If you like to combine a walk in the crisp air of the Hebrides with five-star dining and wine service, of you think you've got comedic talent and want the opportunity to prove it, if you live and breathe golf, if you want a romantic dinner prepared by the actual hands of uber-chef Marco Pierre White, or if you've ever wanted to just -- finally -- master Photoshop on your PC, you're in luck. There is even a chance to check out traditional reindeer racing with Hurtigruten in Norway!
"Theme cruises" are growing in popularity, helping people fulfill dreams and desires just like these. From nude river cruises to holistic wellness programmes, you can engage like never before during what might otherwise have been a fairly ordinary holiday.
Cruise lines are tapping into this trend, whether by turning the entire ship into a theme-based voyage, open to all, or requiring sign-ups to participate. A fairly large percentage of first-time cruisers are attracted by a particular theme and then, so the cruise lines hope, will be hooked and want to cruise again. Outside vendors, too, are involved, setting up theme cruises for affinity groups (Elvis fans, for example, or quilters) who must book with a specific agency to partake in the concerts or seminars.
Most of the theme cruises take place in December and January, the slowest months for bookings. For the cruise lines, a theme provides an added incentive for people who might otherwise not book, and for the groups, this timeframe offers a lot of availability at reasonable prices.
We'll be updating this list fairly often so please do return; who knows what delights you'll find. In the meantime, we've mixed it up for you, providing information on cruises throughout Europe and the Caribbean, Mexico and Asia, Antarctica and the Arctic. We've found themes that let you help save the earth, learn a new skill, appreciate wines and fine cuisine, dance the night away, or sing your heart out. And it's just the beginning!
In the meantime, if you know of upcoming theme cruises and you think that we should know about them too, please contact us by e-mailing editor@cruisecritic.co.uk.
Details: Not only do you get to visit a previously unknown habitat for Emperor penguins off of Snow Hill Island, Antarctica, but you will also get a land tour of Tierra del Fuego and a barbecue in its national park, helicopter transfers and flight-seeing based on the daily programme, Zodiac excursions, and wine with dinner.
The Dates: 11 - 18 June, 2010; 25 June - 2 July, 2010; 12 - 19 August, 2010
Details: Renowned wildlife expert Tim Earl will be joining guests onboard the intimate Hebridean Princess for three cruises next summer. There will be two 'Hebridean Outpost' cruises' which will focus on bird-watching in the Scottish Isles, with a visit to St. Kilda, which is home to an array of nesting bird colonies. On the Hebridean summer cruise, Tim will be joined by the Hebridean Whale & Dolphin trust, to lead a day of whale watching. During these cruises guests can join daily wildlife watching sessions, onboard talks and take small boats out for whale and dolphin watching trips.
Details: This year, celebrity chef Marco Pierre will be cooking up a storm on family-focused Ventura. The fiery "Hell's Kitchen" star will be hosting cookery sessions in the theatre kitchen for groups of up to eight adults and children during selected cruises. Marco will also hold a Q&A session and give his tips of the trade. The lessons cost £75 per adult and £20 per child.
Details:Learn about the world's cuisines, discovering acclaimed wines and local food traditions. Tastings, discussions, cooking courses dining ettiqute, flower composition and suggestions await you, to help you learn the wonderful Italian art of hospitality.
The Date: Various dates from March to December, 2010
Details: This year Crystal Cruises will serve up some fantastic food and wine cruises on both Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. The lineup for 2010 includes Michelin Star chef Tom Aikens, plus plenty of top wine experts from famous wineries. Guests will be able to take classes onboard as well as taking culinary shore excursions too.
Details: Love beer, sausage, kraut and all things German? AMAWaterways has just the cruise for you. In honour of Munich's famous and historic Oktoberfest, they have created a trip that includes a two-night hotel stay in the city, during the festival. While in Munich, you'll get to experience this culturally rich event on its 200th anniversary. You can bet there won't be a shortage of Bavaria's traditional steins and classic, hearty German fare! This trip features transfers from Munich to Nuremberg (where you'll board the ship), a seven-night cruise to Amsterdam in an outside cabin aboard Amalegro, wine with every dinner, daily sightseeing programmes and events including special theme dinners, musical performances and folklore dances.
Details: In honour of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic, you can sail aboard Fred. Olsen's Balmoral, following the legendary liner's original itinerary. The ship will sail from Southampton to New York, making stops at the site of the Titanic's crash, and in Halifax, where you can visit the memorial museum and the cemetery where many of the accident's victims are buried. You'll also have the opportunity to attend a memorial service for the passengers and crew that were aboard the ship on that fateful night. Along the way, you'll also be able to attend lectures chronicling different aspects of the ship and its journey. Some cabin categories have already sold out, so if you're interested it's best to book as soon as possible.
Details: Have you boarded the Twilight bandwagon? If you're a big fan of the new vampire series that's generated tons of buzz among teens, why not experience a cruise revolving completely around the make-believe story. In August 2010, fans will set sail for a week long cruise to Alaska on Holland America's Oosterdam to visit the famed locations of the film. Supporting cast members Ashley Greene and Kellen Lutz are joining Twilight devotees onboard and activities include a fun costume ball, parties, autograph sessions and movie viewings, all in the chilly surroundings of icy Alaska. And if that's not enough Twilight for you, the pre-cruise festivities offered include a three-night long exploration (with hotel accommodations) of Seattle, and Forks, Washington, the town that the Twilight characters happen to call home.
Details: BBC Radio 2 host and television presenter Sir Terry Wogan will be hitting the high seas again with his band of beloved TOGs (that's Terry's old geezers and gals to us!) to raise money for U.K. charity Children in Need. Sailing the Mediterranean from Southampton onboard Queen Victoria for the second time, Terry and his gang will not only hold receptions and functions, there will also be a live radio broadcast from the popular books "Janet and John", a pub quiz and lots of other fundraising events. A 10 percent donation from your booking will go to Children in Need.
Details: Learn some new dance styles or pick up a new musical talent with Italian line Costa Cruises. During its Holy Land cruises departing from Rome this winter, Costa Pacifica will have hosts onboard offering a variety of dance sessions and music lessons.
This cruise is truly a celebration of all things Italian! Onboard the ship while sailing this Caribbean itinerary, you'll find entertainment by opera singers and contemporary Italian vocal artists. Fun-filled activities throughout the course of the cruise include Venetian mask making, a pizza throwing contest, tarantella dancing and more. Guests will also be able to learn the secrets behind making delicious European cuisine with the guidance of top Italian chefs. And enrichment programmes detailing Italian art, automobiles and fashion design will be featured during this special sailing.
Details: Golf enthusiasts will love the Flagship Golf programme Fred. Olsen offers. As well as onboard talks and lectures with the professionals, and practice shots on the onboard golf nets, the cruises will be tailored to visit some of the best courses in the U.K., Baltic, Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Included in the cruise fare is four rounds of golf, a welcome party, tuition with a PGA professional and a fun competition.
The Date: Open, contact the company for details; available for individuals or for full charter.
Details: With only eight guests, this converted cargo barge gives the most personal attention of all. Departing weekly on Sundays, the six-night voyage can take you, or you and your mates, on a golf excursion like no other. Play 18 holes at Royal Darnoch, Newtonmore and Nairn, and nine holes at Fort Augustus, all the while enjoying a cozy holiday with fine food and drink.
Details: Have you lost someone close to you and need some help picking yourself back up? This December, you can cruise with others that are going through a similar struggle in their lives, on the first-ever Moving Forward Cruise. Not only does this cruise offer you a chance to enjoy some downtime in the Mexican Riviera, but you'll also benefit from attending customized grief and bereavement workshops led by a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Priced in U.S. Dollars. Inside cabins for this weeklong cruise aboard Sapphire Princess are available from $916 per person.
Details: Travel along Europe's rivers at a slow pace with Avalon Waterways. The jazz theme cruises in Burgundy and Provence will give passengers the chance to visit the opera house in Bayreuth and take in a Strauss concert in Vienna with local experts. These cruises are priced in U.S. Dollars.
Details: The 2009 cruise was a smash hit for New Kids on the Block (NKOTB), so an encore performance was definitely in order. The 2010 concert cruise will feature onboard performances, opportunities to meet and mingle with the band, and various parties, both on the ship and onshore. The three-night Bahamas cruise aboard the 70,367-ton, 2,052-passenger Carnival Imagination, will sail roundtrip from Miami on May 14, 2010. The cruise includes a stop in Half Moon Cay, Carnival's private island in the Bahamas.
Details: If you have a passion for orchestral music and would like to experience one of the world's top orchestras in some great European settings, then look no further. German tour operator, Dertour has launched a new 'Sea & Music' cruise for 2010 featuring the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The Baltic cruise from Hamburg will take place onboard Tui Cruises' Mein Schiff. The trip will include three onshore gala concerts with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in St. Petersburg, Helsinki and Kaliningrad, two additional onshore concerts in Tallinn and Stockholm, four music concerts by ensembles of the orchestra onboard, an autograph session and onboard lectures.
Details: Sail with Avalon Waterways along the Rhone River, heading north from Cote d'Azur to Paris, France. Be swept into the moment as elements of jazz music surround you on this seven-night cruise. To continue the music theme ashore, you'll also attend the annual Jazz Festival in Vienne. With overnights at the front and back of the trip, you'll end up spending a total of nine nights in majestic France.
Details: Float along on the Danube and Rhine rivers, with an added musical exploration component. Starting in Budapest and finishing in Amsterdam, highlights of the cruise include a Strauss concert in Vienna, an organ recital in Melk and a visit to the Opera House in Bayreuth. Plus, explore the town of Mozart's birth in Salzburg, and enjoy the company of onboard experts, who will provide insight into the history and theory of European music.
Details: Join fellow fans of The King onboard Carnival Fascination for the fourth annual Elvis Cruise to the Bahamas. As part of Graceland's yearlong celebration of Elvis' 75th birthday, this year's cruise may be the best yet. Elvis impersonators including David Allen, Mark Anthony and Victor Trevino will perform. Expect to find tons of Elvis-themed parties, games, presentations, souvenirs and of course, music. Plus, you'll get to spend a full day in Nassau. Prices are in U.S. Dollars and start at just $599 per person.
Details: International pop sensation, record breakers and worldwide hitmakers, the Backstreet Boys, are hitting the seas with their fans this December. The boys, who won fame, countless awards and a die-hard fan base for such hits songs as "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," "Larger Than Life" and "I Want it That Way," will be sailing aboard Carnival Destiny on a four-night cruise to Key West and Cozumel. After being on the scene for more than 16 years, the Backstreet Boys (whose current record "This is Us" was released last fall) are still incredibly popular and like their fellow boy band New Kids on the Block's cruise, last year, their first cruise sold out in less than a day. But, you've still got a chance to join them -- sign up for the waitlist, and the tour company will contact you if they can confirm your reservation.
Details: Fred. Olsen has teamed up with the English Bridge Union to offer a bridge tournament onboard Balmoral, hosted by well-known player and Daily Express bridge correspondent, Paul Hackett. There are still a few spaces remaining so keen bridge players should book onto this 12-day Canary Islands cruise.
Details: Sail through Northern Europe for 12 days and test your skills on this cruise which features courses by trainers from the Italian Federation. They will show beginners and seasoned players how to improve their techniques and put you to the test with organised tournaments.
The Dates: Various dates from August, 2009 - October, 2010
Details: Whodunit Productions will be stepping onboard a variety of Royal Caribbean ships to bring a sense of mystery and intrigue to your cruise. With comical shows and performances you will have to chance to solve the murder mysteries at sea.
Details: Take a cruise from Italy through the Adriatic and Ionian waters next September and unleash the writer in you! The British cruise line will be offering writing workshops and interactive sessions on travel and history for guests to take part in. In addition, Swan Hellenic will be running a competition for the best piece of fiction or non-fiction writing and the winner will have their article published in the Swan Hellenic Journal.
Details:Luxury ship Paul Gauguin will have a special guest onboard for this 15-night sailing to Fiji, Tonga and the Cook and Society Islands. Explorer and environmentalist, Jean-Michel Costeau will be hosting a series of lectures on his work about the oceans of the world. He will also accompany several dives from the ship.
Details: Good news for poker fans! The fourth Ladbrokes Poker cruise is set to take place aboard Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. The ship -- which currently holds the title of the world's largest cruise ship -- will be sailing an eight-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean. Poker experts will be able to play in a full tournament and cash games, as well as enjoy the fantastic facilities onboard Oasis. So why not plan a trip to take part in the tournament and enjoy wandering around Oasis' Central Park or try your hand at the zipline? Prices start at £3,050 per person.
--by San Diego-based Jana Jones, who is the creator and editor of lodging Web site Sleeping-Around.com, as well as one of Cruise Critic's stalwart ship reviewers. Updated by Kelly Ranson, U.K. Editor
If you like to combine a walk in the crisp air of the Hebrides with five-star dining and wine service, of you think you've got comedic talent and want the opportunity to prove it, if you live and breathe golf, if you want a romantic dinner prepared by the actual hands of uber-chef Marco Pierre White, or if you've ever wanted to just -- finally -- master Photoshop on your PC, you're in luck. There is even a chance to check out traditional reindeer racing with Hurtigruten in Norway! 
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