Alicante, Spain - tart our journeys from here

Entertainment
Many theme cruises (and most full-ship charters) fall in this category, especially when it comes to music. And really there s no better venue you can find lor concerts, jam sessions and meet-and-greets with your favorite performers (or in the case of the Elvis Cruise reasonable facsimiles thereof). One of the biggest names in music cruises is Sixthman, which mounts sailings dedicated to artists like Kid Rock and John Mayer, as well as the more diversified VHI Best Cruise Ever. Rock the boat with hot pop acts —this yearlineup features the angsty stylings of Train and the Script —and a slate of special events, such as the bingo game hosted by cult cover band Trailer Park Ninjas. Elvis Cruise, Jan. 12-16 on Carnival Fascination, theelviscruise.com; VHI Best Cruise Ever, April 28-May 2 on Carnival Inspiration, vhibestcruiseever.com
Special Interest
Got a burning passion youdying to share with dozens of the closest friends you havenmade yet? This is the theme cruise for you —and a lido deck s worth of fellow travelers,whether they be Goths, bikers or quilters. Case in point: Political junkies can prep for the primaries in an echo chamber of like-minded conservatives or progressives (respectively) on back-to-back cruises sponsored by The Weekly Standard and The Nation. Dec. 4-11 and 11-18 on Holland America s Nieuw Amsterdam, twscruise.com and mitioncruise.com
Enrichment
Expand your mind, broaden your perspective or even earn continuing education credits on theme cruises geared toward learning —though we suspect the amount of actual learning accomplished is inversely proportional to the amount of alcohol consumed. You can explore our theory (and some of Einstein s) during Bright Horizons II, sailing under the auspices of brainy magazine Scientific American, as you participate in your choicc of 19 90-minute seminars ranging from the history of beer to the search for planets outside our solar system to the ins and outs of plant sex, Jan, 14-21 on Holland America s Eurodam, insightcruises.com
Wellness
Despite their legendary reputation for buffet-fueled gorge-a-thons, cruise ships offer state-of-the-art fitness facilities, exercise classes and activities tailored to sporty travelers, Combining these into a theme cruise focused on outer —and sometimes inner —health is a no-brainer,The Holistic Holiday at Sea is one of the most comprehensive,with Pilates sessions, macrobiotic cooking classes, lectures on a slew of health topics and even vegan ice-cream socials. March 3-10 on MSG Cruises MSC Poesia, atasteofhealth.