Sponsored by – American Cruise Lines
In response to the growing demand for special-interest cruises, many cruise lines are now offering a variety of theme cruise options, during which guests can indulge their passions and customize travel according to their interests. A wide variety of themed cruise itineraries are available close to home, celebrating the music, history, art, cuisine, and natural beauty of legendary rivers and waterways of the U.S. Seasonal holiday sailings are also available on the most popular itineraries across the country.
Along the Columbia and Snake Rivers, history buffs will enjoy a Lewis & Clark theme cruise which follows the route of these courageous explorers on their pioneering journey into the West. On Mark Twain theme cruises, guests can explore the river that served as his inspiration, complete with a true-to-life Mark Twain impersonator and a stop in Hannibal, MO, Twain’s boyhood home.
On Civil War theme cruises along the lower Mississippi River and historic Southeast, travelers delve deep into the history of the Civil War as they visit
battlefields, monuments, and museums that echo the stories of this defining time in American History. On an American Revolution theme cruise, guests can explore the quaint towns and historic cities that have shaped our nation, including Colonial Williamsburg, last battlefield of the Revolutionary War in Yorktown, and Jamestown, the site of the first English settlement in the New World.
Foodies will love Food & Wine cruises along the Columbia River Valley, an area which produces many of America’s best wines, or Culinary cruises along the lower Mississippi River, perfect for those who enjoy a blend of American, French, and deep South influences. On these cruises, onboard experts offer their expertise on wine, regional cuisine, and pairing, and accompany guests to local wineries, distilleries, and small artisan food producers.
One of the highlights of cruising in New England is a Lobsterbake theme cruise held along picturesque shores of Maine. This itinerary showcases a variety of lobster dishes served on board, as well as a traditional 
Lobsterbake prepared on a fire along the beach, featuring fresh lobsters, steamed clams, mussels, and more.
The roots of American music are celebrated on Music theme cruises along the Lower Mississippi, from Memphis to New Orleans, as well as from Memphis to Nashville. Guests can enjoy special onboard performances each night and guided shore excursions to destinations that inspired a variety of musical genres, ranging from bluegrass to jazz.
If you want to relax with family and friends over the holidays, there are many Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve cruises along the Chesapeake Bay, lower Mississippi River and historic Southeast. On these sailings, guests can delight in festive décor throughout the ship, indulge in holiday-inspired cocktails, dine on traditional favorites with a regional flair, and take part in a holiday gift exchange with fellow travelers. On shore
excursions are included which explore charming small towns and historic cities, ornamented for the season.
Other popular themed itineraries include Tulip cruises along Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands during the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival held in the spring, as well as Art Immersion cruises featuring an onboard artist-in-residence who gives step-by-step watercolor and/or mixed-media instruction.