ELVIS MAY HAVE LEFT the building, but his music—and his fans—are still sailing the seas. A number of upcoming Elvis-themed cruises give travelers the chance to celebrate the King on board. One example is a five-night Bermuda cruise departing Baltimore on Oct. 14 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas. Another is Royal Caribbean’s week-long 14th Annual Memories of the King Birthday Cruise, featuring Elvis imitators and tribute artists, which departs Fort Lauderdale for the Eastern Caribbean aboard the Allure of the Seas on Jan. 21, 2018.
Themed cruises are among the most popular specialty offerings at sea, with hundreds of special-interest sailings available each year. These itineraries fill staterooms quickly with enthusiasts of music, food, wine, crafts, sports and even pets, so it pays to book early. Some themed cruises transform an entire ship into a floating festival; others add themed events to an otherwise standard sailing. Either approach can turn a vacation into a memorable, immersive experience when the theme matches a passenger’s passions.
Music is one of the most common and beloved cruise themes. Holland America’s Malt Shop Memories Cruise on the ms Eurodam (Nov. 5–12) features a lineup of tribute artists—everything from Elvis impersonators to performers honoring Dion, Brenda Lee, Jay and the Americans, the Coasters and Buddy Holly—culminating in an all-hands sock hop. Blues aficionados might opt for Holland America’s Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise (#29), departing Oct. 21 from Fort Lauderdale. Celebrity Cruises has announced The Moody Blues Cruise kicking off its 2018 sailings on Jan. 2. For lovers of classical and operatic repertoire, Ponant offers several music-focused voyages, including an Athens-to-Venice Homage to Callas that departs May 3.
Wine-themed cruises continue to attract travelers who want to pair scenic passages with exceptional tastings and vineyard visits. Examples include Silversea’s Trentadue Winery Cruise & Tuscany voyage on April 22, Regent Seven Seas’ Sbragia Wine Cruise on May 31, Seabourn’s America Wine Society & Sullivan Vineyards – Tuscany Tour and Wine Cruise on July 4, and AmaWaterways’ St. Francis Winery & Vineyards – Paris & Normandy cruise on Aug. 5. These sailings typically combine on-board seminars and tastings with shore excursions to well-known wineries.
Dancers can find cruises dedicated to ballroom, salsa, swing and more, such as Royal Caribbean’s Dance Cruise Europe – British Isles sailing on June 27 or Carnival’s Polka Dreams @ Sea – Polka Cruise on April 2. Travelers seeking enrichment in finance and investing can choose niche options like Crystal Cruises’ Chairman’s Circle Wealth Cruise on May 16 or Princess Cruises’ The Stock Whisperer Trading Cruise on July 9. Space enthusiasts may prefer Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 World Space Week programming beginning Oct. 6, while motorsport fans can time a voyage for the Monaco Grand Prix on Azamara’s related sailings (May 24, 2017, or similar dates the following year).
Nearly every cruise line designs its own themed experiences, so options range widely and are updated seasonally. Even cat lovers have themed choices: the annual Meow Meow Cruise—offering mixers, group dances, trivia and scavenger hunts (but not allowing pets on board)—is scheduled on Carnival’s Victory as a four-night round-trip sailing from Miami on Oct. 23, cruising the Western Caribbean.
With so many themed departures across genres and interests, travelers can pick voyages that align with their hobbies and passions. Whether you seek live music, culinary discovery, dance instruction, sporting events or niche fandoms, themed cruises offer a concentrated way to enjoy favorite pastimes while exploring new ports of call.