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.)

Cruises are directly associated with the leisure activity of cruising. It refers to traveling, staying and living in a ship, with all kinds of luxury. Cruises are associated with seas and oceans, but river cruises are also getting popular. The ships sail through exotic locations, while the people enjoy themselves in the atmosphere, with full luxury and comfort. The ships or large boats in certain cases of river cruises are equipped with beautifully decorated cabins.

These cabins are provided with beds, toilets and other things for convenience. There are facilities for doctors, nurses, and other emergency services. The food is one of the best of its kind, and is prepared keeping different tourists in mind. These cruises are available all through the year, and cover different locations in the world. Today almost all the developing countries in the world, with a coastline provide the facility of cruises. Many of these cruises are booked for a longer period, and can extend up to a few weeks. Exploring the oceans and seas in a luxury cruise is one of the best holidays that a person can desire.

Today cruising has become a popular holiday for many people around the world. Cruises are available for several destinations, but the most popular destinations are Singapore, Australia, Sri Lanka, South Pacific Islands and the Netherlands. On the western coast the popular cruise destinations are Gulf of California in winter and the islands of Washington State in summer. Cruising has become very popular in America.

There is a huge rush for Central America Cruises along the Pacific coast. Here the climate is humid with lush vegetation. Here the tourists also get the opportunity of scuba diving, or can traverse the Panama Canal. River cruising is gaining popularity, as sea and ocean many fear cruising. In the United States the river cruises is a real treat, as the boats sail through the scenic locales of America.

The cruising season begins in March till May and again from September to November. Humans knew ships since very long time but deep sea traveling was not much popular. These were thought to be suitable for sailors and other travelers. With the passage of year's man started becoming adventurous and fearless and slowly started navigating the deep seas.