NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Travel

Cruise: The best theme-cruises to book this year

By Tiana Templeman
NZ Herald·
12 May, 2019 12:00 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

A river cruise is a great way to see Europe and sample its culinary delights... including its beer. Photo / Supplied

A river cruise is a great way to see Europe and sample its culinary delights... including its beer. Photo / Supplied

What's better than going on a cruise? Going on a theme cruise which caters to one of your greatest passions. Whether you enjoy rock music, photography, tennis, beer, comedy, or comets, there will almost certainly be a theme cruise to suit.

It includes all the usual things you would expect to find on board, plus a specialised programme of themed events, classes, lectures, and performances. It's easy to strike up a conversation and make new friends among so many like-minded travellers. And you may even get to hang out with your idols in the bar after their evening show.

Here are some theme cruise ideas for the 2019/2020 season.

P&O Australia Food & Wine Sea Break
Date: May 31
Join fellow foodies for three nights of eating, drinking and making merry on this round-trip cruise from Auckland. Food and wine personalities will educate and entertain during culinary demonstrations, cocktail-making classes, and panel discussions.

Kiwi comedians will be taking to the seas for P&O's comedy-themed cruise. Photo / Supplied
Kiwi comedians will be taking to the seas for P&O's comedy-themed cruise. Photo / Supplied
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

P&O Cruises New Zealand Big Laugh Comedy Cruise
Date: August 2
Tickle your funny bone on a three-night round-trip comedy cruise from Auckland, where comedians provide daily entertainment and run workshops for aspiring comedians. Make your comedy debut at the Comedy Gong Show, watch a Comedy Cruise Gala, or catch one of the cheeky adults-only shows in the Sit Down Comedy Club.

Cunard World Space Week Cruise
Date: September 26
Sail from Southampton on Queen Mary 2 with astronauts, scientists and Royal Astronomical Society members who will discuss all aspects of space and its exploration. New space shows in Illuminations, the world's only Planetarium at Sea, make this cruise even more exciting.

Avalon Waterways Beer-Tasting River Cruise
Date: October 25
Enjoy exclusive onboard beer tastings, visit historic breweries, and learn about brewing techniques as you travel through central Europe, a region famous for its superb regional beers. You'll find plenty of reasons to raise a glass on this beer-themed trip from Budapest to Amsterdam.

Bravo Cruise of the Performing Arts
Date: November 12
You don't need to be a huge classical music fan to enjoy this seven-night round-trip South Pacific cruise on Radiance of the Seas. If you know tunes such as Frank Sinatra's New York, New York, Ave Maria, Moondance, or any of the hits from Phantom of the Opera, you'll find plenty of entertainment to enjoy.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Passengers on board P&O's Australian Open theme cruise will get a two-day pass to Rod Laver arena. Photo / Visit Victoria
Passengers on board P&O's Australian Open theme cruise will get a two-day pass to Rod Laver arena. Photo / Visit Victoria

P&O Australia Australian Open Cruise
Date: January 19, 2020
Revel in the excitement of the Australian Open and soak up Melbourne's top cultural sights during this six-night round-trip cruise from Sydney. With a two-day pass to the Australian Open, bus transfers to and from the grounds, onboard accommodation, main meals, entertainment and activities, this cruise is a must for tennis lovers.

Aurora Expeditions Wild Antarctica cruise has an on board expert to teach you to take better photos. Photo / Getty Images
Aurora Expeditions Wild Antarctica cruise has an on board expert to teach you to take better photos. Photo / Getty Images

Aurora Expeditions Antarctica Photography Cruise
Date: March 3, 2020
Take your photography to the next level on this 10-night photography expedition cruise with AIPP Grand Master of Photography, Peter Eastway. An extensive programme of lectures, workshops, and one-on-one sessions, plus assistance with equipment, creative approach and post-production techniques will help you capture that perfect shot.

Discover more

Travel

Cruising: Ship to shore

04 Mar 08:00 PM
Travel

Galapagos Islands evolve with luxury cruises

03 Apr 02:52 AM
Travel

50 Winter Escapes: Last-minute long haul

25 Apr 11:17 PM
Travel

The pros and cons of mother-daughter travel

11 May 05:00 PM
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Travel

Travel

Why Noosa is the perfect blend of nature, luxury and adventure

24 Jun 08:00 AM
Travel

What it’s like travelling NZ in a luxury motorhome

24 Jun 06:00 AM
Travel

Are we entering a new era of golden-age train travel?

24 Jun 01:00 AM

One pass, ten snowy adventures

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Travel

Why Noosa is the perfect blend of nature, luxury and adventure

Why Noosa is the perfect blend of nature, luxury and adventure

24 Jun 08:00 AM

Skip the cold and enjoy the sunshine across the ditch.

What it’s like travelling NZ in a luxury motorhome

What it’s like travelling NZ in a luxury motorhome

24 Jun 06:00 AM
Are we entering a new era of golden-age train travel?

Are we entering a new era of golden-age train travel?

24 Jun 01:00 AM
Winter travel trends to escape the cold weather

Winter travel trends to escape the cold weather

Your Fiordland experience, levelled up
sponsored

Your Fiordland experience, levelled up

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP