MARCH 7-14, 2020
2020 will mark JoCo Cruise’s tenth (!) sailing. We’re amazed—happily so!—at how this event has grown and thrived over the years, and we’re thrilled about how many people have made new friends, connected with old friends, and formed our cruise into such a warm, friendly, welcoming and happy community.
But you better hope that you’re not a “stop” in 2020, because we plan to pull out as many of them as possible as we gear up for JoCo Cruise 2020!
- this overview page for basic facts and resources
- travel and hotel advice on the pre-cruise page
- our cruise destinations and excursion info
- a complete list of 2019 guests and performers
- FAQs that cover all sorts of topics
IMPORTANT DATES
- 10/30/18 Mike, Storm & Zip had an idea
<This will become a list of important dates and deadlines -Mike>
2020 DESTINATIONS
DAY 1
FORT LAUDERDALE
We depart on our adventure! For more information on flights, hotels and everything else leading up to this, click below…
DAY 2
HALF MOON CAY
Holland America’s private island in the Caribbean. It’s an all-time favorite beach and relaxation spot for JoCo Cruise that’s also a protected nature preserve; it’s as close to the Castaway experience as you can get! (At least, while still having a bar, beach chairs and a ship to leave on.)
DAY 3
AT SEA
Enjoy the plethora of activities on board (panels, gaming, crafting, and dozens of other options); just chill by the pool or in your stateroom; your day is yours to do as you please; we’re not the boss of you!
DAY 4
SANTO DOMINGO
Cruise to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for a unique blend of colonial and modern city life plus beaches, waterfalls and rainforest adventures.
DAY 5
AT SEA
Once again enjoy the plethora of activities on board (panels, gaming, crafting, and dozens of other options); just chill by the pool or in your stateroom; your day is yours to do as you please; we’re still not the boss of you!
DAY 6
GRAND TURK
You’ll find sugar-white sand, brilliant blue waters, and a kaleidoscopic of sea life—and astronauts—on this jem of an island in the archipelago nation of Turks & Caicos. Visit the Turks and Caicos National Museum, the Grand Turk Lighthouse, the Cockburn Town waterfront, and the Splashdown Grand Turk exhibition celebrating astronaut John Glenn’s return to Earth in 1962, just off the coast.
DAY 7
AT SEA SOME MORE
Continue to enjoy the plethora of activities on board (panels, gaming, crafting, and dozens of other options); just chill by the pool or in your stateroom; your day is yours to do as you please; it’s abundantly clear by now that we’re not the boss of you!
DAY 8
FORT LAUDERDALE
We return to port.
2019 CRUISE NEWS
HOME OFFICE NEWS
- 11/XX/18 New website launched
- 6/10/18 The 2019 JoCo Cruise is officially SOLD OUT!
- 5/8/18 Only three cabins left
- 4/24/18 More guests added, check our lineup
2020 HELPFUL RESOURCES
Google Drive: Official THO Shared Folder
We’ve consolidated many of the documents in the section below into one folder to make things easier for you to download for offline viewing.
From The Home Office
The JoCo Cruise 2020 FAQ
A useful collection of the most Frequently Asked Questions about JoCo Cruise.
2020 Email Updates
Here’s an archive of news we’ve shared via email.
Tabletop Game Library
We assembled over one ton (literally, we weighed them) of games into a Game Library in the Main Dining Room, with 24-hour access. Includes games provided by JoCo Cruise, plus contributions on loan from your fellow seafarers.
2020 New Monkey Handbook
This is a handy guide for people new to the JoCo Cruise experience, to help you get an overall sense of the event and to find easy ways to dive in and “get into the swing of things,” so to speak.
2019 Online Merch Store
You can order merchandise online up until December 15th, 2018 that will be delivered directly to your state room on the ship. After that date, you can buy onboard – but through Holland America’s ship store at a significant markup.
Get Connected
2020 Sea Monkey Facebook Group
Fan-run, active group where you can usually find veteran cruisers who are happy to let you know the skinny.
Roommate-seeker Forums
The JoCo Cruise Discussion Forums are set up for people to post when they either have a booking and are seeking roommates, or are seeking a booking to join. Head on over to to join up. NOTE: before posting, be sure to read the pinned “Seeking roommates? READ THIS FIRST” topic for general formatting guidelines. This will make things easier both for you and the people seeking such listings.
Coming Soon™
2020 Schedule Of Events
Of course the performers, hangouts, and events won’t be exactly the same in 2020, but here’s the 2019 Sched to give you a pretty good idea of the sorts of things you can expect.
JoCo Cruise Event Guide
As with above, while 2020 won’t have the exact same artists and events, here’s the 2018 booklet gives you a good overview of the overall event. (You’ll receive a printed copy of the 2020 version of this Guide on Day 1.)
2020 Excursions
For a modest fee, Holland America arranges adventures you can share with fellow Sea Monkeys designed to maximize your time and fun while ashore. Beach and snorkeling trips, off-road Jeep tours, and history and culinary tours are just a sampling. Here’s the 2019 excursions to get idea of what is in store.
From Holland America
Holland America FAQ Guide
Holland America’s comprehensive web page for Cruise Preparation, which covers a wide range of topics, including documentation, baggage policy information and packing advice, dress code, childcare and youth activities, and much more.
“Know Before You Go” Guide (PDF)
Very thorough and covers a wide range of topics, including cruise preparation, documentation, baggage policy information and packing advice, childcare and youth activities, and much more.
see below for more facts and documents specific to the ship…
BASIC 2020 DATES
Friday, March 6th
It’s not required, but we recommend arriving in Fort Lauderdale the day before sailing.
Saturday, March 7th
Boarding is between 11:30 a.m. (approximately) and 3:30 p.m. For more info on what happens at sea, check out the destinations page and the schedule page.
Saturday, March 14th
We return to port in Fort Lauderdale at approximately 7 a.m., we recommend that no one should book flights before noon the same day.
FLIGHTS, HOTELS & TRANSPORTATION
Over the next year, we’ll post detailed and helpful information for planning ahead for the 2020 JoCo Cruise. For now you can refer to our 2019 info. Apart from sailing on different dates, the only significant 2020 change is that it’s unlikely JoCo Cruise will be able to arrange a group rate for a night-before hotel (“JoCoTel”).
SHIP SPECS
The Nieuw Amsterdam
HOLLAND AMERICA CRUISE LINE – SIGNATURE CLASS
This will be our first time sailing on a Signature Class ship, and wow it’s a doozy. Delivered to Holland America in 2010 and refit in 2017, its design and art (valued at more than $3M) are inspired by New York City. Most important: its layout will be fantastic for our events and hangouts, all week long.
Length: 285 m (935 ft)
Beam: 32 m (105 ft)
Draught: 7.9 m (26 ft)
Max speed: 23.9 knots (warp factor 0.00000034)
Decks: 11 passenger decks
Giant Squid Crush Resistance: Maximum
2020 SPONSORS
