Porthole’s Five Faves Theme Cruises

Upcoming Theme Cruises

Not that you ever need an excuse to book a cruise, but these theme cruises provide a pretty convincing reason to set sail soon.

 

Who knew that the high seas would provide the ideal common ground for people to congregate and celebrate their passions? If this handful of upcoming cruises and themed offerings doesn’t tempt you, rest assured: There’s surely a ship setting sail soon that caters directly to your beloved hobby and interest.

 

James Beard Foundation Culinary Collection

Food and wine lovers already look to cruising as a way to indulge, but Windstar Cruises is upping the ante with three sailings devoted to a culinary experience as only the James Beard Foundation can complement. Kicking off with an April 2016 cruise of southern Spain and Morocco aboard Wind Surf, cruisers will get cooking demonstrations, featured dishes and one-on-one interactions with a James Beard-featured chef serving as the culinary ambassador and in-port tour guide of the markets. In June and August, the experience stops in Spain and France. windstarcruises.com

 

Monsters of Rock

Every year, it seems like bigger and better bands are handing their instruments to the on-shore porters and coming aboard to rock out! The Monsters of Rock Cruise has been a reliable source of metal for five years now, but this year’s line-up — dubbed “Shredders From The Deep — may have put all others to shame. Tesla, Steve Vai, Queensryche, Sebastian Bach, and even legend Michael Angelo Batio will all be on Norwegian Pearl for the four-night February 22 sailing out of Miami, with many of the finest shredders putting on complimentary clinics in the Guitar Fantasy Camp. monstersofrockcruise.com

 

Transatlantic Fashion Week

Departing Southampton on September 1 and heading west to the fashion epicenter of the world — New York City, just as its Fashion Week 2016 begins — Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 will host the inaugural “Transatlantic Fashion Week” with a myriad of fashion designers, experts, and historians on board to treat style-minded guests. Included in that lineup is Dame Zandra Rhodes, who has styled everyone from Jackie Onassis to Freddie Mercury and will be showcasing her collections. cunard.com

 

The Walking Dead Cruise

Anyone who has survived a zombie apocalypse — or anyone who just enjoys following the survivors on AMC’s beloved The Walking Dead series — will have a blast stuck on a ship with their favorite characters and enjoying zombie-themed parties on Norwegian Pearl for its January 15 cruise to the Bahamas. Join Daryl, Carl, Beth, Sasha, and more survivors on this cruise co-hosted by The Walker Stalkers. walkerstalkercruise.com

 

Full Eclipse Cruise

Combining the grandeur of Indonesia’s culture with the opportunity to experience a Sky & Telescope-guided eclipse, the March 1 cruise on Holland America Line’s ms Volendam is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be wowed by our own planet and the wonders beyond. insightcruises.com

 

— Rico Bronte