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Awesome Theme Cruises You Can Take in 2023

Awesome Theme Cruises You Can Take in 2023

Have you ever wished you could cruise with people who love all the same things you do? Theme cruises make that happen!

What is a theme cruise?

Theme cruises bring together groups of like-minded strangers and create a floating community around a common interest.

You’ll find themed cruises for fans of certain bands or genres of music, sports, dancing, TV shows and movies, and hobbies and crafts. There are even clothing-optional theme cruises for naturists!

A promoter will charter either the entire cruise ship (or at least a huge block of rooms) for theme cruise guests. If your cruise’s theme has a huge following, it’s likely that the entire ship’s been chartered for the sailing. Smaller interest groups might only fill a portion of the ship’s staterooms.

If there’s something you’re passionate about, there’s a good chance that one of these specialty cruises will float your boat (pun very much intended!)

Tip: Although I always encourage my readers to use a specialized cruise travel agency (I love CruiseDirect), for theme cruises you’ll almost always need to book directly with the promoter.

How to find the right theme cruise for you

If you’re looking for a comprehensive list of 2023 theme cruises, you’ve come to the right place! (For 2024 theme cruises, many haven’t yet been announced, but I’m working on that list—just bookmark this page and I’ll add the link here when it goes live.)

I’ve included a table of contents below where you can click right through to the category of theme cruise that you’re interested in.

You could also just search this page for the type of theme cruise you’re looking for! I’ve included lots of keywords in the “Who is this theme cruise for” section of each theme cruise listing. (If you’re on a desktop or laptop, just hit Control-F on a PC or Command-F on a Mac)

It’s the easiest way to find your style of theme cruise for 2023, whether you want to search for “classic rock”, “knitting” or “Star Trek”.

Or you could just browse through all of the listings for theme cruises in 2023. You might find an amazing cruise (and a like-minded community) you didn’t realize you needed to join!

Music themed cruises

The most popular type of themed cruise is undoubtedly the music cruise. Whether the special sailing is based around a particular artist’s fan base or just a certain style of music, music-themed cruises have been in high demand for many years.

You might have the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with some of your musical idols, enjoy exclusive performances, and meet other cruisers who are just as passionate about your favorite music and artists as you are.

There are so many 2023 music-themed cruises you can join that I’ve created a chart to make your perfect cruise easier to find! Just click on the highlighted name and it will take you to the full description:

CruiseMusic genres2023 DatesShipSails from
The Country Music Cruisecountry musicJan 22 – 29Nieuw AmsterdamFt. Lauderdale
On the Blue Cruiseclassic rockJan 28 – Feb 2Norwegian PearlMiami
Soul Train CruiseR&B, soulJan 29 – Feb 5Nieuw AmsterdamFt. Lauderdale
Jam Cruisejam bandsFeb 6 – 12MSC DivinaMiami
Cayamoclassic rock, alt-country, indie folkFeb 10 – 17Norwegian PearlMiami
Ultimate Disco Cruisedisco musicFeb 25 – Mar 2Celebrity SummitMiami
The Beach Boys Good Vibrations Cruiseclassic rock, pop, soulMar 3 – 8Norwegian PearlMiami
The 80s Cruise Year 780s pop, rock, and R&BMar 3 – 10Navigator of the SeasLos Angeles
‘70s Rock & Romance Cruise1970s rock and popMar 16 – 23Celebrity SummitMiami
Flower Power Cruise1960s rock and popMar 23 – 30Celebrity SummitMiami
The Broadway Cruise
Broadway hits, show tunesMar 31 – Apr 5Norwegian GemNYC
Beatles and Beyond1960s and 70s rock and popApr 19 – 28Queen ElizabethTokyo
Monsters of Rock Cruise hard rock, heavy metalApr 29 – May 4Mariner of the SeasPort Canaveral
The Old School Cruise1970s and 80s R&BMay 5 – 8Navigator of the SeasLos Angeles
All Star Irish Charter Cruise AlaskaIrish musicMay 28 – Jun 4WesterdamSeattle
Days of Summer Cruise Festrap, hip hop, house, EDMJul 2 – 5Norwegian SkyMiami
Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea III blues, blues rockAug 17 – 22Norwegian JadeAthens
Stars on Board Arabic musicAug 22 – 27Norwegian JadeAthens
Super Legends CruiseR&B, Latin soul, Tejano, freestyleSep 15 – 18Navigator of the SeasLos Angeles
Hollywood Insider: Music Connectionvarious popOct 21-28Discovery PrincessLos Angeles
Malt Shop Memories Cruise1950s and 60s popular musicOct 28 – Nov 4Nieuw AmsterdamFt. Lauderdale
Soulshine at Searoots music, reggae, hip hop, jam bandsNov 4 – 8Norwegian PearlMiami
EDSeaEDM (house, bass, trance, disco, techno)Nov 4 – 8Norwegian JoyMiami
The Big Easy CruiseNew Orleans jazz and blues, zydeco, jam bands, countryNov 4 – 11Nieuw AmsterdamFt. Lauderdale
Flogging Molly’s Salty Dog CruiseCeltic rock, punk rock, ska punkNov 8 – 13Norwegian PearlMiami
JAMRock Reggae CruisereggaeDec 4 – 9Independence of the SeasMiami

The Country Music Cruise (January 22 – 29, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of country music

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • Randy Owen
  • Clay Walker
  • The Oak Ridge Boys
  • Mark Chesnutt
  • Neal McCoy
  • Pam Tillis
  • Asleep At The Wheel

Cruise line / ship: Holland America Line / Nieuw Amsterdam

Sails from: Round trip from Ft. Lauderdale

Ports of call:

  • Philipsburg, St. Maarten
  • San Juan, PR

On the Blue Cruise (January 28 – February 2, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Moody Blues fans, classic rock fans

Host / special guests: Hosted by the Moody Blues’ Justin Hayward. Performances by musical artists including

  • The Zombies
  • Alan Parsons
  • Dave Mason
  • Little River Band
  • Starship featuring Mickey Thomas
  • Al Stewart
  • The Lovin’ Spoonful

Cruise line / ship: Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Pearl

Sails from: Roundtrip from Miami

Ports of call:

  • Harvest Caye, Belize
  • Costa Maya, Mexico

Soul Train Cruise (January 29 – February 5, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of R&B and soul music

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • Babyface
  • George Benson
  • The Commodores
  • The Spinners
  • Peabo Bryson
  • Evelyn “Champagne” King
  • Midnight Star

Cruise line / ship: Holland America Line / Nieuw Amsterdam

Sails from: Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale

Ports of call:

  • Grand Turk
  • San Juan, PR
  • Half Moon Cay (cruise line’s private island)

Jam Cruise (February 6 – 12, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of jam bands

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • Umphree’s McGee
  • The Fearless Flyers
  • Oteil and Friends
  • The Word
  • Galactic feat. Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph
  • Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
  • Lettuce

Cruise line / ship: MSC / MSC Divina

Sails from: Roundtrip from Miami

Ports of call:

  • Grand Turk
  • Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Cayamo (February 10 – 17, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Classic rock, alt-country, and indie folk fans

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • Jeff Tweedy
  • Andrew Bird
  • Trampled by Turtles
  • Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
  • Patty Griffin
  • Neko Case
  • Shovels & Rope

Cruise line / ship: Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Pearl

Sails from: Roundtrip from Miami

Ports of call:

  • St. Maarten
  • Tortola, BVI

Ultimate Disco Cruise (February 25 – March 2, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of disco music

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • KC and The Sunshine Band
  • Kool & The Gang
  • Billy Ocean
  • Taylor Dayne
  • Sister Sledge
  • Tavares
  • Norma Jean Wright & Luci Martin (formerly of Chic)

Cruise line / ship: Celebrity Cruises / Celebrity Summit

Sails from: Roundtrip from Miami

Ports of call:

  • Key West
  • Cozumel, Mexico

The Beach Boys Good Vibrations Cruise (March 3 – 8, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Beach Boys fans, fans of classic rock, pop, and soul

Host / special guests: Hosted by Club Kokomo Spirits. Performances by musical artists including

  • The Beach Boys
  • The Isley Brothers
  • The Temptations
  • Mark McGrath
  • RAIN – A Tribute to The Beatles
  • Jimmy Webb
  • Katrina (from Katrina and the Waves)

Cruise line / ship: Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Pearl

Sails from: Roundtrip from Miami

Ports of call:

  • Harvest Caye, Belize
  • Costa Maya, Mexico

The 80s Cruise Year 7 (March 3 – 10, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of 1980s pop, rock, and R&B music

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • Devo
  • Bret Michaels
  • The Church
  • Kim Wilde
  • Morris Day and The Time
  • Howard Jones
  • Lou Gramm

Cruise line / ship: Royal Caribbean / Navigator of the Seas

Sails from: Roundtrip from Los Angeles

Ports of call:

  • Ensenada
  • Cabo San Lucas
  • Puerto Vallarta

Related: Exploring the Marietas Islands From Puerto Vallarta


70s Rock & Romance Cruise (March 16 – 23, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of 1970s rock and pop music

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • Don Felder
  • The Hollies
  • The Orchestra feat. former members of ELO
  • Jefferson Starship
  • Foghat
  • Bay City Rollers
  • Leo Sayer

Cruise line / ship: Celebrity / Celebrity Summit

Sails from: Roundtrip from Miami

Ports of call:

  • Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
  • San Juan, PR
  • St. Croix USVI

Flower Power Cruise (March 23 – 30, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of 1960s rock and pop

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • The Zombies
  • Herman’s Hermits
  • Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals
  • Micky Dolenz
  • The Yardbirds
  • The Buckinghams
  • The Grass Roots

Cruise line / ship: Celebrity / Celebrity Summit

Sails from: Round trip from Miami

Ports of call:

  • Belize City, Belize
  • Cozumel, Mexico
  • Costa Maya, Mexico

The Broadway Cruise (March 31 – April 5, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of Broadway shows and music

Host / special guests: Performances by Broadway artists including

  • Laura Benanti
  • Kristin Chenoweth
  • Alan Cumming
  • Randy Rainbow
  • Michael Cerveris
  • Sierra Boggess
  • Lena Hall

Cruise line / ship: Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Gem

Sails from: Round trip from New York City

Port of call: Bermuda (overnight)

Related: 21 BEST Things to Do in Bermuda on a Cruise


Beatles and Beyond (April 19 – 28, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Beatles fans, fans of 1960s and 70s rock and pop music

Host / special guests: Performances by The Bootleg Beatles, the world’s leading Beatles tribute band.

Cruise line / ship: Cunard / Queen Elizabeth

Sails from: Round trip from Tokyo, Japan

Ports of call:

  • Kumamoto, Japan
  • Fukuoka, Japan
  • Busan, South Korea
  • Kanazawa, Japan
  • Akita, Japan

Related: In The Steps of the Beatles Liverpool Shore Excursion Review


Monsters of Rock Cruise (April 29 – May 4, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Hard rock and heavy metal fans

Host / special guests: Hosted by . Performances by musical artists including

  • Tesla
  • Autograph
  • Burning Witches
  • Chez Kane
  • D-A-D
  • Dirty Looks
  • Doro

Cruise line / ship: Royal Caribbean / Mariner of the Seas

Sails from: Port Canaveral

Ports of call:

  • Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
  • Labadee, Haiti

The Old School Cruise (May 5 – 8, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of 1970s and 80s R&B

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • Lisa Lisa
  • SOS Band
  • Zapp
  • The Ohio Players
  • Brenton Wood
  • Original Lakeside
  • MC Magic

Cruise line / ship: Royal Caribbean / Navigator of the Seas

Sails from: Roundtrip from Los Angeles

Port of call: Ensenada, Mexico


All Star Irish Charter Cruise Alaska (May 28 – June 4, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of Irish music and culture

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • Daniel O’Donnell
  • Celtic Thunder
  • Nathan Carter
  • Michael English
  • Jimmy Buckley
  • Dominic Kirwan
  • Brendan Shine

Cruise line / ship: Holland America Line / Westerdam

Sails from: Seattle to Victoria, BC

Ports of call:


Days of Summer Cruise Fest (July 2 – 5, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of rap, hip hop, house music, and EDM

Host / special guests: Hosted by DJ Khaled. Live performance by Lil Baby & Future. DJs onboard include

  • DJ Big Skipp
  • DJ Charlie B
  • DJ Fergie
  • DJ GT Mayne
  • DJ Lennox NYC
  • DJ Nasty
  • DJ Nasty 305

Cruise line / ship: Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Sky

Sails from: Round trip from Miami

Ports of call:


Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea III (August 17 – 22, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of blues and blues rock music

Host / special guests: Hosted by Joe Bonamassa. Performances by musical artists including

  • Joe Bonamassa
  • Kenny Wayne Shepherd
  • Blackberry Smoke
  • Christone Kingfish Ingram
  • Ruthie Foster
  • King King
  • Jimmy Vivino

Cruise line / ship: Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Jade

Sails from: Round trip from Athens, Greece

Ports of call:

  • Dubrovnik, Croatia
  • Santorini, Greece

Stars on Board (August 22 – 27, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of popular Arabic music

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • George Wassouf
  • Ragheb Alama
  • Nancy Ajram
  • Saber Ribai
  • Nassif Zeytoun
  • Melhem Zein
  • Saad Lamjarred

Cruise line / ship: Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Jade

Sails from: Round trip from Athens, Greece

Ports of call:

  • Mykonos, Greece
  • Bodrum, Turkey
  • Marmaris, Turkey

Super Legends Cruise (September 15 – 18, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of R&B, Latin soul, Tejano, and freestyle

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • Tower of Power
  • Los Lonely Boys
  • Stevie B
  • Exposé
  • The Manhattans
  • Rose Royce
  • GQ

Cruise line / ship: Royal Caribbean / Navigator of the Seas

Sails from: Round trip from Los Angeles

Ports of call:

  • Ensenada, Mexico

Hollywood Insider: Music Connection (October 21 – October 28, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of popular music

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • Freda Payne
  • Al Jardine
  • Kimberley Locke

Speaker events and more from:

  • Allan Dennis Rich (Oscar, Grammy, Golden Globe, and Emmy-nominated songwriter)
  • Leo Rossi (Former Fleetwood Mac tour director and road crew member for Led Zeppelin, The Who, Al Jarreau, and Chaka Khan)

Cruise line / ship: Princess Cruises / Discovery Princess

Sails from: Round trip from Los Angeles

Ports of call:

  • San Francisco
  • San Diego
  • Ensenada

Related: Princess Cruises Announces Three California Coastal “Hollywood Insider” Theme Cruises


Malt Shop Memories Cruise (October 28 – November 4, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of 1950s and 60s popular music

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • The Temptations
  • Little Anthony
  • Jay and The Americans
  • The Lettermen
  • Al Jardine & His Endless Summer Band
  • Darlene Love
  • The Bronx Wanderers

Cruise line / ship: Holland America Line / Nieuw Amsterdam

Sails from: Round trip from Ft. Lauderdale

Ports of call:

  • Aruba
  • Curaçao

Related: What to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise


Soulshine at Sea (November 4 – 8, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Spearhead / Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy fans, fans of roots music, reggae, hip hop, and jam bands

Host / special guests: Hosted by Michael Franti. Performances by musical artists including

  • Michael Franti and Spearhead
  • John Butler
  • Soja
  • Fortunate Youth
  • The New Respects
  • Tropidelic
  • Shut Up & Dance

Cruise line / ship: Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Pearl

Sails from: Round trip from Miami

Port of call: Costa Maya, Mexico


EDSea (November 4 – 8, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of EDM (house, bass, trance, disco, techno, etc.), and anyone who loves the Electric Daisy Carnival music festival

Artist lineup includes:

  • DJ Snake
  • Afrojack
  • Galantis
  • Benny Benassi
  • Deorro
  • Louis the Child

Cruise line / ship: Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Joy

Sails from: Round trip from Miami

Ports of call:

  • Nassau, Bahamas
  • Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Related: Ultimate Guide to Great Stirrup Cay


The Big Easy Cruise (November 4 – 11, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of New Orleans jazz and blues, zydeco, jam bands, and country music

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists including

  • Little Feat
  • Galactic feat. Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph
  • Tab Benoit
  • Samantha Fish
  • Dirty Dozen Brass Band
  • Leo Nocentelli from The Meters
  • Anders Osborne

Cruise line / ship: Holland America Line / Nieuw Amsterdam

Sails from: Round trip from Ft. Lauderdale

Ports of call:

  • New Orleans
  • Cozumel, Mexico

Flogging Molly’s Salty Dog Cruise (November 8 – 13, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Flogging Molly fans, fans of Celtic rock, punk rock, and ska punk

Host / special guests: Hosted by Flogging Molly. Performances by musical artists including

  • Flogging Molly
  • Pennywise
  • The Interrupters
  • Stiff Little Fingers
  • Broilers
  • The Vandals
  • Gorilla Biscuits

Cruise line / ship: Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Pearl

Sails from: Round trip from Miami

Ports of call:

  • Harvest Caye, Belize
  • Costa Maya, Mexico

JAMRock Reggae Cruise (December 4 – 9, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of reggae music

Special guests:

  • Capleton
  • I Wayne
  • Spragga Benz
  • Lady G
  • Yaksta
  • Jahshii

Cruise line / ship: Royal Caribbean / Independence of the Seas

Sails from: Round trip from Miami

Ports of call:

  • Falmouth, Jamaica
  • Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Related: Climbing Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios Jamaica


Dancing themed cruises

Dancing and cruising have always gone hand-in-hand, and taking a dance-themed cruise will let you flaunt (or practice!) your skills alongside other dance enthusiasts and professional dancers.

Here are the 2023 dance theme cruises you can join:


Aventura Dance Cruise (February 3 – 7, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of Latin dancing

Host / special guests: Performances by dancers including

  • Armambo
  • Farid
  • Clifton
  • Tito y Tamara
  • Michelle & Brandon
  • Delia y Raul
  • Ernesto y Denisse

Cruise line / ship: Royal Caribbean / Jewel of the Seas

Sails from: Round trip from Port Canaveral (Orlando)

Port of call: Labadee, Haiti


Salsa Cruise (October 27 – November 3, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of salsa dancing

Host / special guests: Performances by musical artists and dancers including

  • Orquesta Guayacan
  • PuertoRican Power
  • El Gran Combo
  • Anthony MKA
  • Chino Nunez Y Su Orquesta
  • Edwin “El Calvito” Reyes
  • David Luca

Cruise line / ship: Carnival Cruise Line / Carnival Conquest

Sails from: Round trip from Miami

Ports of call:

  • Amber Cove, Dominican Republic
  • San Juan, PR
  • St. Thomas, USVI

Sports themed cruises

If you love sports, taking a sports-themed cruise is the perfect way to enjoy watching and talking about your favorite sport with other fans.

Most sports cruises have lots of pros onboard for meet-and-greets and discussions, so you might be able to chat with your idols face-to-face!


Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Rager at Sea: Four Leaf Clover (February 2 – 6, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Professional wrestling / WWE fans

Host / special guests: Hosted by Chris Jericho. Featured performers and wrestlers include

  • Jericho Appreciation Society
  • Daniel Garcia
  • Sammy Guevara
  • Jake Hager
  • Daddy Magic Matt Menard
  • Cool Hand Angelo Parker
  • Tay Melo

Cruise line / ship: Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Pearl

Sails from: Round trip from Miami

Port of call: Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Related: 25 Norwegian Cruise Tips You Need to Know


Faithful Cruise (March 6 – 10, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? San Francisco 49ers football fans

Host / special guests: Past and present 49ers players will be on board for autograph sessions, photo opportunities, sports deck competitions and more, including

  • Jesse Sapolu
  • Fred Warner
  • Tim Collier
  • Dennis Brown
  • Ian Williams
  • Arik Armstead
  • Doug Dubose

Cruise line / ship: Royal Caribbean / Liberty of the Seas

Sails from: Round trip Fort Lauderdale

Ports of call:

  • Perfect Day at CocoCay (cruise line’s private island)
  • Nassau, Bahamas

Related: 7 Best Beaches in Nassau Bahamas for Cruisers


Infinity Sports Rugby Charter (September 8, 2023 – October 28, 2023*)

Who is this theme cruise for? Rugby fans

What this theme cruise includes:

  • Food and drink
  • Entertainment
  • Rugby World Cup match tickets
  • Travel to and from the stadium

Cruise line / ship: Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Epic

Sails from: Roundtrip from Marseilles, France

Ports of call: Ports depend on specific itinerary booked—all port stops are within a few days’ cruising from Marseilles, France

*You can choose from any of twelve Infinity Sports rugby itineraries during this time period


TV and movie themed cruises

Theme cruises for TV and movie fans are also popular every year. Join cast members and other fans for trivia contests, costume parties, and discussions about your favorite shows and films.


Star Trek the Cruise VI (February 24 – March 3, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Star Trek fans

Host / special guests: Appearances by Star Trek crew members including

  • William Shatner
  • Jonathan Frakes
  • Brent Spiner
  • Marina Sirtis
  • Denise Crosby
  • John De Lancie
  • Robert O’Reilly

Cruise line / ship: Royal Caribbean / Navigator of the Seas

Sails from: Roundtrip from Los Angeles

Ports of call:


Moira’s Party Boat: Ew, Cruising! (March 30 – April 3, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of the TV show Schitt’s Creek

What to expect: Fans will come together for costume contests, trivia, dance parties, and more. This is not an official Schitt’s Creek event, and none of the cast or crew members of the show will be in attendance.

Cruise line / ship: Celebrity Cruises / Celebrity Summit

Sails from: Round trip from Miami

Ports of call:


Golden Fans at Sea (April 8 – 13, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of the TV show The Golden Girls

What to expect: A character costume dress-up party, trivia, celebrity panels, parody shows, and more.

Cruise line / ship: Celebrity Cruises / Celebrity Summit

Sails from: Round trip from Miami

Ports of call:

  • Cozumel, Mexico
  • Key West

Hollywood Insider with 80s Primetime Stars (October 3-7, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of the 1980s primetime TV series Dallas

Special guests:

  • Linda Gray
  • Charlene Tilton
  • Sheree J. Wilson
  • Christopher Atkins

Cruise line / ship: Princess Cruises / Majestic Princess

Sails from: Vancouver to Los Angeles

Port of call:

  • Vancouver, BC

Hollywood Insider: Behind the Scenes EFX (October 16-19, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? TV and movie fans who want a behind-the-scenes look at how special effects are created

Special guests:

  • Michael Westmore
  • Johnnie Spence
  • Tym Buchaarern

Cruise line / ship: Princess Cruises / Crown Princess

Sails from: Seattle to Vancouver

Ports of call: N/A

Related: Princess Cruises Announces Three California Coastal “Hollywood Insider” Theme Cruises


TCM Classic Cruise (November 6 – 11, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of the TCM network and classic films

Hosted by: TCM personalities Ben Mankiewicz, Jacqueline Stewart, Eddie Muller, Alicia Malone, and Dave Karger

Special guests:

  • Kim Novak
  • Elliott Gould
  • George Chakiris
  • Ernest Dickerson
  • Lorna Luft
  • Wynn Thomas

Cruise line / ship: Disney Cruise Line / Disney Magic

Sails from: Round trip from San Diego

Ports of call:

  • Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
  • Ensenada, Mexico

Related: How Does Dining on Disney Cruise Line Work?


West Coast Getaway w/Adam Savage from MythBusters (November 25 – 29, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of Mythbusters and Tested

Host / special guests: Adam Savage

Cruise line / ship: Princess Cruises / Discovery Princess

Sails from: Round trip from Los Angeles

Ports of call:

  • San Diego
  • Ensenada, Mexico

Related: Theme Cruise Featuring Original MythBusters Host Adam Savage Will Set Sail on Discovery Princess


Industry-specific theme cruises

Theme cruises focused on your specific industry are great for networking and furthering your education. Maybe you’ll find your next position (or your next new hire!) on a job-specific theme cruise.


NurseCon at Sea (February 6 – 10, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Nurses and nursing students who want to learn, share, interact, and party

Events include:

  • CNE classes
  • Nurse Blake Live! show
  • Ultimate Skills Check-Off game show
  • Nurses Got Talent competition
  • Parties and theme nights

Cruise line / ship: Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Pearl

Sails from: Roundtrip from Miami

Port of call: Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic


NurseCon at Sea (April 24 – 28, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Nurses and nursing students who want to learn, share, interact, and party

Events include:

  • CNE classes
  • Nurse Blake Live! show
  • Ultimate Skills Check-Off game show
  • Nurses Got Talent competition
  • Parties and theme nights

Cruise line / ship: Royal Caribbean / Freedom of the Seas

Sails from: Roundtrip from Miami

Ports of call:


Crafting theme cruises

With so many sea days on many cruises, taking a cruise can be an awesome opportunity to catch up on your craft projects. But what if you could join a cruise full of other crafters and makers to share ideas?

Craft-themed cruises usually don’t take over the entire ship (promoters will generally book hundreds of rooms, if not more), but you’re guaranteed to meet lots of other crafters through their onboard meetups, mixers, and lectures.


Knitting Cruise (Various dates in 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? People who love to knit

What to expect: Knitting classes and lectures, Knitting Cruise exclusive parties and mixers

Cruise line / ship: Holland America Line / various ships

Itineraries:


Religious and spiritual themed cruises

If practicing your faith is important to you, you’ve probably noticed that religious services aren’t always easy to find on a cruise (if they exist at all).

But taking a faith-based cruise with a ship full of others who share the same beliefs guarantees that you’ll find plenty of worship services, workshops, and study groups to practice your faith at sea.


Inspiration Cruises (Various dates in 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Evangelical Christians

Cruise line / ship: Holland America Line / various ships

Itineraries include:


Other specialty theme cruises

Big Nude Boat (February 12 – 26, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Naturists and nudists

Cruise line / ship: Carnival Cruise Line / Carnival Pride

Sails from: Round trip from Tampa

Ports of call:

  • St. Thomas, USVI
  • St. Kitts
  • Antigua
  • Grand Turk
  • Amber Cove, Dominican Republic
  • Princess Cays
  • Half Moon Cay

Related: David’s Steakhouse on Carnival Pride Review + Menus


Club Pilates at Sea: An Alaska Retreat (September 2 – 9, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fitness enthusiasts

Host / special guests: Xponential Fitness / Club Pilates

Cruise line / ship: Princess Cruises / Royal Princess

Sails from: Round trip from Seattle

Ports of call:

  • Juneau
  • Skagway
  • Ketchikan
  • Glacier Bay (scenic cruising)
  • Victoria, BC

Read more: Princess Cruises Will Offer First Club Pilates at Sea Theme Cruise


Magic Castle Conjurer’s Cruise (October 7 – 14, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Fans of magic shows, illusionists

Host / special guests: The Magic Castle

Cruise line / ship: Princess Cruises / Discovery Princess

Sails from: Round trip from Los Angeles

Ports of call:

  • San Francisco
  • San Diego
  • Ensenada, Mexico

Read more: Princess Cruises Announces First Magic Castle Conjurer’s Cruise


Randy Fenoli Bridal Fashion Cruise (December 3- 10, 2023)

Who is this theme cruise for? Brides and their families

Host / special guests: Randy Fenoli

Cruise line / ship: Princess Cruises / Regal Princess

Sails from: Round trip from Galveston

Ports of call:

  • Roatán, Honduras
  • Costa Maya, Mexico
  • Cozumel, Mexico

Read more: Princess Cruises Now Offering Princess Perfect Weddings at Sea


Theme cruises FAQ

What is a theme cruise?

Theme cruises bring together groups of like-minded strangers and create a floating community around a common interest.

Are theme cruises adults-only?

Many theme cruises are either specifically adults-only (18+ or 21+). Other theme cruises are more family-focused. Check with your cruise promoter for age restrictions or recommendations.

What kind of theme cruises are available in 2023?

Theme cruises are available for fans of music, dance, sports, TV shows and movies, crafts, religious groups, and more.

Have you ever sailed on a theme cruise? Which cruise was it, and what did you think of the experience? Do you know of any other 2023 theme cruises I haven’t included in the list? Let me know in the comments below!


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Carrie Ann Karstunen