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• Themed Cruises

Music Cruises

At CruiseMapper's Music Cruise survey you will find departure dates, itineraries, and various "music and dance" theme cruise information and tips. We offer you a list of Classical music concerts and dance cruise specials on deals to visit the Caribbean, Europe, and Australia on a big cruise ship vacation. Caution - music cruises are super fun, generally promoting a lot of drinking and dancing activities. Cruise drinking and dancing fun generally involve big money spending. Very special are also all the music concert voyages on big riverboats in Europe.

For your convenience, the following link jumps down directly to CruiseMapper's music-cruises schedule , listing lines, ships, departure dates, and homeports. Follow Mardi Gras Carnival cruises visiting the US port cities New Orleans Louisiana, Galveston Texas, Tampa Florida, Long Beach (Los Angeles) California, NYC New York, Mobile Alabama, and of course - Rio De Janeiro (Brazil). This survey is integrated with our Themed Cruises .

"Dance and Music" themed cruises

Themed as "Music Cruises" deals are from the list of the industry's newest inventions. They are very similar to all the music concerts arranged at land-based facilities (music halls, theaters, stadiums, etc. And since modern cruise ships can accommodate from 2500 (on average) to more than 5000 people, these so special marine vessels become the perfect place for the mixed "music concert and party" cruise vacation the world has never seen before.

From what Wikipedia has said about music - it's the art form "whose medium is sound and silence". However, on cruise ships there's no such thing as silence - it's party time all the time! The word "music" derives from Greek "mousike" meaning the "art of the Muses". And what is better than a Muses-inspired vacation of several days at sea, right?

Dance-themed cruises

The dance cruise experience is a major part of the "Music Cruise" specials - especially when famous bands and singers are involved in these actions. And these "musical" deals suggest a hell of a lot dancing on the ship. Imagine you can enjoy (if fortunate enough) your super cool band's performance at sea. There are some truly unique sailings, which include huge crowd dancing parties featuring NKOTB (with the "New Kids On The Block" celebrities).

Christian-themed music cruises are another unique offer in this category. On those, you'll enjoy the company of hundreds and even thousands of like-minded folks sharing your ideas of God, right and wrong. And quite often, preachers there dance and enjoy the music more than the audience itself.

Popular musical genders on the specially themed music and dance cruises are Rock, Country, and Folk bands. And Classical music and Jazz themed cruises offer one truly sophisticated experience at sea. Often music-themed sailings are combined with specials from the category of Food and Wine cruises . These are usually Jazz- or Classic music-themed (often river cruise) deals, offering a gourmet voyage on some of Europe's biggest rivers, such as the Danube, or Rhone and Seine in France.

P&O Cruises UK ships offer each year several Music Cruises leaving from Southampton, and their Australia brand may offer such themed deals from Sydney, Australia. Most of them are Mediterranean cruises from Southampton, and  Cruises To Nowhere from Sydney - i.e. without additional ports of call (which significantly lowers their cost by not including port charges).

How much do "Music Cruises" cost,  what is included in prices?

Your dance/music cruise infrastructure is pretty much like a normal sailing - but it's not, ok? The cruise part as always, includes tanning, swimming, drinking, dining, sleeping (with the "repeat until" command) summarized as "easy big-time fun". Your "music cruise tickets" prices are inclusive of all meals on the boat and add to that the 24-hr room service onboard. This means all main dining rooms and the buffet dining, specialty restaurants charge extra (from ~$20 to $50 per meal). Alcohol, soda and soft drinks are not in the list of inclusions.

Beware - enjoying the music cruise fun in a not healthy and not cheap combination with lots of beverages could cost you way more than the ticket itself. Virtually all music and dance cruise deals are on round-trip departures from some of the world's biggest cruise ports - like Miami and Fort Lauderdale in Florida, NYC New York, Boston MA, Los Angeles, Southampton UK, Sydney AU.

Music Cruises 2023-2024 schedule

Most of the following voyages are themed on Classic, Folk, Country, Rock, or Jazz music.

Note: In the following table, all links are internal (CruiseMapper) redirecting to the ship’s itinerary schedule where you can compare dates and prices per person (double occupancy rates).

Mardi Gras carnival cruises

Mardi Gras cruises are music and dance-themed voyages with itineraries that visit the US port cities  New Orleans Louisiana ,  Galveston Texas ,  Tampa Florida ,  Long Beach (Los Angeles) California ,  NYC New York ,  Mobile Alabama , and of course,  Rio De Janeiro Brazil .

Mardi Gras Carnival

The Mardi Gras carnival aka "Carnival season" (the name literally means "Fat Tuesday" in French) is a Catholic festival celebrated in the countries of Anglican nations. The celebrations start on Epiphany (or "the feast day" on January 6th) and culminate on the day before Ash Wednesday (called "Fat Tuesday" and "Mardi Gras Day" - positioned exactly 46 days before Easter).

When is the Mardi Gras carnival day?

Because day's timing is set according to Easter, it varies by year - between February 3 and March 9. Follows a list with the Mardi Gras dates in the next couple of years (all dates will be on Tuesdays, though  - no matter the year).

The Mardi Gras dates are:

• in 2020 on February 25
• in 2021 on February 16
• in 2022 on March 1
• in 2023 on February 21
• in 2024 on February 13
• in 2025 on March 4
• in 2026 on February 17
• in 2027 on February 9

To find your "Mardi Gras cruise ship", just pick departure port ( New Orleans ,  Galveston ,  Tampa ,  Los Angeles ,  New York ,  Mobile , Rio De Janeiro ). In the port's schedule, you'll find listed ships leaving from or going to that seaport. Then choose itineraries that include the year's carnival day.

Mardi Gras New Orleans is second only to the "Rio Carnival" in Brazil. According to Wikipedia, the Rio Carnival draws record numbers of day tourists to Brazil - 2,2 million for the Carnival Day in 2012. Add to this more than 5 million people for the whole week (around 70% of all annual guests to Rio De Janeiro), with over 400,000 foreigners participating in the week-long day and night music and dancing, and boozing.

"Mardi Gras booze cruise" inclusions

Most Mardi Gras themed cruise deals are offered by independent resellers and for larger groups with discounted cabin rates. Group booking ("Hosted Group Cruise"), besides great pricing, is also among travel agencies' special deals.

• Included by the agency are at least one Private Group cocktail party, all gratuities (depending on ship/itinerary these can be up to $100 PP), group departure, daily and nightly group gatherings, group dining (reserved tables), and, of course, your "Mask Party".
• Included by the ship (for the duration of the trip) are all meals (excepting alternative restaurants), accommodations and entertainment, 24-hour room service.
• Not-included (optional) are group shore excursions (again at discount prices), alcoholic beverages (optional all-inclusive drink packages are offered), gift shop purchases, spa services, gambling (casino / bingo), airfare (optional fly-cruise packages are offered from USA and UK), port charges, Government taxes, local transfers to the departure port. Remember that for US citizens a passport or certified birth certificate is always required.
• All Mardi Gras themed cruises offer special dining menu and carnival-themed shipboard activities - good music, exotic masquerade, booze packages, and promos.

Mardi Gras cruising experiences

In 2017, the UK-based  Fred Olsen Cruise Line offered the company's first-ever Mardi Gras cruise as part of an epic travel adventure to ports in the Caribbean, North and Central America leaving roundtrip from the UK.

• From Southampton England, Fred Olsen’s ship  MS Balmoral  offered in February 2017 a 46-night itinerary as an adults-only cruise visiting 18 ports of call and featuring 3 full days and 2 overnights in NOLA ( New Orleans ) allowing plenty of time to enjoy the carnival atmosphere.
• This unique  themed cruise (46-night itinerary, code L1703, the theme "Central America and the Mardi Gras" left Southampton on February 4, 2017. Prices started from GBP 3450 pp (based on double-occupancy twin-bed Superior Interior cabin). Pricing included accommodation, all onboard meals, and entertainment, plus port taxes.
• The list of cruise ports of call included: Southampton – Funchal Madeira – Bridgetown Barbados – Castries St. Lucia – St John’s Antigua – Road Town Tortola BVI – Falmouth Jamaica – Trujillo Honduras – Belize City – Cozumel Mexico – New Orleans LA (2-nights) – Tampa FL – Key West FL – Miami FL – Port Canaveral FL – Jacksonville FL – Charleston SC – Hamilton Bermuda – Ponta Delgada Azores – Southampton.
• The 2-night stay in NOLA allowed cruise tourists to enjoy the festivities at this fabulously extravagant festival. Passengers were also provided with the opportunity to attend the "Orpheuscapade Black Tie Ball" in New Orleans – something rarely experienced by tourists. This formal event was held in the city's Convention Centre, featuring live music, dancing, and the chance to get up close to the gigantic carnival floats, as a local celebrity leads the parade directly through the Centre.

Outlaw Country Cruise

Extraordinary Collaborations

Experience extraordinary performances, thoughtfully crafted tribute shows, captivating guitar pulls, and engaging artist activities across multiple venues during six nights of uninterrupted musical mayhem!

Bask in the Sunshine

Indulge in the glorious sunshine of Nassau, Bahamas, where pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters beckon. Then, explore the lively streets of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, where each corner reveals a unique blend of culture and charm.

SiriusXM Sessions at Sea

Enjoy live radio tapings featuring unique acoustic performances hosted by SiriusXM Outlaw Country DJs!

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Music Cruises Have Caught Major Wind — And This Company Is The Motor Behind Them

From Broadway divas to metalheads to EDM DJs, stages on ships offer all kinds of artists a unique platform — and Sixthman has cornered the market.

By Steve Knopper

Steve Knopper

Usually when Lyle Lovett performs, the stage does not move. But the 2010 Cayamo music festival took place on a luxury liner in the Caribbean — and 14-foot waves shook him out of his usual stoicism. “I grew up being the carsick kid. Couldn’t ride in the back seat,” says the Texas singer-songwriter. “I was doing an interview with Steve Earle for his Sirius radio show [while on board], and I had to step out of the room and come back in.”

Cayamo is one of 18 festivals this year run by Sixthman, an Atlanta-based company founded in 2001 when Sister Hazel’s then-manager, Andy Levine, invited 400 of the rock band’s superfans to take over 200 cabins of the Carnival Jubilee. It ended up kicking off an appealing new concert-business model: Music cruises gave artists the rare opportunity to play intimate shows for core groups of well-off devotees — all while enjoying access to high-end meals, luxury hotel rooms and slot machines (the occasional need for Dramamine notwithstanding).

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Lovett is one of dozens of artists, from Broadway divas to metalheads to EDM DJs, scheduled to headline Sixthman cruises over the next year. That’s because, unlike traditional, tightly curated festivals like Bonnaroo or Coachella, the company is open to booking acts of any genre — as long as their fans can afford roughly $600 to $5,000 for a cabin over four to seven nights.

In 2023 and 2024, Sixthman’s headliners include 311 (which just finished a cruise from Miami to Mexico and Honduras), guitar hero Joe Bonamassa (whose two Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea voyages per year include a trip from Greece to Croatia in August), Stevie Van Zandt (who curated this year’s eighth installment of Outlaw Country Cruise, topped by Blackberry Smoke, Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle) and Lamb of God (which headlines the Headbanger’s Boat on Halloween, along with GWAR, Mastodon, Hatebreed and others). “If it’s a passionate community, that is an opportunity for us,” says Jeff Cuellar, Sixthman’s vp of events, community management, marketing and branding. “We’ve done our research. We know their numbers.”

Although the COVID-19 pandemic dealt music cruises a one-two punch in 2020, when both cruises and concerts were shut down, the sectors have returned to full strength. Almost every event sells out quickly, according to Cuellar; some, like the old-school hip-hop Rock the Bells festival, even before their lineups are announced.

“You’ve got a really dedicated fan at your fingertips that artists get to be in front of for three, four, five, seven days,” says Lindsey Myers, a CAA music touring agent whose team has handled cruise bookings for artists including KISS and Kesha. “They wouldn’t necessarily have the same sort of avid fan at your average festival.”

Cruise attendance in general has boomed since the lockdowns: According to the latest Cruise Market Watch report, passenger numbers rebounded in 2021 with more than 13 million (though that’s still nearly half of 2019’s pre-pandemic attendance). The top company, Royal Caribbean, recently reported that yearly revenues jumped from $1.5 billion in 2021 to over $8.8 billion last year (due to high operating expenses, the cruise line did experience a net loss of $2.2 billion in 2022). Norwegian, according to its fourth-quarter 2022 results, disclosed a higher-than-expected loss (mostly due to $13.6 billion of debt), but overall revenue was up 225%, to $1.6 billion, and revenue generated from each passenger rose 23% compared with the same period in 2019.

Many cruise companies have music events — Royal Caribbean’s annual ’80s Cruise starred Devo, The Church and Living Colour in March, and Celebrity Summit’s Disco Cruise recently had Kool & The Gang and KC & The Sunshine Band. But Sixthman excels at lineups that feel contemporary — not like Sailing With the Oldies. “Sixthman have really become masters at determining which artists will work and which ones won’t,” says Cory Brennan, founder/CEO of management company 5B, which represents perennial Norwegian headliners like Flogging Molly and 311. “There’s a lot of homework and research that goes into this.”

And for such headliners, a ship is one giant marketing and branding opportunity. Train, which has its own wine company, holds tastings on its Sail Across the Sun cruises; singer Hayley Williams has sold her Good Dye Young hair color on Paramore’s Parahoy! cruises in recent years; and Melissa Etheridge raised money for her charitable foundation, which supports scientific research on opioid addiction. “That’s invaluable advertising,” Cuellar says. “Now everybody who’s there is converted: ‘I’m not only a fan of Hayley, I’m going out and spreading the word.’ ”

Artists who headline cruises participate in an economic “host model” as opposed to a standard flat-fee festival model, according to Cuellar. Part of their income is usually a guaranteed payment, similar to what they might receive at any land-based event. But they might also share some of the revenue from food and alcohol sales, which is not part of the deal for most concerts and festivals.

Most music cruises offer all-inclusive meal packages as part of the cost, but attendees pay extra for what Deb Klein, Etheridge’s manager, calls “onboard revenue” — including casinos, excursions in destination cities, art auctions and alcohol. Etheridge, whose most recent Sixthman headlining date was last fall, takes a guarantee, then participates in a 50-50 “rev share” deal for the rest of her salary, Klein says. (Transporting band, crew and freight to the cruise docks and on and off ships costs artists out of pocket.) “It’s really a joint venture,” Klein says. “Believe me, it’s a lot of work. For us, it’s about the community and the connection. And the finances, too.”

Overall music-cruise revenue, Bonamassa says, can be 30% to 50% higher than what a club promoter might pay for a Wednesday-night gig. So an artist making $10,000 for a dry-land festival date might make $15,000 for a cruise. (Nonheadliners’ salaries are comparable to traditional festivals, artist representatives say.) “Why does it cost more?” Bonamassa asks. “You’re doing multiple shows. You have the band and crew out there, you’re paying salaries for a week. By the time you add it all up, it’s an expensive undertaking.”

But other artist reps say expenses are low compared with traditional arena, amphitheater and festival dates. “The narrative you are going to hear from agents and managers is a justification for charging outrageous guarantees, because ‘you are locking up our band for a week and asking them to play multiple times,’ ” says Mark Willis, host partner for pro wrestler Chris Jericho’s Rock ’N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea, a Sixthman cruise that sails every January and stars Jericho’s own metal band, Fozzy. “But that agent/manager will never admit how much money their budget saves in accommodations and meals and drinks and backline and crew and staging and production and runners and bus drivers and hotels.”

As for the cost of admission, the ticket price is in line with a Bonnaroo or Coachella VIP experience, with Sixthman more like a travel agent than a box office, helping fans coordinate advance planning for food, lodging and transportation in addition to the concerts themselves. Attendees are what land-based concerts and festivals might call “super VIPs,” Cuellar adds — they pay extra to experience artist meet-and-greets, unexpected musical collaborations and glimpses of, say, The Beach Boys participating in a Family Feud game somewhere on deck or singer Mike Love bowling (as they did on their own cruise). Lovett has spied his bandmates playing poker in the ship’s casino. Headlining artists can “curate” their own festivals, too: Flogging Molly, for its cruise in November, will offer “the only floating skate ramp that I’m aware of,” says Brennan, and during its cruise, 311 plays basketball with fans. “Every aspect of the cruise is a chance for you to be involved financially and creatively,” he adds.

When cruises restarted in mid-2021, they required proof of vaccination and conducted COVID-19 testing on board — which worked for early music-cruise headliners such as Etheridge, who was doing the same for her own shows at the time. For Norwegian, COVID-19 remains a concern: In its December financial filings, the organization predicted the virus will still have “a significant impact on the company’s financial results and liquidity.”

But from a concert-business perspective, cruise-ship life is back to normal. “For a while, it seemed like, ‘Were people going to want to do these things anymore?’ ” says Bob McLynn, whose management clients include Train. “Just like the live industry, as far as I’m concerned, it’s fully back.”

This story originally appeared in the April 1, 2023, issue of  Billboard.

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Music Cruises Are the Future of Festival Culture

There’s nothing like rubbing shoulders with the lead singer of your favorite band at the buffet..

Published on 4/16/2024 at 9:56 AM

The elevator doors open to release a throng of rowdy ravers, their heads bouncing to the rhythm of a club track screeching with energy. At the center of it all stands Alex Ridha, a German DJ known to fans as Boys Noize, who blares the track from a moving cart outfitted with turntables, speakers, and glowing disco lights while he drips with sweat. The bass practically crunches from the maxed-out speakers.

“What up, Friendship?” Boys Noize yells over the beat. “We got Rico Nasty in the house, check this out.” Both performers encourage the crowd to get as lit as they possibly can.

Ridha pushes his DJ cart out of the elevator and through the hall—attracting wide-eyed stares from onlookers, some of whom fall in line behind the dancing horde, wondering just where this electro-themed conga line is headed. His final destination: the room of one lucky passenger aboard The Friendship 2024 cruise ship .

Roving ragers like this—the kind where you could end up rubbing shoulders with the lead singer of your favorite band in line at the soft-serve machine—can really only happen on a music festival cruise. And what started off as a few boat-based events at the turn of the millennium has now given way to a robust industry.

These days, for anything from less than $1,000 to more than $6,500, you can soak up the sun and sand at a private island while Julian Marley fills the air with reggae on the Welcome to JAMROCK Cruise or get your hair dyed with Paramore’s Hayley Williams in the ship’s salon on Parahoy! The Summer of ‘99 Cruise promises performances from Creed, 3 Doors Down, and a trip to the Bahamas this April, while the Rock The Bells Cruise promises to bring hip-hop heads together with Jadakiss, E-40, Talib Kweli, and more in November. And while there’s no official data on how big the industry’s gotten, the most successful production company in the game, Sixthman, started off hosting 13 music cruises in 2022 and is aiming to double that in 2025.

It all started with a '90s one-hit-wonder. In the early aughts, fans begged the management of Central Florida band Sister Hazel to organize a weekend hangout with the musicians, which led to an inaugural Labor Day cruise. Conveniently, the price of chartering a boat dropped significantly in the wake of September 11, 2001; the band was able to crowdfund $99 each from 1,000 fans each as a deposit and then teamed up with an Atlanta businessman to cover the remaining $750,000 overhead cost to charter an entire ship.

Now 25 sailings later, The Rock Boat hosted by Sister Hazel remains a flagship event of Sixthman’s busy annual schedule. What’s more, Norwegian Cruise Line officially acquired the company in 2012, which meant a stable supply of ships outfitted with the exact specs needed to pull off months of musical sailings. Sixthman is now also helmed by Jeff Cuellar, the former festival director of the massive Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee. And these days, instead of planning a four-day fest for tens of thousands, he’s in charge of filling a four-month block’s worth of programming for a variety of niche but passionate audiences.

“We look at the calendars like a big Tetris puzzle,” says Tom Dougher, a senior corporate sales manager at Norwegian. “How can we take 90 or 100 days and fill them back to back?”

Tailoring each event to its unique crowd is a huge part of the formula, ranging from major efforts—like when Sixthman built pro-skateboarders a ramp and halfpipe on the pool deck as part of the latest Flogging Molly Salty Dog Cruise—to simpler accoutrement, like branded felt on casino tables or thematic cocktail and menu items. For Sixthman’s Jay and Silent Bob Cruise Askew , which sailed in February, the cult film's director Kevin Smith hosted a table reading with fans. The company makes sure performers understand that their cruise won’t be successful—or repeatable—if they just hide in their cabin between performances.

Beyond Sixthman, Norwegian also works with a handful of independent event producers, including Gary Richards, the man behind the aforementioned Friendship electronic music cruise festival. The former record label A&R, who also DJs as Destructo, excels at the specialization and interaction component. Everything from the music in the hallway overhead speakers to artist-hosted mini golf competitions are tailored to create a sense of total musical immersion. Richards used to run a company called HARD that hosted multi-day music festivals in Los Angeles—the kind of event you could sell more tickets to, although that wasn’t always a good thing.

“You're gonna have a bad element you just can't control,” he says of giant land-based festivals. “A music festival cruise is a workout to get there. You have to get a flight, maybe get a hotel. Busters aren't gonna put all that energy into something where they want to just go and create a problem.”

These days his goal is to make events that are fun for everyone, from a headliner like Skrillex to the guy taking out the trash. And since the initial Holy Ship! set sail in 2012, those who sail with Richards have self-appointed themselves the #ShipFam, creating a fandom beyond the boat that’s led to previous shippers meeting up at local concerts and staying at each other’s houses while traveling. It was an unintended byproduct of the endeavor, but one Richards promotes whole-heartedly. The frequent shippers have even come to call Richards “dad.”

It’s fun for the artists, too. Ridha, a.k.a. Boys Noize, has been a headliner on all four Friendship sailings, participating in Richards’ at-sea lineups as far back as the second Holy Ship In 2012. “For me, it's the best paid work ever,” he says, noting that on most of his trips, he makes sure to use the fitness facilities, book a massage, and race in the on-board go-karts. He even sneaks in a little work—collaborating with other artists who are also staying on the ship.

“Once artists realized that it's not about the concert and the money, that it's about the fans, about the community, I think that's where it all changes,” says Dougher from Norwegian Cruise Line. “What I've seen over the years, and what keeps me passionate about this, is watching those communities come back, because in many cases, it's the one time a year they get to see their friends that they made on the cruise two, three years ago. Once you get that common passion point, everyone just gels together. It's amazing to watch.”

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The 18 best themed cruises for 2024 and 2025.

From Christmas to Comic-Con, there's a themed cruise for you.

The Best Themed Cruises

Kent Phillips | Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Grab your costumes, musical instruments, books or anything else you could need for a fun themed cruise.

Imagine boarding a cruise ship to find hundreds – or even thousands – of your shipmates share the very same passions and interests that you do. You're thinking of a themed cruise.

Like a traditional cruise, a themed cruise delivers everything you'd expect of a shipboard vacation, like sundrenched ports, sparkling blue waters and superb dining amid lush surroundings, but instead of a daily program filled with trivia, bingo, dance lessons and pickleball tournaments, you'll find myriad activities geared specifically to the sailing's theme – and plenty of like-minded people to share them with.

Below, you'll find some of the top themed cruises for 2024 and 2025. Be sure to book soon, as these voyages can sell out quickly.

Book a cruise on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Best Music-Themed Cruises

Best holiday cruises, best star trek cruises, best literary cruises, best culinary cruises, best sports-themed cruises, cayamo, a journey through song: march 1-8, 2024.

In its 16th year, Cayamo celebrates music of all genres. The 2024 voyage brings Lyle Lovett, Billy Bragg and Shawn Colvin together with more than two dozen acts aboard Norwegian Pearl . This themed cruise sails from Miami to the Dominican Republic and Aruba while offering songwriting sessions, open jams, autograph opportunities and more. In addition to full concerts, cruisers can count on memorable collaborations and onboard performances crafted specifically for this weeklong musical celebration. Though this music-themed cruise is currently full, interested travelers can join the waitlist on Cayamo's website .

The Broadway Cruise 2: March 13-18, 2024

The Great White Way relocates from the Big Apple to Miami , with stops in Key West, Florida , and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands , during this musical salute to Broadway. Join actors – including Norm Lewis, Christian Borle and Kerry Butler – as well as composers, choreographers, journalists and critics for five nights of performances, workshops and panel discussions aboard Norwegian Pearl.

Flower Power Cruise: March 21-28, 2024

Hop aboard Celebrity Summit for a celebration of the stars and music of the 1960s, hosted by Peter & Gordon's Peter Asher. The Rascals, Tommy James & the Shondells, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, John Lodge of the Moody Blues, John Kay of Steppenwolf, The Box Tops and The Grassroots are just part of the stellar lineup of classic rockers sailing from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico , and St. Croix on the seventh annual Flower Power Cruise. Visit the Flower Power Cruise website to join the waitlist.

On the Blue: April 5-10, 2024

Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues hosts this five-night celebration of classic rock aboard Norwegian Pearl, filled with full concerts, late-night jams, Q&A sessions with the artists, photo ops, meet-and-greets and themed nights. The Zombies, Alan Parsons, Al Stewart, Little River Band and more join Hayward as Norwegian Pearl sails from Miami to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic , and Nassau, Bahamas . VIP packages that include priority concert seating, a goody bag filled with themed merchandise and access to a special artist cocktail party are available.

The Michael McDonald and Patti LaBelle Cruise: April 10-13, 2024

In 1986, Michael McDonald and Patti LaBelle teamed up to record what would become a No. 1 smash hit: "On My Own," written and produced by Burt Bachrach and his then-wife Carole Bayer Sager. Now, McDonald and LaBelle reunite – this time, at sea – for a three-night event filled with musical performances. Hosted by Grammy Award winner Marcus Miller, this soulful voyage also features comedians George Wallace and Alonzo Bodden along with a cast of award-winning musicians and vocalists to keep the party going. This cruise sails from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas, aboard Norwegian Pearl.

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Halloween on the High Seas: Mid-September to October 2024

It's a spooky time aboard four of Disney Cruise Line's ships – Disney Magic , Disney Dream , Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish – during its Halloween sailings. Dress up and join Disney characters for Halloween parties, themed food and beverages, eerie arts and crafts, creepy decor and other special events. Featured Halloween itineraries for 2024 sail to destinations in the eastern and western Caribbean, as well as the Bahamas.

Hallmark Christmas Cruise: November 5-9 and November 17-21, 2024

Hallmark Channel stars bring Christmas magic to life on this festive celebration at sea aboard the Norwegian Gem . Sailing from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas, the cruise includes Christmas cookie decorating, ugly sweater contests and Christmas "carol-oke" among its planned activities. Each voyage culminates in the world premiere of a new Hallmark Channel "Countdown to Christmas" movie. Head to the Hallmark Christmas Cruise website to join the waitlist.

Very Merrytime: November and December 2024

Get in the holiday spirit with Disney Cruise Line 's Very Merrytime sailings, available on Disney Magic, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish. Join in for a jolly fusion of shipboard decor and holiday-themed entertainment, including Christmas tree lightings, meet-and-greets with Santa Claus, a holiday deck show and more. Very Merrytime's 2024 itineraries explore ports throughout the Bahamas and the western Caribbean.

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Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Star Trek: The Cruise: February 22-29, 2024

Board Royal Caribbean International for the best cruise experience in the galaxy on Mariner of the Seas . Sailing to Curacao and Aruba from Port Canaveral, you'll join Star Trek actors Walter Koenig, Levar Burton, Garrett Wang and nearly two dozen others as you're beamed into themed shows, events, parties and actor-hosted shore adventures. Each night of the cruise celebrates a different dimension of the Star Trek experience and, since the cruise's debut in 2017, guests have knocked it out of the park with show-stopping costumes.

Courtesy of Cunard Line

Literature Festival at Sea: November 13-20, 2024

Cross the Atlantic surrounded by authors, poets, journalists, critics, historians and book lovers aboard the legendary Queen Mary 2 as she sails from Southampton, England, to New York City . With discussions, master classes, book signings and special events, this ocean-going book festival, coordinated by The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, features authors Mark Billingham, Denise Mina and Chris Brookmyre, with more guest speakers and participants still to be announced. This special program is open to all guests sailing this particular Cunard Line crossing and need not be booked through an outside themed cruise organizer.

Comic-Con: The Cruise: February 5-9, 2025

A thrilling new entry into the themed cruise universe, San Diego Comic-Con and Entertainment Cruise Productions team up for Comic-Con: The Cruise. Participants will interact with Comic-Con icons – including the comic book world's leading actors, creators, authors and more – as they sail on Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas from Tampa to Cozumel. While the specific talent lineup will not be revealed until early November, fans can expect nonstop activities on board, including hosted tastings, trivia sessions, parties, cosplay events, and autograph and photo sessions.

Courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises S.A.L.T. (All Sailings)

Sometimes, you'll find a theme built right into a standard cruise experience – like Silversea's S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste), an immersive multipronged culinary program created by Adam Sachs, former editor-in-chief of Saveur magazine. Aboard Silversea's newest ships, Silver Nova, Silver Moon and Silver Dawn , S.A.L.T. celebrates the region guests are sailing through on their particular voyage. Cruisers will find a dedicated restaurant featuring local specialties; a bar offering the area's wines, beers and cocktails; hands-on cooking classes that show guests how to create their favorite local dishes at home; and an intensive program of culinary programs on shore.

Chefs Making Waves: March 25-29, 2024

Award-winning chefs Andrew Zimmern, Aaron Sanchez, Anne Burrell, Marcus Samuelsson, Robert Irvine, Michael Symon and more indulge you in culinary excellence on this four-night voyage from Miami to Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau, Bahamas, aboard Norwegian Pearl. Guests can expect cooking demos, in-depth master classes, culinary panels and, best of all, four meticulously designed sit-down dinners curated by these master chefs who have reshaped the American food scene.

Sara Moulton Cruise: May 18-June 1, 2024

Oceania Cruises, creator of the decadent onboard Dom Perignon Dinner, celebrates dining with sailings featuring leading names in the culinary arts. In May 2024, chef, cookbook author and TV personality Sara Moulton leads food demonstrations and special shore excursions during a 14-day sailing from Barcelona to Rome aboard Marina .

Claudine Pepin Cruise: July 17-31, 2024

Known for its commitment to all things culinary, Oceania Cruises hosts another foodie voyage in July 2024. Claudine Pepin, TV host and daughter of world-renowned Master Chef Jacques Pepin, conducts culinary-themed demonstrations and chats aboard Sirena on a sailing from Reykjavik, Iceland , to Hamburg, Germany , over 14 days.

Courtesy of Windstar Cruises

Cleveland Browns Fan Cruise: March 11-16, 2024

Celebrate all things Browns during a five-day sailing from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas, and Falmouth, Jamaica, aboard Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas . Dozens of Browns alumni will share insider secrets with guests and join in experiences that include special dinners; a deep dive into the past, present and future of the team; autograph sessions; beach parties and more.

Rome & Prix du Monde of Monaco: May 20-27, 2025

Arrive for Formula One festivities aboard Windstar Cruises' Wind Surf, the world's largest sailing yacht. Cruisers will receive a themed gift package containing earplugs, binoculars, a seat cushion and more to enjoy the exhilaration of watching Monte Carlo's Grand Prix du Monde from a premier grandstand seat in Monaco . You'll enjoy two days of Formula One time trials and racing, as well as exclusive access to events like a Prix du Monde-themed cocktail reception. This experience is hosted by a Formula One expert who will provide behind-the-scenes insights, answer questions and participate in discussions throughout the sailing.

2025 British Isles Golf Cruise: July 15-July 28, 2025

In partnership with Perry Golf, Azamara hosts a number of golf cruises throughout the year. This is the big one: a sailing that includes attendance to the prestigious 153rd Open at Royal Portrush. You'll sail aboard Azamara Journey from Southampton, England, to Liverpool, England; Dublin ; Belfast, Ireland, and more, ending your cruise with three days in Edinburgh, Scotland . Travelers can count on playing six rounds of golf at well-known courses throughout the British Isles.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Judi Cuervo is a cruise enthusiast. Since her first cruise in 1976, she's been sailing aboard a wide array of cruises from mass market to expedition ships. Cuervo used her extensive cruise experience along with research skills to write this article.

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From country music to crafting: The best themed cruises for 2024 and 2025

You come to hear the music, to pursue a hobby or to follow a celebrity. You return for the community of people sharing a common passion. Themed cruises offer the unique opportunity to find your people and explore the world with them — all while enjoying an incredible schedule of onboard activities and entertainment.

A themed cruise is a special-interest sailing based around interests and hobbies such as food and wine, sports, dancing, crafting, popular films and TV shows, lifestyles and music.

Sometimes, the themed event takes over the entire ship. Other times, the theme cruise organizer has its group join a regular itinerary but offers special events exclusive to participants.

First-time theme cruisers are lured by the chance to meet or listen to their favorite celebrities or to improve their skills in a favorite pastime. However, they often discover that the best part of a themed cruise is immersion in a community of like-minded individuals.

Themed cruises foster a warm, friendly atmosphere on board where the conversation is easy because you begin with an established connection. Days and nights of shared interests and experiences can lead to meaningful connections that can last a lifetime.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

What's better than being surrounded by your people, partying the night away and then retiring to your own private cabin just an elevator ride away? Not much — except perhaps encountering your celebrity crush at the ship's buffet, attending a no-holds-barred Q&A with your favorite actors or musicians or taking a small-group class with a rising star.

From a country music cruise to a golfer's dream itinerary, these are some of the best themed cruises coming up in the next year.

Note: As standard on all big-ship cruises, fares for themed cruises include several complimentary dining options. Alcohol and soda will cost extra, with package deals available depending on the cruise line and the charter company. Tours and excursions in port also cost extra. Pricing is based on two people sharing a cabin.

Music-themed cruises

'70s rock and romance cruise 2025.

Cruise ship : Celebrity Summit Date : March 15-22, 2025

Billed as "the greatest feel-good party at sea," the '70s Rock and Romance Cruise returns in 2025 with a star-studded lineup of the grooviest acts at sea.

You'll enjoy performances by famed music icons, including Air Supply, Kansas and The Guess Who. The artists also host events and attend special meet-and-greets. Additionally, the long lineup will include The Family Stone, Dire Straits Legacy, Melissa Manchester and many more rock 'n' roll favorites.

Pack your best bell bottoms and disco sequins for the cruise's Saturday Night Fever and '70s costume parties.

Book soon because this cruise is selling out quickly. Find pricing and reservations on the Rock & Romance website .

Soul Train Cruise

Cruise ship : Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam Dates : Jan. 26-Feb. 2, 2025, and Nov. 9-16, 2025

People all over the ship, join hands! The Soul Train Cruise returns for its 12th sailing in January with more than 50 live performances from soul music legends.

This is your chance to join over 2,000 soul music fans for a week filled with all the joy of those timeless tunes. The artist roster features soul music stars and tribute acts, including Jeffrey Osborne, Shalamar, Dru Hill and Al McKay's Earth, Wind & Fire.

When you're not boogying down on the dance floor, sign up for celebrity-hosted wine tastings, game shows and other activities. The cruise cabins for this sailing are already sold out but don't worry. You can either join the waitlist for the January sailing or book the second cruise in November (which was added due to the popularity of the first sailing).

Find pricing and booking information on the Soul Train Cruise website .

The Outlaw Country Cruise 9

Cruise ship : Norwegian Gem Date : Feb. 22-28, 2025

It's a honky-tonk week at sea as Old Crow Medicine Show, John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Carlene Carter, The Beat Farmers and more join the ranks of musicians set to perform on the ninth Outlaw Country Cruise.

Expect one-of-a-kind collaborations and special acoustic performances by favorite bands and singer-songwriters. Then, the sea goes on forever and the party never ends with themed costume nights, meet-and-greets, game shows, a belly-flop competition and bingo games. The cruise is sold out, so join the waitlist for your chance to sail, or you'll be left two-stepping shoreside.

Reserve your spot on the Outlaw Country Cruise website .

Cayamo: A Journey Through Song

Cruise ship : Norwegian Gem Date : Feb. 28-March 7, 2025

A listening experience at sea that offers remarkable proximity to some of the music industry's most respected acts, Cayamo returns for its 17th edition of a weeklong music festival sailing the Caribbean.

This cruise features more than two dozen musical acts that span decades and diverse styles of American roots music. The lineup for 2025 is set to include Emmylou Harris, Nickel Creek, Grace Potter, Ani DiFranco, Lucius and many more.

For pricing and booking information, visit the Cayamo website .

The Flower Power Cruise

Cruise ship : Celebrity Summit Date : March 22-29, 2025

Hippies have it good on the Flower Power Cruise as some of the greatest music legends of the late '60s and early '70s bring their groovy vibes to the sea.

Relive the glory days of peace, love and flowers in your hair on board this weeklong sailing.

The 2025 lineup includes The Temptations, The Zombies, Herman's Hermits, The Guess Who, The Association, The Box Tops and others from that era.

Tribute bands will also play all the hits.

For booking information, visit the Flower Power Cruise website .

Related: Music cruises to set sail on the high seas

Film- and TV-themed cruises

Star trek: the cruise viii.

Cruise ship : Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas Date : Feb. 23-March 2, 2025

Sail long and prosper! Take the best of a sci-fi con, extend it for a week and add perfect tropical weather to get Star Trek: The Cruise VIII.

Few franchises have fan bases as devoted as "Star Trek," and all the love for the series floats this cruise. The voyage is an immersive getaway with an impressive roster of cast members and creatives who have been a part of "Star Trek" since its inception.

This year's cruise welcomes fan favorites, including Kate Mulgrew, Jonathan Frakes, Denise Crosby, Tim Russ and Nana Visitor.

Join in the merry mayhem as these sci-fi legends offer dramatic performances, comedy shows, Q&As, screenings, interactive games and other events and activities that will make your days at sea fly by.

The upcoming cruise is selling out quickly with limited availability. Beam on over to the Star Trek: The Cruise VIII website for the latest pricing, availability and waitlists.

Golden Fans at Sea: The Golden Girls

Cruise ship : Celebrity Ascent and Celebrity Reflection Dates : Sept. 14-23, 2024, and March 9-15, 2025

Picture it: Sicily, Italy ... 2024. That's right! You'll actually get to see Sophia Petrillo's birthplace. Golden Fans at Sea is changing things up from its recurring Gulf of Mexico cruise with a new itinerary in 2024 that has a port stop in Sicily. If you can't make the 2024 sailing, you can explore the Caribbean with fellow Golden Girls in 2025.

What can be better? You'll cruise with hundreds of cheesecake-loving, caftan-draped Dorothys, Roses, Blanches and Sophias.

This isn't your grandmother's cruise as much as it's a cruise for those who love wise-cracking old broads. The Golden Fans at Sea is the ultimate getaway for the popular TV show's dedicated fan base.

Departing from Barcelona, Golden Fans at Sea — European Adventure 2024 includes stops in Nice, France; Valletta, Malta; and Messina and Naples, Italy. The guest list wasn't released as of this writing. However, previous guests have included Stan Zimmerman, one of the creators and head writers of the series; Melinda McClanahan, Rue McClanahan's sister; and Marsha Posner Williams, a producer of "The Golden Girls," who has many stories to share about her time working on the show.

Golden Fans at Sea 2025 will depart from Fort Lauderdale and will visit Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; and the Bahamas.

Pricing information and a booking form for the 2024 and 2025 sailings are on the Golden Fans at Sea website .

Themed cruises for hobbies and special interests

2025 emo's not dead cruise.

Cruise ship : Norwegian Gem Date : Feb. 4-8, 2025

The ideal vacation for pop-punk cruisers, the Emo's Not Dead Cruise will sail from Miami with a stop in the Bahamas.

In its third year, the Emo's Not Dead Cruise isn't just a phase. Passengers can hang with fellow sad, cool kids on the ship and enjoy epic concerts and curated activities. The lineup for the 2025 sailing was not available at the time of writing, but past performers have included Yellowcard, The Devil Wears Prada, Emo Social, Mayday Parade and Senses Fail.

This sailing is currently sold out, but you can sign up for the First Available Cabins waitlist and check for schedule updates on the Emo's Not Dead Cruise website .

Bridge Holidays

Cruise ships : Multiple ships and itineraries Date : Multiple dates in 2024 and 2025

If ever there were a place for bridge lovers to converge, why not on the decks of a cruise ship?

Find your people and then challenge them to a game of bridge as you glide from port to port. The bridge program on board is hosted by experts Roberta Salob and Silvana Morici, with a mix of pair duplicate and Swiss team games.

This is not a full-ship charter, so you'll find your group at the many bridge events planned throughout the cruise.

Here are a few itineraries to consider:

• Iceland, United Kingdom and Scotland Bridge Cruise : June 22-July 4, 2024, from Southampton, England, to Reykjavik
• Holiday Bridge Cruise 2024 : Dec. 18-28, 2024, round trip from Miami
• Iconic Asia Bridge Cruise : Feb. 19-March 1, 2025, from Hong Kong to Tokyo
• Indian Ocean Enchantments Bridge Cruise : May 5-21, 2025, from Singapore to Doha, Qatar
• Holiday Bridge Cruise 2025 : Dec. 20, 2025-Jan. 3, 2026, round trip from Miami

Find pricing and reserve your cabin on the Bridge Holidays website .

JoCo Cruise

Cruise ship : Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam Date : March 2-9, 2025

A gamer's paradise in paradise, JoCo Cruise began in 2011 when singer-songwriter Jonathan Coulton's songs about geek culture fostered a community of capital "N" Nerds.

Join more than 2,000 gamers on a vacation where nearly every tabletop game invented is available to play. You'll have 24-hour access to a ton of games. Your daily planner will fill up quickly with the cruise's many workshops, craft sessions, panel discussions and themed parties.

One of the most unusual aspects of this themed sailing is the passenger-led "Shadow Cruise," which allows the community to create and promote passenger-led workshops, training and special interest meetups.

You don't need to roll dice or solve a puzzle to book your spot. Just head over to the JoCo Cruise website for pricing and availability.

Cruise & Crop crafting cruises

Cruise ships : Multiple ships and itineraries Dates : Multiple dates available

Dream Vacations hosts the Cruise & Crop crafting cruises, with more than two dozen craft-themed cruises set to sail across various cruise lines and ships in the next few years.

These experiences offer the chance for people from around the world to meet, swap ideas, share art and inspire creativity. Many of the sailings are themed around scrapbooking. However, you'll find many shared artistic interests, including card making, quilting, knitting, jewelry and photography.

• Paige Evans Caribbean Cruise & Crop : June 2-9, 2024, round-trip Western Caribbean sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida
• Mexican Riviera with Joni : July 12-19, 2024, round trip from Los Angeles
• South of Ordinary Crafting Cruise : Feb. 2-9, 2025, round-trip Eastern Caribbean sailing from Port Canaveral
• Cropping on the River Nile : Feb. 28-March 9, 2025, round trip from Cairo

Find the complete list of sailings, featured crafts, pricing and reservation details on the Cruise & Crop website .

Sports-themed cruises

Chris jericho's rock 'n' wrestling rager at sea.

Cruise ship : Norwegian Gem Date : Jan. 31-Feb. 4, 2025

Are you ready to rumble?! Rock 'n' roll and wrestling engulf Norwegian Gem for four high-octane days of All Elite Wrestling matches, music concerts and many special events with your host, wrestler and musician Chris Jericho.

The ship's 2025 lineup hasn't been announced beyond special guest of honor Paul Wight and musical groups Fozzy and Kuarantine. However, expect many opportunities to engage with your favorite wrestlers, meet Jericho and attend live podcast recordings.

All the cruise details are on the Rock 'N' Wrestling Rager at Sea website .

Browns Fans Cruise, a Cleveland Browns cruise

Cruise ship : To be announced Date : 2025 dates to be announced

It takes a special sports fanbase to inspire a cruise getaway, but Cleveland Browns fans have found their own.

The crowd at FirstEnergy Stadium takes to the open ocean for the Browns Fans Cruise. Its inaugural sailing took place in 2024 with such success that a 2025 cruise will be announced soon.

At least a dozen Browns legends were on board the 2024 sailing, including Josh Cribbs, Ben Davis, Hanford Dixon, John Hughes, Reggie Langhorne, Kevin Mack, Eric Metcalf, Greg Pruitt, Frank Stams, Phil Taylor, Felix Wright and Dave Zastudil.

Revisit highlights from the team's victories, prove your devotion to the team through trivia and games and get autographs from your favorite players.

Find out details of the 2025 sailing when they're announced on the Browns Fan Cruise website .

Related: Fumble! I accidentally booked an NFL cruise — for a team I don't even like

Azamara's PerryGolf cruises

Cruise ship : Multiple ships and itineraries Dates : Multiple dates

A few select itineraries on Azamara were made with the adventure golfer in mind. The cruise line has partnered with PerryGolf for its specialty golf cruises that visit more than 80 courses worldwide each year.

It's all about the convenience when you cruise on a golf-specific itinerary. PerryGolf handles your golf equipment and sets it up in advance so you can show up and tee off. Your green fees, cart fees and gratuities are covered, along with an on-course lunch and a round of drinks at the clubhouse afterward.

Back on the ship, you can trade tips and find your next golfing group at social gatherings of the golf enthusiasts on the ship.

Here are a few sailings to consider:

• Islands of the Med Voyage : May 28-June 9, 2024, from Barcelona to Athens, Greece
• Scotland Intensive : June 20-July 1, 2024, from Southampton to Dublin
• Arabia Intensive Voyage : Nov. 13-20, 2024, round trip from Dubai
• Spain Intensive Voyage : March 22-April 1, 2025, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Barcelona

For more sail dates and pricing visit Azamara's website .

Bottom line

The list of specialty cruises goes far beyond the ones mentioned above.

In addition to one-off sailings hosted by travel agencies and themed-cruise companies, you can find lifestyle-themed cruises offered by charter companies multiple times a year. These include LGBTQ charter cruises ; religious cruises for Jewish , Christian and Mormon travelers; and sex , swingers and nude cruises for adults.

Ultimately, no matter what floats your boat, you can probably find a cruise for it. Even if you're not an avid cruiser, an itinerary themed around your interests is worthwhile for both a fun getaway and a chance to connect with your people.

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The Urban Hang Suite Cruise sets sail on the Norwegian Pearl

Maxwell’s urban hang suite cruise is sold out.

After leading the way in modern R&B and transfixing music lovers for more than two decades, multi-platinum Grammy-award winning artist Maxwell is taking to the sea in the inaugural Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite Cruise! This 4-night ocean cruise will feature 2 exclusive performances by Maxwell!

Join Maxwell, Ledisi, Robert Glasper, Sabrina Claudio, Musiq Soulchild, Leela James, Gallant and more to be announced as we celebrate four glorious nights under the Caribbean night’s sky. Setting sail February 10 – 14, 2024 on the Norwegian Pearl, Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite Cruise will be stopping at two beautiful Bahamian destinations, Great Stirup Cay & Nassau! Join us while we bring concerts, comedy, parties and more out to sea over VALENTINE’S DAY WEEKEND!

JOIN THE WAITLIST !

Sail in Luxury Aboard the Norwegian Pearl

The beautiful Norwegian Pearl will be our home at sea for 4 nights of music, comedy, parties and more.  Home to 17 bars, 14 restaurants, and countless entertainment options, the Pearl offers everything and more to enjoy while not listening to the best names in R&B. Check out everything there is to be offered, by clicking the Explore the Ship link

Ports and excursions

The Urban Hang Suite cruise will sail to our own private island Great Stirrup Cay AND the beautiful port of Nassau, Bahamas. Sandy beaches, crystal clear blue waters, the best in Caribbean food and many adventures in the sun await. Check out the itinerary for more info

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Enrich your cruise vacation with up to 5 Free Offers with Norwegian's Free At Sea promotion. Choose from Free Unlimited Open Bar, Free Specialty Dining, Free Shore Excursions, Free WiFi and Free 3rd & 4th Guests.

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Enjoy the most inclusive cruise holiday with NCL's Free at Sea. Upgrade your cruise and choose from offers like Open Bar, and Specialty Dining, to customize your vacation to any destination, any time of year. Plus, enjoy Airfare Credits on select cruises.

Enjoy the most inclusive cruise holiday with NCL's Free at Sea. Upgrade your cruise and choose from offers, like Open Bar, and Speciality Dining, to customise your holiday to any destination, any time of year. Plus, enjoy Airfare Credits on select cruises.

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Our award-winning ships are designed for you to enjoy as you choose while cruising to beautiful destinations around the world. Add a wide range of superb dining options and spectacular entertainment and you’ll experience your best vacation ever.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Brings Beetlejuice: The Musical to Norwegian Viva

(11:50 a.m. EDT) -- Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! Norwegian Cruise Line announced Thursday it will bring "Beetlejuice" The Musical to its newest cruise ship when it debuts this summer.

When Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Viva debuts in August, it will become the first ship to offer the Tony Award-nominated musical at sea. A 90-minute Broadway adaptation of Tim Burton's iconic 1988 film of the same name, the musical will take place in Norwegian Viva's three-story Vivia Theatre and Club, complete with immersive special effects and cutting-edge lighting and audio.

"NCL has a history of pioneering the cruise experience and delivering the high-caliber entertainment programming our guests expect," said David J. Herrera, incoming president of Norwegian Cruise Line. "We are dedicated to pushing the envelope, delivering on those expectations, and putting our guests first as we elevate our onboard offerings for the ultimate vacation at sea.

"This summer, I cannot wait to bring the fun and nostalgia of ‘Beetlejuice’ to our all-new Norwegian Viva."

The shipboard cast of Beetlejuice will also include Michelle D'Amico, who served as a cast member in the original Broadway show. D'Amico will join the ship playing the role of "Lydia".

"We pride ourselves on not only delivering amazing performances for theater fans but introducing guests to Broadway and West End-caliber shows, which are made even more special by the incredible setting of the Viva Theatre & Club that seamlessly transforms from a best-in-class theater experience to an expansive nightclub," said Richard Ambrose, Norwegian's senior vice president of entertainment and cruise programming.

Beetlejuice is just one of the new entertainment options planned for Norwegian Viva. The ship will also debut a new game show, "Press Your Luck LIVE", based on the game show that originally ran on NBC from 1983 to 1986, and which was resurrected on ABC in 2019 with Elizabeth Banks as host. It will be the first time the game show has been performed at sea, and follows the debut of "The Price is Right LIVE" aboard sister-ship Norwegian Prima in 2022.

The sister-ship to Cruise Critic's Best New Ship of the Year for 2022 , Norwegian Viva will debut in August in the Mediterranean, with sailings from Trieste, Venice and Lisbon.

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Beach Boys, Temptations rock the Pearl on legendary music cruise

Music-themed cruises for many interests and genres offer nonstop fun at sea.

By Craig Davis, Craigslegztravels.com

Don’t rock the boat, we were told, was the path to prosperity and longevity.

The Beach Boys Good Vibrations Cruise on the Norwegian ship Pearl provided resounding affirmation that just the opposite is true.

The Beach Boys, led by 81-year-old frontman Mike Love, and the Temptations, featuring founding member Otis Williams, 80, staged an inspiring battle of legendary bands through two boat-rocking performances apiece over three days at sea out of Miami, Florida, in March 2022.

Beach Boys back afloat in 2023: For those who missed the boat or didn’t get enough of the first cruise, a five-day Good Vibrations Cruise is set for March 3-8, 2023 from Miami to Harvest Caye, Belize and Costa Maya, Mexico. Click here for details.

This was our first experience with music cruises, a driving force in the cruise industry that have amped up again following the industry’s COVID pandemic shutdown.

It won’t be our last. But it will be difficult to match the feel-good vibe of a floating Kokomo with two of the most iconic American bands, each celebrating their 60th anniversary. Plus Micky Dolenz, the last surviving member of the Monkees since the death of Michael Nesmith in December 2021.

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Music cruises offer nonstop entertainment

A Friday happy hour doesn’t get any better than aboard a departing ship gliding past the high rises of Miami Beach while the Temptations have already begun harmonizing and spinning on the pool deck stage like it’s 1965.

What made it special to us, it wasn’t just a nostalgic gathering of aging flower children. The 1,400 passengers spanned a wide swath of generations.

“Friday night when we played there were some really young people in the front and they were singing along to almost every word, which is amazing,” Mike Love said during a Q&A session on the pool deck. “That’s a true blessing and it’s kind of unique because not every musical group appeals to multiple generations, but somehow our songs have transcended time and they’re appreciated by all ages, which is fantastic.”

It didn’t matter to those of us onboard that Love and 79-year-old sidekick Bruce Johnston are the only legacy members of the Beach Boys in this incarnation of the group. The expansive set list resonated true to the original recordings and came at a rapid-fire pace with barely a pause — the only break for Love was when Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath joined the Boys on stage and sang one of his group’s hits (“Every Morning” and “Fly.”).

“We sing in the same key as the original recordings,” Love said.

Newer members buoy Beach Boys

A big reason for that is the infusion of fresh energy in the group. Brian Eichenberger, long-time lead singer of the Four Freshmen, channeled the late Carl Wilson with ease on the high end of the harmonies that are so distinctive of the Beach Boys sound. Christian Love, Mike’s son, did uncle Carl proud with his solo of “God Only Knows.”

Mike Love’s nasal tenor still sounds the same driving the Beach Boys’ familiar hits. He attributed his staying power as a performer to daily meditation and exercise.

And the fact that, “I haven’t had a real job in 60 years. … It’s always been about the music.”

The Beach Boys were clearly inspired to keep pace with the remarkable Temptations, who blew the roof off the ship’s Stardust theater with their second performance of the cruise.

Dynamic new lead singer Tony Grant, who joined the group in 2021, had a lot to do with that. But the other four Temps, including 39-year veteran Ron Tyson and founder Williams, were right in step and on pitch, affirming why the group was one of Motown’s best. They had 37 top-40 hits, including their anthem, the Smokey Robinson-penned “My Girl,” which brought the crowd to its feet when the first notes rang out.

Beach Boys cruise promotes only good vibes

The Beach Boys were present in the theater and were as blown away as the rest of us, as Love acknowledged the following night when his band responded with a wall of music that rocked the Pearl for an hour and forty-five minutes.

Surf and soul — this was the American response to the British invasion in the ‘60s. But this cruise was about more than music nostalgia, it was a respite from the COVID crisis and cultural divide hanging over the past few years.

We all had to pass the COVID test before embarking. Political differences were left at the dock. One passenger’s T-shirt expressed the mandate aboard ship: “No Bad Vibes.”

Comments on The Beach Boys Cruisers Facebook page reflect that the feeling was pervasive, though too brief.

Deborah Quinn Hensel of Houston wrote, “I now feel like this brief Bahamian Beach Boys cruise we just took was some exceptionally good dream I had — vivid because I remember all the sounds and colors — but also intangible and ephemeral, as all dreams are.”

Keitha Kelley, from Tennessee, responded that post-cruise she felt “a little disconnected. It was a glorious trip. My first cruise … can the next one even compare?” It can’t be duplicated. But there are more music cruises on the horizon. Many more. I had no idea how many there are, for every genre and musical taste imaginable.

Many variations of music cruises

Our cruise was followed immediately on the Pearl by the Salty Dog Cruise, headlined by the Celtic punk band Flogging Molly.

Norwegian Cruise Lines has refitted the Pearl as a floating music venue. It is home for The Rock Boat cruises — the 22nd, hosted by Sister Hazel in January 2023, is already sold out.

It is easy to understand why. There’s no easier way to experience multiple musical acts in an unhassled settling. No traffic and parking congestion to contend with. The next performance is a quick elevator ride away. You can grab food and a drink whenever you want.

The Garden Cafe buffet proved handy for a quick bite between shows, especially on the first full day at sea when we saw six different acts.

In addition to the Beach Boys, Temptations and Dolenz, the secondary acts included Yacht Rock Revue, Funky Roots Band (reggae), The Surfrajettes (all-women surf rock), Saturday Night Live alumnus Joe Piscopo, Emerson Hart and Hard Day’s Night (Beatles tribute band) each performing twice on the cruise.

Musical cruises offer close encounters with performers

Music cruises provide a rare opportunity to get close and interact with the artists at meet-and-greets, Q&A sessions and chance encounters around the ship.

Dolenz hosted a pool-side barbecue on the final afternoon and was cordial in posing for photo opps and signing autographs. Piscopo hosted a whiskey tasting. Brian Love, another of Mike’s sons, gave us a sample of a canned rum cocktail being test-marketed under the Club Kokomo label.

During Mike Love’s Q&A, my wife threw him a kiss and he smiled and returned it.

That was our experience on the Pearl. It is difficult to portray what it was like to be there but easy to recommend giving music cruises a try.

Tastes vary with the tunes. Whatever your preference, there is likely a music cruise for it: classic or prog rock, soul, country, reggae, punk, disco, metal — search and you’ll likely find it afloat.

NCL-owned Sixth Man, which organized the Beach Boys cruise and is best known for the The Rock Boat series, offers a wide array of themes, including Keeping Blues Alive, Emo’s Not Dead, Outlaw Country, Soulshine at Sea, (Melissa) Etheridge Island and The Kiss Kruise.

Other major cruise lines have their own variations. One of the most popular is the Flower Power Cruise which will sail again March 23-30, 2023 out of Miami on Celebrity Cruises’ Summit. Micky Dolenz is booked on that one along with about a dozen other rock remnants of the ‘60s Love Generation.

With the cruise industry rebounding from the pandemic, it is a good time to find your groove again at sea. Don’t be afraid to rock the boat.

Music themed cruises

Here are some links to help you get started:

Sixthman music cruises

Flower Power Cruise

Rock Legends Cruise X

Celebrity Music & Themed Cruises

The 65 Best Themed Cruises for 2022, 2023 and Beyond

Music cruises to set sail on the high seas in 2022

Beach Boys Good Vibrations Cruise playlist

To get the flavor of the Beach Boys cruise, click here for an extensive playlist posted by one passenger

• Beach Boys 2022
• Beach Boys Good Vibrations Cruise
• Mark McGrath Beach Boys Cruise
• music themed cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Lines
• Otis Williams Temptations
• Temptations 2022

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