Groove Cruise Miami 2025 - the world’s largest music cruise - announces Whet Foundation giveback experiences 

Whet Travel’s flagship event, Groove Cruise, which sails from Miami on Thursday, January 23, 2025, is pleased to announce its 2025 Whet Foundation philanthropic initiatives.

The Whet Foundation, a Florida-based 501c3 organization, strives to uplift the lives of those less fortunate in a fun and engaging way while positively affecting an entire generation. The organization believes in making an impact through various initiatives, including Destination Donation, Mental Health Awareness, Celebration of Life, Community Captains, and Ocean Conservation.

Through Destination Donation, the Whet Foundation gives back to the destinations visited by Whet Travel clients, providing essential items to underprivileged children. Whet Foundation prioritizes Mental health awareness, offering soul-enriching sessions for all artists, attendees, and staff on board. The Celebration of Life Ceremony is where loved ones no longer with us are celebrated, and participants have the opportunity to share their stories. The Community Captains program identifies student leaders, fostering personal development and entrepreneurial spirit. Lastly, the Whet Foundation is dedicated to ocean conservation, organizing beach cleanups and events to raise awareness and support research efforts.

Groove Cruise Miami 2025 offers exciting ways for attendees to get involved, and many volunteers rate their Whet Foundation experience as the highlight of their cruise.

The Groove Cruise Miami 2025 Whet Foundation initiatives follow below.

DESTINATION DONATION

The Groove Cruise Miami 2025 Whet Foundation Destination Donation initiative will support malnourished children and families through Second Mile, focusing on reducing childhood malnutrition and improving health for women and children in Haiti. With a caregiver-centered approach, Second Mile addresses health and nutritional needs, offering education, training, and income-generating activities. Haiti has the highest maternal, infant, and child mortality rates in the Western Hemisphere, with 45% of the population facing severe food insecurity. Tragically, 1 in 10 Haitian children dies before age 5, and over 70% of parents seeking help at the Malnutrition Treatment Center have no income when their child falls ill.

We are asking the #GCFAM attendees to help collect the requested donations listed below for Second Mile. All donations can be brought to the Captain Support Desk on the first day of Groove Cruise Miami 2025. Captains attending Groove Cruise Miami 2025 can volunteer to deliver donations to the children and engage in activities, including art and music

CELEBRATION OF LIFE CEREMONY

The annual Celebration of Life Ceremony will be hosted to celebrate our loved ones who are no longer with us. The celebration consists of a biodegradable wreath and biodegradable note cards, where participants can share their stories, write a message to their loved ones, and put their message in the wreath to be thrown overboard. In many cultures, the ocean is a primary factor that makes life possible on Earth. Sending off the departed into the ocean symbolizes the end of physical life and the beginning of spiritual rebirth. With the written notes to loved ones, this allows all present to participate and share in this moving experience. It symbolizes a farewell and an opportunity for closure and healing.

MENTAL HEALTH TALKS & WORKSHOPS

When The Music Stops is a nonprofit and community that supports emotional and mental health through music, connection, and love. The Whet Foundation partners with When The Music Stops to facilitate mental health talks covering topics like meditation, maintaining balance, recognizing symptoms, and the power of journaling. When The Music Stops mental health talks and workshops aboard Groove Cruise Miami 2025, include The Power of Music Artist Panel, The Keys to Happiness Workshop, and The Power of Authentic Connection.

• The Power of Music Artist Panel: invites artists to share how music has impacted their lives. The GCFam can ask questions and share their own stories, creating bonds and positivity through music.

• The Keys to Happiness Workshop: This workshop is a wonderful opportunity for the GC Family to learn about the building blocks of happiness and how they can apply them to their daily lives.

• The Power of Authentic Connection: This interactive workshop will explore the power of authentic connection to foster deeper relationships and stronger community bonds.

“When The Music Stops loves working with Whet Foundation on the Groove Cruise for many reasons. The Groove Cruise family is loyal, loving, and caring for each other. The attendees of the Groove Cruise are more than just open to learning about their mental health; they also want to learn how to help others. Each year, When The Music Stops and Whet Foundation push the boundaries of their partnership by adding new layers to the mental health workshops and talks. These unique talks/workshops aren’t just educational but interactive and fun, leaving the Groove Cruise wanting more each year.” - Josh Donaldson, founder, When The Music Stops:

INDUSTRY PANELS

Neon Owl is a community focused on bridging the gap between music and philanthropy and inspiring others to live their most authentic, creative, and passionate lives. The Whet Foundation has teamed up with Neon Owl to bring attendees exclusive artist-hosted panels, offering valuable insights into the electronic dance music industry. Exclusive panels scheduled aboard Groove Cruise Miami 2025 include Breaking into the Music Industry, Behind the Artist, and a Demo Listening Party featuring top artists from the lineup.

“I attended my first Groove Cruise almost 10 years ago and immediately fell in love with Jason Beukema and the Groove Cruise team's passion for giving back. Since that first cruise, Neon Owl and Groove Cruise have started partnering up on our charity initiatives—whether it was gathering the headlining artists and our captains to participate or our charity merch line collaboration with Groove Cruise and other artists on board, the Whet Foundation initiative has been the most f ulfilling part of each sailing.” - Elaine Hwang, Founder, Neon Owl

Groove Cruise’s 2025 Miami voyage - an unforgettable journey aboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas - promises 96 hours of continuous music, a plethora of one-of-a-kind life-changing experiences, and Groove Cruise’s signature immersive programming. Attendees can look forward to 13 stages on the ship plus two on the island, with top-notch production, performances by esteemed DJs, daily theme parties, artist-led activities, beachside destination events, volunteer experiences, mental health discussions, and more. Groove Cruise artists are also known to pop up at the most unexpected places and times and play an impromptu set.

Groove Cruise has established itself as the world’s leading and largest floating dance music festival for over twenty years. Launched in 2004, it has become the most prominent music cruise event ever. Groove Cruise unites people worldwide, creating a second family affectionately known as the #GCFAM. The #GCFAM is connected by shared values, a love for music, and an inclusive spirit. This close-knit community fosters a sense of belonging, where attendees form lifelong friendships and connections. The welcoming camaraderie amplifies the entire experience, making Groove Cruise more than just a festival—it's a transformative journey surrounded by amazing people who feel like family. When you embark on Groove Cruise, it feels like one big family reunion.

At its core, Groove Cruise embodies the spirit of discovering your unique rhythm while building bonds with fellow cruisers.

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About Groove Cruise

Known as the world's first and largest premier floating dance music festival, Groove Cruise is the only music cruise to have sailed regularly from both the East and West coasts. It is a non-stop life-changing experience comprising four days of beach, pool, theme parties, numerous delectable restaurants, 24/7 electronic dance music, art installations, and exotic destination experiences. In addition to the standard cruise amenities, there are artist activities, Whet Oasis Zen Experience, world-class production, and various onboard events that rival the best dance music festivals in the world. Groove Cruise has won many awards since its inception in 2004, including Best Music Cruise, Best Fan Community (affectionately known as the GCFam), and has been rated the number 80 festival in the World by DJ Mag this year - a truly remarkable feat being named alongside festivals that boast 100 times the capacity of even the biggest cruise ships. Groove Cruise is produced by Whet Travel.

About Whet Travel

For over 20 years, Whet Travel has curated and produced more music cruises than any other independent company. Partnering with some of the cruise industry’s most recognized and trusted brands, the revolutionary company has executed over 60 wildly successful events, including Groove Cruise, Motorboat, Zen Cruise, Salsa Cruise, and Groove Island. Innovators since their launch in 2004, Whet Travel was named Inc. Magazine’s No. 4 fastest-growing travel company in the country, has won the prestigious “Charter Partner of the Year” award from both Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Lines, has been featured in USA Today, Billboard, Forbes, and was most recently awarded the Inc. 5000 America’s number 16 fastest-growing travel and hospitality company.

About Whet Foundation

The Whet Foundation is a Florida-based 501c3 organization that offers grassroots disaster relief for those experiencing hardships, mental health programming throughout the year and onboard, ocean clean-ups, and conservation with 4Ocean. It has built homes for single mothers in Mexico and the Bahamas. It creates impactful experiences for underprivileged children in South Florida, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Through the Community Captains and Destination Donation programs, Whet Foundation strives to help those less fortunate in a meaningful and engaging way while positively affecting an entire generation. The foundation gives back to local communities by supplying clothing, food, school supplies and donations, beach and community cleanups, painting and art programs, providing facility repair, and assisting with home and school structural improvement costs.

About Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas

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 of any genre in history. With an original cost of 1.2 billion, 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, 18 total decks, a full capacity of 6,780 passengers at double occupancy, and boasts a gross tonnage of 225,282.

Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas offers a wide range of luxury accommodations and activities, including a full-service spa and fitness rooms, aqua parks with thrilling water slides and a FlowRider surf simulator, a central park area with real trees and an open-air ambiance, zip lining 10 decks above the ship’s boardwalk, an ice skating rink, and more. The ship features a variety of suites with stunning ocean views across seven “neighborhoods” with their own unique character and an expansive variety of 22 dining options from all around the world, ranging from casual to fine dining