Which Special-Interest Cruise Is Best for You?

There’s a theme for every hobby and passion out there

By Jennifer Bain

Posted: February 06, 2019 10:48 AM ET

Top deck of a cruise ship featuring many loungers and lights at sunset

Special-interest cruises are a growing trend in the industry, which is great news for prospective passengers looking to travel for their passion. For something a little different, hop aboard one of these eight themed trips or full-ship charter cruises.

For foodies

Group of people wearing aprons and hands reaching for the items on the table including lettuce, a bowl of fruit, bowls of cut up tomatoes, glasses, plates and and a plant

Windstar Cruises is the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation—the renowned New York–based non-profit culinary arts organization—and boasts various sailings with a chef and sommelier. Epicurean experts lead hosted dinners, cooking demos, tastings, shopping trips and guided tours.

For golfers

The back of someone swinging a golf club

Azamara Club Cruises teams up with PerryGolf to offer an astounding array of golf voyages around the world, starting in New Zealand and Australia in February and ending in South America in November.

For fitness fans

Woman leading a Zumba class with her hands in the air and a packed class of people doing the same

More than 50 top Zumba instructors from 30 countries gather on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas for the Zumba Cruise in March. Expect non-stop music and Zumba Fitness creator Beto Perez on board.

For war buffs

The back of two vets waving to a large audience from a stage

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, Cunard partners with the Greatest Generations Foundation for a May sailing on the Queen Mary 2 that pays tribute to several combat veterans of the Second World War.

For cat fanciers

A brown and ginger cat resting together as the ginger cat yawns

The only catch on the Meow Meow Cruise is that you can’t bring your feline friends. But you can join cat-themed mixers, dining, trivia sessions and scavenger hunts, and pre-order a custom T-shirt with a photo of your beloved pet.

For space enthusiasts

The auditorium of Cunard's space-themed Atlantic cruise ship

If hobnobbing with astronauts, scientists and the Royal Astronomical Society sounds thrilling, try Cunard’s space-themed Atlantic crossing in September. In between space talks and shows, expect to stargaze and visit the only planetarium at sea. The ship docks in New York for the start of World Space Week in October.

For beer and wine aficionados

Two couples sit at a restaurant table while a server presents a bottle of wine

Boost your witbier and dubbel knowledge, taste regional beers and visit historic breweries as Avalon Waterways explores European rivers throughout 2019. Some itineraries add secondary themes—like tulips and Paris—into the mix. Oenophiles should consider AmaWaterways, which places wine hosts on its European river cruises.

For Christmas lovers

European street decorated for Christmas filled with pedestrians in the early evening

It’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas. Viking River Cruises travels to Europe’s top Christmas markets along the Danube and Rhine from Germany to Austria. Shop for Yuletide treats and hand-carved toys and ornaments while taking in the carollers and holiday lights. On board, expect holiday music, seasonal cooking demos and tree trimming.

Read our complete cruise guide in the spring 2019 issue of CAA Magazine.

Image credit: courtesy of cruise lines