The complete guide to themed cruises: From Star Trek & adventure to comedy & Halloween

Themed cruises have become increasingly popular – and we wager there’s one there for you! According to travel agents at Iglu Cruise, travellers are embracing the shift towards more immersive, interest-focused experiences, and cruise lines are responding with greater creativity than ever.

With new themed cruises announced every month, 2025 and 2026 are shaping up to be bigger than ever, with everything from true crime podcast voyages to 90s vs 00s music showdowns, country-themed sailings and the return of Disney’s beloved Pixar Day at Sea.

Intrigued? Here’s your guide to some of the best themed cruises sailing now and next year…

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Themed cruises are specialised cruise holidays that are designed to engage and entertain, offering globetrotters unique ways to dive deeper into their pursuits while enjoying all the amenities of a traditional cruise holiday.

They can focus on almost anything, from food and wine cruises to wellness retreats to 80s music cruises. Will Sarson, Travel Expert at Riviera Travel, explained: “Ultimately, one of the biggest draws of themed cruises is the immersive experience it offers travellers, allowing people to indulge in their particular interest with the help of experts, guided tours and themed evenings – such as speciality dining experiences.

“Additionally, with everyone on the themed cruise sharing a common interest, fostering connections and bonding with other travellers is easier than ever. Onboard these themed cruises – and during excursions – travellers will have plenty of opportunities to share experiences with others on board the themed cruise. This sense of community can make the holiday feel much more rewarding, tempting travellers to try out this unique style of holiday.

In short, these fun themed cruise holidays offer an opportunity for people with shared loves to holiday together and get stuck into a raft of entertainment and activities that celebrate that passion, whether that’s improving artistic talents or dressing up like ABBA.

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Marella Cruises

TUI has an array of themed cruises onboard Marella Cruises, with many being newly launched for 2025 and 2026. For Eighties or Nineties fans, there’s The Electric Sunsets: 80s vs. 90s cruise, with top artists and DJs from both decades facing off aboard Marella Voyager. Guests can enjoy retro movie screenings, themed parties and fun costume nights.

Country music fans will be thrilled by the brand new ‘Country Rhythms’ cruise, the cruise line’s first ever country music themed cruise, which will sail its inaugural voyage in February 2026. The lineup will feature The Dolly Show, line dance classes, a country themed show onboard and even a best dressed competition. Yeehaw!

Marella Cruises’ ‘Electric Sunsets’ is back with a ‘90s vs 00s’ themed cruise for the ultimate music showdown at sea. A star-studded lineup features top acts including Irish pop group B*Witched, UK R&B pop group The Honeyz, the iconic DJ SASH! and Ibiza in Symphony, a 10-piece orchestra of musicians and singers. Catered to nostalgic fans of the 90s and 2000s, this three-night themed adult-only cruise on Marella Voyager will first set sail in November 2025, calling in destinations like Palma, Valencia and Malaga.

There are also New Year and Christmas-themed cruises packed with seasonal-themed onboard activities and shows. 

Royal Caribbean

There are loads of themed cruises on Royal Caribbean ships – although they’re all sold by third parties. Previous themes included: rock music cruises, Star Trek themed cruises, 80s music experiences, a Comic-Con themed cruise and Eurovision-focused sojourns.

Are there theme nights on Royal Caribbean cruises? Yes! Some common theme nights on regular Royal Caribbean holidays are Black and White Nights, Masquerade Balls, Toga Parties, Country Western and retro decade parties.

Princess Cruises

Upcoming Princess themed cruises for 2025 include: a Love Boat-themed cruise with cast members from the hit show joining the voyage; an Alaska nature and adventure cruise (with renowned wildlife biologist Jeff Corwin), and a magic-themed cruise thanks to Princess’ partnership with The Magic Castle.

What are the theme nights on Princess Cruises? Alongside formal nights, Princess Cruises often hosts other themed events, including a Country & Western Party, an Island Night celebration, and the Princess Pop Star karaoke party for aspiring singers.

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Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL has a plethora of music-themed cruise options (salsa, Country, disco, Blues – you name it), comedy-themed cruises, sports-themed cruises and various others, from Christmas cruises to speciality themed sailings. As with Royal Caribbean, these NCL-themed cruises are external offerings chartered by third parties.

Norwegian ships usually feature several themed nights during each standard sailing, too, like glow parties and 70s or 80s theme cruise nights.

Carnival Cruise Line

There are lots of Carnival cruise charter options available, too, so there’s bound to be something that, ahem, floats your boat. Think: rock music themed cruises, line dancing experiences and classical music sailings.

For those after an official Carnival cruise, there are still themed party nights, such as an 80s Rock-N-Glow party, a white party and a Christmas party, to name a few.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity themed cruises comprise chartered music cruises, with a heavy focus on jazz-themed cruises, but Celebrity also offers speciality cruises among its classic sailings.

These range from Holiday cruise themes (from Christmas and Hanukkah to St Patrick’s Day and Halloween, with religious services, activities, and decorations where relevant) and Culinary Cruises (with Global Culinary Brand Ambassador, Daniel Boulud) and LGBTQ+ Pride cruises.

Indeed, during Pride Month, guests can enjoy daily LGBTQ+ gatherings, dazzling guest entertainers on select ships, a flag-raising ceremony, and Celebrity’s iconic Pride Party at Sea to end the celebrations in style.

If you’re wondering, “Does Celebrity Cruises have theme nights?” The answer is, yes! These include Latin-inspired fiestas, 60s music parties, rock music bashes and masquerade-themed events.

P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises goes big on music and food with its P&O themed cruises. P&O’s Food Hero programme sees such culinary whizzes as Marco Pierre White, acclaimed Spanish chef José Pizarro and wine-pro-turned-TV-star Olly Smith take to the high seas. There are also plenty of Christmas and New Year themed sailings to choose from.

Cunard

Cunard offers luxury Event Voyages curated in partnership with prestigious brands like Cheltenham Festival, Harper’s Bazaar, and the Olivier Awards. These exclusive themed cruise experiences blend live performances, Q&As, and hands-on workshops for true immersion.

The 2025 Cunard Event Voyages include Transatlantic Fashion Week (October 31-November 7) with designer Christian Siriano runway shows, and the Literature Festival at Sea (December 8-15) for book enthusiasts.

Wine lovers can enjoy Voyage du Vin (October 13-24), an 11-night wine-themed cruise with expert tastings and talks aboard Queen Victoria. 2026 highlights feature London Theatre at Sea in partnership with the Olivier Awards, Wellness at Sea with Harper’s Bazaar collaboration, and Sail4th 250 celebrating America’s Independence.

Cunard also partners with Abbey Road Studios for music-themed experiences on Queen Elizabeth, featuring curated playlists and the special “Abbey Road at Sea” transatlantic crossing (October 23, 2026) with live performances and Q&As with recording engineers.

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Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages is launching a one-off True Crime Voyage in partnership with iHeartMedia, set to depart Miami on 10 October 2025. The five-night Caribbean cruise aboard Valiant Lady will visit Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and Virgin’s private Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas.

The sailing is themed entirely around true crime podcasts, with a focus on popular iHeart titles like Betrayal, Buried Bones and Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know. Onboard programming includes live podcast recordings, behind-the-scenes workshops on how podcasts are made, Q&As and meet-and-greets with hosts, giveaways and case-inspired cocktails and menus. The cruise is designed for fans of the genre who want to connect with their favourite shows and creators in person, with all activities tailored around true crime storytelling and production.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line is bringing back its popular Pixar Day at Sea for early 2026, available on eight select five-night Bahamas sailings aboard Disney Fantasy. Departing from Port Canaveral between January and March, the themed cruises feature appearances from characters across Pixar films, including Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Inside Out and Coco.

Guests can expect live deck parties, interactive games, character breakfasts and Pixar-themed menus, plus themed activities like cooking demos inspired by Ratatouille. Itineraries alternate between stops at Disney’s private destinations Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and Castaway Cay.

Windstar

Windstar Cruises’ Themed Voyages Collection for 2025 and 2026 includes a series of intimate sailings designed around passions and pastimes. Standouts include Knot Your Average Crossing, a transatlantic journey where guests can step up to the flying bridge, learn knot tying and star mapping, and hear tales of piracy and naval history from maritime experts. On the upcoming Lisbon to St Maarten voyage, historian Joseph Novitski will deliver a lecture series on maritime lore, while officers lead hands-on workshops in seamanship skills.

More 2026 crossings will continue the tradition, with new enrichment speakers and opportunities to immerse in the romance of life under sail. Other themed options include Masterpieces at Sea, which transforms the ship into a floating gallery with artists hosting workshops and live installations, and the Mind, Body, Spirit Collection, which blends yoga, meditation and wellness coaching with days at sea.

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How to find out about cruise theme nights

You can find out in advance of your sailing what cruise ship theme nights will be held during your holiday. These will generally be displayed in your online cruise account or, if you book with a travel agent, they can advise you.

Once onboard, cruise theme nights will always be advertised in the daily cruise ship schedule, and there will likely be posters and signs up around the ship depicting what’s coming up. You can always check with staff when you board so you’re fully prepared for the themed events, too.

Book your perfect themed cruise holiday today

Whether you’re seeking 80s nostalgia, culinary adventures, or comedy entertainment, there’s a themed cruise perfect for your interests. Book early for the best cabin selection and pricing on these popular speciality cruise holidays.