August 2025 Newsletter

Ahoy JGOOT Cruisers!

Welcome to the August edition of the JGOOT Cruises Membership Newsletter! As always, we’re here to bring you top tips, exciting updates, and must-book deals to make your cruising experiences even better. Let's dive in!

🛳 Captain’s Tip: Pack a “First Day” Grab Bag

Don’t get stuck in your travel clothes while waiting for luggage to arrive at your cabin.

🎒 Pack a small carry-on bag with swimwear, sunscreen, a change of clothes, medications, and anything else you’ll want access to on Day 1.

🌊 Bonus: The pools, water slides, and splash zones are usually crowd-free on embarkation day—especially right after boarding. If your ship has a water park or rides, this is the perfect time to enjoy them with no lines.

🍹 Want to hit the pool, grab a drink, or explore the ship right away? This simple prep move means no waiting around—and no FOMO if your bags take their sweet time.

Start your cruise your way—bag smart, sail smooth.

New Curriculum! Last month, we added an all new video for the free/almost free cruises category-- you can find it under Lesson 5 in your course area. These are the upcoming multiplier events that correspond to that lesson.

73 NEW SHIPS COMING: There are currently 73 ocean cruise ships on order, set to add over 180,000 new berths to the seas by 2036—at a projected cost of nearly $65 billion. Four new ships were just delivered, including Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas (set to debut this August), plus luxury newcomers from Ritz-Carlton, Oceania, and Viking. Still to come in 2025: Disney’s Adventure and Destiny, Celebrity’s Xcel, Princess’s Star Princess, and Windstar’s first newbuild in decades, Star Seeker. Keep an eye out for Four Seasons’ first-ever mega yacht and even more small-ship additions from American Cruise Lines.

BIG WAVES COMING TO GREAT STIRRUP CAY: Norwegian Cruise Line is making a splash with a major transformation of its private island, Great Stirrup Cay—headlined by the Great Tides Waterpark, opening summer 2026. The nearly six-acre waterpark will feature 19 slides, cliffside jumps, an 800-foot fast-flowing river, swim-up bars, a glowing grotto tunnel, and a massive 9,000 sq ft splash zone for kids.

Additional enhancements include jet kart races, a heated pool (opening later this year), a multi-ship pier, island-wide tram service, and a variety of new amenities like mini golf, pickleball, new bars, shaded lounges, and an upgraded adults-only Vibe Shore Club. Get ready to play harder on your next NCL sailing!

PRINCESS PLUS & PREMIER PACKAGES GET ANOTHER UPDATE: After announcing changes earlier this week, Princess Cruises has made another adjustment to its onboard packages based on guest feedback: specialty coffees and teas are now unlimited in the Plus Package and no longer count toward the 15-drink daily limit.

Starting in 2026, the updated Plus Package ($65/day) includes four casual meals per voyage, single-device Wi-Fi, unlimited specialty coffee/tea, the Plus beverage package, and daily gratuities. The Premier Package ($100/day) features unlimited specialty and casual dining, a four-device Wi-Fi package, unlimited drinks, shore excursion credit, show reservations, digital photos, and prepaid crew appreciation. Both packages now also include waived OceanNow and room service fees. Prices apply to pre-cruise bookings, with an additional $5/day charge on Sun and Star Princess sailings.

CARNIVAL EXPANDS ALASKA 2027 WITH THREE SHIPS: Carnival just released its 2027 Alaska cruise lineup—featuring Carnival Spirit, Carnival Legend, and Carnival Luminosa—sailing over 50 itineraries from Seattle and San Francisco. Carnival Luminosa debuts from San Francisco after a 23-day transpacific journey from Sydney. Starting May 3, it will offer 10-day Alaska cruises and 4-day Baja Mexico getaways. Carnival Legend will sail from Seattle with 22 week-long Alaska cruises starting April 20, plus a 16-day repositioning cruise through the Panama Canal (with a stop in Acapulco for the first time since 2010) and a 16-day Hawaii sailing in September. Carnival Spirit kicks off with back-to-back Journeys sailings—including the Western Caribbean and a 16-day Panama Canal trip—before launching 7-day Alaska cruises from Seattle starting April 29. A special 15-day Hawaii sailing and a 9-day Alaska cruise with a stop in Sitka round out the season. If you’ve been dreaming of glaciers, fjords, and fresh air—Alaska 2027 just got even more exciting... and affordable.

SEABOURN’S POLE-TO-POLE GRAND EXPEDITION: Seabourn just announced its first-ever Grand Expedition Voyage—a 94-day “Pole to Pole” journey on the Seabourn Venture, sailing from the Arctic to Antarctica in 2027. We’re talking remote landings, tropical detours, 60 days of true expedition experiences, and expert-led adventures across 14 countries—plus a Polar Plunge, guided hikes, and even caviar on ice. While it’s definitely not budget travel (not even close), it’s perfect inspiration for planning your own DIY world cruise using points and everything we teach in the JGOOT cruises curriculum. Want to know how? Head to your bonus lessons in the course area—your guide to building a once-in-a-lifetime, globe-spanning itinerary (without the luxury price tag) is waiting.

TRUE CRIME FANS, THIS ONE’S FOR YOU: Virgin Voyages is launching a one-time True Crime Voyage this fall in partnership with iHeartMedia. The five-night Caribbean sailing departs October 10 from Miami aboard the Valiant Lady, with stops in Puerto Plata and the Beach Club at Bimini.

The twist? It’s themed entirely around iHeart’s most popular true crime podcasts—like Betrayal, Buried Bones, and Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know. Expect live recordings, behind-the-scenes workshops, meet-and-greets with hosts, and themed cocktails inspired by infamous cases. If your idea of a dream vacation includes sun, scandal, and a splash of mystery—this cruise might be your perfect alibi.