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Hit the water with a purpose
You're stretched out in a chair as your ship speeds toward a distant outpost, nothing beyond the bow but empty space. You see a man with a red polyester shirt, a woman in a short dress, both sporting matching upside-down V's. You move to another deck, where another man-this one with pointed ears-wants to discuss the dangers of the Klingons. Someone shouts, "Beam me up, Scotty!"
This is no spaceship, but a large cruise vessel sailing through the Caribbean. Welcome to the world of theme cruises.
The Star Trek cruise (known as "Seatrek") is just one of the theme outings that have set sail, not all of them so wacky. But hitting the water with a purpose is a growing trend. Cruise lines are trying hard to keep their privileged spot as the fastest-growing sector of the travel industry, and capitalizing on the special-interest trend is helping them do it. "Cruise lines have tailored the on-board experience to satisfy the needs of special-interest groups," said Terry L. Dale, President and CEO of the Cruise Lines International Association, "whether jazz, theater, baseball, health and fitness, or wine and food."
Some luxury passengers might prefer to entertain themselves while at sea, but many are welcoming the growing thematic trend. Lyn Farmer, director of entertainment and creator of the Spotlight Series at Regent Seven Seas Cruises, says that the special-interest programs give passengers the opportunity to "look at the destination from a different perspective."
So, while some theme cruises focus on entertainment, others work hard at getting you out of the pool and into the classroom. But it's hardly traditional classroom education. Ships are adding and revamping programs that revolve around the voyagers' personal interests, like wine, caviar or car racing -- whether it's a newly found passion or a long-forgotten love.
And who doesn't love food? Devoted gourmands and oenophiles can sail on Crystal Cruises' annual Wine and Food Festival, where top chefs and experts in the art of haute cuisine will put your palette to work. This ongoing theme carries across ships and itineraries, so you have no dearth of choices: Dubai to Rome on the Crystal Serenity in May, Copenhagen to London on the Crystal Symphony in August, Montreal to Miami (also on the Crystal Symphony) in October.
Or indulge in a decadent week aboard the chocolate cruise on Regent Seven Seas, which in December sets sail for the Eastern Caribbean from Ft. Lauderdale. On board the Seven Seas Voyager, you can sample the multiple faces of fine Valrhona on a ship packed with cocoa bean experts and pastry chefs. More...
See our slideshow of upcoming theme cruises.
