| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 12/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 36 |
| Copyright: Other |
Themed cruises
Taking the themed route
Itineraries increasingly built around special interests
PLUCK any hobby or interest out of the air and the chances are that it is being used to theme a cruise.The idea of themed cruises, which allow cruiselines to target particular sailings at specific passengers, has become a popular way to add interest to an entertainment programme.
It doesn’t seem to matter how unlikely the subject matter is, with themes including golf cruises, bridge and even a chance to meet some of the cast of Radio 4’s soap, The Archers.
P&O Cruises offers one of the most diverse themed programmes, with a selection of 47 itineraries to choose from. Head of entertainment Anthony Radford said: “The most popular are classical music, comedy and antiques but all of them have their own loyal following and they are often the only reason why some people go on a cruise.
“I think the important thing is that they must be accessible rather than specialist. The most successful are those that allow passengers to learn something, such as the golf or cookery cruises.”
Radisson Seven Seas marketing manager Joanne Moran said its themed cruises, which include a Royal Baltic Music Festival and Imperial Russia itinerary, are 95% sold out.
“People have particular interests and hobbies and want to combine these with a cruise,” she said.
“It is very much passenger led and I’m sure it is an area that will expand.”
Airtours senior marketing manager specialist products Vicky Wilby said themed cruises are ideal for enticing a client who is not keen on cruising to join a ship with a partner who wants to cruise.
Sports and games
Celebrities
P&O Cruises: Canary Island Wanderer aboard Oriana, November 15-27. Departs Southampton and calls at Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, La Palma, Tenerife, Madeira, Vigo in Spain and Southampton. There’s a chance to meet motor-racing commentator Murray Walker, who will be on board with colleagues from the world of Formula One.
P&O Cruises: Cities of Distinction cruise aboard Victoria, October 20-November 3. Starts in Thessaloniki in Greece with ports including Istanbul, Athens, Venice, Dubrovnik, Rome, Toulon in France and Barcelona. Members of the cast of Radio 4’s soap, The Archers, will be on the cruise to meet passengers and talk about the show.
Murray Walker, Formula One commentator: on board Oriana
History and discovery
Radisson Seven Seas: Great Baltic Capitals and Great Cities of the Baltic and Scandinavia cruises on Radisson Diamond, August 3-10 and August 10-21. Each starts in Stockholm and visits Baltic capitals including Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallinn and Visby in Sweden. Archduke von Habsburg, from the Austrian Imperial family, will be on each cruise to lecture about the Russian royal family, the grand palaces of Russia and the artistic legacy of the House of Faberge.
Wildlife
Radisson Seven Seas: Radisson Diamond has a unique design
Swan Hellenic: the Orpheus room will be used for functions
Special interest
P&O Cruises: Iberian Isles antiques cruise on Aurora, September 2-15. Departs Southampton and calls at Madeira, Tenerife, La Palma, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Praia da Rocha in Portugal, Lisbon, Vigo in Spain and Southampton. Antiques specialists Arnold Burman, Terry Lockett and John Bly will be lecturing about antiques. Passengers can bring small items or photographs for valuation.
Festival Cruises: Eastern Discoveries cruise aboard Azur, November 29-December 11. Departs Savona in Italy and calls at Naples, Alexandria, Haifa, Piraeus, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Savona. Chance to dance everything from the waltz, tango, polka and rumba with top ballroom and Latin dance experts.
Royal Olympic Cruises: Mediterranean cruise aboard Olympic Countess, October 29-November 3. Departs Athens and calls at Santorini, Kusadasi and Mykonos. Holistic cruise with workshops and lectures on stress management, meditation, reflexology, aromatherapy, Feng Shui and spiritual healing. Experts include GMTV/Sky TV guest Lillian Verner Bonds.
On the boil: clients can opt for a cruise with cookery lessons or wine tasting
Food and drink
Crystal Cruises: Wine and Food Festival cruise aboard Crystal Symphony, November 19-December 2. Departs Barbados and visits Curacao, Aruba, the Panama Canal, Caldera, Acapulco. UK celebrity chef Brian Turner will be giving cooking demonstrations of his signature dishes and preparing meals in the galley.