From tribbles to show tunes: 11 pop culture-themed cruises for superfans in 2025/26
When Hallmark announced that 18 of its beloved stars would be setting sail on the next Hallmark Christmas Cruise—a fan-focused voyage from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico, running 6–10 November—the holiday sailing almost immediately sold out.
But don’t worry: if you're looking to find your fandom at sea, there are plenty of other pop culture cruises to choose from. From gothic masquerade balls to Broadway karaoke, 80’s revival gigs to Golden Girls trivia nights, these cruises are designed for superfans.
Whether you’re into sci-fi, show tunes, cat memes, or just love a themed cocktail party, here are our top picks for fandom cruises happening in 2025 and 2026. Let’s take this party up to eleven.
Photo courtesy Disney Cruise Lines
Halloween on the High Seas (Disney Cruise Line)
When: Runs annually from early September through October aboard Disney Magic, Dream, Fantasy, Wish & Treasure
What: A family‑friendly Halloween extravaganza with themed décor (pumpkin tree, spooky décor), Mickey’s Mouse‑querade deck party, trick‑or‑treating, ghost stories, seasonal treats, character meet‑and‑greets, and adults‑only costume parties. This is one of the longest running themed cruises, starting way back in 2011.
Bonus: Let’s not forget that DCL also do Marvel Day at Sea and Pixar at Sea
Official info: Disney Cruise Line – Halloween on the High Seas Disney Cruise Line
Photo courtesy Star Trek: The Cruise
Star Trek: The Cruise
When: Feb 20–27, 2026
What: A sci‑fi celebration featuring Trek luminaries like William Shatner and Jonathan Frakes, plus panels, cosplay nights, and exclusive experiences aboard Royal Caribbean. One of the original nerdy themed cruises—running since 2017—it’s the kind of voyage where you can almost hope for a gathering at Ten Forward.
Official site: StarTrekTheCruise.com
Meow Meow Cruise
When: Scheduled Alaska cruise aboard Princess’ Discovery Princess from Seattle on Aug 31–Sep 7, 2025.
What: A cruise for cat lovers (no real cats onboard)—with themed group meet-ups, trivia, scavenger hunts, mixers, and social dinners under the banner of feline fandom.
Official site: meowmeowcruise.com
The 80s Cruise
When: 2026 sailing dates forthcoming
What: Retro 80s music voyage with live acts (Adam Ant, Billy Ocean of course, OMD), themed parties, trivia, and karaoke.
Bonus: Other cruise lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean also do themed 80s cruises.
Official site: The80sCruise.com
The 90s Cruise
When: January 25-30 2026 (Roundtrip from Tampa, Nassau, Key West, Tampa)
What: Not to be outdone by the ’80s crowd, this seven-day celebration of all things ’90s features live performances from Vanilla Ice, Montell Jordan, Color Me Badd, and C+C Music Factory, along with dance parties, karaoke, and throwback trivia. Expect over-the-top outfits, cassette‑tape vibes, and late‑night nostalgia in spades.
Bonus: Themed nights include Pajama Jam, 90s Prom, and “Saved by the Cruise.”
Official site: the90scruise.com
Photo courtesy E.N.D. Cruise
E.N.D. (Emo’s Not Dead) Cruise
When: Jan 22–26, 2026 (Miami → Costa Maya)
What: Emo/pop‑punk festival at sea with bands like Senses Fail and Underoath, plus fan Q&As and themed events
Official site: endcruise.com
The Broadway Cruise (Norwegian Gem)
When: The 2025 sailing was from Miami to Cozumel, 2026 dates TBC
What: Star-studded Broadway immersion with elite performers (Laura Benanti, Wayne Brady, Alex Brightman and more), intimate shows, workshops, panels, karaoke, and meet‑and‑greets aboard Norwegian Gem.
Official info: TheBroadwayCruise.com
Gothic Cruise
When: The 2025 sailing was a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise aboard Norwegian Getaway, 2026 sailings TBC
What: The original gothic music festival at sea since 1989—featuring goth/industrial acts (Combichrist, Rotersand), masquerade balls, themed nights, private bars, and a devoted subculture vibe.
Official site: gothiccruise.com
Comic‑Con: The Cruise Vol. 2
When: Jan 30–Feb 3, 2026 (4-night fantasy-themed cruise)
Route: Roundtrip from Tampa → Nassau aboard Celebrity Constellation
What: The officially licensed Comic‑Con experience at sea — complete with interactive panels and workshops, cosplay nights, Artists’ Alley, exhibitor marketplace, fandom screenings, tabletop role-playing, nightly parties, and meet‑and‑greets with comic, film & voice‑acting talents
Offical site: comicconthecruise.com
Photo courtesy Jay & Silent Bob Cruise Askew
Jay & Silent Bob Cruise Askew
When: February 18–22, 2026
Route: Roundtrip from Tampa → Costa Maya aboard Norwegian Jewel
What: An immersive Askewniverse experience featuring Kevin Smith & Jason Mewes—live podcast tapings (Hollywood Babble On, Jay & Silent Bob Get Old, Fatman Beyond), exclusive script readings, Q&As, poker tournaments, “Mooby’s at Sea” late-night Hater Tots, cosplay nights, bingo, tattoo pop-ups, karaoke, and meet‑and‑greets with actors & podcast hosts
Official site: jayandsilentbobcruiseaskew.com
Bananaland at Sea
When: February 9-13, 2026
Route: Roundtrip from Tampa → Cozumel
What: Batter up for the most immersive experience at sea with the Banana Ball teams and cast! Around-the-clock entertainment, epic activities, and countless moments to spend time with your favs. Banana Ball is a faster, more entertaining, and fan-friendly version of baseball, developed by the Savannah Bananas exhibition baseball team.
Official site: bananlandatsea.com
So what do you think? Would you want to sail on any of these cuises? Are there any other pop culture proprties that should have their own? I for one would LOVE to see a Doctor Odyssey sailing or an old-school, 70’s Love Boat reunion.
