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Email Archive

This is an archive of e-mail sent out from The Home Office - official communications. Separated by sailing.

~ ~ ~ E-mail content is listed from most recent to least recent. ~ ~ ~

Not getting the e-mails? E-mail booking@jococruise.com

Scroll down for emails regarding previous sailings.

2024

[January 12, 2023] JoCo Cruise 2024 Booking is NOW OPEN

JoCo Cruise 2024 Booking is NOW OPEN!

https://book.jococruise.com/2024/#/book/

JoCo Cruise 2024 - March 9-16, 2024
on Holland America's ms Nieuw Amsterdam
sailing from Fort Lauderdale, FL
to Grand Turk, Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), and Half Moon Cay (Bahamas)

JoCo Cruise 2024 booking is open as of RIGHT THIS SECOND, and we are SO EXCITED that we are FORCED TO RESORT TO ALL-CAPS TO CONVEY OUR EXCITEMENT!

On March 9-16, 2024, we'll be back once again on our “home base,” Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam. And we're thrilled to revisit a favorite port of call for many JoCo Cruisers (HAL's private Bahamian island resort of Half Moon Cay); a “new” port for us in Grand Turk (“new” because we were supposed to visit there in 2020, but a certain burgeoning pandemic situation had other plans for us); and a new-with-no-scare-quotes port of call for us in the Dominican Republic's Puerto Plata.

Important Links

All relevant information is on the JoCo Cruise website, but here's a few of the most important links:

Discounts

We once again have a number of discounts available for booking JoCo Cruise 2024:
https://jococruise.com/2024pricing/#discounts

  • Early Booking: those who book before April 1, 2023 will receive $75 off per berth.
  • Returner:
    • $50 per berth if you’ve sailed on one previous JoCo Cruise (“MonoTurner”)
    • $125 per berth if you’ve sailed on two or more previous JoCo Cruises (“MultiTurner”)
  • Toddler/Infant: a $400 per-child discount for children under the age of 3 as of the date of sailing (March 9, 2024)
  • Child: a $250 per-child discount for children between the ages of 3 and 12 years old as of the date of sailing (March 9, 2024)
  • 3% Pay in Full: the Pay in Full Discount of 3% of the total retail cost of the booking (calculated after any other applicable discounts have been applied) will be available to the first 300 bookings that are paid in full at the time of booking.

To be sure that all applicable discounts are applied to your booking, please log into your existing JoCo Cruise User Account when prompted during the booking process. (If you don't have one, you'll be prompted to create one.)

PLEASE note that, to qualify for applicable discounts, you must submit deposits for all planned passengers in your cabin. For example, if you purchase a single occupancy cabin and later decide to upgrade to double occupancy, your added passenger may not be eligible for any or all of the currently-applicable discounts.

Again, complete details on the above discounts can be found on our Pricing Page.
https://jococruise.com/2024pricing/

A Few Notes

  • If your preferred cabin type is sold out, you may add yourself to the wait list for any cabin type. “Sold Out” cabins may become available due to cancellations, inventory adjustment, etc.; we will notify you if any cabins in your desired category (or categories) become available.
    https://jococruise.com/2024-wait-list/
    • NOTE: first priority goes to those on the wait list who are already booked on JoCo Cruise 2024, but are seeking to switch to another cabin category.
  • If you don't have complete information for the passengers in your booking, the system gives you the option to enter that information later, and/or to invite others to fill out their information on your booking.
    • If others in your booking have an existing JoCo Cruise User Account, please invite them to connect and log in via that account; doing so will keep their JoCo Cruise history accurate.
  • Finally, if you encounter any problems or issues during booking, or don't receive a discount you believe your booking qualifies for, please email us at booking@jococruise.com.

422 days!

THO.

[January 10, 2023] JoCo Cruise 2024 Booking is NOW OPEN

JoCo Cruise 2024 Booking is NOW OPEN!

https://book.jococruise.com/2024/#/book/

JoCo Cruise 2024 - March 9-16, 2024
on Holland America's ms Nieuw Amsterdam
sailing from Fort Lauderdale, FL
to Grand Turk, Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), and Half Moon Cay (Bahamas)

JoCo Cruise 2024 booking is open as of RIGHT THIS SECOND, and we are SO EXCITED that we are FORCED TO RESORT TO ALL-CAPS TO CONVEY OUR EXCITEMENT!

On March 9-16, 2024, we'll be back once again on our “home base,” Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam, and we're thrilled to revisit a favorite port of call for many JoCo Cruisers (HAL's private Bahamian island resort of Half Moon Cay), a “new” port for us in Grand Turk (“new” because we were supposed to visit there in 2020, but a certain burgeoning pandemic situation had other plans for us), and a new-with-no-scare-quotes port of call for us in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.

As a reminder, we're not broadly publicizing 2024 booking until this Thursday (Jan. 12th); for now we're only telling you, our friends who are already booked on JoCo Cruise 2023, about it. This will give you all the first shot at booking your preferred cabin type before we start ringing bells in metaphorical town squares about it all.

Important Links

All relevant information is on the JoCo Cruise website, but here's a few of the most important links:

Discounts

We once again have a number of discounts available for booking JoCo Cruise 2024:
https://jococruise.com/2024pricing/#discounts

  • Early Booking: those who book before April 1, 2023 will receive $75 off per berth.
  • Returner:
    • $50 per berth if you’ve sailed on one previous JoCo Cruise (“MonoTurner”)
    • $125 per berth if you’ve sailed on two or more previous JoCo Cruises (“MultiTurner”)
  • Toddler/Infant: a $400 per-child discount for children under the age of 3 as of the date of sailing (March 9, 2024)
  • Child: a $250 per-child discount for children between the ages of 3 and 12 years old as of the date of sailing (March 9, 2024)
  • 3% Pay in Full: the Pay in Full Discount of 3% of the total retail cost of the booking (calculated after any other applicable discounts have been applied) will be available to the first 300 bookings that are paid in full at the time of booking.

To be sure that all applicable discounts are applied to your booking, please log into your existing JoCo Cruise User Account when prompted during the booking process. (If you don't have one, you'll be prompted to create one.)

PLEASE note that, to qualify for applicable discounts, you must submit deposits for all planned passengers in your cabin. For example, if you purchase a single occupancy cabin and later decide to upgrade to double occupancy, your added passenger may not be eligible for any or all of the currently-applicable discounts.

Again, complete details on the above discounts can be found on our Pricing Page.
https://jococruise.com/2024pricing/

A Few Notes

  • If your preferred cabin type is sold out, you may add yourself to the wait list for any cabin type. “Sold Out” cabins may become available due to cancellations, inventory adjustment, etc.; we will notify you if any cabins in your desired category (or categories) become available.
    https://jococruise.com/2024-wait-list/
    • NOTE: first priority goes to those on the wait list who are already booked on JoCo Cruise 2024, but are seeking to switch to another cabin category.
  • If you don't have complete information for the passengers in your booking, the system gives you the option to enter that information later, and/or to invite others to fill out their information on your booking.
    • If others in your booking have an existing JoCo Cruise User Account, please invite them to connect and log in via that account; doing so will keep their JoCo Cruise history accurate.
  • Finally, if you encounter any problems or issues during booking, or don't receive a discount you believe your booking qualifies for, please email us at booking@jococruise.com.

424 days!

THO.

2023

[March 21, 2023] Closing Friday - The JoCo Cruise 2023 Post-Cruise Survey

Post-Cruise Survey Ends This Friday

Heads-up: the JoCo Cruise 2023 Post-Cruise Survey will be open through this coming Friday, March 24th. If you haven't had a chance to fill it out (or started to but didn't complete it yet), you have through this coming Friday to do so. Here's the link again:

https://bit.ly/JoCoCruise2023Attendees

And to those of you who have already taken the survey, we thank you greatly for your participation. The feedback you provide is very important to us, and helps to guide future JoCo Cruises.

Seeing checkboxes and matrices in our sleep,

THO.

[March 17, 2023] UPDATE to the Update Re: Post-Cruise Survey

UPDATE to the Update Re: Post-Cruise Survey

As we're receiving reports that the prior instructions to revise your survey responses are not working for many of you, we've created a separate, supplemental survey with only the questions missing for the Thursday responses to the post-cruise survey.

Apologies again for all this runaround, but genuinely care about your thoughts and feedback on the topics involved.

So if you responded on Thursday to the post-cruise survey and wish to register any responses and/or additional comments on any of the following topics:

  • TV and Onboard Internet
  • Shipboard Accessibility
  • Code of Conduct
  • COVID-19 Policies

…you can go to the following (aptly-customized) link:

https://bit.ly/2023SurveyOops

So many detentions. So many laps.

Thanks yet again,

THO.

[March 17, 2023] Update Re: the Post-Cruise Survey

Fixing an Error Re: the Post-Cruise Survey

Due to a “page logic” error on the part of certain nameless Principals and Coaches, a couple sections of the post-cruise survey were accidentally skipped on all respondents' surveys on Thursday. Specifically, the pages regarding TV and Onboard Internet, Shipboard Accessibility, Code of Conduct, and COVID-19 Policies. We apologize for this error. The parties responsible have been given detention and made to run laps, respectively.

If you filled out the survey yesterday (Thursday) and your browser accepts cookies from surveymonkey.com, you should be able to return to your survey to add your responses to these pages if you wish to leave any feedback on those aspects of the cruise. (They should be a little over two-thirds of the way through the survey.) All responses from Friday onward should now include these sections, and no additional action is required.

The link, once more, is https://bit.ly/JoCoCruise2023Attendees

Our apologies again for this oversight.

THO.

[March 16, 2023] Post-Cruise Survey

Thank You!

Another JoCo Cruise is in the proverbial books! We wanted to thank you all again for making this event so special, both this year and every year. You are quite literally the ones who make JoCo Cruise what it is, and we remain ever grateful for your participation and your enthusiasm, and for sharing your time, your stories, and your joy with us.

Also, for your collective reference: JoCo Cruisers put 12,762 quarters into the Pushy Quarters machine this year. (That's roughly 159.5 pounds' worth, or a stack of quarters 73.3 feet, or 12.66 Principal Sabourins, tall.) And we had roughly $1 million worth of fun doing it, so who're the big winners now?

Post-Cruise Survey

We ask that you please take the time to fill out our post-cruise feedback survey. Besides the cruise itself, it's the most important thing we do each year, because it's through your collective thoughts and feedback on the event that can we effectively work to improve it.

https://bit.ly/JoCoCruise2023Attendees

We know that this survey isn't short. But every section is important, and we greatly appreciate your taking the time to fill it out. You also don't have to complete it in one sitting; if your browser accepts cookies from surveymonkey.com, returning to the above link should take you directly to the page following your last completed page.

Because we'd like our results to be as complete as possible, please be sure to share this survey URL with everyone in your booking, particularly if they don't have a JoCo Cruise User Account. Also feel free to share it with friends who weren't on JoCo Cruise 2023; there are sections relevant to them as well. All responses to this survey are anonymous.

See you again Soon™!

THO.

[March, 3, 2023] The Very Basic-est of Basics for Embark Day; Some Final Notes

Basics for Embarkation Day

We know things can get kinda overwhelming on the first day for new JoCo Cruisers. You've gotten a lot of emails from us (and from HAL). If it's all a little too much, here's the super-important bullet points; follow these and you'll be okay…

  • When arriving at the cruiseport (Pier 26 at Port Everglades), make sure you have your passport or other travel documents handy—i.e., not packed in your luggage.
  • Also have your boarding pass handy—either a printed version or the electronic version found on HAL's Navigator app.
  • HAL should have assigned you a boarding time via email; arrive at that time. (If you aren't assigned a boarding time by HAL by Sunday morning, please plan to arrive at 1:30 pm.)
  • Follow the instructions of the cruiseport staff for the security and check-in process; then head through to the JoCo Cruise staff for your badge and lanyard.
  • Once onboard, your room should be ready for you; your room key(s) will be found in a sealed envelope outside your door. You also use your key to pay for pretty much anything onboard, and you'll need it for getting off and back on the ship at ports of call.
  • Orientation—open to anyone, but especially encouraged for first-timers—is at 3 pm in the Lido Pool Area (Deck 9, midship). But keep an ear out for an announcement moving it to the main theater (the World Stage).
  • Red Team: dinner 5:30 pm, main concert 8 pm.
    Gold Team: main concert 5:30 pm, dinner 8 pm.

Everything else—the sail away party, other events on Day 1, etc.—will be icing on the proverbial cake. Dive in and have fun! Or step in slowly and have fun!

Lineup/Schedule Adjustments

Unfortunately, performers Brennan Lee Mulligan and Isabella Roland won't be able to join us onboard until Wednesday (the day we're in San Juan).

Accordingly, we've adjusted the scheduling of a few official events:

  • The RPG panel has moved to Friday (Mar. 10th) at 12 pm
  • The “Adapt This!: Taking Books and Bringing Them to Screen” panel has moved to Friday (Mar. 10th) at 10 am
  • The “Beyond the Novel: Memoir, Biography, Non-Fiction and More” panel has moved to Monday (Mar. 6th) at 10 am
  • The “One-Shot RPG Adventure - D&D” event has moved to Wednesday (Mar. 8th) at 10 pm
  • The “Disney Sing-along” event has moved to Monday (Mar. 6th) at 10 pm

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Daytime Quiet Zone

The daily Daytime Quiet Zone will now be in the port side of the Tamarind Restaurant. (It had previously been planned for the starboard side.) The hours (10 am - 3 pm) remain the same.

Smoking Section on Day 1

Due to of the combination of stage construction and the ship loading fuel while at the cruiseport, the smoking section on Embarkation Day (Day 1, Sun. Mar. 5) will be temporarily moved to the starboard side of Deck 10, aft—i.e., just above the Deck 9 Sea View Deck area—until approximately 4 pm.

Please also note that the stage construction will block certain access points to this area, and might require us to close this new smoking area at times without prior notice, for unknown durations. We appreciate everyone's understanding and flexibility regarding this.

Two days!

THO.

[March 3, 2023] Twit-arr Codes

Twit-arr Key Code

As it was foretold in our last email, below is your own personal Twit-arr key code. Once you're onboard, you can use the below code to create an account on Twit-arr, the web-based JoCo Cruise-specific messaging, calendaring, and social service developed and provided by JoCo Cruisers like you. (As emailed previously, Twit-arr runs on the ship's network; you don't need to pay for Internet access to use it; many attendees use it to varying degrees, but nobody is obligated to.) You can find a PDF with a general overview and full instructions for Twit-arr at https://bit.ly/Twitarr2023.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zYUyDWCU76z-Z2JllaJjd9TiJk7xiqmj/view

Again, only try this once you're onboard; your code won't work before then…

Twit-arr key for NAME NAME: X#X ##X

NOTE: This code is unique to YOU. Codes may be used to create one account ONLY. If you forget your code or have other code related questions, visit the JoCo Cruise Info Desk onboard during its normal hours of operation.

Two days!

THO.

[February 28, 2023] Check-in Reminder; Anti-Grav Derby; New Attendee Reminder; Time Changes and Sched Notes

Check in Online

Yet another reminder: if you haven't yet, go to the HAL site to check in online before March 2. This will save you much time and headache in the cruiseport, and you can feel smugly superior to those who didn't do so as you breeze past them and onto the ship.
https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/log-in/sso-log-in.html?login=olci

Twit-arr

Twit-arr is a web-based JoCo Cruise-specific messaging, calendaring, and social service developed and provided by JoCo Cruisers like you. It works over the ship's network, and you don't need to purchase Internet access to use it. If you wish, once you're onboard JoCo Cruise, you may create an account and use Twit-arr. (Your code won't work before then.) Many folks use it to varying degrees during the week, though you're not obligated to.

You can find a PDF with a general overview and full instructions for Twit-arr at https://bit.ly/Twitarr2023.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zYUyDWCU76z-Z2JllaJjd9TiJk7xiqmj/view

Later this week we'll email everyone a personalized code for creating a Twit-arr account while onboard (you can't create one until aboard JoCo Cruise). Keep an eye out for that!

Return of the Anti-Gravity Derby

A note from Coach Cruise (Storm):

It’s not until Day 3 (1:30 p.m. Atrium Deck 3), but now’s the time to start thinking about your aircraft for the 2nd Annual JoCo Cruise Anti-Gravity Derby! To participate, you'll construct a paper aircraft (ahead of time) designed to stay afloat as long as possible, because the last one to hit the Atrium floor during each heat WINS! Perhaps you’ll even win the Championship Heat, and win the coveted Prize To Be Named Later. Kudos and prizes may also be awarded for Artistic Merit or Ingenuity. Complete rules can be found in this pdf.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jSzWC0F-I_YJUgXvpVJ_VQeQerzarjs5/view

Spectating is great, too! Just show up in the Atrium (Decks 1, 2, or 3) at the appointed time.

New Attendee Handbook Reminder

We know that the cruise can be overwhelming, particularly for first time attendees and particularly once the cruise is so close to happening.

As a reminder, we developed a New Attendee Handbook (along with longtime JoCo Cruiser Nicole Dieker) to help walk first-timers (or repeat cruisers who need a refresher) through the various aspects of the cruise. Please feel free to consult it as needed to help you learn the Ways of Cruise.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JftJrw9Dzd3tB0N_OB_4rF2rvc0TXwNLJmoGzEZCaNY/

BTW, Nicole Dieker has a “comedy-cozy-mathy-nerdy-theater-geeky mystery book series,” The Larkin Day Mysteries. The third book, Shakespeare in the Park With Murder, comes out this June; her publisher is offering a JoCo Cruise-exclusive discounted bundle of the first two books in the series here. (Aside: The fourth book, coming out in 2024, is called Murder on the Nerd Cruise. Don't get any ideas, please.)
https://shop.shortwavepublishing.com/products/larkin-day-mystery-series-bundle

Time Changes and a Quick Sched Note

On all cruises, events operate on “Ship Time.” This may or may not always match up with the current time zone in which the ship is located.

As is noted on our schedule, we will have one time change during JoCo Cruise: at 2 am on Wed. Mar. 8th (i.e., very late the night before/very early the morning of our San Juan port stop), “Ship Time” will move forward one hour to 3 am to match the Atlantic Time Zone, which both Puerto Rico and Tortola are in.
https://jococruise2023.sched.com/event/1J5c3/set-clocks-forward-one-hour

The ship will stay at this time for the remainder of the cruise. This will avoid us having to change back again for Half Moon Cay (which is back in the Eastern Time Zone), and then forward again right before we get back into port for Daylight Saving Time kicks in at 2 am on Sun. Mar. 12th.

The one “side effect” of this is that Ship Time will be one hour ahead of the “actual time” while we're on Half Moon Cay. We figure those of you whose phones connect (intentionally or otherwise) and automateically update to local time while on Half Moon Cay can handle the cognitive dissonance; plus, because Half Moon Cay is privately owned by HAL, there's no risk of anyone wandering off, losing track of the time and missing the ship. Nonetheless, please bear this in mind while we're at Half Moon Cay.

Also: all times on our schedule are listed on Ship Time as well. Because Sched isn't built for events that travel and cross through time zones, this may cause issues if you import the Sched data into your personal calendar. Again, please just be aware of this as you go through the week; we'd hate for anyone to show up late and miss an event because their phone made a change they weren't expecting.
https://jococruise2023.sched.com/

Five days!

THO.

Sorry again in advance for a real long one today; but you know how it goes this close in to the cruise. (Or maybe you don't, in which case: it goes like this.)

First and foremost:

The JoCo Cruise 2023 Schedule

It's here! It's here! You all waited very patiently, and it's finally here!

https://jococruise2023.sched.com/

This schedule will be available onboard; you don't need to sign up for an Internet plan, just connect to the ship's network. Daily versions of the schedule will also be posted by each elevator bank, in a daily newsletter distributed to everyone's cabins, and via your cabin's on-demand TV system.

In Sched you can add events to “My Schedule” for a customized personal schedule at a glance. To be clear, this is not an official sign-up/attendance process, and adding an event to your schedule doesn't guarantee you entrance (such as events with limited capacity like the various crafting workshops). The schedule is subject to change without notice, though we will do our best to notify everyone in the event of any major changes in official schedule events.

One specific note: the Orientation is currently scheduled for 3 pm in the Lido Pool Area. This is because there may still be construction going on in the World Stage theater—in order to increase capacity, we remove the front theater seats, install a floor to cover the connection points, and put in more folding chairs. We hope and expect the reconfiguration to be complete by then; if so, we'll make a public announcement that the Orientation is moved to the World Stage. But until then, we need to assume we'll be up on the Lido Deck. One plus: if you want, go through Orientation in a pool!

World Stage (Main Theater)

Located in the forward section of the ship, the World Stage is where our nightly Main Concerts take place. As noted in our FAQ, Gold Team members attend the early show, then have a dinner seating afterward; Red Team members have dinner first, then attend the late show. Your lanyard, which is colored to match your team, will serve as your “ticket” for your main concert; please have it with you. (All other events onboard, both in the Wolrd Stage and elsewhere, do not require your lanyard and are open to all.)
https://jococruise.com/faq/#how-do-the-concerts-and-events

Main Concerts are also available via simulcast on all stateroom TVs, and also in the B.B. Kings lounge. World Stage events will be made available via the ship TV's on-demand system the following day. The late (Red Team) main concert will also have a captioned version available on demand at that time.

Assistive listening headsets available at all World Stage and Sea View Stage events for those who require them.

Dinners Onboard

A quick reminder/refresher as to how dinner seatings work onboard, for those who are new and those who just love reminders:

Most evenings, there's an early dinner seating at 5 pm (for the the Red Team) and a late seating at 7:30 pm (for the Gold Team). Exceptions:

  • On Day 1 (Sunday) and Day 7 (Saturday), the dinners are at 5:30 pm and 8 pm, respectively. (On Day 1, this is so you don't miss the 5 pm sail-away; on Day 7, this is to give the ship's dining staff, many of whom work on Half Moon Cay that day, time to get back on board and get ready for the dinner service.)
  • On Day 4 (Wednesday), since we're in San Juan until 11 pm, dinner that evening is “As You Wish” dining; you can show up anytime between 5:30 pm and 9 pm for dinner. The ship does request that if you're coming to the main dining room that night, please try to roughly correspond with your usual dining time, so that the staff and kitchen don't get swarmed all at once.

At dinner, there are no assigned tables; you can sit anywhere you wish each night (with a couple exceptions, see below). Feel free to mix things up and meet new people, if you like. If you're looking for new people to join you, you can grab one of the “Hi” Die table signs from the game library area on deck 3 to indicate you welcome folks to join your table.

If you're really unsure of where to start, several tables are set aside for “hosted seating” each night; experienced, friendly JoCo Cruisers will act as “hosts” for a friendly (but low-key) gathering, answer any questions new folks might have, and generally make for a congenial, relaxing and welcoming meal. These will be available each evening at table 218 in the Lower Main Dining Room and at tables 62 and 64 in the Upper Main Dining Room. (Dining room staff can direct you.) No need to reserve anything, just show up!

  • There are a limited number of fixed seating tables during each dinner; these were requested by people who preferred to have the same assigned table each night for various reasons. These tables will be indicated with table tents; please avoid using these tables if not assigned to them.
  • There is also an area reserved for JoCo Cruise crew only in the rear port area of the Upper Main Dining Room (“back right” if you're looking from the entrance) during the late dinner seating. This area will be marked with signage.

Finally: you're never obligated to eat dinner in the Main Dining Room on any night; there's numerous other dining options at just about any hour of the evening. It's your stomach, feed it how and when you like!

Game Library

From the JoCo Cruise Tabletop Team:

Hello friends! Here's a much awaited update about the board game library. It's the JoCo Cruise 2023 game library list!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NPHMVodnDMSL_JZH_Qr3pBHnJEWzZalnl7Z95k_3IqE/edit?usp=sharing

The JoCo Cruise game library contains games in the JoCo permanent collection + games that your fellow passengers are lending for the week. Its a sharing & caring community of games. The game library lives in the Upper Main Dining Room (Deck 3, aft; you can't miss it); it's open 24 hours starting at 5pm on Day 1, is self-serve, and uses an old fashioned card check in/check out system.

This list contains all of the titles in the JoCo Permanent collection. AND its a place to list games you are bringing to share to the library. This is so we don't have 12 folks bringing the same game. Use this list to add games you are bringing.

We're also excited to announce we've added about 112 new games this year including Wingspan, Ark Nova, Shobu, The Spill, Dixit, Roll for the Galaxy, Sushi Roll, Doomtown, Sagrada, Mariposas, and many more.

As noted above, if you are running a game and seeking others to join, grab a “Hi” Die table sign to indicate to others they're free to join your game. You can bring these signs elsewhere on the ship if you're playing somewhere else, too! (Just please return them to the game library once you're done, thanks.)

Escape Room

Escape Buffet, the JoCo Cruise 2023 escape room experience, will happen in the Loft (Deck 10, midship). Sessions will be run on the following schedule:

  • Day 2 (Mon. Mar. 6): 1 pm - 5 pm; 9 pm - 12 am
  • Day 3 (Tue. Mar. 7): 1 pm - 5 pm; 9 pm - 12 am
  • Day 6 (Fri. Mar 10): 1 pm - 5 pm

Signup sheets for each day's sessions will be available at a table just outside the Upper Main Dining Room (MDR) doors (Deck 3, aft) on the day prior, from 3-5 pm—e.g., signups for Day 2 (Mon. Mar. 6) sessions will be on Sun. Mar. 5 from 3-5 pm, signups for Day 3 (Tue. Mar. 7) sessions will be on Mon. Mar. 6 from 3-5 pm, and signups for Day 6 (Fri. Mar. 10) sessions will be on Thu. Mar. 9 from 3-5 pm.

Sessions are for groups of four people; if you sign up for a time slot with fewer than four players, you may be combined with other players to fill out the group. Please do not sign up for a time slot unless you're sure you will be able to attend, and don't sign up other attendees for your session unless you're sure they will attend. (No list of “dummy names” that you will fill out later with actual people.) Demand is very high for this event, and we want to get in as many folks as we can. As such, we also ask that people only attend the escape room once, to let the greatest number of people take part.

On the day of your session, you must pick up your “tickets” at the Deck 3 MDR signup table 15 minutes prior to your start time. From there, you'll go to the Loft and then try to escape it! If your tickets aren't picked up at this time, you risk forfeiting your time slot.

The standby wait list will be available at the Deck 3 MDR signup table during that day's session times (see schedule above); if you wish to be on the wait list, come sign up and wait nearby to be informed whether any time slots open up. (Again, the wait list is by the MDR, not up by the Loft; the only time you should head up to the Loft is when it's time for your session, having already picked up your tickets.)

Karaoke Song List

As usual, there will be karaoke events on board this year. And we're once again using the massive song library of our friend Joel Stitzel (thanks, Joel!), and the events will once again be hosted by JoCo Cruiser Randy Parcel (hi again, Randy!).
http://www.infernalsingalongmachine.com/

We will have several physical copies of the complete list available, it's a BIG book—26,215 songs' worth!—so we're also making it available for you to download. If you're interested in doing karaoke this year, we strongly recommend you grab the song list now.

You can connect to and copy this Google Sheet version of the list, which has tabs sorted by artist and by title. You can also go to “File - Download As” to download it in various formats (PDF, Excel file, etc.), since Google documents aren't available via onboard Internet unless you have the Premium plan.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/149wKdRjXNoFkiUoYU9pd7XXY3RKsA-LYMJzijUxw9Ps/edit#gid=1825161700

Speaking of karaoke, don't miss the Disney and Celebrity Karaoke sing-along events on Day 4 (Wed.) and Day 6 (Fri.) respectively, on the World Stage.
https://jococruise2023.sched.com/event/1HzKf/disney-sing-along
https://jococruise2023.sched.com/event/1HzLs/celebrity-karaoke

Reminders

If you haven't e-signed your Terms and Conditions yet, please do that soon as you can; if you haven't received email instructions for doing so, please email us ASAP.

Complete the HAL Online Check-in process by Thursday, March 2nd. Doing so will save you a lot of time in the cruiseport during boarding.
https://book2.hollandamerica.com/olci-iu/#/findBooking

Ten days!

THO.

[February 16, 2023] Lineup Additions; Some Notes about Spaces Onboard and Shipboard Internet

Lineup Additions

What? Still more additions to the lineup at this late date? Yup.

Please welcome Gary Anthony Williams to the 2023 cruise lineup!

Also, it's finally confirmed: Janet Varney and Dante Basco will be hosting a live version of the Avatar: Braving the Elements podcast during the week. Benders and non-benders rejoice!

As always, you can see our complete current lineup, including artist bios, can be found on our Performers & Guests page.
https://jococruise.com/guests/

Crafting Area(s)

Crafting is, as many of you are well aware, a popular activity for many JoCo Cruisers. In 2023, as in previous years, we're taking over the ship's Digital Workshop and turning it into a dedicated crafting space, with supplies, gear (some sewing machines, glue guns, etc.), and classes all week courtesy of Christine Fellowes and her team at Fiona's Fineries. These classes are first-come, first-served, and generally fill up very fast, so we advise those interested in a particular class to plan accordingly.

In addition to this space, we've set aside several other crafting spaces:

  • A number of tables in the forward area of the Main Dining Room on Deck 2—in other words, the tables just inside the door, closest to the Crafting Room—will be reserved for crafting at all times other than during dinner. Look for posted signs.
  • The “Explorer's Lounge”—the seating area behind the ship's Lincoln Center Stage venue (and because of complicated reasons, we don't call it “Lincoln Center Stage” during JoCo Cruise, but that's a whole other story) will be turned into an additional crafting space, with added 4-top tables and chairs.

Based on feedback from previous years, these spaces were selected for their proximity to the main Crafting Room (and the supplies therein). Craft away, crafters!

A couple notes:

  • Some crafting equipment and supplies are restricted to the main crafting room—including but not limited to: all paints and any substances that could stain rugs or furniture; glue guns and any tools that plug in/generate heat—and their use must be supervised by members of the JoCo Cruise Crafting team.
  • Others may use/sit in the Explorer's Lounge area when it is otherwise generally unoccupied; but we ask that upon request everyone defer its use to those doing crafting activities.

Daytime and Nighttime Quiet Zones

We understand that sometimes you need a place to sit, other than inside your stateroom, where you can relax in a quiet environment. As such, we have appointed the following Quiet Zones onboard from Day 2 onward In these spaces, we ask that people refrain from gaming, meeting, and loud noises/conversation:

  • 10 am - 3 pm: the starboard side of the Tamarind Restaurant (Deck 10, midship) - this is new for 2023! See map below.
  • 8:30 pm - 2 am: the starboard side of the Lido Market (Deck 9, midship)

NOTE: per below, there are a handful of tables in the aft section of the Lido Market dedicated to 24/7 gaming; those seeking a quieter area should move further forward of that area.

24/7 Gaming Tables

Because some of you are VERY into tabletop gaming (who knew?), we have set aside a small number of tables in the aft area of the Lido Market (Deck 9, midship) as dedicated, 24/7 gaming tables. Look for the posted signs on these tables if you need to get your game on literally any hour of the day.

A Note about Shipboard Internet

As we've said before and as our experienced JoCo Cruisers are well aware, the Internet is available onboard via several different plans (Social, Surf and Premium), but the speed is…well, not optimal.

We've confirmed while on our site inspection cruise this week that some sites are completely unavailable on the Social or Surf plans—most specifically, Google Drive/Docs/Sheets/etc. If you absolutely must access Google documents while onboard JoCo Cruise, you should plan to either make them available offline ahead of time, upgrade to the Premium Internet package while onboard, or access them only via your mobile phone connection while in ports of call. As the saying goes, be prepared!

Hey, THO: When Is the Schedule Coming Out?

Very, very, very…SOON™.

17 days!

THO.

[February 10, 2023] Signing the 2023 Terms and Conditions

JoCo Cruise 2023 Terms and Conditions

In the past, we've had everyone physically sign our Terms and Conditions during the check-in process at the cruise terminal. In our efforts to be a cool and modern company, this year we are going to have you all sign electronically. HOORAY FOR PROGRESS!

Please click the button below—customized to you specifically—to review and agree to our Terms and Conditions. All adults attending JoCo Cruise 2023 must do this by Thursday, March 2 to be allowed to sail with us. Parents or legal guardians may sign on behalf of any minors in their booking. (If you have any minors in your booking, clicking on the button below should automatically fill in their information on the form.)

Each adult in your booking will receive a unique, customized link; please don't share your email with others in your booking, as your customized link is configured solely for you specifically.

If you have any issues regarding this process, please email us.

23 days!

THO.

[February 8, 2023] Lineup Addition

Yet Another Lineup Addition

Holy heck are we excited to tell you that Puddles Pity Party has joined the JoCo Cruise 2023 performing lineup. If you're not familiar with Puddles, we promise you that you're gonna love him before the week is out. (The same is true if you are familiar with him.)

As always, our complete current lineup, including artist bios, can be found on our Performers & Guests page.
https://jococruise.com/guests/

25 days!

THO.

[February 3, 2023] Escape Room; Internet Plans

Escape Room

Each year on JoCo Cruise we try to add a new element—something that we think our attendees would enjoy and get excited about.

This year's New Thing (well, one of them): we're doing an escape room.

We've hired Bill Chang and Kevin Burns from Funbi Games to create a custom escape room experience just for us, called Escape Buffet. Plenty more info will be coming SOON™, but for now we can tell you these things:

  • It will be for teams of up to 4 people.
  • The experience will last roughly 30 minutes.
  • The theme, as you might guess, will be food-based.
  • It's gonna be awesome.

Escape Buffet will be run in the Loft, which is in the Club HAL area located on deck 10 midship. The Loft is the section of Club HAL that caters to children aged 13-17. While we are sorry to lose this venue for our teenaged attendees, we reasoned that much of the programming offered there—console and board gaming, dance parties, etc.)—is already offered elsewhere in our event, and teens generally require less direct adult supervision. We're also programming a number of teen-specific events in the official schedule, including some Escape Buffet time slots reserved just for them.
https://funbigames.com/
https://www.burnske.vin/

To everyone interested in trying the Escape Buffet: to give us a sense of overall demand as we work on the schedule, please fill out this brief poll by Monday, February 6th. Thank you tons.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebiXgzFCYgaHRoVVRR2duCjG_S4e_wosl-rkRmwPSWGHH8VA/viewform

NOTE: Club HAL Kids (for ages 3-6) and Club HAL Tweens (for ages 7-12) remain fully open and will be unaffected by this change.

Internet Onboard

HAL offers cruise Internet plans of various speeds, which can be purchased onboard via your Navigator app (HAL's dedicated app for many things, including your digital boarding pass, etc.). The plans should look familiar to you if you've sailed with us recently: Social, Surf, and Premium. You can purchase plans for one or multiple devices, and for single or multiple days or for the full week. Prices are listed below. (Prices are subject to change without notice.)

You'll also receive a physical copy of this flyer on Day 1 with full instructions for purchasing Internet plans.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14VSfBjTvhxSwbELu60ZmC2_nlMb57hNU/view

Technical support or logistical questions regarding these plans or how they're purchased should be directed to Holland America. (We're just passing along prices and a copy of the instructions.)

For those who are new to us, we will note that Internet service in general onboard can be…mercurial. Generally speaking, you should be fine to send and receive emails and small attachments; but larger files may take longer, and even at the premium level of plan, you should not rely on being able to stream video and/or have reliable Zoom/video calls and meetings 100% of the time. (We're not saying it doesn't work, just that you shouldn't completely rely on it doing so at any and all times.) Caveat emptor.

Also, all of our ports of call will have mobile service for most carriers (for some, you may need to have International Calling activated on your phone's plan); and many local restaurants, bars and shops will have wifi access—some paid, some free, and of varying speeds.

30 days! (Ye gods!)

THO.

[January 30, 2023] Lineup Additions; Travel Doc Names; Booking Guest Confirmations; Gender-inclusive Restrooms

Lineup Additons

What? There are still more additions to the lineup? YES! At least, that's what it says in the heading above, and the heading would never lie to us.

Guests Sarah Marshall and Alex Steed have joined the proverbial fray, and they're bringing along their wonderful podcasts You're Wrong About and You Are Good. Also: in all the activity lately, we totally neglected to confirm that Travis and Teresa McElroy will be bringing their podcast Shmanners with them as well. (Turns out, the podcast was inside them the whole time!)

As ever, you can see our complete current lineup (including links to each guest's bio) on our Performers & Guests page.
https://jococruise.com/guests/

Travel Documents and Middle Names

Some quick clarification: when confirming (via your JoCo Cruise User Account) that the names on your JoCo Cruise booking match the names on everyone's passport/travel documents (per our previous email), we mean only the first and last names. (We actually don't even collect middle names on our end.)
https://mailchi.mp/3beacc5c8f80/hal-booking-numbers-lots-of-important-info

When going through the online check-in process on HAL's site, however, you should enter your full name as it appears on your passport/travel documents.

“TBA” Guests Reminder

Reminder: if you have any unnamed berths or partial berths in your booking (e.g., you've invited a guest via your JoCo Cruise User Account but the guest hasn’t yet accepted), you have until Saturday, February 4th to complete this data. Failure to do so by then may result in your guest's being unable to sail with us.
https://jococruise.com/faq/#how-late-can-i-add-passenger-details

See our FAQ for instructions regarding this process; if you encounter any problems, please email us ASAP.
https://jococruise.com/faq/#how-do-i-change-a-tba-guest-on-my

Gender Inclusive Restrooms

For those of you new to JoCo Cruise, we reassign a certain portion of the onboard restrooms to be gender-inclusive. Gender-inclusive restrooms are open to users of any gender identity or expression, and they will have door signage indicating the types of facilities available inside (toilets and/or urinals).

The map below outlines the locations of all gender-inclusive and gender-specific public restrooms on the Nieuw Amsterdam for JoCo Cruise 2023. Everyone will also get a physical copy of this map onboard, and all onboard restrooms will also have a map on the outside door to all nearby restrooms.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jd2IrLdNox_IXr76rXGr47Enia3639lt/view

33 days!

THO.

[January 26, 2023] JoCo Cruise 2023 COVID-19 Policy (Plus, Lineup Notes and Travel Documents)

2023 COVID-19 Policy

Since we sailed in 2022, COVID-19 policies (and COVID-19 itself) have changed across the country. Within the mainstream cruise industry, masking, testing and vaccination are no longer required on US/Caribbean itineraries. Because we are a charter, however, we have a limited range of additional options. The policies below are the product of working closely with Holland America Line and our other travel partners, so that we can have the most healthy and enjoyable cruise currently possible. As always, we appreciate our attendees’ enthusiastic cooperation and support in making our event safe and comfortable for everyone.

The below information also can be found in the COVID-19 Policy section of our FAQ.
https://jococruise.com/faq/#covid19

Masking on JoCo Cruise 2023

Masks will be required in all indoor spaces while onboard the Nieuw Amsterdam, except in your stateroom or while eating or drinking. Masking is recommended in any crowded outdoor space where social distancing isn’t possible, as well as in the cruise terminal during embarkation and disembarkation.

HAL and JoCo Cruise recommend the use of higher-grade, snugly-fitting masks (such as N95, KN95 or KF94), as they have been shown to be the most effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19. Masks are required to fit snugly over the nose and mouth and cannot have holes in them.

Two (2) KN95 masks for each guest will be delivered to your stateroom on the first day of JoCo Cruise. Additional masks will be available upon request from the Front Desk of the Nieuw Amsterdam.

Note: While we cannot require it, we have requested that the Nieuw Amsterdam crew also follow our masking protocols during JoCo Cruise 2023.

Vaccination

HAL no longer requires or verifies vaccination against COVID-19 prior to sailing. While proof of COVID-19 vaccination will not be required for JoCo Cruise 2023, JoCo Cruise strongly recommends that all attendees are vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19; we also recommend passengers be current with other vaccinations, including the seasonal flu shot. (Because COVID-19 isn't the only thing to protect against while on JoCo Cruise and elsewhere!)

Testing

HAL no longer requires a negative COVID-19 test result prior to sailing, and no longer offers in-terminal testing to charter clients as an option. People should not attend JoCo Cruise if they are sick; we recommend that all attendees take a COVID-19 test prior to beginning their travel, wear a mask during travel, and generally exercise best practices to reduce their potential COVID-19 exposure in the run-up to the cruise.

Guests with a positive COVID-19 test result from within five calendar days of sailing (i.e., dated February 28 - March 5, 2023) will be entitled to Future Cruise Credit toward JoCo Cruise 2024 (24FCC). In order to be issued this credit, you must provide us with the results of a medically-observed test taken within that date range. “Standard” at-home test results are not acceptable; the test must be either administered by a doctor or certified medical professional, or a self-administered test that includes telehealth online medical supervision, such as these tests from Radeas, Abbot, or eMed.
https://cruise.radeas.com/
https://store.optum.com/shop/products/abbott-binaxNOW-COVID-19-ag-emed-at-home-test-kit-2-pack/?utm_source=carnival-corporation&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=two&utm_campaign=travel_ready_covid_test
https://emedbasics.com/collections/all?gclid=Cj0KCQiA8aOeBhCWARIsANRFrQFmuQWagnvSr7G0PGdxh_hQMexfyh6HIzKKP5UDFRMZXjruMns4l_caAhitEALw_wcB

Attendees who purchased travel insurance and are unable to make the trip should contact their policy providers to make a claim. JoCo Cruise will provide any documentation requested by the policy issuer, after JoCo Cruise 2023 has returned.

All JoCo Cruise performers and crew will have taken at least one COVID-19 test prior to embarkation.

For additional details regarding the above testing/24FCC policy, including what happens if a passenger is quarantined after testing positive for COVID-19 onboard, please see our “What happens if I test positive or someone else in my booking tests positive for COVID-19 prior to sailing?” FAQ item.
https://jococruise.com/faq/#what-happens-if-i-test-positive

Lineup Addition: Meg Elison

Enough about COVID stuff! On to more pleasant news: author Meg Elison has joined the 2023 lineup!

As always, you can see our full current lineup on our Performers & Guests page.
https://jococruise.com/guests/

corook

We regret to announce that corook has had to cancel their appearance on JoCo Cruise 2023. We are bummed to miss them (because we know you all would have loved seeing them perform, and hope you find a way to see them live sometime soon), and we wish them the very best.

Passport? Passport.

Take a moment today to triple check that your passport is up to date. HAL recommends, to avoid any potential customs hassles, that your passport be valid for at least six months past our return date (March 12, 2023).

If your passport is out of date (and you're not able to expedite a replacement in time), or missing, or has been eaten by a giant passport-eating ficus plant or something, you can check HAL's FAQ re: what other forms of travel documentation will work. That said, a valid passport will be the most efficient and convenient documentation.
https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/faq.cruise-preparation.do-i-need-a-passport.html

37 days!

THO.

[January 25, 2023] HAL Booking Numbers - Lots of IMPORTANT INFO

There is a LOT of very important information in this email. Please be sure to go through all of it.

Your HAL Booking Number

Your Holland America Booking Number is ABCDEF

Once you've logged into your HAL Account on hollandamerica.com (if you're new, you'll need to create one), select “Already Booked - Manage My Bookings” from the top menu, and use this booking number. Once complete, you'll be able to pre-purchase onboard amenities (drink packages, specialty restaurant reservations, spa packages, etc.) and shore excursions once those options become available (see below).

You'll also use this number to go through HAL's online check-in process (see below). All guests should complete this process (or have it completed for them) no fewer than 72 hours prior to our March 5th departure.
https://book2.hollandamerica.com/olci-iu/#/findBooking

This email was sent to any guests in your booking who have user accounts AND have a booking number assigned to them already. You can view the Booking Number status for all guests in your booking at your JoCo Cruise User Account.
https://book.jococruise.com/2023/#/account/

VERY IMPORTANT: Confirm the Names in Your Booking

IMPORTANT: please take some time right now (or as close to “right now” as is feasible) to double-check the names of all the passengers in your booking. Each passenger's name as listed in the booking must match their name as it appears on their passport/travel documents. If a passenger's name doesn't match, at best it could cause delays during the boarding process, and at worst could result in their getting prevented from boarding the ship.

Here are the names of your guests as currently listed in your JoCo Cruise Booking:

FIRST LAST and FIRST LAST

PLEASE NOTE: If any names listed include “(invited to account system)” or “TBA Passenger”, or if a guest's name you're expecting to be listed is missing, that guest will NOT show on your Holland America booking. In all of these cases, you must complete the passenger detail via your JoCo Cruise User Account by February 4th, 2023 per this FAQ on our website here for your guest to be able to sail. Check the “Managing My Booking” section of our FAQ for more information on how to declare an incomplete guest.
https://jococruise.com/faq/#how-late-can-i-add-passenger-details

If any names require updating, or you have any questions about a missing or incomplete guest please notify us immediately at booking@jococruise.com so that we may get it corrected ASAP.

Shore Excursion and Amenities Booking

As a reminder, shore excursion booking opens today! Create/log into your account on the Holland America website; if your cruise isn't listed under “My Bookings”, you can search for it using your HAL Booking Number (which, again, is ######). Under the Shore Excursions tab, you can browse to view the excursions, available on each day. You can also purchase spa services and specialty dining reservations online.
https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/log-in/sso-log-in.html

NOTE: We've been informed that, at least currently, if you log into your HAL Mariner account to view excursions you may not be able to see any/all of them. If this is the case for you, try logging out of your HAL account and search directly for your booking number per the above link; at that point, you may be able to view all the available excursions.

You may also, if you wish, book transfer from and/or to FLL or MIA airport for embarkation day and/or disembarkation day. When logged into your account, under “Next Steps”, select “Arrange Flights & Transportation” and follow the prompts.
https://book2.hollandamerica.com/secondaryFlow/travelPlanning

If you wish to book a Retreat cabana—that is, the cabanas located in the Retreat area located on Deck 11—call Ship Services at (800) 541-1576. Retreat cabanas cannot be booked online. (To be clear: these are different than the cabanas on Half Moon Cay, which may be booked via the standard Shore Excursions booking process.)

NOTE: if you wish to book excursions for passengers in other bookings, you will need their HAL booking number and last name.

Holland America Online Check-In

Each person in your booking will need to complete online check-in (or have it completed for them) no fewer than 72 hours prior to our departure on March 5th, 2023. Online check-in is available now on Holland America's website. You'll need your HAL Booking Number (listed above) for this. Additional information regarding the check-in process can be found in HAL's FAQ.
https://book2.hollandamerica.com/olci-iu/#/findBooking
https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/faq.cruise-preparation.how-do-i-check-in-online.html

We'll email everyone a check-in reminder as sailing approaches. (Probably several!)

Technical Note: If anyone in your booking has only recently entered their personal information or has recently changed it (such as their name, etc.) since January 19th, HAL may not have processed this update yet. Don't worry, THEY WILL! (Please allow a couple weeks for processing, though it will hopefully happen faster than that.) These people unfortunately may not be able to check in online or book shore excursions until their update has been processed.

You can still check-in online even if your cabin number is listed incorrectly on the HAL website. (This applies to passengers who have recently had a cabin change.)

Medical/Dietary/Special Requirements

For guests with medical, dietary or other special requirements, Holland America has a thorough FAQ regarding the subject. Passengers with such needs should submit a Special Requirements Information (SRI) form via the HAL site. (You'll need your HAL booking number to complete the form.)
https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/accessibility.html
https://book.hollandamerica.com/specialServices/login.action

NOTE: guests with non-life threatening dietary restrictions should contact the Ship Services Department at 1-800-541-1576 and ask them to add that information as a note in your booking.

ALSO NOTE: you must submit special needs requests to HAL, which handles them directly. JoCo Cruise cannot process these requests.

For detailed information on accessibility of shore excursions, HAL strongly recommends contacting their Shore Excursions Department prior to embarkation at 1-888-425-9376 (or locally at 206-626-7320) or visiting the Shore Excursions Office on board.

(This information is also contained in our “I have medical, dietary, or other special requests for the cruise line. What should I do?” FAQ.)
https://jococruise.com/faq/#i-have-medical-dietary-or-other

39 days!

THO.

[January 20, 2023] Cabin Numbers; Booking Numbers and Shorex Next Week; Lineup Additions; Shutternauts; Virtual Petting Zoo

Your Cabin Number is ####

Your booking has been officially assigned a cabin on the Nieuw Amsterdam for JoCo Cruise 2023! Huzzah!

Your booking's cabin number is ####

You can view more cabin details and get a link to view the Nieuw Amsterdam's PDF deck plans in your JoCo Cruise User Account. In some cases, your account may include a note regarding your placement. If you still have issues or questions regarding your cabin placement after checking your account, please email us!
https://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/deckplans/na.pdf
https://book.jococruise.com/2023/#/account/
booking@jococruise.com

HAL Booking Numbers and Shore Excursions - Next Week

Holland America has notified us that your HAL booking numbers should be made available this coming Wednesday, January 25th. In addition to allowing you to check in for your cruise on the HAL website, your HAL booking number is needed to purchase shore excursions and onboard indulgences and make spa reservations.
https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/log-in/sso-log-in.html?login=myacc

We do yet not have a specific time yet when they'll be made available beyond “sometime on Wednesday”—and in all honesty, the time they've told us booking numbers and shorex would be available in years past has often differed from the time they actually were activated. What we can say, though, is that as soon as we get them, we will forward them along to you.

In the meantime, here is a link to HAL's shore excursions brochure for our sailing, outlining the excursions that HAL will be making available in our various ports of call.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kz6_t9EKdUXXu7gAW3PrzARK757a7ycP/view?usp=sharing

Lineup Update

Hey, look: it's more people being added to the JoCo Cruise 2023 lineup! Please welcome:

  • Ify Nwadiwe
  • Mallory O'Meara
  • Annie Savage

As always, you can see our current full lineup on our Performers & Guests page.
https://jococruise.com/guests/

Shutternauts

We are now soliciting volunteers for the Shutternauts!

The Shutternauts are a group of Photography Volunteers that roam the ship taking awesome pictures of EVERYTHING. Concerts, Events, Other Attendees, the ship, ports and beaches, the works! Many of the photos are made available online FOR FREE post-cruise.

Prerequisites for being a Shutternaut:

  • Have a good camera (a DSLR or Mirrorless)
  • Have a keen eye for action and people photography
  • Love to take pictures of people having fun (and having fun while doing it)
  • Have previously sailed on a JoCo Cruise (we don’t want your first cruise to be spent working!)

If you are interested in becoming a Shutternaut, please email Steve Petrucelli at spetrucelli@gmail.com to sign up!

Virtual Petting Zoo

Submissions are open for the JoCo Cruise Virtual Petting Zoo! “What is that?” we hear you ask. And we answer: we arrange photos of attendees' pets into a slideshow that gets shown on TVs all around the ship. (Including the in-room on demand service. Animals 24/7!)

Got a pic of your pet(s) that you'd like to add to the gallery? Drop it into this Google Drive folder before February 19th. (If you want it to have any captions, you will need to place the caption in your photo yourself; we won't be able to do any captioning on our end, sorry.)
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_mpizKNUP8ZQfsXv3pBc7gWk0M-0tOib

44 days!

THO.

[January 5, 2023] 2024 Booking Opens Jan. 10; New Attendee Handbook; Formal Night; Prohibited Items

JoCo Cruise 2024 Booking Opens January 10th

We will be launching booking for JoCo Cruise 2024 this coming Tuesday, January 10th, at 1 pm Eastern.

But you, our friends who are booked on JoCo Cruise 2023, are the only people we're telling about it for now; we won't be shouting it to the wider world until January 12th. Booking-wise, this gives you two days' worth of what we in the travel industry call “dibs.”

In the meantime, here's the important points:
JoCo Cruise 2024 - March 9-16, 2024
on Holland America's ms Nieuw Amsterdam
sailing from Fort Lauderdale, FL
to Grand Turk, Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), and Half Moon Cay (Bahamas)

Complete details will be available at jococruise.com on Jan. 10th at 1 pm Eastern. And when you do book for 2024, be sure to log into your existing JoCo Cruise User Account so that your booking receives all applicable discounts. (As in previous years, 2024 will have an Early Booking Discount, Returner Discount, Infant/Toddler and Child Discounts, and a Pay in Full Discount.)

Note: if your JoCo Cruise 2023 booking currently has an unpaid balance, you won't be permitted to book a cabin for JoCo Cruise 2024. If you have any questions regarding your 2023 booking balance, please email us ASAP.

JoCo Cruise 2023 Nearing Sellout

We'll also take this opportunity to note that the 2023 cruise is rapidly approaching sellout; if you have friends and family who are still on the fence about coming, tell them not to stay on the fence for long and get to bookin'! (Fences make for very uncomfortable seats, anyway.)
https://book.jococruise.com/2023/#/book/

New Attendee Handbook

If you're new to JoCo Cruise (or just could use a quick refresher), we have a convenient and pretty thorough New Attendee Handbook you may find useful. Developed with longtime JoCo Cruiser Nicole Dieker, this online guide is chock full of info and tips for those new to JoCo Cruise (or to cruising in general).
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JftJrw9Dzd3tB0N_OB_4rF2rvc0TXwNLJmoGzEZCaNY/edit?usp=sharing

Formal Night

For your reference, our Theme Days will include a Formal Night on JoCo Cruise 2023.

As on JoCo Cruises past, passengers are encouraged—but NOT required—to wear formal wear from dinnertime onward on Formal Night. The definition of “formal wear” is super flexible and up to you. Tux, ball gown, suit, pantsuit, kilt, Starfleet uniform, your best t-shirt…you get the idea. Fancy headwear (tiaras, top hats, etc.) and mustaches are welcomed—but again, not required. Anyways, if you plan to take part, pack accordingly.

Prohibited Items

As you start to think about packing for JoCo Cruise—or, for some of you, continue the packing you've been doing for weeks/months—HAL has asked that we remind everyone of their FAQ's list of prohibited items that may not be brought onboard. Please note that even if a controlled substance is legal in your home state/country, it may not be permitted onboard the Nieuw Amsterdam. Also note that alcohol (other than wine or champagne), sodas, energy drinks, and water in plastic bottles are also prohibited. See HAL's FAQ for details.
https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/faq.health-safety.prohibited-items.html https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/faq.shipboard-life.can-i-bring-alcoholic-beverages-onboard.html

Confiscated prohibited items will be returned to passengers upon disembarkation. HAL and the Nieuw Amsterdam crew will have final say in determining whether any given item is deemed prohibited, and JoCo Cruise will abide by their decisions.

58 days!

THO.

[December 16, 2022] Have You Seen the 2023 Lineup?

The JoCo Cruise 2023 Lineup (So Far)

Hi, all. We know it's the Holiday season and everyone is busy, so we'll keep this brief.

In case you hadn't seen our announcements elsewhere, we thought you might like to see the current lineup for JoCo Cruise 2023 (which, as you may know, is this coming March 5-12)…

  • Jonathan Coulton
  • Dante Basco
  • Jim Boggia
  • River Butcher
  • corook
  • Open Mike Eagle
  • Josh Gondelman
  • Gennifer Hutchison
  • Erika Ishii
  • Aabria Iyengar
  • Marc Evan Jackson
  • Aimee Mann
  • Teresa McElroy
  • Travis McElroy
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan
  • Nnedi Okorafor
  • Paul and Storm
  • Rainbow Girls
  • Isabella Roland
  • Riz Rollins
  • Nathan Sawaya
  • John Scalzi
  • Janet Varney
  • Wil Wheaton

There's still more lineup announcements to come, too! You can find out more info about our various performers on our Performers & Guests page.
https://jococruise.com/guests/

And if you're interested in booking JoCo Cruise 2023, please be our guest! (Get it? There's a double meaning there.)
https://book.jococruise.com/2023/#/book/

THO.

[December 9, 2022] Lineup Additions; Accessibility Updates; Deadline for Helpers, Mod Squad and Shadow Cruise

Lineup Additions

We are very happy to announce the following performers have been added to the 2023 JoCo Cruise lineup:
https://jococruise.com/guests/

And yes, there is still more to come! Check our website for our complete lineup and artist bios.
https://jococruise.com/guests/

New for 2023: Aft Deck Stage

There's a number of fun new elements coming to JoCo Cruise 2023, and it's time to announce the first of them: this year, instead of throwing a “land concert” as we've done in many years past, we're bringing the land concert to the ship! We'll be installing a full-size stage on the Sea View area of the Lido Deck (Deck 9, aft) that will feature performances, dance parties and more over the course of the week.

Note: as part of this new setup, the Sea View Pool will be drained and covered over. (The cover, supported by a steel frame, will be 100% safe to stand and walk on.) While this means we can't swim in the Sea View Pool*, the midship Lido Pool remains right nearby, and access to all of the lovely sandy beaches at all our ports of call will of course also remain unaffected.

Accessibility Updates

We've been working with our Accessibility Panel this past year to help make continued improvements in our support for and inclusiveness of all our attendees. The following policies and procedures will be implemented on JoCo Cruise 2023, in our ongoing effort to improve the JoCo Cruise experience for everyone, particularly those cruisers who may face challenges related to various disability conditions and states of ability:

  • The Daytime Quiet Zone has been moved to the Gallery Lounge, a space that is quieter and has less foot traffic.
  • We will open one World Stage (main theater) door on Deck 1 specifically for folks with mobility issues so they don’t need to navigate steps or a ramp.
  • Accessible seating will be reserved close to the stage in the World Stage theater for folks with vision or hearing impairments.
  • New THO-owned Assistive Listening Headsets will be available for shows in the World Stage theater and the Aft Deck stage, with an audio feed from the sound board.
  • Morning Announcements will be transcribed, printed, and posted with other signs in the elevator banks.
  • The online schedule (which, once it's open, will be at jococruise2023.sched.com) will contain basic outlines of what to expect at each Official event (e.g., individual stand-up comedy set, multi-person panel, pop rock band, solo folk singer).
  • Accessible walkway and seating areas will be available for large poolside gatherings.
  • A captioned version of the of the Red Team (late) nightly Main Concert events will be made available the following day via the on-demand stateroom TV system. (Captioning will not be available on the simulcast, only on the later on-demand version.)

Last Call for Helpers, Mod Squad and Shadow Cruise Submissions

We've extended the deadline for submitting Shadow Cruise events and for Helper or Mod Squad volunteers to this coming Monday, December 12th.
If you're still interested in being a Helper for JoCo Cruise 2023, please fill out the Helper Volunteer Form.
https://jococruise.com/helpers/
https://book.jococruise.com/joco-cruise-2023-helper-submission-form/

If you still would like to submit an event for the Shadow Cruise, fill out the Shadow Cruise Event Submission Form.
https://jococruise.com/shadowcruise/
https://book.jococruise.com/joco-cruise-2023-shadow-cruise-event-requests/

If you'd like to volunteer to be on our social media Mod Squad (see our Nov. 29th email), full out our application form.
https://mailchi.mp/e78e8a5ac3cc/mod-squad-2023
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeIrs0EdswhEgHfncn9sm94IEixyEys0jZbnlu3Uj28cn1xmg/viewform

Helpful links:

86 days!

THO.

*I mean, you could try if you really wanted to, but it would involve an axe and/or blowtorch, and you'd have to provide your own water.

[December 1, 2022] Dinner Seating Stuff; Team Leader Opt-out

Your Dinner Seating

As is reflected in the Booking Preferences tab of your User Account, your booking has been assigned to Red/Gold Team (Dinner/Concert).
https://book.jococruise.com/2023/#/account/

During boarding, team members will receive an appropriately colored lanyard for their badge. This badge and lanyard will serve as your pass for attending all Main Concerts; please make sure you have them with you at these events for proper entry. (Anyone who gets assigned to Club SRO will be notified directly; your Dinner Seating assignment will remain applicable.)

And to be clear: these “teams” are not rivals. Rather, just like in the original Star Wars, they are allies working together towards a common goal: creating the best JoCo Cruise ever. (And destroying any Death Stars we might encounter.)

Fixed Dinner Seating Requests

As those of you who've been with us before are already aware, within the Early/Late Dinner assignments above, seating in the Main Dining Room is generally open—from night to night, you can sit at whichever table you like.

Some people may prefer to have fixed seating for the duration of the week—to better accommodate special dietary needs or restrictions, or to stay with a particular group of family/friends, or what have you.

If you want fixed seating at dinner, you can fill out our Fixed Dinner Seating Request Form for your booking (or just for some members of your booking). You may also request to be seated with friends from other bookings; if you plan to do that, please confirm ahead of time that you're all in the same dinner seating time. This form will only be open until December 31, 2022, so don't dawdle if you'd like to request fixed seating!
https://book.jococruise.com/joco-cruise-2023-family-seating-fixed-dinner-seating-request-form/

In years past, some families with young children have requested to sit with/near other families at dinner. We've set aside a (non-mandatory) “Family Seating” area in the dining room. There's a section of the above form where you can request this, if you're interested. Doing so doesn't commit you to sitting there or assign you a table; it merely gives us a sense of how large we should make that area for each seating.

Team Leader Opt-out Requests

As in previous years, Red Team and Gold Team will each be randomly assigned a team leader. Red Leader and Gold Leader will each receive an appropriate “crown,” front row seats to the Main Concerts for them and their “wingpersons,” and the praise and approbation of their fellow attendees.

If you do not wish to be part of the Red Leader/Gold Leader random drawing pool, please fill out the Red Leader/Gold Leader Opt-out Form (You'll need to be logged in to your User Account.)
https://book.jococruise.com/joco-cruise-2023-red-leader-gold-leader-opt-out-form/

93 days!

THO.

[November 29, 2022] Join the JoCo Cruise Mod Squad! Also: Dinner Seating Reminder

Wanna Join the Mod Squad?

THO is looking for folks who are comfortable being in front of a camera, to help us get staged pictures and short videos that showcase the joy and fun of the JoCo Cruise. You don’t need any special skills, you just need to be on board!

We’re looking for friends to help us showcase a variety of JoCo Cruise activities in a way that “candid” pictures taken at random rarely do. We will ask some of you to pose as couples. (No actual couples please; that can get complicated in the event your relationship status changes.) The photos and videos will be featured throughout the year on social media so that we can showcase the joy of our cruise experience as displayed by real-life JoCo Cruise attendees. In particular, we would like to get pictures of the following activities and settings:

  • Enjoying a stateroom balcony
  • “Couples” pics (specifically asking for non-couples to pose as couples)
  • Pals having delicious beverages
  • Pals at informal gatherings
  • Hot tub and poolside
  • Tabletop gaming
  • Playing console games
  • Crafting
  • Enjoying the food
  • Beach fun
  • Arcade gaming
  • Countdown photos (holding numbers that we will provide)
  • Short video clips with no audio

We’ll need about an hour of your time, and you’ll be able to choose the activity and time that work best for you. The schedule for these photo shoots won’t be determined until much closer to sailing.

If you would be interested in this please complete this form and we’ll be in touch later.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeIrs0EdswhEgHfncn9sm94IEixyEys0jZbnlu3Uj28cn1xmg/viewform

Dinner Seating - Final Reminder

Per our last email to you, this is a reminder that the deadline for submitting Dinner Seating preferences is November 30th. If you have a preference, please have your booking's Primary Contact go to the “Booking Preferences” tab of your JoCo Cruise User Account and select either the Early (5 pm) or Late (7:30 pm) Dinner by then.
https://book.jococruise.com/2023/#/account/

Also as previously noted, we will do our best to accommodate all requests, but please note that expressing a preference does not guarantee your being assigned that seating. And if you're planning to coordinate your dinner seating with any other bookings (as in, you want to all sit together), make sure you all select the same seating preference.

Bed Placement, HAL Mariner Number and Cruiser History

While we're reminding you of the last email, also feel free to check on your booking's Bed Placement, the accuracy of your Cruiser History, and any applicable HAL Mariner Numbers in your User Account.

The Usual Other Reminders

Helpful links:

96 days!

THO.

[November 15, 2022] Dinner Seating and other Booking Preferences

Dinner Seating Preferences

Please take a moment to go to the “Booking Preferences” tab of your JoCo Cruise User Account and set your Dinner Seating preference—that is, whether you prefer the Early (5 pm) or Late (7:30 pm) Dinner, or have no preference. Please note: the deadline for submitting Dinner Seating preferences is November 30th.
https://book.jococruise.com/2023/#/account/

For your reference, our records indicate your booking's current Dinner Seating preference is «DinnerSeating». If that doesn't match your expectations, you must fix it by November 30th.

Note: while your booking’s Dinner Seating preference selection is visible to all booking occupants with a User Account, only your booking’s Primary Contact can make changes. We will do our best to accommodate all requests, but please note that expressing a preference does not guarantee your being assigned that seating.

Also note: if you're planning to coordinate your dinner seating with any other bookings (as in, you want to all sit together), make sure you all select the same seating preference.

Bed Placement

Hey; while you're looking at your User Account, also take a peek at your requested Bed Placement—whether you want one larger bed or two separate beds—and make sure it matches your expectations. I mean, you're right there anyway. Alternately, read at the next paragraph…

For your reference, our records indicate your booking's current Bed Placement preference is: «BedsStatus».

As with Dinner Seating above, only the the booking's Primary Contact can make changes to this preference.

HAL Mariner Number and Cruiser History

If you're a member of the HAL Mariner Society, and while you're checking your other booking preferences (see above), you can take this opportunity to make sure your Mariner Number is properly associated with your booking. You can check/enter this info in the “Passengers” tab of your User Account.
https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/mariner-society.html

What is this strange society of mariners we speak of? Basically, it's Holland America's equivalent of a frequent flier program. (But obviously, it doesn't involve flying; if the Nieuw Amsterdam is at any point airborne, we will have other, far more pressing concerns than this program.) Accumulating credits in the Mariner Society entitles you to various benefits onboard—discounts in the shops, spa, specialty restaurants, etc. Details can be found on HAL's Mariner Society page linked above.

Also also: you can also go over your booking's Cruiser History. (It's found under the tab of the same name.) This tab reflects which, if any, previous JoCo Cruises the members of your booking have attended. If any Cruiser History information is inaccurate, let us know and we'll get it fixed.

The Usual Other Reminders

Helpful links:

109 days!

THO.

[November 4, 2022] Initial Lineup Announced for 2023

JoCo Cruise 2023 Lineup

Hi ho, neighbors; 'tis the season to announce the initial lineup of performers and guests for JoCo Cruise 2023! Huzzah and fuzzlecakes!

  • Jonathan Coulton
  • Dante Basco
  • Jim Boggia
  • River Butcher
  • Open Mike Eagle
  • Josh Gondelman
  • Gennifer Hutchison
  • Aabria Iyengar
  • Marc Evan Jackson
  • Aimee Mann
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan
  • Nnedi Okorafor
  • Paul and Storm
  • Rainbow Girls
  • Isabella Roland
  • Riz Rollins
  • Nathan Sawaya
  • John Scalzi
  • Janet Varney
  • Wil Wheaton

You can find out more info about our various performers/guests on our Performers & Guests page.
https://jococruise.com/guests/

Is that it? Are we finished announcing acts for 2023? NO THAT IS NOT IT AND NO WE ARE NOT! Still some more names to come. Keep one eye on your inbox.

Did We Mention Cruise Merch? (Yes)

As we shouted about in last week's email—there were exclamation points and everything—JoCo Cruise 2023 merchandise is now available via our store page at DFTBA. Things to wear! Things to have! Things that aren't designed specifically for wearing that you can wear anyway because you're a grown-up and nobody can tell you what you can and can't wear!
https://store.dftba.com/collections/joco-cruise

Reminders

In addition to reminding you about submitting any applicable information via the links below (which are also found under “Helpful Links” in your User Account), now is a very good time to double-check the expiration date on your passport and make sure that it will be valid for JoCo Cruise 2023. Check HAL's website for complete info about travel document requirements.
https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/faq.cruise-preparation.do-i-need-a-passport.html

Helpful links:

121 days!

THO.

[October 28, 2022] JoCo Cruise 2023 Merchandise

2023 Merchandise

“What's new,” you ask? Brand new 2023 merchandise in the in the JoCo Cruise merch store at DFTBA, that's what's new! How's that work for you?
https://store.dftba.com/collections/joco-cruise

We've once again joined with the awesome folks at DFTBA to handle our merch fulfillment, so all your fun goodies will get delivered right to your doorstep! Or doorstep equivalent!

Our 2023 artwork is by our old pal Adam Koford. Kraken-based Pop-O-Matic fun for the whole family!
https://www.akoford.com/

Drop on by the store for all your t-shirt, enamel pin, challenge coin and poster needs! And special for this year: a postcard set of every JoCo Cruise poster to date. Plus, there are still some items from past JoCo Cruises available, including as our popular SOON™ gear. So head on over to the JoCo Cruise merch store and do the age-old “exchange money for goods and services” dance.

Reminders

Please don't forget that the following requests/submissions may be made via the links below, or via the “Helpful Links” section of your User Account:

127 days!

THO.

[October 4, 2022] Call for Helpers; Shadow Cruise Event Submissions; Theme Days

Hello, friends! We've been relatively quiet for a while, e-mailically speaking. But it's harvest season, and with it comes a bounty of info as we reap the—you know what, we can already tell this metaphor isn't going to hold up at all, so let's just drop it.

Here's some JoCo Cruise 2023 news and announcements. (There, that was much simpler, if less flashy.)

Call for Helpers

Every year, JoCo Cruise stays metaphorically afloat thanks to the help of an army of attendees who donate time on board to help monitor events, staff the Info Desk, help support event setup and pack-up, and a ton of other tasks. We call these stalwart altruists our Helpers. And you can be one too!

Check out our 2023 Helpers page to see all the different ways you can help out onboard. Once you've looked over the options, if you're interested in joining the ranks, you can fill out our Helper Volunteer Form. (You'll be prompted to login to your User Account if you're not already logged in.) Thanks in advance to everyone who's able to join the ranks!
https://jococruise.com/helpers/
https://book.jococruise.com/joco-cruise-2023-helper-submission-form/

*NOTE: we do not utilize first-time attendees as Helpers. We appreciate first-timers’ willingness to help out, but it’s important to us that people on their first JoCo Cruise spend that time enjoying and familiarizing themselves with the event and the JoCo Cruise community.

Shadow Cruise

As those of you who've been with us before are aware, every year we provide space on board and in the schedule for the attendees to put together and run their own events throughout the week. This program, known as the Shadow Cruise, rivals our official programming in both scale and awesomeness. From gaming to performing to crafting to jamming to stargazing to yoga to…well, you get the idea.
https://jococruise.com/shadowcruise/

Drop by our Shadow Cruise page for more information, and if you're inspired to submit your own Shadow Cruise event(s), hop on over to our Shadow Cruise Event Submission Form. (You'll be prompted to log in to your User Account if you're not already logged in.)
https://book.jococruise.com/joco-cruise-2023-shadow-cruise-event-requests/

Deadline for Shadow Cruise submissions is December 5th.

2023 Theme Days

Each year on JoCo Cruise, we incorporate a few different “theme days.” These are “days” that are given certain “themes,” because that's how words work.

Here's the theme days for 2023 (not necessarily in chronological order):

  • Welcome, New Cruisers - An annual tradition, we dedicate the first day of the cruise to making our new JoCo Cruisers feel comfortable and welcomed, with a number of events dedicated to helping them ease into—or leap into!—the experience.
  • Cosplay Halloween - Cosplay has always been a part of JoCo Cruise. But Halloween? That's a new wrinkle. Will there be trick or treating? Probably! Will there be a costume parade/masquerade? Definitely! Prepare to get your oogie boogie down!
  • Captain Day - Look at us; we're all the captain now! Everybody will automatically ranked up on Captain Day (expect for the actual captain of the Nieuw Amsterdam, who will remain at their current rank). Dress up as your favorite captain of any era, stick some epaulettes on whatever shirt you happen to be wearing, nod at each other with a curt “Captain” as you pass by…go nuts. You have the conn*.
  • Retro Day - On Retro Day, attendees can celebrate the past. Which past, you ask? You name it. Think only '90s kids will understand? Maybe, but do you mean 1990s, or 1890s, or 1290s? All of the above and more! If it's old, it's gold. There'll definitely be a “retro” dance party, but don't ask us which era yet, because thinking about how most music we grew up with constitutes “retro” now makes us feel sad.
  • Jammies Day - By end of the week, while we've all had a ton of fun, let's face it: we're all just a teeny bit tired. So on Jammies Day, everyone can take things down a notch, sartorially speaking, and feel free to chill out in your comfy jammies all damn day. Nobody can stop us, because we make the rules!

151 days!

THO.

*“Captain” title is strictly honorary, no attendees may actually command or steer the ship or make announcements from the bridge.

[August 25, 2022] Accessibility Input

JoCo Cruise Accessibility Panel

Hello! JoCo Cruise is always working to improve our support for and inclusiveness of all our attendees, including those who may face challenges related to various disability conditions and states of ability. We would like to hear from folks who are impacted by Sensory Processing Sensitivities and Hearing Disabilities to learn about their experiences onboard.

If you would be willing to participate in a panel discussion about your JoCo Cruise experience please complete this form so that we work to get it scheduled!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_WRIU2SV0Iz-3jBiA7R0z3ZbRxm9FSCBCFDk2-p1Djc/viewform?edit_requested=true

192 days!

THO.

Booking and Cabin Placement Preferences - One More Reminder

Just a quick check-in to remind anyone who has cabin placement requests they haven't submitted yet to please log into your User Account and enter them under the “Booking Preferences” tab ASAP. Technically, we've passed the May 15th deadline noted in our previous email, but we're extending that through this Friday (May 20th) as a courtesy to any of you last-minute or oops-I-totally-forgot-to-do-that types out there.
https://book.jococruise.com/2023/#/account/
https://mailchi.mp/975578409f2b/cabin-placement-preferences-and-some-2022-stats

Everyone—not just the “placement preferences” folks—should also take a moment to indicate your preferences, if you have any, for bed placement (separate or combined) and dinner seating (early or late). These options can be found in the “Booking Preferences” tab noted above.

Other Helpful Links in Your User Account

Speaking of your User Account, you may also notice the “Helpful Links” section. Besides the link to our merch store (which is pretty self-explanatory), here's what those other links currently listed are all about:
https://store.dftba.com/collections/joco-cruise

Club SRO

JoCo Cruise offers a program called Club SRO (“Standing Room Only”), which will be available to a limited number of guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Club SRO is designed for JoCo Cruise guests who don't need or want to attend the onboard main concerts (e.g., crowd-averse folks, nerd-adjacent spouses, sixteen-hour-a-day dungeon masters, etc.). People who join Club SRO waive their guaranteed seating at the evening main concerts in the ship's World Stage theater, in exchange for a credit to their onboard stateroom accounts. Full details can be found in our FAQ's Club SRO section.
https://jococruise.com/faq/#what-is-club-sro

If you are interested in signing up for Club SRO on JoCo Cruise 2023, please fill out our online “I Want to Join Club SRO” application. Separate applications must be submitted for each individual seeking to join Club SRO.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcFqrBmxGX7a7QCNcIcoksNJ5xX56ms0Obylvw8Qe9DmsKGA/viewform

NOTE: completing this form DOES NOT guarantee membership in Club SRO; you will be contacted by the Home Office regarding your Club SRO status, and with additional information as applicable. Again, numbers are limited; first-come, first-served.

Salutations / Pronouns

The Nieuw Amsterdam defaults to using “Mr.“ or “Ms.” when addressing guests in written communication, based on the gender listed on one's travel documents. If you prefer the ship use a different salutation from the above to address you in correspondence, please fill out our Salutation Change Request form.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf43jHxq9DVFVGwz1ITIiQ6r4Wh3FMWjI3Jtkh9Dsw5DPRdMA/viewform

Making these changes is a manual process for JoCo Cruise and the ship. PLEASE do not submit spurious, “joke” or vanity requests to change prefix.

Shadow TV

Stateroom TVs on the Nieuw Amsterdam include on-demand programming, allowing us to make available rebroadcasts of main stage performances and events, some movies and shows of our choosing, and even pictures of cats.

And as with previous years, one of these on-demand “channels” will be dedicated to passenger-created content—“Shadow TV”. Have you made something you think the other attendees would enjoy watching? Use the Shadow TV Channel Content Submission Form to submit original content for broadcast on board.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe42DMEqI8xCDk6FlsjV6QLekK8qhbh3DDAHeViL-4cYPLbxA/viewform

IMPORTANT: You MUST control all rights to all content (audio and video) in your submission. Don’t submit, say, a “Weird Al” video, or an original video with someone else’s music on the soundtrack.

Please use the above form to submit all media via a download/cloud storage service (Google Drive, Dropbox, box.com, etc.), DO NOT email it directly. No Flash video, and please no obscure/esoteric video formats. No links to YouTube videos, please; all submissions must be downloadable.

The Management will review all submissions and reserves the right to approve or reject submissions for any reason, including (but not limited to) copyright violations and/or violations of the JoCo Cruise Code of Conduct.

292 days!

THO.

[April 19, 2022] Placement Requests Reminder

Cabin Placement Requests

If you have specific cabin placement requests for your 2023 booking and you haven't submitted them yet, we ask that you please do so ASAP. Because JoCo Cruise is already over 90% sold out, we'll soon be beginning the (slow, laborious, manual) process of assigning bookings to specific staterooms.

As such, we want to make sure everyone who's got specific cabin placement requests (e.g. “close to/far from elevators,” “towards the front/back/middle of the ship,” etc.) have those requests properly considered during this process.

So once again, IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC CABIN PLACEMENT REQUESTS and you haven't done so yet, please do the following by May 15th:

  • Log into your JoCo Cruise User Account
    https://book.jococruise.com/2023/#/account/
  • Navigate to the “Booking Preferences” tab
  • Fill out the “Stateroom Placement” checkboxes as applicable
  • If you have other placement requests not covered under those checkboxes, fill out the “Additional Stateroom Placement Requests” field

You can (and should) also add your bed placement and dinner seating preferences at this time. But even if you don't know those preferences yet, please make sure to get in your cabin placement requests sooner rather than later.

Some JoCo Cruise 2022 Stats

  • Total 2022 Events
    • Official: 124 events (191.8 hours)
    • Shadow: 131 (180.5 hours)
    • Total: 255 (372.3 hours)
  • Cargo (Aggregated)
    • Total units loaded: 42
    • Pallets: 15 (not counting arcade cabinets)
    • Crates: 2
    • Beautiful new heavy-duty orange road cases: 16
    • Other necessary stuff: 9
  • Game Library
    • Total number of games: 793
    • Unique titles: 518
  • Arcade Cabinets
    • Number of machines: 12
    • Total tonnage: 1.8
    • Ratchet straps used to attach machines to pallets: 64
    • Estimated number of games played: 2257
  • Twit-arr
    • Number of Twit-arr twaarts (approx.): 9,000
    • Twitarr forum posts (approx.): 10,000
    • Seamails (approx.): 45,000
  • Miscellaneous
    • Number of COVID rapid tests taken by THO members during the prep period before sailing: 240
    • Custom napkins distributed: 11,200
    • Custom elevator rugs: 26
    • Hours Griffin Newman spent analyzing the 2009 Robin Williams/John Travolta film Old Dogs: 3
    • Hours spent *officially* yelling at the moon: 1

320 days!

THO.

[April 1, 2022] 90% Sold Out for 2023, Plus a Brand New Event!

JoCo Cruise 2023 is 90% Sold Out!

With 11 months to go before we set sail, 90% of available cabins on JoCo Cruise 2023 are already sold out. We're overwhelmed by everyone's enthusiasm, and look forward to seeing all our friends again this coming March.

If you haven't booked yet, you can review all available cabin types, prices, available discounts, and deposit schedules on our Pricing Page. Or if you're ready to go, smack that booking button below!
https://jococruise.com/2023pricing/
https://book.jococruise.com/2023/#/book/

Given the overwhelming demand for our 2023 cruise, we're extremely excited to announce an entirely new JoCo Cruise event we've had in the works for a while now. As one door closes, another one opens…in the form of A WHOLE NEW ADVENTURE ON A WHOLE NEW MODE OF TRANSPORTATION!

Coming April 1, 2023…

https://jococruise.com/jcp23/

338 days!

THO.

[March 22, 2022] JoCo Cruise 2023 Booking is Now Open!

JoCo Cruise 2023
March 5-12, 2023
Sailing on Holland America's ms Nieuw Amsterdam
From Fort Lauderdale, FL to San Juan, Tortola, and Half Moon Cay

Public Booking is Now Open!

Public booking for JoCo Cruise 2023 is happening right now. This very second! Many cabin types have already sold out (passengers on JoCo Cruise 2022 had the opportunity to book while onboard, and boy they sure did), and we fully expect the 2023 event to sell out completely in relatively short order.

You can review all available cabin types, prices, available discounts, and deposit schedules on our Pricing Page. Or if you already know what you want, smack that booking button below!
https://jococruise.com/2023pricing/

https://book.jococruise.com/2023/#/book/

Forms of Payment

As was the case with JoCo Cruise 2022, we're unable to process credit cards or PayPal transactions at this time. Payments may be made for 2023 via ACH transfer. The ACH transfer process withdraws funds from an existing bank account rather than placing a charge against a credit card account. In this regard, an ACH transfer works somewhat like a wire transfer, but is less complicated and most banks won’t charge any fee for it—for those that do, it’s less expensive than wire transfer fees. (If you wish, you can think of the process as similar to a Venmo transaction.) You will need your login information for your bank account for this process. (The login is handled securely and directly within the JoCo Cruise booking/payment process, via Plaid.)
https://plaid.com/

Our system will support ACH transfers from most major US-based financial institutions, as well as many smaller banks and credit unions (over 2,000 in total). If you don't have a US-based bank account, or you find that your particular US financial institution is not supported by Plaid, please email us at booking@jococruise.com.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is not included in the JoCo Cruise 2023 cruise price, but we strongly suggest purchasing it through a third party. Each year there have been passengers who have needed to cancel for a wide variety of reasons (including adverse weather, cabinmates backing out, and unforeseen financial hardship; many people in 2022 experienced weather-related flight delays post-cruise), so we highly recommend it. For complete peace of mind, you may wish to consider a policy that allows “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage.

One travel insurance source we recommend is Yonder, which aggregates plans from many providers.
https://www.insureyonder.com/affiliate/JoCoCruise

While travel insurance can be purchased just about any time, the most flexible plans generally must be purchased within 14 days of your initial booking; some policies, particularly “Cancel for Any Reason” policies, require purchase within one day of booking in order to be covered for pre-existing conditions.

If you use our link to Yonder, you can select the United States as your destination; if you’ve used the above link, on the next screen it’ll automatically select “Cruise” for your type of trip further in the quote process.)

Club SRO

We're once again offering Club SRO on JoCo Cruise 2022, for those passengers who are willing to forego guaranteed seats at the nightly Main Concerts in return for a $125 credit to their onboard account. Complete info about Club SRO can be found in our FAQ. Availability is limited.
https://jococruise.com/faq/#sro

You'll be prompted during the booking process to select the option to be considered for Club SRO. If you wish to join after having completed booking, you can fill out the JoCo Cruise 2023 “I Want to Join Club SRO” Application.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcFqrBmxGX7a7QCNcIcoksNJ5xX56ms0Obylvw8Qe9DmsKGA/viewform

Stateroom Placement Requests

If you plan to have stateroom placement requests (e.g., a specific cabin number, deck, or general location, etc.), please see our FAQ item regarding placement requests. This will help familiarize you with the potential issues involved, and will greatly assist you when it comes time to book your cabin and make your requests.
https://jococruise.com/faq/#can-i-make-stateroom-placement

(NOTE: placement requests are no longer a part of the booking process as in earlier years, but instead are submitted via your User Account once your booking is completed. If you email us your placement requests, we will just shrug and point back at this paragraph.)

347 days!

THO.

[March 18, 2022] Onboard Booking

Editor's note: This email was sent to passengers that took advantage of booking the 2023 cruise while onboard the 2022 cruise.

We're back! Like many of you, we encountered some…difficulties returning home earlier this week (thanks, bomb cyclone!). But THO is officially back and up and running. We appreciate your patience as we've gotten the atomic batteries to power and turbines to speed again.

Okay then…

Completing Your JoCo Cruise 2023 Booking by Friday, March 25th

If you're receiving this email, you completed an JoCo Cruise 2023 Onboard Booking form while aboard JoCo Cruise 2022. (Thanks for that!) As such, you've got a tentative hold on a cabin for JoCo Cruise 2023. Here's what you need to do to complete the process and officially have your booking assigned to you…

1. Log in to your JoCo Cruise User Account

Please log into your User Account and confirm that the details of your booking match your expectations. As noted on the form, we've done our best to grant everyone's first choice of cabin type, but in some cases where your initial choice was not available, we've had to assign a second or third choice.
https://book.jococruise.com/2023/#/account/

Your JoCo Cruise 2023 booking number is «BookingID» Cabin type: «CabinClass» «CabinDesc» Number of guests: «NumGuests»

2. Submit your initial payment

Once you're logged in, you'll see a “Balance and Payments Summary” section on the main page of your User Account. If you go click on the “View Your Balance Details” button there, or if you select the “Billing & Payments” tab at the top, you'll see more details regarding your booking:

  • Booking Charges (which lists the retail price of your booking as well as any applicable discounts)
  • Payments (which lists any payments already made to your booking)
  • Deposit Schedule (which lists when deposits will be due, and indicates any payments currently due)
  • Make a Payment (see below)

In the “Make a Payment” section, you must pay at least the minimum deposit currently due. In order to secure your JoCo Cruise 2023 booking, your payment must be made no later than Friday, March 25, 2022. After that date, if no deposit has been made and you have not yet contacted us, you will be in danger of losing your current booking.

You may pay any amount above the minimum deposit due if you wish, including paying your balance in full. If you choose the Pay in Full option for your initial deposit, you'll receive an additional 3% discount off the cost of your booking (after all applicable discounts have been applied). NOTE: if you wish to receive this discount, you must pay your balance in full with your initial payment; you can't pay a portion initially and then pay the balance at a later time.

As was the case with JoCo Cruise 2022, we're unable to process credit cards or PayPal transactions at this time. Payments may be made via ACH transfer. The ACH transfer process withdraws funds from an existing bank account rather than placing a charge against a credit card account. In this regard, an ACH transfer works somewhat like a wire transfer, but is less complicated and most banks won’t charge any fee for it—for those that do, it’s less expensive than wire transfer fees. (If you wish, you can think of the process as similar to a Venmo transaction.) You will need your login information for your bank account for this process. (The login is handled securely and directly within the JoCo Cruise booking/payment process, via Plaid.)

Our system will support ACH transfers from most major US-based financial institutions, as well as many smaller banks and credit unions (over 2,000 in total). If you don't have a US-based bank account, or you find that your particular US financial institution is not supported by Plaid, please email us at booking@jococruise.com.

—

We thank you again for being a part of JoCo Cruise. If you have any issues regarding processing your initial payment, please email booking@jococruise.com ASAP.

One last note: if you booked onboard but didn't get your 2023 Onboard Booking pin (because you all booked so many cabins, you blew past our projections and we ran out of pins!), we'll be getting in touch with you to remedy that situation…Soon™.

352 days!

THO.

Previous Sailings

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email_archive/email_archive.txt · Last modified: 2023/03/22 00:16 by nessa
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