Elvis, Swing Dance, Culinary Theme Cruises are Fun at Sea

Whatever you like to do on land, you’ll probably find a theme cruise to match.

Elvis Theme Cruise — Start polishing your Blue Suede Shoes for the annual Elvis Cruise, just announced for January 12-16, 2012 from Jacksonville, Florida, to Nassau, Bahamas. This popular cruise usually sells out fast, and several dozen top “Elvis Tribute Artists” — they’re no longer called impersonators — plus guests who co-starred with Elvis in some of his Hollywood movies, and other bands and performers, the 2012 Elvis Cruise, on the Carnival Fascination promises to be toe-tapping fun. Prices start at $499 per person, plus $149 for taxes and other fees, plus transportation to and from Jacksonville.

Swing Dancing — The popularity of Dancing with the Stars has increased interest in all kinds of partner dancing, from swing and tango, to fox trot and two-step, salsa and rhumba, waltz and cha cha. That makes me happy, because I’d rather be dancing myself, and regularly attend swing dance evenings wherever and when ever I can. So where can you swing at sea? On the RCCL Freedom of the Seas, September 25th to October 2, 2011, to the Bahamas and St. Maarten, on the Swing Dance Cruise. There are workshops during the day from top instructors, and dancing into the wee hours every night.

Country Music — Those boots were made for cruising, especially with the stars of the Grand Ole Opry on the annual Opry Country Classics Cruise each January, which included legends like Charley Pride on the 2011 sailing. It’s too early for the 2012 performers to be named, so check the Opry Cruise website periodically for updates.

Food and Wine — Food writer Mark Bittman, best-selling author of How to Cook Everything; master chef Andre Soltner; the wine director of all Michael Mina restaurants, including the multi-star outpost in Las Vegas, and others are sailing on Crystal Cruises itineraries from June through December, for the line’s 15th Food and Wine Series. In addition to hands-on instruction, sailings feature chefs’ demos, wine tastings, pairing sessions, cocktail-making classes, “Iron Bar Chef” competitions, and/or sushi-making classes by Nobu-trained chefs from Crystal’s on-board Nobu Matsuhisa restaurants. Guest chefs will also craft a special $1,000 per person seven-course ultimate dining experience.

Jazz — The ultimate jazz cruise of 2011 is Jazz Fest at Sea, October 22-29, 2011 aboard the MSC Poesia, cruising the eastern seaboard from New York to ports including Halifax, Nova Scotia; Boston and Newport, Rhode Island. In between, there are nightly performances by jazz soloists, jazz quartets, jazz quintets and jazz bands. Even better, passengers are invited to bring along their own instruments and join in amateur jam sessions with the pro musicians.

MSC also has sports-oriented theme cruises, including baseball.

The best part about enjoying an evening dancing or your favorite musicians at sea is you don’t have to worry about driving home. Just take the elevator.