxis,
seven weddings, and an absolute shipload of surprises.
Whet Travel’s flagship event, Groove Cruise, set sail from Miami on Thursday, January 23, and embarked on a 96-hour, 15-stage marathon of non-stop music and lasting memories. Groove Cruise is a transformational journey at sea. Quite simply, you will be changed by attending. Whether it’s letting loose with likeminded souls who leave their worries and excess baggage at the port, taking a leap and doing something new and outside your comfort zone, or soaking in a genuinely unparalleled musical adventure filled with surprises, twists, and turns – Groove Cruise is an experience like nothing else in the world.
Here’s a recap of what went down…
(Day Theme: Represent / Night Theme: Nauti Sleepover) After a seamless boarding process at PortMiami, Captains (Groove Cruise attendees) entered the promenade of Royal Caribbean’s breathtaking Allure of the Seas to a festive and welcoming atmosphere. Remarkably, 13 onboard stages were built on the first day of the cruise (two more were built on Royal Caribbean’s private island on gorgeous Labadee, Haiti) — a testament to their professional and dedicated team—so this gave all Captains ample opportunity to get settled, uniquely decorate their staterooms, and catch up with old friends before the programming got underway. And what a way to get things started…making his Groove Cruise debut, Eric Prydz’s sunset set was pure magic as he took over the Aquatheater for a rare intimate performance with the Miami skyline as the backdrop. An incredible 400-drone show delighted the crowd before James Hype B2B MEDUZA hit the stage and drove everyone into a frenzy. Elsewhere, Markus Schulz took over the massive Amber Theater for a marathon open-to-close set that spanned 11 PM to 5 AM; the much talked about 360-degree “Boiler Room-at-sea” type venue Studio B hosted sets from Tita Lau and James Hype while the Solarium transitioned from downtempo and spiritual deep house programming to after hours with the likes of Alley Kay, Layton Giordani, MEDUZA (techno set), Roger Sanchez and Ranger Trucco that kept on going until noon.
(Day Theme: 50 Shades of Candyland / Night Theme: Stars on Deck)
Daytime activities are now in full swing, and there’s always something fun and unique to do on Groove Cruise. We start the day with heart-pumping poolside exercise at the Crusher Camp ft. Keith Christopher. Think a certain classic Eric Prydz video comes to life as an inclusive group of captains decked out in neon 80’s style spandex gets the blood flowing with high-energy calisthenics. For those seeking mental nourishment, When The Music Stops hosted The Power of Music Artist Panel, where invited artists shared how music has impacted their lives. Neon Owl presented two of its artist-hosted panels – Behind the Artist, and a Demo Listening Party – offering valuable insights into the electronic dance music industry. The annual Celebration of Life Ceremony was hosted at the Amber Theater to celebrate our loved ones who are no longer with us. The celebration consisted of a biodegradable wreath and note cards, where participants shared their stories, wrote a message to their loved ones, and put their message in the wreath to be thrown overboard. The day was rounded out by fun artist-led activities and hosted dinners, leading to an incredible night of music programming. Highlights include a surprise appearance from Gabriel & Dresden in the Promenade, Blastoyz B2B Markus Schulz at the Amber Theater, Ranger Trucco B2B Joshwa in Studio B, pool deck DJ sets from the likes of It’s Murph and Alley Kay, the Taking Back Emo and old school Hip-Hop parties and a 5-hour sunrise set from Anthony Attalla, which led into an early morning set from Gene Farris to keep the music going and going.
Saturday, January 25
(Day Theme: Neon Splash / Night Theme: Realm of Enchantment)
The last full day on Groove Cruise. It’s been all a blur in the best possible way. You know what they say: time flies when you’re having fun. This trip felt like it went by at the speed of light. The daytime programming is on point with many artist-led activities ranging from Slots and Blackjack tournaments to blindfolded yoga with Yotto and mini golf with Nilsix. There’s truly something for everyone. It’s a chill vibe, and for good reason, tonight’s musical programming is a tour-de-force of B2B sets—an absolute dream for dance music lovers. The Aquatheater went hard with Aimmia B2B Max Low, Anthony Attalla B2B Gene Farris, Joshwa B2B Odd Mob, Christoph B2B Yotto, Layton Giordani B2B Nicole Moudaber, and Roger Sanchez B2B Nicole Moudaber B2B Kristen Knight, while Studio B featured Anabel Englund B2B with Deeper Purpose. Ophelia Records took over Amber Theater for a massive closing party featuring artists including Mitis, Seven Lions, Blastoyz B2B Trivecta, and a unique family set featuring all seven Ophelia artists who performed on stage this evening.
Monday, January 27
Is the party over? Nah, it’s 3 AM, and there are still a few more hours before we get off the ship. You never know what you’ll run into on Groove Cruise, and when the opportunity presents itself to attend a suite party on the 17th floor, we’re all in. Deeper Purpose and Joshwa bring in the PA and throw down an impromptu B2B “suite set” as we traverse the high seas en route to Miami while Roger Sanchez Classics set rounds out the emotional tracks that got many of the GCFAM hooked on dance music—one final sendoff to a magical experience on Groove Cruise 2025.
Groove Cruise Miami 2025 achieved its greatest philanthropic impact yet through the Whet Foundation’s Destination Donation Initiative. Aid reached communities affected by hurricanes on the East Coast, wildfires in California, and malnourished children and expecting mothers in Haiti. Donations included hundreds of mattresses, bedding, and nonperishable goods for displaced families, as well as clothing, medical supplies, and technology to support Haiti’s newest maternity center. Groove Cruise continues to prove that, with the support of the Whet Foundation, music, and the community can create lasting change.
“When I started Groove Cruise 21 years ago on credit card debt, I had a dream to one day charter a ship this big, but I never knew the transformational impact it would have on so many lives—with the planets aligning for the first time in billions of years while we were at sea, meaning that the 2025 experience was going to be deeper and more impactful than ever before. Nearly everyone’s expectations were shattered by the music, the production level, including an insane drone show, but most importantly, the people and vibe. I’ve never seen so many people being free, spreading so much joy and love, and we’ve never had so much positive feedback. It was a floating utopia. I am so grateful to our incredible team who could not have possibly poured more of their heart and soul into this experience, the incredible artists, and the Royal Caribbean team. It took two years to create this GC, and for 2026, we will level up once again on the even bigger and more luxurious Wonder of the Seas as we delve deeper into the impact Groove Cruise has on the lives of each captain and in turn, their friends, family, jobs, and communities back home. That’s the Groove Effect, and it all starts with a ripple started by the captains who sail on Groove Cruise.” – Jason Beukema, CEO and founder, Whet Travel/Groove Cruise
While Groove Cruise 2025 is now a lifelong core memory for thousands, the 2026 installment of Groove Cruise is on sale and already 91% sold out, with all suites and most categories gone. Sailing from January 22-26, 2026, Groove Cruise will take place aboard Royal Caribbean’s colossal Wonder of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship by staterooms, offering a transformational journey at sea once again, elevating the festival to new heights with unparalleled luxury, adventure, and world-class entertainment, with 96 hours of non-stop dance music across 15 stages, 100+ world-class DJs and producers, and much more. Making her debut in 2022, The Wonder of the Seas features eight unique neighborhoods, each offering a distinctive vibe, and is home to over 40 bar & dining experiences.
Notable highlights include the brand-new Suite Neighborhood, a Royal Caribbean first, offering an exclusive, elevated space for captains seeking luxury and privacy. Featuring the Celestial Suite, this exclusive, luxurious suite redefines opulence, providing the perfect haven for a group of up to 10 Captains seeking the ultimate Groove Cruise experience. Featuring a private plunge pool, a fully stocked bar, a slide, and an expansive living area, this suite offers an unmatched level of comfort and privacy while personalized butler service ensures every need is met. For those craving a taste of Southern comfort, the Mason Jar restaurant and bar serves up Southern staples and new twists on classics, perfect for brunch, dinner, or late-night cravings. Captains can race down the tallest slide at sea, The Ultimate Abyss, the FlowRider surf simulator, twin rock climbing walls, The Perfect Storm, a trio of high-speed waterslides, a 10-story-high zip line and the Central Park neighborhood lined by more than 20,000 natural plants.
Groove Cruise 2026 is over 91% sold-out. Reserve your spot now at GrooveCruise.com.