Cruises get on board with a variety of themes
— -- When travel agency owner Howard Moses launched a website to track theme cruises less than a decade ago he could count the number of such offerings on two hands. Now his one-time pet project, themecruisefinder.com, lists 400 to 700 cruises at any given time.
"The market has grown dramatically, almost exponentially," says Moses, president of The Cruise Authority in Marietta, Ga. "The public wants this unique opportunity to meet and see experts on topics, and share the passion about whatever the subject is."
Theme cruises these days run the gamut from the sublime to the bizarre, focusing on everything from quilting (quiltcruises.com) to Harleys, from Donny and Marie to jam cruises to heady discussions of evolution.
There are cruises for Elvis and Beatles fans, foodies, dancers, geeks, sports fanatics, and even those fond of the bloodthirsty — yes, there's a vampire gathering at sea in the 2012 lineup.
Some of the most popular cruises afford an opportunity for fans to mingle with stars, and vice versa.
"We want to hang out with you and not sit in our cabins all day," Kid Rock told an enthusiastic crowd at his Kid Rock's Chillin' the Most Cruise last April.
The approach obviously works. The rocker's third annual Bahamas cruise next April on the 2,642-passenger Carnival Destiny is sold out. Likewise, a New Kids on the Block Cruise on the same ship next June was sold out hours after it was announced this summer. Both have a wait list.
It's no wonder more performers are booking at-sea appearances.
New in 2012, alt band Weezer will appear on The Weezer Cruise, Jan. 19-23, on the Carnival Destiny, cruising to the western Caribbean from Miami. The floating music festival will also feature other bands including Dinosaur Jr. and Q&A sessions.
Meanwhile for country fans, the Blake Shelton Cruise features the reigning Country Music Award Male Vocalist of the Year appearing on a weeklong eastern Caribbean cruise on the 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel, embarking Miami on Oct. 14.
While some theme cruises are full-ship charters where everyone on board shares a particular interest, others take the form of large groups with participants invited to private activities (not available to other passengers). In both cases, the cruises may be priced at a premium to cover the extra entertainment/activities.
Cruise lines also organize their own theme sailings with speakers doing sessions open to all passengers.
With a guarantee you'll be traveling with like-minded people, theme cruises are particularly popular with singles, Moses says. Some even offer roommate matching for those looking to share a cabin.
Theme cruises are being added to the docket practically weekly, but here are some additional 2012 highlights:
• The Osmonds host their first Bahamas cruise, Donny & Marie Cruisin' With Friends, embarking from Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 28, on the MSC Poesia. Their siblings will be on board, too.
•Paula Deen & Family Caribbean Party at Sea features the Food Network TV star and her family on the 2,850-passenger Celebrity Eclipse, embarking from Miami on Jan. 21.
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