Over 100 Big Cats fans travelled with Sports Fans Travel in 2026 and partied with Tommy Tremble, Stephen Davis, Chau Smith-Wade, Ryan Fitzgerald and Mitchell Evans
The proof is in this pudding video (tap to unmute):
In February 2026, Sports Fans Travel and the Roaring Riot took the party to sea — bringing 100 Carolina Panthers faithful aboard Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas for a seven-night Caribbean cruise that was equal parts fan experience and vacation of a lifetime. With Panthers legend Stephen Davis and a roster of current players including Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, Chau Smith-Wade, and Ryan Fitzgerald all onboard for the week, the cruise delivered something no stadium or tailgate ever could — seven straight days of dinners, Q&As, autograph sessions, beach parties, karaoke nights, and tailgate games at sea, with the Caribbean as the backdrop and the Roaring Riot family as the company. There has never been anything quite like it in Carolina history.
The magic of the cruise wasn't just the destinations — it was the access. From the moment the ship departed Port of Miami, Panthers players and legends were woven into every part of the experience. The Welcome Reception on departure night set the tone immediately, with guests mingling and taking photos with the players in the Dazzles Lounge before the ship even cleared the harbor. Monday brought a Q&A and autograph session at sea that became one of the most talked-about events of the entire week — players opened up about their least favorite stadiums to play in, their best memories from the season, and perhaps most importantly, exactly what's on the pregame menu at Bank of America Stadium. Tuesday and Friday featured intimate dinners with a player at Chops Grille. Wednesday in St. Maarten meant a private beach party followed by an exclusive Chef's Table dinner. Thursday brought a free day in St. Thomas capped off by Roaring Riot Karaoke Night. And Friday at sea featured tailgate games and group photos with the players before a final sunset farewell reception after enjoying Nassau.
This wasn't your standard meet-and-greet. This wasn't standing in line at a fan festival hoping to get thirty seconds and a blurry photo. By the second day at sea, word had spread across the entire ship — a cruise with 100+ Panthers fans and actual NFL players onboard had taken on a life of its own. Other passengers were stopping crew members asking if it was true. It was. Stephen Davis, one of the leading rushers in Panthers history, was on the ship-wide bar crawl. Chau Smith-Wade, a starting cornerback in the NFL, was on the beach in St. Maarten trying to cover anyone brave enough to run a route against him. And yes, there were Panthers players at the casino late into the Caribbean night, playing roulette with fans who had flown in from all over the country just to be there. That's the Roaring Riot Cruise. That's what Sports Fans Travel and the Roaring Riot set out to build — and that's exactly what they delivered.
Day 1 – Departure from Miami
Boarded Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas at the Port of Miami, picked up swag at registration, and kicked off the cruise with a Welcome Reception featuring Carolina Panthers players and legend Stephen Davis.
Day 2 – At Sea
A full day on one of the world's most remarkable cruise ships, capped off by a Q&A and autograph session with the Panthers players in the Dazzles Lounge.
Day 3 – At Sea
Another day at sea with an intimate dinner with a Panthers player at the onboard steakhouse, Chops Grille.
Day 4 – St. Maarten
A full day in one of the Caribbean's most stunning destinations at St. Maarten, with an optional private Roaring Riot Beach Party, followed by an exclusive Chef's Table dinner back on the ship.
Day 5 – St. Thomas
A free day to explore one of the most beautiful islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands, followed by Roaring Riot Karaoke Night back on the ship.
Day 6 – At Sea
Morning tailgate games and group photos with the players on deck, followed by a second intimate dinner with a Panthers player at Chops Grille.
Day 7 – Nassau, Bahamas
A free day to explore Nassau before gathering for the Farewell Reception — one last evening together with the players and the Roaring Riot family before the journey home.
Day 8 – Arrival in Miami
Arrived back at the Port of Miami, closing out seven unforgettable days at sea.
My favorite part was hanging out with the Panthers players - we were like birds of a feather flocking together. We had a great time - all of the fun games, going to the beach party and hanging out in the sand, eating dinner with the players.....Keep Pounding and Sweet Caroline was always in my ears. You couldn’t have a better trip than what we just had. TEN STARS!
I had such a fun time with the players and getting to hear the behind-the-scenes of what goes on in the locker room. The funny moments, the good moments, the bad moments, what they hate about the teams they play and which fans are the worst. We had a fun time meeting other Panther stands as well as just getting to know the players. This is now our second time doing this cruise and it’s definitely a blast every single time.
Competing with real NFL players to see who could eat a cookie with no hands the fastest was definitely the most memorable experience - that was NOT something I ever thought I would get to do!
Taylor was great! We had a great time and made several new friends. We appreciated the options for hotels.we are frequent travelers but thought the tips were well thought out for those who may not travel often or who have traveled internationally before.
