THEME AND ENRICHMENT CRUISES — AN ADVANCE GUIDE
for late 2009 - 2010

Theme and enrichment cruises feature special lectures, gatherings, tours, clinics, demonstrations, instruction, and performances by top personalities and groups in their subject fields. Often attractions on land are part of the theme. Additional charges may be involved. Passenger participation and interaction is encouraged.

Below is the Web's most complete directory of theme cruises, listed by carrier. Not all ships of each cruise line offer each theme. Theme cruises vary by season, itinerary, ship, and other factors. Check with carrier for specific ships and dates. Among upcoming theme and enrichment cruises:

Carnival Cruise Lines

• Elvis Presley theme cruise aboard 2052-passenger Carnival Inspiration from Tampa in November. Officially licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises. Theme to be carried out in gift shops, dining, live music, shows, ship's dŽcor, movies, fashion shows, games, tournaments, and more. "Whodunit Mystery Cruises" on eight three-day voyages from Long Beach aboard the 2052-passenger Paradise until December 2009. Soap opera cruise. $250,000-in-prizes PokerPro Challenge no-limit Texas Hold'em poker tournaments on most voyages of most ships during remainder of 2009; newly-installed poker tables display players' commitments, table stakes, pot amount, and community cards. "Bloggers Cruise," twice in 2009, aboard the Carnival Dream from New York and Port Canaveral, hosted by its cruise director/blogging expert. Basketweaving, on Carnival Dream February 2010.

  Cruise West

• 12 "Whales and Wildlife" seven-day theme cruises in Mexico's Sea of Cortes aboard the 102-passenger Spirit of Endeavour from December through March.

  Cruising California Wine Country, Nine cruises from San Francisco, Fall. Eight photographic cruises during 2009 in association with Pentax, featuring hands-on instruction and workshops. Christmas/New Year traditions of Central America.

  Crystal Cruises

• Wine and Food cruises featuring chefs and sommeliers, including chefs Andre Rochat, Cesare Castella, and Timothy Hollingsworth, and wine experts Josef Schuller, Kevin Zraly, and James Cluer. Now through December. Two Thanksgiving theme cruises: Duke Ellington Alumni Band on a seven-day Caribbean Jazz round-trip from Miami and Culinary-wine-mixology on a 13-day cruise from Miami to Manaus. Each will feature special Thanksgiving feasts.

Cunard Line

• National Symphony Orchestra performances and lectures. The Royal Astronomical Society star navigation, discussion groups, formal lectures. British theater. Polar exploration. Maritime studies. Aeronautics and space. Art-architecture-music of the Near East. Sports history. Geology and geophysics. Ecology. Politics. Medicine. Crime. Economics.

  Holland America Line

• Culinary cruises, featuring more than 70 guest chefs from all over the U. S. throughout the 2009 cruise season. Presented in new on-board Culinary Arts Centers.

  Hurtigruten

• Classical Music. Singles. Self-Discovery. Birding. Mount Everest. Big Bands. Red Hatters. Killer whale safaris. Arctic Snow Hotel Adventure. North Cape and Ice Hotel Experience. Opera Beneath the Polar Sky. Bridge. Watercolors and Art. Winter Digital Photography.

  MSC Cruises

• Eight theme cruises on the 2550-passenger Poesia during the 2009 - 2010 Caribbean season. Subjects: baseball, big band, polka, and bridge... On the Splendida from now until next summer, Wellness. On the Orchestra, Fantasia, and Opera, Hobbies. On the Melody, in May, Bridge. Baseball: five theme cruises during the 2009 - 2010 Caribbean season. Big Band Cruise, winter. Polka cruise, winter. Food and wine: culinary demonstrations attuned to places visited; "Chef's advice" sessions; wine tastings; "how to" classes covering table-setting, serving food and drink, creating centerpieces and place cards; and decorating cakes and dishes. Scheduled through the year.

  Oceania Cruises

• Culinary cruises featuring famous chefs. Computer software: iPod, Adobe Photoshop, Video editing.

  Peter Deilmann Cruises

• Classical music sailings on the Dresden and Mozart on the Elbe and Danube Rivers in October from Hamburg and Munich.

  Princess Cruises

• ScholarShip@Sea, featuring lecturers and experts in Culinary arts, Visual/creative arts, Photography, and Computer technology, plus courses or lectures on maritime history, science, politics, nutrition, geography, health and fitness.

  Regent Seven Seas Cruises

• "Circles of Interest": Photography. Film. Yoga. Music. Art-design-museums. Wellness. Jazz. Baltic culture. Antiques. Film. PBS personalities. Chocolate. Food and wine. Fashion. Australian food and wine. Literature-architecture. Environment and Marine Life.

  Royal Caribbean Cruises

• Nickelodian Family Cruises: Two 2009 seven-day trips, one from Los Angeles, one from Port Canaveral.

  Seabourn Cruise Line

• Culinary. Shopping.

  Silversea Cruises

• London Festival Opera. "Cole Porter — He's the Top" Musical Theater. "An Evening with Noel Coward" Musical Theater. "Tribute to the Beatles." Some in a series of music theme cruises on various ships until year-end 2009. Culinary Arts, featuring celebrity and award-winning chefs.

Late News || Newest Brochures || Theme Cruises || News Log || Future Ship Log || Newest Ship Log || Ship Reviews || Links to Agents || Contact || Archive