Life is full of themes, and we all have our favorites. Some we hum; some we try to live out; and some we impose on circumstances that really don’t have a theme, but would be better if they did. Some are love themes, career themes, and maybe even the theme from “The Love Boat.” One variation on the theme of themes that just might float your boat is the wonderful phenomenon of theme cruises. Yes, those clever folks at the cruise lines realize that even an experience as varied and exciting as a cruise can have an extra measure of interest and electricity if you could combine it with some motif that the cruisers are fascinated with. And so, whatever your favorite interest, chances are good you’ll find a cruise that’s created a theme around it.

Do you like country music? Are you a culinary expert and dedicated amateur chef? Do you like Doo-wop, big band jazz, baseball, NASCAR auto racing, classical music, blues, photography, comedy, fine arts, the Beatles, or antiques? Are you looking to lose weight, add muscle, learn to dive, improve your golf game, or get close and personal with one of your personal football heroes? And how about pursuing these interests in the splendid isolation in the middle of the blue, blue ocean on an ultra-modern ship, in the company of like-minded travelers, with exotic ports of call to provide some distraction?

So here’s what a theme cruise is: it’s a cruise, not necessarily a special one, and not necessarily one where the itinerary and the theme have any connection to each other. It’s simply a cruise dedicated to a particular special interest, or “theme.” On a jazz cruise, for example, the cruise line would have special concerts for jazz lovers with music presented by jazz greats of the past and present. On a football theme cruise, Hall-of-Fame football players as well as current “gladiators of the gridiron” would be available for autographs, lectures, films, etc. In short, a theme cruise lets you immerse yourself in the hobby or activity closest to your heart.

Other than the theme itself, a theme cruise has everything else you'd find on a regular cruise, including great food, entertainment, activities, service, and exciting ports of call. And theme cruise itineraries are priced right in line with the “normal” cruises. In other words, you are getting something for nothing!

By far the most elaborate of the theme cruises are the golf cruises. Some cruise lines ally themselves with professional golfing cruises and provide extras and services beyond the imagination. Such a cruise will typically start out in with a private reception in the port of departure, continue with a day at sea full of instruction from the pros, carry on to a port of call with play at a world class set of links, and continue to yet another port or two (or three) with 18 holes and pro instruction at each, followed by another day at sea that includes closing ceremonies with certificate presentations. In addition, there will be theme-focused functions aboard ship dedicated to the group enrolled in the school such as private evenings in the ship’s Sports Bar, attended by the captain in person (who’s often an accomplished golfer, too!). Talk about total immersion.

You can, of course, create your own theme cruise, particularly with diving. Many cruise itineraries, especially in the Caribbean and throughout the South Seas, feature an entire series of ports whose main attraction is the great scuba diving to be had. To this, add that there’s likely to be a diving pro aboard to help you improve your skills or take your certification to the next level, and you’ve got a cruise whose theme can be the envy of all your friends.

The beauty of most of these theme cruises is that it’s entirely possible to book for one theme (say “Cruise To Lose,” to help rid you of the extra flotation devices around your waist) whose itinerary dovetails with yet another interest — say diving — in which case your cruise experience is a double indulgence. Or, combine your love of cooking with shopping in ports of call that feature some of the best herbs and spices in the world (the Caribbean, for example).

So what’s your pleasure? Taking a cruise to get close to your favorite classical musician while visiting the wilds of Patagonia? Or perhaps a blues cruise to the historical cities of Europe? Fine dining while stopping at African ports of call? There’s no guarantee that your ideal combination of itinerary and special interest will come along tomorrow, but keep your eyes posted on our Best Theme Cruises page. Time is on your side.