Third places, defined as places that are not home or work, are becoming increasingly rare. Today, Target and VC-funded cafes with no seating are the places where many people have to spend their free time. But if you look hard enough, you can still find third places: running clubs and day parties, knitting and birdwatching groupsAndif you are willing to spend some money, niche communities on the high seas.
That’s true. If you’re having trouble finding places to pursue your interests and hobbies in real life, you might be able to make that connection through a very special sailing trip. You’ve probably heard of Taylor Swift-themed cruises and even adults-only nude cruises. But that’s far from the only type of cruise that caters to a narrower range of interests.
To help you find your next sailing trip and meet people who share your interests, Thrillist has rounded up some of the most niche sailing trips around the world. Whether you’re looking to fly your geek flag or help solve a mystery, there’s something for everyone here.
Swinger cruises
Looking to expand the boundaries of your relationship or just live out some of your fantasies? Increasingly popular, swinger cruises offer the opportunity to safely explore the pros and cons of multiple partners. Look for cruise companies like Bliss Lifestyle Cruises and The Swinger Cruise.
Hallmark Channel Cruises
Looking for something completely different than a swinger cruise? Hallmark Channel Cruises offers the healthiest sailing on the high seas. The 2024 Hallmark Christmas cruise will feature things like craft workshops, cookie decorating, carol sing-alongs, and an ugly sweater contest. There will even be panel discussions with some of Hallmark’s favorite movie stars, all while sailing through the warm weather of the Bahamas.
Star Trek Cruises
Meet other Trekkies aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship on these annual voyages known as Star Trek Fan conventions. The next Star Trek The cruise will depart in February 2025 and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the science fiction phenomenon.
Arts and Crafts Cruises
Want to spend a cruise with other scrapbookers or knitters? That’s what a cruise is for. Craft Cruises and Cruise and Crop are just two of the companies that offer craft-focused cruises that offer training and programs around craft.
Fan Cruises
Want to talk shop with other fans? Then set sail on the first Comic Con cruise in February 2025. There are also cruises for other fans, including sports teams (a 2025 Raiders cruise) and TV shows (a Love Boat-Theme cruise).
Music cruises
Taylor Swift-themed cruises aren’t the only music-focused cruises available. If there’s a genre, there’s probably a cruise dedicated to it. Emo’s Not Dead will be a four-day cruise dedicated to the genre in February 2025. Rock and Wrestling offers the one-two punch of rock ‘n’ roll and wrestling events onboard. Norwegian and Royal Caribbean have a number of music-centric cruises available, such as a jazz cruise and a ’90s cruise. Just search for the music genre and the word “cruise” and you’ll likely find a cruise that plays your favorite music.
Murder Cruises
Have you fallen down the true crime rabbit hole? Does your Spotify landing page look like a bad collection of gruesome Canva graphics? Then you might like a true crime or mystery cruise. The biggest of these is the Crime Con Cruise, which is fast approaching in November 2024. There are also whodunit cruises and shorter one-night cruises that offer guests the chance to solve their own murder mysteries.
Looking for even more special cruises? Visit the themed cruise pages on major cruise websites like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Princess Cruises.
