Five Faves: Theme Cruises

Porthole’s Five Faves

Five Theme Cruises

… From gourmands to ghost hunters, there’s something for every cruiser to love.

Who doesn’t love a good theme cruise? Board a ship with other like-minded folks and set sail for a week of, well, anything you can image! From country music cruises to chocolate lovers cruises, from golf to Goth, there is a theme cruise out there for all interests. Here are five favorite themes coming up this year.

Top Chef at Sea

Celebrity Cruises

July 27, 2014, Celebrity Summit, Bermuda

August 15, 2014, Celebrity Solstice, Alaska

September 19, 2014, Celebrity Infinity, Europe

November 15, 2014, Celebrity Reflection, Caribbean 

Several of Bravo’s Top Chefs will be aboard select cruises to share their favorite dishes, give demonstrations, lead private cooking classes, talk about what it’s like being a contestant on the show, and even subject some willing passengers to offbeat Quickfire Challenges. Test your kitchen skills under pressure!

 

Mark Twain Tribute Cruise

American Cruise Lines, Queen of the Mississippi

July 12, 2014, and August 8, 2015

St. Louis to St. Paul

Join this tribute to one of America’s greatest authors as American Cruise Lines’ newest paddlewheeler wends its way along the upper Mississippi, the river that inspired the work of Samuel Clemens as well as his nautical pseudonym, “Mark Twain.” A Twain impersonator will add to the fun on board, and a special behind-the-scenes tour awaits in Hannibal, Missouri, Twain’s hometown.

 

The Ghost Hunter’s Cruise

Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Gem

September 20, 2014, New York to Canada/New England

On this cruise, professional ghost hunters Barry FitzGerald and Karl Pfeiffer of Syfy TV fame join medium Sarah Lemos to lead tours to some of the most haunted locales in the Canadian Maritimes and New England and conduct ghost-hunting seminars and workshops on board, where you’ll get the inside dope on what it’s like to track down apparitions.

 

European Music River Cruise

Avalon Waterways, Avalon Vista

October 15, 2014, Amsterdam to Budapest

A classical music theme sets the tone as you cruise down the Rhine and Danube rivers. An excursion to Mozart’s Salzburg, a Royal Waltz concert in Strauss’ Vienna, an organ recital in Melk, and other musical treats await, including a visit to a violin maker and insights into European music by local experts.

 

Wine, Dine & Music Cruise

Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Pearl

October 25-30, 2014, Miami to The Bahamas

This second annual cruise brings Northern California Wine Country to the ship, complete with award-winning Chef Justin Wangler, the Kendall Jackson Family of Wines as the official winery, and a music lineup that includes World Classic Rockers, Neal McCoy, America, Chris Mann, and others.

 

—Clark Norton