Banish those preconceived notions about cruises being predictable and the preserve of wealthy pensioners and families. The cruise industry has become more diversified as its evolved, seemingly able to offer something for every kind of passenger from cooking to photography, fitness and disco… although not all on the same ship. Here are five special interest cruises to check out this year that cater to a variety of tastes.
Food and Wine: The Delights of the Douro with Mary Berry
Mary Berry will join an eight-day cruise along the Douro. Image by Matt Alexander via Getty
Culinary grande dame and former Great British Bake Off judge Mary Berry is joining an eight-day cruise along the Douro River with Emerald Waterways. The cruise starts and ends in Porto and along the way guests will explore the wine and port producing wineries of the Douro region in Portugal and Spain with stop-offs in Pinhao, Salamanca, Pocinho and Regua. Mary will join guests on board the Emerald Radiance to host a three-course gala dinner (with a menu curated by Mary herself, of course), as well as a Q&A session over tea and pastries. Depart on 22 June, 2019. From £2545 ($3152) per person. See here for more information.
Photography: Explorer Photography School
There are a number of photography-based cruises on offer. Image by Getty
Snap-happy sailors will love this photo-expedition cruise with Hurtigruten’s cruises on MS Midnatsol. Hurtigtuten’s Explorer Photography School offers guests on-board tuition and workshops from professional photographers and guests can test their skills on hiking, kayaking and boating expeditions, capturing memorable sunsets, diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes. There are various cruises and prices vary depending on the tour. For more information, see here or similar photography-based cruises like One Ocean Expeditions’ Antarctica Peninsula Adventure and Circle Crossing Photography Symposium.
Cycling: Travelrite Cycle and Cruise Australia and New Zealand
See Australia and New Zealand’s spectacular scenery by bike and boat. Image by Getty
Gear up for a tour of Australia and New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery by boat and bike as you set sail from Sydney to Auckland on board Celebrity Solstice. In each port of call guests will be met with a coach and transferred to a bike track, most of which range from 30 to 60 kilometres. Each ride will have a meeting point where cyclists can enjoy a spot of lunch before trekking back to the ship. Over the 14-night cruise the ship will sail through Milford Sound, followed by Doubtful and Dusky Sounds. Cycle ride highlights include the Port Philip Bay Trail in Melbourne, Otago Central Rail Trail and the Rotorua trail in New Zealand, which takes in the geothermal fields of Whakarewarewa and Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Depart on 20 November, 2019. Prices from AUS$4590 (£2555 / US$3283). See here for more information.
Disco: Ultimate Disco Cruise
This five-night cruise is essentially a floating disco. Departing from Fort Lauderdale Florida, the Ultimate Disco Cruise allows guests to get their groove on with over 40 live musical performances from disco greats such as KC & The Sunshine Band, Kool and The Gang, Gloria Gaynor, Village People, The Spinners, Rose Royce and many more. On top of that, there are celebrity-hosted happy hours, theme nights and costume parties, dance classes and game shows. Depart on 14 February, 2019. From $1299 (£957) per person. See here for more information.
Dancing: Strictly Come Dancing Along the Danube
Anton du Beke and Erin Boag will take part in a Danube cruise. Image by Gus Stewart via Getty
This eight-day cruise along the Danube visits some of Europe’s most romantic cities, including Vienna (home of the waltz), Budapest, Bratislava, Passau, Nuremberg, Durnstein, Regensburg and Melk. The highlight is a private dance performance from Strictly Come Dancing’s best-loved star Anton Du Beke and his professional dance partner, Erin Boag. The ballroom couple will take part in a Q&A session at the Vienna Arsenal and will teach a dance masterclass on board the luxury river cruise ship, Emerald Waterways Star Ship. Depart on 26 July, 2019. From £1695 (US$2177) per person. See here for more information.
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