Chillie Chats With JJ Cruise

·57 min·5 clips

Jordan reveals how Virgin Voyages left wheelchair users waiting an hour with no seating and people passing out in line.

The episode opens with host Chillie Falls introducing the show from his studio in Forest, Virginia, noting it's December 3, 2025. He shares a personal update about a recent iron infusion and low blood pressure. The main segment is an interview with Jordan from JJ Cruise, who explains that he and his partner Jared met in Chicago in 2015. Jordan describes how their cruising journey began with a disastrous Carnival cruise involving food poisoning and a pool deck brawl, which almost turned Jared off cruising permanently. They were inspired to start a YouTube channel after meeting Brandon, who would become The Weekend Cruiser, on Navigator of the Seas. Their channel gained traction during a COVID-related delay in New York in February 2020. Jordan left his job for YouTube full-time in May 2021, and they became travel agents later that year. Jordan discusses current cruise trends, noting an increase in first-time and multi-generational cruisers, and predicts a future shift from mega-ships to smaller vessels. He details a recent negative experience leading a group cruise on Virgin Voyages, highlighting issues with wheelchair accessibility, long wait times in heat, and dismissive guest services. After posting a viral video, Virgin executives met with them, apologized, and outlined changes including accessibility training and terminal audits. Jordan attributes their loyal fan base to positive energy and a sense of chosen family on group cruises. When asked about a perfect itinerary, he suggests a Northern transatlantic on a Celebrity Edge-class ship visiting Iceland and Northern Europe. Upcoming plans include a group cruise on Celebrity Apex and a month off in Palm Springs. The interview concludes with mutual appreciation. The episode then transitions to news segments delivered by a narrator, covering Port Canaveral becoming the world's busiest cruise port, Discovery Princess winning an award, an overboard search, Holland America adding astronomy experts for solar eclipse cruises, a new Philadelphia cruise terminal, Real ID requirements, an MSC-UNICEF education initiative in the Philippines, and Galveston traffic alerts. Chillie wraps up by thanking Jordan and interacting with chat comments before closing the show.

As heard by us

A quick cruise-news roundup turns into a grounded look at accessibility concerns and accountability after a troubled sailing.

Chili Falls' December 3 bulletin starts with a brisk cruise-news sweep: Port Canaveral moving past Miami, Discovery Princess in Alaska, an overboard search, a possible new cruiser fee, MSC and UNICEF, and a Galveston traffic alert.

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Why you'd press play

You get a quick cruise-news rundown, then a candid account of how a difficult Virgin Voyages sailing led to a Zoom meeting with company executives.

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