The Best Themed Cruises for 2025, 2026 and Beyond

A themed cruise gives you the opportunity to indulge in your favourite hobby during a cruise.

Much more than just a cruise, a themed cruise is an opportunity to surround yourself with like-minded people and spend time doing what makes you the happiest, as well as enjoying all the usual cruise benefits like great food, sightseeing and time for relaxation.

There are a whole host of weird and wonderful theme cruises for adults to choose from. In fact, you’ll likely be surprised at just how many different theme cruises are available in 2025, 2026 and beyond!

This guide to the best theme cruises showcases some of the most interesting ones, as well as providing a handy list of all of the current theme cruises on offer, with links to where you can find more information about them.

Theme cruises explained

Before we begin, it’s important to recognise that not all theme cruises are equal in terms of how much of the cruise is actually themed. There are some cruises, like music cruises, where you can expect to see everyone on the ship in fancy dress, enjoying a round-the-clock schedule of events and activities.

In contrast, other cruises are more of a chance for hobbyists to meet up during what would otherwise be a ‘normal’ cruise.

Here are two important distinctions to make…

Full-ship theme cruises: The group will charter the whole ship, so everyone will be on-board for the theme cruise.

Partial-ship theme cruises: The group will book a number of cabins and take over certain areas such as a particular bar or a conference room.

Suggested read: The best cruises for singles to hook up

The best themed cruises of 2025 and 2026

Without further ado, here’s a guide to the most exciting theme cruises that you should consider…

Electric Sunsets 90s vs 00s Cruise

Popular with British people, Marella’s Electric Sunset’s cruise is like a music festival at sea. Onboard previous Electric Sunsets cruises you’ve been able to enjoy 80s and 90s music from The Vengaboys, Pat Sharp, Go West and DJ Sash!

And for 2025 it’s taking on a new 90s vs 00s theme, with Irish pop group B*Witched headlining alongside performances from The Honeyz. DJ Sash! will also return. With drinks included, this cruise is sure to get you in the party mood.

• Date: 1st November 2025
• Destination: Spain & Canary Islands
• Cruise Line: TUI Cruises
• Ship: Marella Voyager

Learn more about the Electric Sunsets cruise

Country Rhythms 1 & 2

Brand new for 2026 is another themed cruise with Marella, but this time with a focus on country music.

There are two itineraries available, again sailing from Malaga to the Canary Islands. The full lineup is TBC but so far we know that The Dolly Show will appear, which features the UK’s top Dolly Parton impersonator.

And, of course, you can expect the same amazing all-inclusive value.

• Date: February 2026
• Destination: Spain & Canary Islands
• Cruise Line: TUI Cruises
• Ship: Marella Explorer 2

Learn more about the Country Rhythms cruises

Puzzling Event Cruises

Whether you’re someone who already loves puzzles/jigsaws or you just want to try something new where you can meet others in a relaxed and fun environment, these puzzle cruises are definitely worth checking out!

Run by Puzzled About Everything, the cruises include activities for every puzzle enthusiast, including casual cruising and speed puzzle challenges. And with Rae and Monica bringing over 200 puzzles onboard, you’ll definitely find at least a few that are the right challenge for you!

• Date: 4-16 January 2025, 13-25 April 2025, 22 October to 5 November 2025
• Destination: Panama Canal/Caribbean/Transatlantic from Italy
• Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
• Ship: Radiance/Vision/Serenade/Odyssey of the Seas

Learn more about the Puzzle Cruises

Chris Jericho’s Rock N Wrestling Rager at Sea – A wrestling-themed cruise

Wrestling fans will take over a whole cruise ship for an epic journey with wrestling star Chris Jericho and his friends. The event will include wrestling matches in a ring set up on the pool deck, rock music performances, comedy shows, paranormal activities and live podcast recordings.

• Date: 31 January to 4 February 2025
• Destination: Mexico
• Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line
• Ship: Norwegian Gem

Learn more about the Chris Jericho Cruise

Caribbean Gospel Choir Workshop Cruise

The London Community Gospel Choir is finally taking to the seas for an incredible workshop cruise that will include live performances, interactive events and more. The choir has worked with many famous artists and were renowned for backing Elton John at Glastonbury in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, they’ll be cruising the Caribbean on the stunning MSC World America.

• Date: 30 August to 6 September 2025
• Destination: Caribbean
• Cruise Line: MSC Cruises
• Ship: MSC World America

You’ll need to book your place through GoCruise & Travel – details in the image above.

Meow Meow Cruise – A cruise for cat lovers

Cat-obsessed cruisers, unfortunately, cannot bring their cats on this cruise. But what they can do is meet like-minded people to chat about and share photos of their favourite furry feline friends. Activities on this cat-themed cruise include trivia, meet and greet and group dining.

• Date: 31 August 2025
• Destination: Alaska
• Cruise Line: Princess Cruises
• Ship: Discovery Princess

Learn more about the Meow Meow Cruise

The High Seas Rally – A biker cruise

This motorbike-themed cruise is ‘The World’s Only Biker Rally on a Cruise Ship’. A full ship of bikers will be enjoying wild pool parties, tattoo contests, concerts, theme nights and raffles as they cruise to places that they can’t reach by riding a bike.

• Date: 2nd November 2025
• Destination: Mexico
• Cruise Line: Margaritaville at Sea
• Ship: Margaritaville at Sea Islander

Learn more about the High Seas Rally

Star Trek: The Cruise

Returning to Mexico in 2025, The Star Trek Cruise is where you’ll find the most passionate Star Trek fans in the universe. This cruise will feature a lineup of actors and personalities with Star Trek-themed shows, events, activities and parties.

• Date: 23 February to 2 March 2025
• Destination: Mexico
• Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
• Ship: Explorer of the Seas

Learn more about the Star Trek Cruise

The In My Cruise Era (Taylor Swift) Cruise

Any Swifties who want to party would’ve loved this cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas. It departed Miami the day after Taylor’s Eras tour finished its third night in the city, and offered events such as cocktail parties, dance events and, of course, karaoke.

It’s not clear if the cruise will be run again.

• Date: TBC
• Destination: CocoCay, Nassau (from Miami)
• Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
• Ship: Allure of the Seas

Learn more about the In My Cruise Era cruise

Scrapbook cruises

Cruise and Crop is a cruise company offering scrapbooking cruises where guests can enjoy making scrapbooks together. But the fun doesn’t stop there! On certain cruises, you can also try your hand at card making, embroidery, knitting, jewellery making and other crafts.

• Date: Various
• Destination: Various
• Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
• Ship: Various

Learn more about scrapbooking cruises

The KISS Kruise

Fans of iconic 70s rock band Kiss can join them for an adventure at sea onboard the Kiss music-themed cruise. Expect performances from Kiss and their friends as well as meet and greet sessions and activities with each of the band members.

• Date: TBA
• Destination: TBA
• Cruise Line: TBA
• Ship: TBA

Learn more about the KISS Kruise

Knitting cruises

Craft Cruises offers a range of cruises where craft lovers can get together to improve their knitting skills will classes and workshops. On-board knitting instructors will advise guests about any local yarn stores in the ports of call. As well as knitting, Craft Cruises also offers cruises themed around crocheting, needlepoint, hand spinning and beading.

• Date: Various
• Destination: Various
• Cruise Line: Holland America Line
• Ship: Various

Learn more about knitting cruises

The Gothic Cruise

The Annual Gothic Cruise and Masquerade Ball is a cruise created by goths for goths. There’ll be live music performances by German electronic music act Rotersand and American aggrotech band Combichrist, amongst others. There’s also a zombie pub crawl and a ‘Spookeasy’ formal night.

• Date: 16 February 2025
• Destination: Mexico
• Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line
• Ship: Norwegian Getaway

Learn more about the Gothic Cruise

The 70s Rock & Romance Cruise

Lovers of 70’s rock can relive their youth with 50 live performances from artists such as Randy Bachman, Dave Mason and Orleans on what promises to be one of the best music cruises of 2025. This 70s-themed cruise also promises Q&A sessions with the artists, panel discussions, game shows, trivia, karaoke, wine tasting and pool parties.

• Date: 15 to 22 March 2025
• Destination: Mexico
• Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises
• Ship: Celebrity Summit

Learn more about the Rock & Romance Cruise

The Flower Power Cruise

The Flower Power Cruise is a 70s-themed cruise where you can immerse yourself in the music from the ‘love generation’. With nightly performances and interactive celebrity events, this cruise has lots of Flower Power themed parties and activities.

• Date: 22 to 29 March 2025
• Destination: Caribbean
• Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises
• Ship: Celebrity Summit

Learn more about the Flower Power Cruise

The Country Music Cruise

Get your stetsons ready for The Country Music Cruise – a themed party at sea with nightly country music performances and the chance to meet the stars. Country music fans can enjoy Q&A sessions with the artists, trivia contests, line dancing and country karaoke.

• Date: 19 to 26 January 2025
• Destination: Mexico
• Cruise Line: Holland America Line
• Ship: Nieuw Amsterdam

Learn more about the Country Music Cruise

The Soul Train Cruise

The Soul Train Cruise is a star-studded cruise experience featuring legendary stars from the classic R&B era. 2025 features two itineraries – each with a fantastic line up of guests!

• Date: 26 January to 2 February 2025 OR 9 to 16 November 2025
• Destination: Mexico or Caribbean
• Cruise Line: Holland America Line
• Ship: Nieuw Amsterdam

Learn more about the Soul Train Cruise

The Ultimate Disco Cruise

With a special appearance from disco legends The Brothers Johnson, Rose Royce and Bee Gees Gold, The Ultimate Disco Cruise promises to be a star-studded affair with over 40 live performances and several costume parties.

• Date: 19 to 24 February 2025
• Destination: TBA
• Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line
• Ship: Norwegian Pearl

Learn more about the Ultimate Disco Cruise

The 80s Cruise

The 80s Cruise is a non-stop all-inclusive concert with 20 bands including Squeeze, Adam Ant, Men at Work and more. Guests can enjoy parties on the pool deck and themed costume parties too.

• Date: 2 to 9 March 2025
• Destination: Caribbean
• Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
• Ship: Explorer of the Seas

Learn more about the 80s Cruise

Desire Cruises

Couples-only and clothing-optional, Desire Cruises offer sexually-charged lifestyle cruises with seductive entertainment, exotic theme nights and an electric atmosphere that will make you want to explore your deepest fantasies.

• Date: Various
• Destination: Various

Learn more about Desire Cruises

The Magic Castle Cruise

The Magic Castle cruise is a themed cruise all around magic – with live shows, workshop demonstrations and talks on the history of magic. It’s sure to conjure up some magical memories for anyone onboard!

• Date: TBA
• Destination: West Coast USA
• Cruise Line: Princess Cruises
• Ship: Discovery Princess

Learn more about the Magic Castle Cruise

Full List of All Themed Cruises

Above is just a sample of some of the themed cruises that are available to book at the moment. See below for a full list of all of the themed cruises, categorised by genre.

Music cruises

Rock music cruises

• The Rock Boat
• Cruise to the Edge
• Monsters of Rock Cruise
• Rock Legends Cruise
• Kiss Kruise XI Kisstory at Sea
• The Melissa Etheridge Cruise

Punk Rock cruises

• Emo’s Not Dead Cruise

Jazz cruises

• The Jazz Cruise
• The Smooth Jazz Cruise
• Capital Jazz SuperCruise
• JazzFest at Sea

Soul music cruises

• The Soul Train Cruise
• Soulshine at Sea

Country music cruises

• The Outlaw Country Cruise
• The Country Music Cruise
• Texas Country Music Cruise

Irish music cruises

• Cruise of Irish Stars
• Irish Music Cruise
• All Star Irish Cruise

Heavy metal cruises

• The Gothic Cruise
• The KISS Kruise

Blues cruises

• Sandy Beaches Cruise
• Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
• On the Blue
• Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea

Broadway Cruises

• The Broadway Cruise

Reggae cruises

• Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise

Electronic dance music cruises

• The Groove Cruise

50s music cruises

• Malt Shop Memories Cruise

60s music cruises

• The Beach Boys Good Vibrations Cruise

70s music cruises

• The 70s Rock & Romance Cruise
• The Flower Power Cruise
• The Ultimate Disco Cruise

80s music cruises

• The 80s Cruise

Latin music cruises

• Aventura Dance Cruise

Music festivals at sea

• Cayamo Cruise

Hobby themed cruises

• High Seas Rally – motorbikes
• Meow Meow cruise
• Knitting cruises
• Scrapbook cruises
• Bridge cruises

Sports themed cruises

Golf cruises

• Hapag-Lloyd golf cruises
• Azamara golf cruises

Wrestling cruises

• Chris Jericho’s wrestling-themed cruise

TV and movie-themed cruises

• Star Trek cruise
• Golden Girls cruise
• JoCo cruise

Religious cruises

Christian cruises

• K-LOVE Cruise – Christian music cruise
• Christian singles cruises
• Singing at Sea – Southern Gospel music cruise

Jewish cruises

• Kosherica – Kosher cruises
• Amazing Journeys – Jewish singles cruises

Mormon cruises

• Cruise Lady Latter-day Adventures
• Bountiful Travel – LDS Cruises
• Morris Murdock Escorted Cruise Tours

Adult cruises

• Desire cruises – Couples-only erotic cruises
• Temptation cruises – Sexy party cruises
• Killing Kittens – Luxury lifestyle cruise
• Bare Necessities – Nude cruises

LGBTQ+ cruises

• Atlantis – Gay cruises
• Olivia – Lesbian cruises
• Vacaya – LGBTQ+ cruises
• Brand G – LGBTQ+ river cruises
• Big Gay Cruise – Gay cruise

See more LGBTQ+ cruises here.

The Best Themed Cruises of the Past

There have been some incredible theme cruises over the years. The cruises listed below aren’t scheduled for 2025 and beyond, but take a look at some of the unusual cruises that people have loved…

Harry Potter cruise

The Harry Potter cruise was a seven-night all-inclusive cruise that called at filming locations from the Harry Potter movie series and included a behind-the-scenes tour of Warner Bros. Studios. The cruise happened in 2018, on an eight-passenger barge cruising along London’s River Thames.

Walking Dead themed cruise

There were four zombie-themed Walking Dead cruises between 2016 and 2019. Known as the Walker Stalker Cruise, these Caribbean cruises on Norwegian Pearl featured a team of make-up artists to help cruisers turn into zombies before taking part in outrageous activities. Stars of The Walking Dead tv series were onboard for photo and autograph sessions.

Knotfest at Sea

Fans of the heavy metal bank Slipknot were eagerly awaiting the first-ever Slipknot themed cruise – Knotfest at Sea in August 2020. The cruise on Norwegian Jade from Barcelona to Naples was postponed until 2021 and then sadly cancelled. It’s not known whether this even may ever take place in the future.

NASCAR: The Cruise

American auto racing fans enjoyed a five-night NASCAR themed cruise on Norwegian Pearl in 2017. This stock car themed cruise gave guests the chance to meet some of the biggest names in the sport, including Richard Petty, Rusty Wallace and Bobby Allison.

How to book a themed cruise

Just like concerts and festivals, themed cruises can sell out fast, so if you hear of a themed cruise that you’re interested in, you won’t want to hang around.

Depending on the cruise, there may be a specialist travel agent handling the bookings. Each theme cruise has its own website, so take a look at that to find the details of how to book your place.

More themed cruises?

Do you know of any more themed cruises to add to this list? Please comment below or email me at [email protected] and I will add them.

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