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Travel: Pick a Theme and Choose a Cruise

Characters from Dr. Seuss books entertain children of all ages on Carnival cruise ships.
Characters from Dr. Seuss books entertain children of all ages on Carnival cruise ships.

    Contemporary cruising is all about getting a personalized travel experience designed to match your interests. Like to watch Dancing with the Stars on television? Holland America’s Dancing with the Stars: At Sea cruises put you on the dance floor with your favorite show celebrities.
    Celebrity Cruises has partnered with Bravo TV’s Top Chef show for Top Chef at Sea cruises that put foodies shoulder-to-shoulder with the show’s featured chefs and select itineraries will allow passengers to compete in a Top Chef-style cooking competition.
    This year Princess Cruises debuted Chocolate Journeys featuring delectables by chocolate expert, Norman Love. In addition there will be chocolate tastings and cooking demonstrations and the cruise line has designed unique and luxurious chocolate spa treatments for a complete experience.
    Uniworld Boutique River Cruises will bring on a French master chef and offer chateau and wine estate tastings on its Bordeaux, Vineyards and Chateaux voyages in France.

Family Fun on a Big Ship
    Multigenerational travel continues to be a growing trend and a number of cruise lines have themes that ensure a good time for everyone. Disney Cruise Line’s October Halloween on the High Seas cruises take Disney World and Disneyland’s popular Hallloween celebration out of the park and brings it on board the Disney Dream. When they’re not playing on the beach at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, kids and adults can Trick-or-Treat with the Princesses or party in costume at Mickey’s Mousecarade. The cruise line’s Very Merrytime Christmas cruises are another popular holiday option.

    Carnival’s Seuss at Sea, Dr. Seuss-themed itineraries are also a good option for families traveling with small children.


Music, Movies and More
    Carnival Cruise’s Carnival Live series gives passengers a chance to attend a concert with popular musical acts with VIP seating and a meet-and-greet opportunity, for around $100. Musical acts for 2015 include Smokey Robinson, Rascal Flatts, Journey and STYX. I took a 2014 Cozumel cruise featuring Martina McBride and it was a fantastic experience. It’s rare to see a big name performer in such an intimate setting and the show was spectacular.

    Cunard Cruise Lines’ Insights enrichment series brings aboard popular speakers and entertainers from astronauts to political figures. Past notables have included bestselling author Margaret Atwood, filmmaker George Lucas and actor/comedian John Cleese. The programs are offered several times each day and are the perfect way to spend a few hours on a day at sea.

    

Cheryl-Anne Millsap’s audio essays can be heard on Spokane Public Radio and on public radio stations across the country. She is the author of ‘Home Planet: A Life in Four Seasons’ and can be reached at catmillsap@gmail.com

Cheryl-Anne Millsap's Home Planet column appears each week in the Wednesday "Pinch" supplement. Cheryl-Anne is a regular contributor to Spokane Public Radio and her essays can be heard on Public Radio stations across the country.