Theme cruises could be the way go

There are many reasons this type of holiday is increasingly popular with millions of people worldwide. So many that on Cunard cruises, for example, you will find a significant number of passengers who keep on coming back for more. But that certainly does not mean more of the same. There are liners plying routes all over the planet so wherever you fancy escaping to there’s an itinerary that fits the bill, but there is also a startling variety of specialties or themes on board. If you are passionate about your hobby, if you simply don’t get enough time to enjoy it, if you’d love to rediscover a former hobby or you’ve always had a yearning to try your hand at something in particular but have never got around to it, do a little research and you’ll be amazed at the choices available. MSC cruises, for one, offer themes as diverse as chess, jewellery making, photography, wellness, rock and roll and ‘Festa Italiana’. It’s a great way of bringing together like-minded people so they can share their enjoyment and learn from each other. Harley motorcycle-lovers, nature and wildlife enthusiasts and wine connoisseurs can meet at sea and spend many a pleasurable hour in each other’s company. You may also want to consider a luxury liner as a more unusual venue for a company retreat or a wedding. Princess cruises and many others would be only too happy to offer you the special services you would require to make those events go swimmingly.

Nice works of art

"Excellent. Glentanar Restaurant mostly, Garden cafe for late-night snacks (which is a misnomer - so much food, hot and cold buffets!) Liked all the choices and the fact that they can accommodate all dietary requirements." - Cook, Isle of Man on 16th Jun 2009 (Fred. Olsen Cruises)

Navigating the stars

One such theme which can be found on board is astronomy and astrology. What better way to peer at the heavens than from the middle of a vast ocean as far from city light pollution as humanly possible? Even if you don’t know one end of a telescope from the other, with the help of a pro, you will soon get the hang of it. Not all the big names in the business like Celebrity cruises will offer this, but some do. Some offer them during low season and at special rates to attract those who wouldn’t normally be considering this taking this type of holiday. In any case, it won’t take long to do an online search. This being the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, there will be added interest in stargazing and learning more about the NASA technology that is still considered advanced today and which was essential to allow astronauts to survive and carry out scientific experiments in space. It’s fascinating to think that everyday instruments that we take for granted, such as the pens and cameras found in any Caribbean cruises gift shop all needed redesigning to function efficiently in a gravity-free, freezing cold environment. Gaze in awe at the beauty of the constellations and discover how different cultures have traditionally interpreted their meaning. Whether signs of the zodiac are a serious business for you or just a bit of fun, you can learn how to calculate ascendants and maybe see what lies ahead.

Foyer Stairs

"Food fantastic, catered for everyone, as i do not eat red meat i found there was ample choice in both dining room and buffet court." - Cotgrave, Lowton warrington on 16th Jun 2009 (Princess Cruises)

Tripping the light fantastic

Being at sea can’t fail to help you relax and take everything in your stride and whether you’re high-energy or the more laid-back type, you want to have fun. Somehow, liners are synonymous with parties and all things festive and for good reason. From the grand ballrooms of NCL cruises’ crafts, for example to the laser-lit nightclubs on board most seafaring vessels these days, those who love to dance will not be disappointed. Selecting a trip with a dance theme could be just the ticket. There’ll be no shortage of partners for one thing and if you take a class with P&O cruises there’ll be helpful tips from the instructor every step of the way. And how about learning a whole new style of dance that you’d never had chance to try before? A quick online search of cruises from Southampton alone will show there’s everything from polka and waltz to ballroom and jive out there so it’s highly likely you’ll find something to suit your tastes. If you’re a member of a dance club there may be others who would be tempted to come along in which case you may qualify for a group discount or special shipboard privileges. The vision of an afternoon tea-dance with ocean view could well become a reality. The added bonus of cruising being that at the end of the day, once it’s time to finally rest those feet, you can enjoy the professionally choreographed live entertainment such as a Las Vegas style revue.

Venetian Restaurant

"All very impressive, from the cleaners right up to the senior management, can't fault any." - Jones, Selby on 16th Jun 2009 (P&O Cruises)

The art of fine dining

Another thing that instantly springs to mind at the mention of an ocean liner is food: sumptuous buffets, gourmet delicacies and international cuisines. As you’d expect, some companies like Royal Caribbean cruises offer extensive wine lists along with their impressive international menus, but if you derive a real joy from savouring exotic delights and would love to learn more about how some of your favourite dishes are prepared as well as the background to some of their ingredients, you could opt for a good food and wine theme. Some ships employ top celebrity chefs to take the mystery out of cooking exquisite dishes whilst others organise lectures and tastings of acclaimed vintage wines. Of course, any itinerary will take you to ports of call with delicious, sometimes surprisingly so, local cuisine, so you may feel you don’t need to choose this as a central theme. You can simply decide which part of the world you find most tempting and try some of your favourite meals in their places of origin and experiment a little. A tried and tested favourite is most definitely the Mediterranean where you can visit a large number of countries in a relatively short length of time. And each one has its own distinct flavours, culture and history. Fred Olsen cruises offer a Renaissance Culture theme whose excursions will allow you to compare and contrast the gastronomic delights of Florence, Tangiers and Jerez to name but a few and return home enlightened in more ways than one.

Odessa String Quartet

"We had a fabulous time from start to finish, the service, the Entertainment, the activities on board, the food, our polite and attentive and efficient table Steward Kent and the sightseeing tours in fact the whole experience was more than what we expected." - Stoneham, Chatham on 16th Jun 2009 (Cunard Cruises)