Cruises themed around special interests are increasingly popular. Not only do they unite people with shared interests, thus pairing their passions with a sense of community, but they do so in a spectacular setting: on a river or on the high seas.
Now more than ever, people crave experiences where they can celebrate their passion with other, like-minded people, and also discover new things. The sense of belonging is powerful.
What Are Special-Interest Themed Cruises?
These are ocean or river cruises themed around a topic beloved by a passionate community. On board, this shared interest can be turned into an immersive travel experience. There are ocean and river cruises themed around music genres, sports teams, crafts, causes, popular movie and TV shows, books, celebrity fan clubs, vintage artifacts, and many, many more topics. Some special-interest groups take their annual land-based convention and convert it into a cruise – think of CrimeCon now hosting a bi-annual CrimeCruise, as a perfect example.
Potential organizers can include associations, nonprofits, brands/sponsors, fan communities, hobby groups, professional organizations, influencers/creators, event planners, and travel advisors. Landry & Kling has decades of expertise working with all of these, to bring unforgettable themed cruises to life.
What Types of Themes are Available for These Cruises?
Themes vary broadly and, seemingly, infinitely. They can be culinary, with moment after moment for guests to indulge in world-class food and wine menus, sometimes with their favorite chefs. They can be focused on beer, wine, and spirits, with shore excursions such as guided tours to a vineyard included, or daily beer tastings. They can be focused on a niche fandom such as Star Trek or anime, with character encounters, live performances, and meet-and-greets. Wellness, wine cruises, celebrity encounters, wildlife encounters, the sci-fi world, even festive decor, can be themes.
Why Are These Cruises Gaining Popularity?
On such a cruise, the special interest becomes part of the entire vacation, not just a single event. Imagine being a raving fan of fantasy romance novels, and when traveling to a new city, happening upon a new book in a bookstore window. That would be a nice surprise, but it would be limited to finding, then possibly buying and reading the book on one’s own. However, on a cruise themed around the fantasy romance genre, each day and evening are filled with moments that bring these books and their most beloved qualities to life not only for that one fan, but for their fellow fans right alongside them.
Travel itself is highly appealing. A convention around one’s niche interests, in their home city, is fun, but it lacks the rejuvenation and discovery that travel offers someone. Alternatively, a cruise offers memorable, highly curated experiences that can’t be easily found in a single destination. The convenience factor is also strong, as a cruise offers the themed events as well as entertainment, dining, destinations, and accommodations, all in a single seamless experience.
Popular Special-Interest Themes Today
Fandom and niche interests are rising in popularity everywhere, from social media to special-interest cruises. Communities, both virtual and IRL, exist for nearly every subject now, even highly specific ones. From podcasts to dedicated social accounts to onboard forums, fans are “finding their people,” whether they are into comedy, pop culture, gaming, sports, popular TV shows, beauty influencing, Broadway, specialty lifestyle communities, or a charitable cause. Almost every interest can find a place in which to thrive.
Recently, a group of thousands of people from around the world who are deeply interested in sewing techniques gathered on a cruise, and found themselves in a state of bliss for having gathered with so many others who share their love of this skillset.
The range of themes is vast.
What Makes Themed Cruises Different From Regular Voyages?
Themed cruises differ from regular cruises because of the addition of a very specific topic, and ways to engage one’s senses in a multitude of experiences focused on that topic, along with a community of other people who also share that same passion and interest.
Perhaps a better question is what makes themed cruises different from land-based conventions. The biggest difference is immersion and continuity. A land-based convention has a stopping point for each day and then everyone goes home or back to their hotel until the next day begins. On a cruise, the community lives, eats, socializes, and experiences new destinations together for multiple days. It also creates an unusual intimacy: guests can see their favorite artists, experts, creators, and other key figures in the world of their chosen theme, repeatedly throughout the sailing. At a convention, they would likely attend a single panel or performance. In other words, a special-interest theme cruise is not just an event one attends, it is an environment one inhabits.
What If You Want to Create a Themed Cruise Involving Your Special Interest?
If you’re in pursuit of planning a special-interest cruise, Landry & Kling is the ideal partner to help turn an idea or community into a viable cruise experience. Our expertise is critical in helping you evaluate the concept, identify the right structure, and giving you the information you will need when you connect the various communities, talent, and other partners to participate.
We identify the right cruise line, ship, port to depart from, and itinerary; determine whether a group or full-ship charter is appropriate; source and negotiate cruise options; help navigate contracts; manage logistics; and help you understand the realities of managing a cruise program.
In other words, we use decades of expertise to tailor the cruise to your needs.
How to Choose the Best Themed Cruises for Your Group
The cruise line, port of departure, and the destination are key. Landry & Kling can help you identify the cruise line that best fits your participants’ taste, style, budget, and size. Perhaps Azamara, AmaWaterways, or Viking are the right fit, or perhaps it’s Holland America or Royal Caribbean.
If you are a planner, consider where most of your participants are coming from, or where they would most like to travel. Will your cruise mainly take place in the British Isles, or should it depart from Miami? Perhaps the Rhine or the Danube are ideal settings. Perhaps a World War II buffs’ cruise should include a visit to Normandy.
These voyages can sometimes set sail as full-ship charters, where the organizer essentially takes over the ship for the experience. They can be large-group bookings, where a significant portion of the ship participates in the themed experience, but there are other guests aboard the ship who have not booked for anything to do with the theme — just for the cruise itself. Themed cruises can also work as traditional groups on a regular sailing, where the group travels on an existing itinerary and has private/exclusive programming such as guided port excursions, expert-led lectures, interactive workshops, Q&A sessions, or quaint networking opportunities. This programming is held within reserved venues onboard, usually much less noticeable by guests, so that other onboard passengers can enjoy the cruise as well.
FAQs about Themed Cruises
Are these cruises suitable for all age groups?
The age suitability is dependent on the theme itself. There are plenty of hobbies and special interests that are supported by fans of all ages. Companies like Disney Cruise Line have seen much success based on this fact, since some of their cruises provide immersive itineraries such as Halloween on the High Seas. There’s also Royal Caribbean’s Rock Legends Cruises that appeals to rock music lovers of any generation. However, not all themed cruises would have appropriate themes for younger guests; those should be considered an adults-only group voyage. For example, a group interested in elevating gourmet dining through wine pairings, sommelier training, or brewery techniques would not have participants below the legal age.
How do special-interest themed cruises enhance networking opportunities compared to regular cruises?
Many people who cruise for leisure on regular itineraries happen to meet other travelers along the way. Some become lifelong friends or networking contacts. On a themed cruise, participants are more likely to forge bonds over their shared interest, and could potentially meet individuals with a professional role in that interest, which could help them if they themselves wish to find similar work.
How early should I book a themed cruise?
When planning a themed cruise, more lead time is generally more important than it is with a typical leisure group, particularly when the organizer has to build an audience and sell staterooms directly to consumers. With a themed cruise, the organizer isn’t simply inviting employees or members who are already expected to attend; they may also need to create demand, market the concept, secure and then announce talent and programming, open sales and build momentum. For larger and full-ship programs, the planning timeline can be years in advance. Landry & Kling can help you identify a realistic timeframe.
