Where To Start When Planning a European Cruise Vacation

There are many beautiful and exotic places to visit around the world.

From the untouched natural beauty of the Siberian wilderness to the stunning river passages of Western Europe, plenty of destinations are worthy of a vacation. In some cases, it can be stressful trying to narrow down a particular area to devote the entirety of the vacation to.

Fortunately, cruises are a means to see more than just one site while simultaneously combining all the preparation for the vacation into one luxurious service.

From transportation to your destinations, seeing all the beautiful landmarks and attractions, to meals and sleeping arrangements; cruises are a fantastic option for people who do not want to do a lot of planning themselves.

There are many cruise options available, particularly within Europe – allowing tourists to experience the rich history of this continent in relaxing style.

As someone who is planning to look into European cruises as a possible vacation option, consider these popular options as a place to begin your adventure. Continue with article

11 Favorite Out-of-the-Way Places Best Explored From a Cruise Ship

Traveling with Jones has visited more than 175 ports and scenic cruising destinations around the world.

Cruising is a great vacation value as travelers can discover new places to return own. We've certainly discovered many destinations and cultures via cruise ship, and many have become our favorite vacation spots.

Take a look at some of their favorite “out-of-the-way” destinations 

RCI Winter 2013-14 Cruises Open for Booking

Royal Caribbean International has announced its winter 2013-2014 Caribbean cruise itineraries for the Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas. The fleet will offer 140 sailings, visiting 20 ports of call.

Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will continue to alternate seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, sailing roundtrip from Port Everglades, Florida.

Independence of the Seas will homeport at Port Everglades as well, and alternate six-night Western Caribbean and eight-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries.

Freedom of the Seas will continue its year-round service from Port Canaveral, alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.

Navigator of the Seas will debut in Galveston and offer guests two seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries.

Serenade of the Seas will offer vacationers new Caribbean itineraries from New Orleans, Lousiana once the ship has arrived from Barcelona, Spain on it 15-night trans-Atlantic  itinerary. The first sailing will be a one-time, nine-night caribbean adventure, departing December 12.

All six ships have completed their revitalizations and enhancements.

For additional information, or to make reservations, visit www.royalcaribbean.com

Source: TravelAgentCentral

Carnival Breeze Dining Choices and Sweepstakes

There's been so much buzz about the new Carnival Breeze - Making reservations for early 2013

.......................................

The Carnival Breeze will offer an array of culinary choices when it enters service June 3, 2012.

Photo courtesy of Carnival News

To celebrate Carnival Breeze’s new dining choices, Carnival Cruise Lines has launched a sweepstakes on its Facebook fan page tied to another of the ship’s dining spots, the Mexican-themed BlueIguana Cantina.

The sweepstakes asks fans to choose their favorite burrito or taco toppings available at the casual dining venue for a chance to win a Caribbean cruise for two on the new 130,000-ton “Fun Ship,” along with round-trip air transportation.  

Carnival Breeze’s Dining Choices:

Bonsai Sushi - Carnival’s first full-service sushi restaurant, Bonsai Sushi will offer Asian-inspired delicacies with contemporary decor featuring Bonsai trees and colorful koi kites. Bonsai Sushi includes a number of varieties of sushi, sashimi, and rolls along with bento boxes, with prices ranging from $1 for appetizer-sized portions to $15 for a sushi ship for two.

Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ - Complimentary open-air dining offers grilled favorites, including barbecued chicken breast, kielbasa, Italian sausage, and Fat Jimmy’s signature item, pulled pork sandwiches, along with traditional sides like baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw and mini-corn muffins.

Guy’s Burger Joint - Fresh-made burgers, hand-cut fries and innovative toppings created in partnership with Food Network personality Guy Fieri.

BlueIguana Cantina - Offering authentic tacos and burritos that can be personalized by diners at a salsa and toppings bar.

Punchliner Comedy Brunch presented by George Lopez featuring comedic performances and an extensive menu of brunch-time favorites.

Fahrenheit 555 - Classic American steakhouse offering mouth-watering steaks and other gourmet fare (surcharge consistent with other steakhouses in the Carnival fleet).

Cucina del Capitano - Family-style restaurant with dishes inspired by the Grandma of Carnival Breeze Captain Vincenzo Alcaras with penne pasta, crispy shrimp and prosciutto in a vodka cream sauce (free lunch-time pasta bar during the day with a nominal charge for dinner).

Lido Marketplace - a casual poolside eatery offering international favorites, from paninis and 24-hour pizza to Indian Tandoori and a Mongolian Wok station and just about everything in between.

"The Comfort Kitchen” - Located within Lido Marketplace offering American-style “comfort food.”

Ocean Plaza - Indoor/outdoor café serving cappuccinos, lattes, and espressos as well as pastries and other confections.

RedFrog Pub - Island-themed pub where guests can nosh on Caribbean-inspired fare.

Serenity - Salads, sandwiches, wraps and other light fare available at the ship’s exclusive adults-only retreat.

Taste Bar - Complimentary bite-size offerings inspired by Carnival dining venues, along with a signature cocktail tied to that eatery’s particular theme available for purchase.

Sea Dogs - Hot dog-shaped cart in outdoor recreation featuring all-beef franks and traditional toppings (debuts on Carnival Breeze in November).

Following an inaugural 12-day cruise from Venice departing June 3, 2012, Carnival Breeze will operate a series of 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona through Oct. 25, 2012.

After its trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Breeze will sail year-round from Miami beginning Nov. 24, 2012, offering port-intensive six- and eight-day cruises.

For more information, visit www.carnival.com

Top 8 Theme Cruises of 2012

Theme cruises aren't widely advertised and in fact, not advertised by the cruise lines at all in many instances. 


Most theme cruises are organized by travel agents, so you're not likely to find information about most theme cruises on the cruise line's web site or in the cruise section of your favorite online travel agency - No matter how much digging you do. 


Top Theme Cruises for 2012:


Saw: The Horror Cruise on the Carnival Glory
KISS (and other) Music Cruises on the Norwegian Pearl
Fitness and Running Cruise on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas
Celeb Chef Cruises on various Holland America ships
National Review Cruise on Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam
The New York Times Cruise on Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam
Mark Twain Tribute Cruise on the Queen of the Mississippi
Vampires at Sea on Holland America's Zuiderdam


But not to worry – ABC News includes a link for booking each of the cruises selected as the top eight of 2012. Top 8 Theme Cruises of 2012 - ABC News

Most Popular Cruise Destinations

Popular Cruise Destinations

Alaska
from $68 / night

Bahamas
from $40 / night

Bermuda
from $47 / night

Caribbean
from $32 / night

Europe
from $32 / night

Hawaii
from $79 / night

Mexico
from $51 / night

Canada / New England
from $53 / night

Cruise Tips - Selecting a Cruise Port

The first of a series from Cruise Mates features the secrets to choosing a port of departure that is best suited to your travels.

"The Best Cruise Secrets," offering tips for both new and experienced cruisers from seasoned cruise writers and travel agents.

This series will include 10 articles, each on a different topic, but all suggesting ways to get the best deals and the most value from your cruise dollars. After we've published them all on our site, the articles will be compiled as an e-book available for download on your Kindle or other reader.

Head over to Cruise Mates and read the first article series

iCruise iPad App Available for Wave Season

iCruise has offered apps for iPhone and Android, but has now added an iPad app just in time for "Cruise Wave Season"  which runs from January to March.

iCruise created over 20,000 new images that were not optimized for the iPad, and deck plans are rendered properly taking advantage of the iPad’s “pinch and zoom" functionality.

The new iPad app allows you to track a ship, along with receiving updates. More features include 12,000+ itineraries, 25 destinations, route maps, port photos and re-sizable deck plans from 30 cruise lines.

A new update feature is the Revelex-powered ability for live online pricing, availability and booking on 13 cruise lines including: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Azamara, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise, Holland America, Princess, Seabourn, Crystal, Cunard, MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises.

iCruise has targeted the smartphone/tablet market with free iPhone, iPad, Android apps, mobile website, and plans to develop an app for Kindle Fire later this year.

Cruise Finder™ App - Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 3.2 or later

Regent Seven Seas Luxury Cruises Includes FREE Air

The ships of Regent Seven Seas Cruises offer voyages of exploration and discovery to more than 300 ports on all seven continents. 


The luxury vessels are designed for guests numbering in the hundreds rather than the thousands. The ambiance on board is personal, individual, accommodating - "upscale but not uptight." And all ships share certain distinctions in accommodations, service, dining and amenities that elevate them to the lofty vantage point of our enviable six stars.

With Regent Seven Seas Cruises guests can enjoy cruising as it was meant to be aboard the luxurious, mid-sized ships.

In addition to 2-for-1 Fares plus bonus savings, fares include FREE roundtrip air, FREE luxury hotel package, FREE unlimited shore excursions, FREE fine wines and premium spirits, and much more. Enjoy - it's all included!

http://www.rssc.com/specials/

Silversea 2013 Voyages Across Six Ships

Silversea Cruises has unveiled a line-up of worldwide voyages for 2013 that are all on sale now. 

In 2013, the company's six elite ships will offer over 200 voyages, visiting more than 450 destinations on seven continents. 

Highlighting the program is Silver Whisper's 115-day World Cruise, Silver Spirit's inaugural calls in Hawaii (last visited by Silversea in 2010), and Silver Explorer's new expedition cruises to Canada's Hudson Bay.

Also noteworthy are Silversea's 32 new ports of call, which include 21 just for Silver Explorer alone. Collectively, the line's other ships will offer 11 new destinations: Soller de Majorca, Spain; Sabang (Pulau Weh), Indonesia; Port Arthur, Australia; Liverpool, U.K.; Klaipeda, Lithuania; Saaremaa, Estonia; Quebec, Canada; Chios, Greece; Portsmouth, Dominica; Fanning Island, Kiribati; and Fukuoka, Japan.

Here's a snapshot of Silversea's 2013 schedule:

World Cruise 2013

A 115-day journey from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale aboard the Silver Whisper on Jan. 5. Crossing the equator four times, the World Cruise itinerary will follow the tropical belt to 52 destinations in 28 countries with overnight stays in several ports. The warm-weather journey will include New Zealand and Australia's west coast; the isles of French Polynesia; the Asian cities of Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore; and Africa's western coast. Guests may choose to extend their voyage an additional three days to disembark in New York, or 15 days to disembark in Southampton.

Silver Cloud

Silver Cloud begins the 2013 season exploring South America and then crosses the Panama Canal to the Caribbean to offer a series of roundtrip voyages from San Juan. After spending May in the Mediterranean, she'll venture to Northern Europe for a summer season that includes calls in the British Isles, Iceland, the North Cape and Russian ports in the White Sea. Silver Cloud heads south to the warmer Mediterranean in the fall and come November, crosses the Atlantic to South America where the highlights include a 17-day Amazon adventure and cruising the Chilean Fjords at year's end.

Silver Wind

For Silver Wind, the New Year begins in South Africa with three 10-day roundtrip sailings from Cape Town, followed by an 18-day cruise along the west coast of Africa and two voyages in the Canary Islands. Silver Wind then repositions to the Mediterranean for an extended summer program filled with mostly seven- and nine-day voyages exploring the Mediterranean. Highlights include a three-day extended visit in Monte Carlo for the Grand Prix during the May 23 cruise from Barcelona to Rome, as well as calls in Egypt and the Holy Land. Silver Wind then heads south along Africa's west coast to conclude the year back in Cape Town.

Silver Shadow

Silver Shadow opens the year voyaging around Australia and New Zealand. Then in late February and March, she'll offer a series of itineraries focused on Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand before traveling north to China and Japan for the spring. Summer finds Silver Shadow in Alaska for a series of mostly seven-day cruises between Seward and Vancouver. During October and November, she'll offer cruises focusing on China and Vietnam, before heading south to celebrate the holidays with a 15-day voyage between Sydney and Auckland.

Silver Whisper

Silver Whisper begins 2013 with a World Cruise. Over the course of four months she'll journey west from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, visiting 52 destinations across Oceania, Asia and Africa. From mid-May through August, she'll explore Northern Europe offering seven-day Baltic cruises with extended stays in St. Petersburg. A transatlantic crossing from Southampton to Montreal will reposition Silver Whisper to offer a collection of fall foliage cruises through Canada and New England before heading south to the Caribbean in November. Following a 16-day holiday cruise through the Panama Canal, she'll end the year in Los Angeles.

Silver Spirit

For Silver Spirit, 2013 arrives in the Caribbean. Then in February, after a crossing of the Panama Canal to Los Angeles, she repositions for a 31-day voyage through the Pacific Ocean, highlighted by calls in French Polynesia, Kiribati and the major islands of Hawaii. Throughout summer, seven- and nine-day sailings focus on the eastern Mediterranean and Greek Isles. Other highlights include three seven-day Black Sea cruises. In late November, Silver Spirit arrives in Fort Lauderdale for a series of roundtrip Caribbean cruises culminating with a 14-day holiday cruise.

Silver Explorer

The luxury expedition ship Silver Explorer sails into 2013 offering a series of cruises to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Spring and summer are highlighted by trips along the west coast of Africa, western Europe, the British Isles, and Svalbard's frozen Arctic landscapes. First-ever expedition voyages in Canada's Hudson Bay highlight August. In September, Silver Explorer heads south to offer a series of Caribbean and Central America explorations before arriving in Ushuaia in November to conclude the year with Antarctic expeditions.

Visit www.silversea.com

Source: TravelAgent

Alaskan Dream New Itineraries, Ports of Call

Alaskan Dream Cruises, a small-ship cruise line sailing in Southeast Alaska, announced three new itineraries, additional ports of call and ship renovations. Owned and operated by an Alaska Native family in Sitka, the company will operate its second season from May through September.

The 42-passenger Alaskan Dream will sail on three new itineraries in 2012 -- an eight-day trip that focuses on less-explored destinations, including Hobart Bay and Kasaan, and two 11- and 13-day trips through the Inside Passage. The three itineraries include new ports of call for the cruise line -- Ketchikan, Skagway, Haines, Thorne Bay, Kasaan, Wrangell and Gustavus.

The new eight-day “Alaska’s Inside Passage Sojourn” itinerary travels between Sitka and Ketchikan, visiting the village of Kake, Petersburg, Kasaan, Thorne Bay and Misty Fjords. In addition, Hobart Bay is an adventure base camp visited exclusively by Alaskan Dream Cruises, offering sea kayaking, all-terrain vehicle tours and small Zego sport boat excursions. Rates for the cruises begin at $2,269.

The “Alaska’s Southeast Explorer” 11-day itinerary also sails between Ketchikan and Sitka, but expands the route to include Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Gustavus, Skagway, Haines and Wrangell. Travelers also spend an evening on Colt Island at Orca Point Lodge, which is available only to guests of Alaskan Dream Cruises and its sister company, Allen Marine Tours, for an Alaska salmon and king crab dinner. Rates for the cruises begin at $3,399.

The 13-day “Alaska’s Glacier Bay and Inside Passage Voyage” follows a similar route to the 11-day cruise, but visits Windham Bay from a private wilderness retreat that offers fishing, sea kayaking and two-person outboard motor boats. A full day is spent whale watching among the Inian Islands and near Point Adolphus, a famous feeding area for endangered humpback whales. Guests will also visit Lake Eva near Sitka for a hike on a newly rebuilt trail in Tongass National Forest, the nation’s largest. Rates for the cruises begin at $3,989.

Complimentary shore excursions are included. In addition, local naturalists and Alaska Native guides conduct onboard presentations.

Alaskan Dream Cruises also renovated both of its ships for the new season. Its 42-passenger Alaskan Dream, formerly the Executive Explorer, was redone with new carpet and paint, new closets in passenger cabins and a revamped forward lounge. The Admiralty Dream, formerly the Spirit of Columbia, was give a lighter color scheme in the cabins and public areas, as well as new carpet. The forward lounge was also redesigned.

The company was launched in 2011 by the Allen family, members of the Tlingit Kaagwaantaan Clan. The Allen family also founded Allen Marine Inc., a boat-building company, in 1967, and operates Allen Marine Tours, which offers day cruise tours to travelers in Alaska’s Inside Passage.

Source: TravelPulse

Cruise Tours Versus Going on Your Own

Cruise passengers heading for the island of Jamaica e-mailed inquiring about a cheaper way to enjoy the beach in Ocho Rios vs. taking a ship sponsored tour which will put them over their tight cruise budget. 

Cruise passengers familiar with their destination, or those who are more adventurous will often opt to go on their own once arriving at their port destination. We suggest if going on your own and using local transportation (especially taxi's) know which ones are official or licensed by the local government.

We suggested Reggae Beach, which is approximatelyh 10-15 minutes from the port. The official taxi's in Jamaica are JUTA taxi's, and we suggested they only take JUTA to their destination. The rate to Reggae Beach is approximately $40.00, which can be shared by up to four people. The price should always be negotiated up front.

On arrival to the beach, it will cost $5.00 which includes beach chairs - along with bathroom facilities. You will ususally find a Reggae band for entertainment. The beach bar features cold drinks, jerk chicken and conch. Kayak's are also available for rent.

Another plus in visiting this particular beach is it is private, which means you don't have to deal with the crowds at the public beaches, and those pesky local beach peddlers.

By taking the taxi rather than the cruise ship sponsored tour, the four friends will save approximately $50 per couple. They plan to use the extra money for the required tips to cabin steward, along with other cruise staff.

Many first time cruisers on a tight budget do not take the required tipping into consideration. It's one of those details many overlook when booking a cruise - in the cruise documentation the tipping guidelines are spelled out.

In this particular case, the four passengers are cruising on Carnival which charges $11.50 per-person, per-day gratuity to onboard accounts. Each cruise line has a different policy, read our Cruise Line Tipping Policies for guidelines for particular cruise lines.

2012 Panama Canal & South America Promotions

Book By December 31 for Fares from $3,490 - 

Including Free Air and $500 per person “As You Wish” spending credits

This winter depart Los Angeles or Miami for a tropical getaway with Crystal Cruises. Book the cruise by December 31, 2011 and they'll enjoy:

There is simply no better time to plan a winter escape and allow your clients to experience the award-winning luxury of the cruise line consistently voted World’s Best.

More Special Offers

Trans-Atlantic
Enjoy a classic ocean crossing with cruise-only fares from just $136 per person, per day!

2011 Holiday Cruises
Celebrate the Holidays with Crystal and enjoy value-rich savings!

2011 Fall Fare Sale
Limited space is still available for 2011 voyages. Book now to enjoy up to $6,000 per couple savings!

2013 Cruises
Book a 2013 cruise by February 28, 2012 and enjoy up to $1,000 additional savings!

More Info

Cruise Line Deals and Popular Cruise Destinations

DEALS

Royal Caribbean - Call-in Special! Get $100 to $400 Cruise Credit with ChoiceAir

Norwegian Cruise Line - Receive $50 Onboard Credit

Carnival - Early Saver Rates: Save up to 20% + Get the Absolute Lowest Rate with Carnival’s Price Protection Guarantee!

Celebrity - Receive up to $100 Onboard Spending Credit

Holland America - Receive $50 to $125 Onboard Credit

And More!

POPULAR DESTINATIONS



Alaska from $73 / night

Bahamas from $32 / night

Bermuda from $60 / night

Caribbean from $34 / night

Europe from $35 / night

Hawaii from $64 / night

Mexico from $46 / night

Canada / New England from $56 / night

DEALS AND POPULAR CRUISE DESTINATIONS

Holland America Grand World Voyage Cruise 2013

Holland America announces a globe-circling cruise on Amsterdam, its 1,380 passenger cruise ship. 

The 115-day itinerary, sailing from Fort Lauderdale includes over 40 ports in South America, the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. The Grand World Voyage Cruise, will depart on January 5, 2013 and return on May 1, 2013.

Fares for this luxury vacation start at $20,000 for the inside cabin and go up to $74,000 for a deluxe suite.

All prices are per person and double occupancy. If you are interested in only a particular segment of the cruise, Holland America is offering a 31-day voyage ending in Auckland, New Zealand with a starting price of $5,400; and a 40-day voyage ending in Sydney Australia with a starting price of $7,350.

Visit the site for more info

Experience the Seabourn Difference

Sail with Seabourn and experience the world-class service that guests have come to expect from the world's best small-ship cruise line.
 

• Spacious, all-suite accommodations with sweeping ocean views – many with verandas
• Open bars throughout the ship and fine wines poured at lunch and dinner
• All dining venues are complimentary – dine where, when, and with whom you wish
• Complimentary welcome Champagne and in-suite bar stocked with your preferences
• Tipping is neither required nor expected – service simply to delight you

SAVE 50% OR MORE

Request a Brochure - www.seabourn.com

Ultimate Guide to Alcohol on Cruise Ships

Check out Cruise Critic's guide to (responsible) drinking at sea. The article discusses info on cruise line alcohol policies, ways to score free drinks and information about special cruises for wine enthusiasts.

Ultimate Guide to Alcohol on Cruise Ships - Cruises - Cruise Critic

Norwegian Gem Nickelodeon Programming in 2012

Norwegian Cruise Line and Nickelodeon have expanded their partnership by extending the family entertainment and programming from two to three ships with the addition of Norwegian Gem, beginning in Feb. 2012.

Nickelodeon-themed family events, shows and activities were first introduced in April 2010 on Norwegian Jewel and in July 2010 on Norwegian Epic.

Each Norwegian Gem cruise will feature a live Nickelodeon-themed interactive show in the main theater; Nick Live Poolside!, where families can take part in interactive games and activities by the pool.

Other features include:

Breakfast with the Characters, where kids and adults can eat, sing and play with SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Patrick, Diego and more

Dora’s Dance Party, where kids can join Dora and the Nickelodeon cast to dance and sing along; and a meet and greets with popular Nickelodeon characters, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and many more.

In addition, there are also other family activities offered, including Nick Jr. Story Time, family trivia and special arts and crafts sessions.

Norwegian Gem will begin offering Nickelodeon programming year-round beginning on the Feb. 19, 2012 cruise, sailing from New York City to the Bahamas and Florida.

The ship is sailing a series of seven-day Bahamas and Florida voyages from New York City through Sept. 1, 2012. Ports of call include Orlando and the Beaches (Port Canaveral), Florida; Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian’s private island) and Nassau, Bahamas, as well as three relaxing days at sea.

Visit www.ncl.com

Source: TravelAgentCentral

Great Cruise Deals Everyday

Find Great Deals Everyday on Top Cruise Destinations!
PLUS, on Select Sailings Receive Bonus $avings

Destinations: Alaska, Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico and Canada/New England

Search for the Best Deal

2012 Theme Cruises

Donny & Marie Osmond host their first Bahamas cruise - Donny & Marie Cruisin' With Friends This cruise sails from Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 28, 2012 on the MSC Poesia. Osmond siblings will also be on board.

Food Network Star Paula Deen hosts Paula Dean & Family Caribbean Party at Sea on the Celebrity Eclipse, sailing from Miami on Jan. 21, 2012.

Vampire Cruise on Holland America's 1,916-passenger Zuiderdam sails Alaska's Inside Passage. Vamps at Sea guests include vampire scholar John Edgar Browning and Dacre Stoker, a great-grandnephew of Dracula author Bram Stoker. Cruise sails from Vancouver - location where Twilight movies were filmed - on June 23, 2012.

Titanic Memorial Cruises - Three cruises focus on the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking, and visit the disaster site via the  Azamara Journey and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Balmoral.

Motorcycle Rally at Sea - Hogs on the High Seas celebrates its 10th motorcycle rally at sea. This cruise sails on Oct. 28-Nov. 4, on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas from Port Canaveral.

The Jam Cruise celebrates its 10th year cruise sailing on Jan. 9-14, 2012 on the MSC Poesia out of Ft Lauderdale.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise sailings are Jan. 15-22 and Jan. 22-29, 2012 on the Westerdam out of Ft Lauderdale.

Scientific American is hosting "Bright Horizons 11" on Holland America's Eurodam, Jan. 14-21, 2012 out of Ft Lauderdale. Topics include flower and plant evolution, astrophysics, primatology and physical cosmology.

Murder at Sea Cruise - The "Mystery Authors and Mayhem Revealed" cruise sales on May 13-20, 2012 on Allure of the Seas. This cruise brings together best-selling mystery writers with passengers to solve a shipboard whodunit.

NFL Legends Transatlantic Cruise - Football fans mingle with Coach Don Shula and famed fullback Larry Csonka onboard Crystal Serenity in May, 2012.

Baseball Greats - Fans meet up with former Major League stars including Vida Blue and Ken Griffey Sr. Caribbean sailings on the MSC Poesia.

Nudists Midsummer's Eve Cruisecan - Mediterranean sailing on Royal Clipper for 14 nights from Civitavecchia (near Rome), embarking on June 9, with special activities including workshops with relationship advisers.

Political Conservative/Liberal Cruises - The National Review and The Nation have competing annual sailings on Holland America. Conservatives (Nov. 12-19 on MS Eurodam, and liberals (Dec. 11-18 on MS Nieuw Amsterdam.

Keep up-to-date with "Theme Cruising"