Scenic cruises offer cycling as well.
Whether you're a regular cruiser or contemplating your first sea-borne holiday, a themed cruise can be a great way to combine a relaxing break with your favourite hobby or something you'd like to learn more about. Gardening, wine, beer and photography are among the most popular activities for themed cruises – on ocean and river ships – but there's an array of cruises catering for all sorts of special interests.
Some themed cruises involve the whole ship being devoted to the activity, some involve group bookings or partial charters with experts and classes on the chosen theme for the duration of the cruise, while there are also many regular cruises that offer additional activities or speakers for a specific subject.
Seven or eight-night music cruises from Sydney to the Pacific islands have been a regular fixture for several years. This October, Choose Your Cruise is running "Cruising Country 5", "Rock the Boat 5" and "Bravo! Cruise of the Performing Arts" on board Radiance of the Seas and bookings are already going strong for the 2016 versions.
The AmaVida river cruiser.
Well-known singers and musicians are on board to perform in various venues every night, there are dance nights, dance lessons, music, chat sessions with the performers and the chance to mingle with them around the ship. Next year, Choose Your Cruise is teaming up with Cruisco to present a "Rock the Boat UK" cruise on Celebrity Eclipse, sailing from Southampton to Belgium and France in September; and in the US you can find cruises that feature everything from folk to gospel, classical, country and jazz. See chooseyourcruise.com.au.
Sports such as cycling and hiking feature on a number of river cruises and golf cruises are offered by several ocean and river lines. However, if you're more crafty than sporty, Needlework Tours' 2016 "Embroidery and Craft" and "Patchwork, Quilting and Paper" Pacific Islands cruises on Celebrity Solstice are designed to float your boat. The packages include hands-on tuition by Australian and New Zealand experts in a range of crafts, plus project kits and social events. See needleworktours.com.au.
Then there are "alternative lifestyle" cruises, such as those for gay and lesbian communities; the best-known cruise charter companies are Atlantis Events and RSVP (mainly for gay men) and Olivia (exclusively for lesbians). And if you hate packing, a nude cruise might be just the thing – all you need is sunscreen and maybe a sarong for formal dining. See cruisenude.com.
The port of Bordeaux in France. Credit: Thomas Sanson
MEET THE CREW
NAME Gunther Callebaut, from Belgium
POSITION Cruise Director, APT AmaVida and TravelMarvel France cruises
Gunther Callebaut.
MY JOB … is to look after the wellbeing of our guests, and to make sure their expectations are fulfilled, if not exceeded.
MY TYPICAL DAY I'm at my desk between 8am and 9am to check that all the preparations – tour confirmations, guide bookings, bus and lock times – are going to plan, and to answer any inquiries. Sometimes I accompany the tours. Every afternoon I present a port talk, then look after admin and emails before dining with guests in the evening.
FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT Spending a few days at home in Brussels after a successful cruise.
Argyll Cruising's Scottish trawler, Splendour.
MY FAVOURITE CRUISE PORTS Porto, on the Douro cruise; Avignon on the Rhone; and Regensburg on the Danube.
INSIDER TIP If you like port, try Portuguese muscadet from Avessada– it's similar but not nearly so well-known, and excellent value.
TIP
MSC Cruises, which recently announced it is cruising out of Cuba later this year, has online deals that are updated every week. Sign up for specials or check msccruises.com.au.
NEWS
French flavour
Wine tasting in world-famous vineyards and river cruises that take you through some of France's most picturesque regions are just a few of the highlights of APT's 2016 France River Cruising brochure. Five new itineraries in Bordeaux are on offer, including an 11-day cruise of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers starting with three days in Paris, plus combinations of Bordeaux with cruises on the Rhone and Saone (18 days) and Seine (15 days). APT is also introducing more seven-day itineraries as well as special events cruises that include a culinary cruise in collaboration with Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine. See aptouring.com.au.
Scottish accent
Small-ship cruising doesn't get much smaller than Argyll Cruising's seven-passenger, restored 1950s Scottish trawler. Having enjoyed a successful inaugural season, the family-owned company is now launching its 2016 program of three, six, nine and 13-night cruises in the western isles of Scotland. Father and son team Iain and Jamie Duncan run the boat, Splendour, and chef Mike Weir makes the most of local, seasonal produce – Argyll hill lamb is a specialty. Splendour sails out of the Holy Loch and Oban in Argyll and can be fully chartered. Check the website for special offers:argyllcruising.com.
All that jazz
As part of Cunard's 175th anniversary celebrations, the line's flagship, Queen Mary 2, is hosting its first Blue Note jazz-themed cruise this October. Award-winning vocalist Natalie Cole will join a roster of venerable jazz musicians including jazz pianist and record producer Robert Glasper, acclaimed trumpet player Keyon Harrold, tenor saxophonist Marcus Strickland, guitarist Lionel Loueke, bassist Derrick Hodge and drummer Kendrick Scott. The seven-night transatlantic crossing leaves New York on October 29; Cunard is planning more jazz-themed cruises for 2016 – see cunardline.com.au.
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Worldwide Cruise Centres'new 45-night fly-cruise-stay package includes voyages on all three Cunard queens – Queen Victoria in the Mediterranean, Queen Elizabeth in Northern Europe and Scandinavia, and a transatlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2. Departing Australia for Venice on July 28, 2016, prices start from $14,399 for bookings made by August 31. See worldwidecruisecentres.com.au.
MORE DEALS
Avalon's discounted airfares have been extended until September 15 (or until sold out), and are available with any 2016 Avalon Waterways European river cruise booking. Airfares are from $799 for travel between March and May or September and November, and from $999 for travel between June and August. Phone 1300 230 234, see www.avalonwaterways.com.au [avalonwaterways.com.au].
Royal Caribbean is offering free balcony cabin upgrades for the price of an interior cabin for new bookings on select Asia, Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific voyages that depart between August 2015 and April 2016. Valid for bookings made before July 31. Phone 1800 754 500, see royalcaribbean.com.au.
Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter
Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.