Top Family-Friendly Theme Cruises

“Raaahaaar!” 

I heard the passionate cry of a Wookiee — not on land (or in space), as one might expect, but at sea.

Shoreside at Disney parks, clients can meet a hero such as Chewbacca or a villain like Kylo Ren from the “Star Wars” film franchise. But only on a cruise can they sail with the characters. Themed ocean and river cruises are popular ways to enhance a family voyage, and there are a number of options available, including Star Wars Day at Sea, where I heard the Wookiee’s call.

Theme cruises, as the name suggests, take a standard sailing and overlay special-interest programming. Some are hosted by the cruise line itself, and others are charters developed by an outside agency. In the case of Star Wars Day at Sea, or the comparable Marvel Day at Sea, Disney Cruise Line (DCL) is the turnkey operator, benefiting from the parent company’s signature synergy.

Highly Themed 
Having experienced both DCL theme cruises, I can attest that it’s a blast for kids of all ages to interact with the Empire, the First Order, the Resistance and all kinds of superheroes on a cruise ship. While DCL has yet to find a way for its vessels to actually call on the fictional destinations of Naboo or Wakanda, these trips come close.

On Marvel Day at Sea, which will return in January and run through March 2020, the five-night cruise onboard Disney Magic features exclusive merchandise, film and television screenings, and a special day filled with heroic activities. Captain Marvel, Captain America, Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Guardians of the Galaxy and more mingle with guests as they enjoy narrative culinary offerings (think: Dr. Banner’s Greens and Lobster Salad); a special effects-laden “Doctor Strange” show; an incredible evening deck performance; and game shows (I even made it to the final round of one, proving that my annual Comic-Con International attendance pays off).

Those who have seen DCL’s fireworks displays will be further blown away by what feels like a Marvel Cinematic Universe film acted out onboard, complete with pyrotechnics and stunts. It’s so good that a land version has been remounted at Disneyland Paris.

Meanwhile, the seven-night “Star Wars”-themed sailing — also repeating from January to March 2020 — takes place onboard Disney Fantasy and features a “Summon the Force” fireworks show, gathering characters including Darth Maul, C-3PO and Ahsoka Tano onstage. Exclusive shopping opportunities abound, as well as plentiful meet-and-greets, themed foods, screenings of the saga’s TV shows and movies, and activities that take place everywhere from the kids’ clubs to the adults-only area (such as a Padawan lightsaber training program and a cosplay celebration). 

And, thanks to “The Mandalorian” web TV show and “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” film that are both set to debut this winter, the make-believe galaxy will expand for 2020 sailings. 

Until then, clients can visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at either Disneyland Park in California or Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. Packages for the latter park can be tacked onto a DCL sailing departing from nearby Port Canaveral.

DCL isn’t the only cruise line with family-friendly theme sailings. There are others to consider, and a great place to discover many is www.themecruisefinder.com. 

For “Trekkies,” the next Star Trek: The Cruise will set sail on Royal Caribbean International’s Explorer of the Seas. This full-ship charter from Entertainment Cruise Productions brings the United Federation of Planets and a large collection of its most popular personalities to the ship.

From March 1-8, 2020, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) from “Star Trek: The Original Series” and Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) from “Star Trek: Voyager” will be onboard for the latter show’s 25th anniversary. Joining them will be dozens of other actors, including Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) from “Voyager,” and Counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis), Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Data (Brent Spiner) from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (all of whom are set to reprise their roles in the upcoming new “Star Trek: Picard” series). Additionally, for followers of the latest “Star Trek: Discovery,” Captain Pike (Anson Mount) will be onboard, too. Now, that’s a lot of captains.

Fans of cruising and entertainment will recall that Spiner also starred as the cruise director of Holland America Line’s previous-generation Westerdam in the 1997 comedy “Out to Sea.” In a bit of life imitating art, Royal Caribbean’s 2020 theme sailing will likely showcase the actor-singer’s variety show on top of autograph and photo sessions, game shows, a scavenger hunt, a curated museum, celebrity-hosted shore excursions and a re-creation of the televised Ten Forward bar in the observation lounge.

Next year’s “Star Trek” theme cruise is already sold out; however, families can still join the waitlist. And as this will be the fourth sailing of its kind, there will surely be more to look forward to in the future.

Similarly, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will be represented on chartered Disney sailings. The TCM Classic Cruise sets sail Oct. 22-27 onboard Disney Magic, and the next sailing, available for presale, will happen Oct. 4-10, 2020, onboard Disney Fantasy. Onboard celebrities include TCM host Ben Mankiewicz, film critic Leonard Maltin and “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek. Of course, guests can anticipate lots of film screenings, interactive panels and other cinematic events and activities.

There are also themed music sailings across a variety of genres. During onboard music cruises, which take place through multiple lines throughout the year, families can meet and hear live music from some of their favorite bands.

A Variation on River Cruising
Many river cruise lines offer themed sailings, as well. 

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has hosted voyages geared toward families, and the line continues to promote its Uniworld Generations Collection itineraries, available on select sailings. 

During a Generations Family Program sailing on an itinerary such as the 10-day Gems of Northern Italy, families can engage in customized activities like a scavenger hunt through the Venice islands of Burano, Mazzorbo and Torcello; biking in the fishing town of Chioggia and climbing its clock tower; and making pasta in Bologna. 

Onboard amenities include two Family Hosts, a youth game room, activities such as cooking classes and movie nights, a kids-only dining table and special events. 

AmaWaterways, too, has family-friendly river cruises suited for multiple generations, thanks to its partnership with Adventures by Disney. These sailings feature a team of dedicated Adventure Guides and kid- and teen-focused activities and tours.

I recently experienced firsthand how AmaWaterways incorporates themes into its itineraries. My cruise onboard a “Beauty and the Beast”-themed preview sailing featured cuisine and destinations inspired by the Disney film. 

And in August at fan exposition D23 Expo 2019, Disney announced that a new AmaWaterways Rhine River departure will be presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club next year. Becky Cline, director of the Walt Disney Archives, was onboard my “Beauty and the Beast” sailing, and she is scheduled to appear on the Rhine voyage, in addition to producer and film historian Don Hahn; Imagineer and Disney legend Tony Baxter; and Bret Iwan, the voice of Mickey Mouse.

The seven-night river cruise will set sail Aug. 9, 2020, onboard AmaMora. Disney luminaries will share behind-the-scenes stories about Walt Disney and the European inspirations behind Disneyland Paris. The trip can be booked by D23 members and nonmembers alike.

Of course, all these theme cruises are value-added experiences on top of visits to iconic international destinations. So, clients will get the best of all worlds — both imagined and real.

The Details
Adventures by Disney
www.adventuresbydisney.com

AmaWaterways
www.amawaterways.com

Disney Cruise Line
disneycruise.disney.go.com

Royal Caribbean International
www.royalcaribbean.com

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
www.uniworld.com