Fashion & Style CruiseAsia

Description: Yes fashionistas, pack your Prada and Manolo Blahniks. Experts will be onboard this China/Japan cruise offering a history of Asian fashion and providing shopping tips. Hear from Hong Kong–based shopping specialist Carole Klein, among others.
Why We Love It: Onboard activities include lectures, fashion-themed dinners, and even a showing of movies that feature fashion. And there’s a jewelry trunk show of creations by London-based jeweler Gerry Summers, who draws influences from ancient cultures. Onshore, you can explore the markets and fancy shopping malls guided by professional shoppers. Style is a focus, too—in Hong Kong, cruisers learn about such things as purchasing home furnishings made from traditional silk jacquards and velvets.
Details: April 5–20, 2009, on Crystal Serenity, Beijing to Hong Kong, visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Osaka. Fare: $5,995 to $32,545 per person. (Annual cruise, but destinations change.)


Description: Fans of the legendary British band combine fun in the sun with a concert experience featuring the band Think Floyd USA: The American Pink Floyd Show, a four-year-old cover band. They’ll perform a retrospective of Pink Floyd’s classics accompanied by an elaborate light show and music. The real band’s singer and guitarist, David Gilmour, has even heaped praise on this group. Why We Love It: You won’t see a giant floating pig (which would be hard to pull off on a ship), but you will hear all the classics and a full performance of Dark Side of the Moon. Pink Floyd trivia contests, Pink Floyd–themed parties, and special guests (names not yet announced) will remind you why you came onboard. Details: May 1–4, 2009, Carnival Imagination, round-trip from Miami, with a port call in Nassau. Fare: $389 to $889 per person. (First-ever cruise.)


Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Star Trek Cruise
Western Caribbean

Description: Prepare to be slain. Or boldly go where no cruise has gone before. Or both. This cruise offers side-by-side Slayer Cruise and SeaTrek fan conventions—a week of immersion including stars from the cult TV shows.
Why We Love It: You get not only signed photos of all the celebrity guests but also a group photo of you and the stars. Your badge gets you into both conventions. Don’t miss the star-studded karaoke night and hysterical improv session. Book early and you may even dine with a cast member—Robert Picardo (The Doctor) and Ethan Phillips (Neelix) from Star Trek: Voyager and Amber Benson (Tara) from Buffy have appeared on past cruises.
Details: June 20–27, 2010, on Carnival Valor, round-trip from Miami, visiting Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Belize, and Roatan (Honduras). Fare: $1,749 to $3,389 per person. (One-off cruise.)

Spotlight on Chocolate
Caribbean

Description: Yes, chocoholics, this is a cruise for you. Chocolate experts are onboard, and there are a plethora of chocolate-eating activities. Pastry chefs offer cooking demos, and wine experts advise on what to drink with white chocolate as opposed to dark.

Why We Love It: It’s a chocolate lover’s dream. And some of the lectures actually focus on the healthy and restorative qualities of chocolate—no guilt here. You can interact with chocolate experts (including a noted chocolatier, but no names yet) and learn more about the product. Don’t miss the special chocolate tea held one afternoon.

Details: November 30–December 11, 2009, on Seven Seas Navigator, round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, visiting the Bahamas, Grand Turk, Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Bart’s, San Juan, St. Thomas, and Antigua. Fare: $3,795 to $11,495 per person. (Annual cruise.)