From nation music to crafting: The most effective 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.

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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.

Here are a few itineraries to consider:

• 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.

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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