New horizons
As the pace of life becomes ever more frantic, many people complain that they never have time to pursue hobbies and interests outside of work. Television and magazines on antique collecting, gardening and arts and crafts have never been so popular - yet until we retire, few of us have the leisure to expand our lives by developing new interests.

But there is an answer - we could use holiday time to learn new skills, or brush up on existing ones. Special Interest, or themed, cruises are growing in popularity and the range of subjects you can explore during a holiday at sea is immense.

Learning new skills whilst on a cruise holiday is easy as the ships often have specialists on board, including TV and radio personalities, to train beginners, lectures to attend and facilities to practise by yourself.

So it really is possible to learn about areas as diverse as ballroom dancing, gardening, music, theatre, and even computers, on board a cruise ship.

Memories of your stay will linger long after your cruise, as you put skills into practice, meet up with other passengers post cruise or just come away with a sense of achievement. All aspects adding value to a well earned holiday.

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Hobbies heaven
Whatever subject, hobby or interest you may have you’ll find a themed or speciality cruise that can cater for you, including:
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Get fit - stay fit
Whether it’s the latest spa treatments, regular aerobics classes or training in how to have a healthy - and happy - life, you will find a cruise holiday can provide all the answers.

Most cruise lines offer state of the art gym facilities and trained staff. Some cruise lines offer ‘lifestyle themes’ that will take you one step further.

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Sporty little number
Sporting options abound: have a swing at golf or a fling at Scottish dancing, head off for a football match or rub shinpads with your cricketing heroes - though be warned; Old Father Neptune is not too sporting about giving your ball back.
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Arts and crafts
You can also get an insight into the world of cinema, learn the art of comic timing, and pick up a few magic tricks. Even if your greatest interest is watching TV, there are cruises to suit you. Soap fans can get a fix on their favourite stars of Coronation Street or The Archers on Soap theme cruises.

Other art themed cruises can include antique, needlework, photography and pottery itineraries.

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Dining delights
Discover how to become a wizard in the kitchen with cookery tips from master chefs or join a Wine Cruise to develop a nose for fine bouquets, play Bridge or scrabble with the professionals, explore the art of perfume making or learn how to paint - the choice is yours, and it's vast.

A cruise is an obvious holiday to sample the differing tastes of all the destinations included on itineraries.

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Not strictly ballroom
Whether you want top tips on ballroom dancing, to be a whiz at line-dancing or just to improve your two-step, cruise lines offer dedicated cruises to cater for your dancing needs. Most cruise lines will always have trained dance staff onboard to lead the evening’s entertainment, but for more ‘intense’ dance tuition it’s best to look for the specially themed cruises.
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All that jazz
From country music, jazz, opera rock and roll to the classiest classical music, cruise lines have them all covered with cruises to suit all tastes.
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Flora and Fauna
For those wanting to brush up on the latest techniques of potting your perennials or spotting a rare red breasted robin then there is a cruise to cater. With Bird-watching, botany, gardening, marine biology and wildlife conservation cruises on offer.
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Even the obscure
For those with a keen interest in a particular subject such as computers, astronomy, battlefields, Union castle commemorations or the National Trust there’s even a cruise for you.
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In time
To make the most of events that occur during the year, several cruise lines offer cruises to bring in the Millennium or to see the solar eclipse. Annual events such as film festivals and the Oktoberfest are also catered for.
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Land ahoy
A themed cruise doesn’t just stay at sea. You’ll also find a range of exciting shore excursions on offer - whether you prefer exploring ancient ruins, playing golf or tennis, going scuba diving, checking out the shops or simply deepening your tan on the beach.

From music to motorsports, art to antiques and jazz to football, the shore excursions can help cruise passengers put into practise everything they have learnt at sea.

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Who goes there?
Cruise Lines who offer themed cruises include:

CRYSTAL CRUISES
Crystal Cruises’ two spacious ships operate a wide variety of leisure programmes on board, combined with a good proportion of sea days. The most popular themes which have been developed include: Crystal Wine and Food Festival; Health and Fitness cruises; Big Band and Jazz cruises: the Computer University @ Sea ‘Comprehensive’; and a new, fully-fledged, stand-alone Golf cruise programme. Each of these programmes is designed to enhance the day to day on-board experience.

DISNEY CRUISE LINE
From innovative programming featuring top chefs, Disney entertainers and maritime experts to the very best in entertainment magic, Disney Cruise Line offers something for every taste. Sports fans have a lavish gym, live sports bar and sports deck with extensive landside activities.

Cookery enthusiasts can sample food in four different themed restaurants. The magic and variety of a Disney Cruise will delight guests of all ages.

FRED. OLSEN CRUISE LINES
Throughout the year, Fred. Olsen offers special interest Prince and Braemar under the title ‘Arts Club’. These Arts Club cruises cover such interests as music, watercolour painting, dance, antiques, and bridge. In addition several cruises on Black Watch and Braemar feature the Flagship Golf programme which includes four rounds of golf on shore, services of PGA professional throughout the cruise, and coaching and social activities on board. Flagship Golf cruises feature on Mediterranean, Canaries and Caribbean itineraries.

HEBRIDEAN ISLAND CRUISES
Many of the Hebridean Princess cruises have themes: castles, gardens, walking or cycling. Hebridean Spirit has recently introduced their Gardens of the Riviera cruise combining the rugged beauty of the French Côte d’Azur with the Italian Riviera of Flowers on a charming four-night cruise. On both Princess and Spirit cruises there are specialist guides and guest speakers. The guest speakers cover a range of topics from horticulture, cultural history, politics of the region, art and music.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Anyone wishing for something ‘out of the ordinary’ can find it on a Holland America Line theme cruise. Choose from a high value ‘Big Band’ transatlantic fly/cruise; or ‘Greats of Broadway’, jazz, 50’s style entertainment and ‘Health & Well-being’ in Caribbean cruises. For an educational cruise experience, enquire about the ‘University at Sea’ programme.

NORWEGIAN COASTAL VOYAGE
Every winter, Norwegian Coastal Voyage offers special Northern Lights voyages. From late October to March, the sky around the Arctic Circle region is illuminated with a dramatic colourful arc of yellow, green, red and violet lights. This natural phenomenon, caused by electrically charged solar particles entering the earth’s atmosphere, lights up the sky at an incredible speed. There is no better way to see this unique phenomenon than from the observation deck of a Norwegian Coastal Voyage ship.

These unique, five day Northern Lights voyages travel either from TromsØ to Bergen or vice-versa. The ship will stop at a variety of ports along the way including Harstad, Trondheim and Kristiansund.

ORIENT-EXPRESS CRUISES
The luxury river cruiser Road To Mandalay which operates on the Ayeyarwady River, in Burma will host a number of special guest lecture cruises within its 2004/5 schedule. Distinguished experts will be on board to give talks on local culture and history. Themes will include ‘The Red Cross in Myanmar’, Archaeology of Bagan and Myanmar’ and Missionary Work in Burma’.

Tailor made itineraries on board Orient-Express’ fleet of five deluxe péniche-hotels mean that charter guests can theme their own cruise. Whether their interest is in visiting the finest vineyards in Burgundy or exploring Van Gough’s Provence a programme can be built to suit individual interests.


P&O CRUISES
Of almost 60 cruises operated yearly by P&O Cruises’ ships, Arcadia, Oriana and Victoria, more than half will have themes, the largest selection for the British cruise market. In all, there are 18 different themes, dominated by Classical Music, Antiques and Bridge as the big ‘passenger pleasers’ and supported by a varied programme which includes football, motoring, maritime and an Archers cruise, especially for fans of the BBC Radio 4 programme.


RADISSON SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
The port-intensive itineraries operated by the small ship fleet of Radisson Seven Seas Cruises focus primarily on destinations – their art treasures, ancient history and local culture. In addition, as the Official Cruise Line of the PGA of America, RSSC offers a comprehensive golf programme with specific, designated golf cruises and the Golf Academy. Highly successful European Music Festival cruises are enhanced by exclusive performances at certain ports of call. The Paul Gauguin positioned in Tahiti offers a Dive programme year-round for both novices and experts alike.

Twenty-one different themed cruises are offered onboard all ships, with the exception of Paul Gauguin, so with such a diverse menu of options, there is something for everyone. It is not entirely by chance that the Radisson Seven Seas ships cruise some of the greatest wine producing countries on earth. The ‘Spotlight on Wine’ theme makes the most of these destinations, to help guests get more acquainted with wines in their country of origin. Guests can sample seven Caviar and Champagne combinations on the gastronomic ‘Spotlight on Food and Wine’ cruises. Other themes include ‘Spotlight on Broadway’, ‘Le Cordon Bleu Cookery Class’, ‘Spotlight on Antiques’ and many more.

Celebrate delicious oriental cuisine in six star luxury with celebrity chef and TV presenter Ken Hom onboard Seven Seas Voyager. This oriental extravaganza begins on the 27th August 2004 for 11 nights, offering guests the chance to discover the secrets of Ken Hom’s magic during his cookery presentations, whilst visiting Stockholm through to Rouen.

ROYAL OLYMPIA CRUISES
Royal Olympia Cruises has recently adopted the strapline 'The Intelligent Way to see the World' to reflect the cruise line's commitment to cultural cruising. Many Royal Olympia cruises are accompanied by a selection of world-class guest speakers, who give informal talks subjects ranging from wine to astronomy, modern politics and ancient history. Often, the talks are designed to provide an insight into the arts and culture, people and history of destinations featured on the cruise.

SWAN HELLENIC
Each Swan Hellenic cruise is accompanied by a selection of expert Guest Speakers, who give informal talks on a wide rage of topics from astronomy, wine and botany, to marine biology, modern politics and ancient history. These talks provide an insight into the arts and culture, people and history - both ancient and modern - of the places visited.

VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY
Voyages of Discovery cruises are expertly designed so that you can truly make the most out of your cruising adventure. No matter what sailing you choose, whether the North African Treasures, Red Sea Explorer, Black Sea Discovery, Scandinavian Summer, St. Petersburg and the Northern Capitals or the Newfoundland and Greenland Discovery, you will be offered an exclusive programme of guest speakers who will give a wide range of talks, from relaxed and informative speeches to in-depth lectures. You can do as much or as little as you like, but on three cruises - Voyage to Canada, Iberian Discovery and Red Sea Discovery - BBC History Magazine introduces you to the culture and history of your destination, while on the Mediterranean Odyssey there will be a team from BBC Homes & Antiques which you would be a fool to forgo. Voyages of Discovery are sure you will reap the rewards of your knowledge once ashore!

WINDSTAR SAIL CRUISES
Windstar’s special ‘Signature Voyages’ feature some of the most interesting personalities in the food, wine and entertainment industries, who will programme a series of fascinating talks, tastings and demonstrations during selected leisurely cruises that explore in depth some of the most intriguing places in the world.

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