Groove Cruise Announces Charity and Mental Health Initiatives for 2024 Sailing

Groove Cruise and Whet Foundation are giving back to others and supporting the community with artist-hosted activities, panels, and more.

While the non-stop music and partying on Groove Cruise is undoubtedly the draw for many who set sail, there’s plenty more that this festival on the high seas does each time they embark on a new journey. Their non-profit, Whet Foundation, also kicks back into action with charity initiatives and volunteer opportunities for members of the Groove Cruise Family to help local communities they travel to while fostering experiences to assist those struggling with mental health.

Whet Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that was started by Whet Travel and Groove Cruise founder Jason Beukema. Since its inception, they have given back to communities with donations of clothing, food, school supplies, and more. While most prominently found during their sailings, they’ve also come to the assistance of those during the off-season, recently raising funds for the Rebuild a Home Destination Donation event earlier this year that allowed a local family in the Bahamas to rebuild their home after a fire destroyed it.

The 20th-anniversary sailing of Groove Cruise is approaching closer by the day and will be the next chance for those who want to give back to be able to do so. One of the biggest initiatives during the upcoming sailing is Destination Donation. This allows Captains to volunteer and hand out donated items to children at the RN Gomez Comprehensive School and the Revival Time Highway Church of God, which is currently in reconstruction. Those interested in supporting this initiative can sign up to volunteer via their website or can donate items from their list or money by visiting the Captain Support Desk on the first day of the trip.

Groove Cruise also announced that they’ve partnered with When The Music Stops, a nonprofit focused on mental health, to offer various workshops and panels throughout the sailing. This includes Nightlife & The Balance of Life with artists, The Power of Journaling, and the GC History Fireside Chat hosted by When The Music Stops and Rave Culture Cast. Neon Owl will also be on board with music industry talks, while Jason Beukema will host the annual Celebration of Life ceremony to honor those who have passed.

Captains looking for some added fun during Groove Cruise can also participate in a variety of artist-hosted activities. Whether you want to play Mario Kart with VNSSA and Lilly Palmer, NBA2K with Gene Farries, practice yoga with LP Giobbi, or play laser tag with HALIENE, there are plenty of activities to choose from, with donations going to the Destination Donation initiative. Additionally, you can even grab dinner with artists like Gabriel & Dresden, Markus Schulz, Gem & Tauri, and more. Head to their website to sign up now.

Groove Cruise will be sailing on the Norwegian Encore from January 24-28. Rooms are sold out, but you can join the waitlist if you want to hop on the ship this winter!