Cruises with a purpose

There are cruises, and then there are cruises with a purpose.

Here are some examples of theme cruises coming up in the next few months. Fares may vary considerably; for a full range of possibilities, it’s best to consult with a travel agency that has cruise experience, or use an online agency such as Cruise Lines International Association, www.cruiseweb.com.

•Carnival Cruise Line’s Triumph, sailing from Miami, becomes a concert venue for a “Rock ‘n’ Roll Holiday Cruise” on Nov. 27 to Dec. 4 featuring Journey, REO Speedwagon and Styx. Call (866) 236-6696 for reservations or more information.

On the Carnival Conquest, NASCAR fans cruise the western Caribbean with the legendary Rusty Wallace, Dec. 4 out of New Orleans.

Another group of outside promoters sponsors a “Jam” cruise of pop music performances on Carnival’s Celebration, Jan. 6-10, sailing from Jacksonville to Freeport, Bahamas (303-544-0191, www.jamcruise.com).

Some 400 Richard Simmons fans will be aboard the Carnival Legend on May 21-29 for his annual “Cruise to Lose” weight loss program. The ship leaves from New York City and visits the western Caribbean.

For more information on Carnival cruises, call (800) CARNIVAL or visit www.carnival.com

•”Catskills in the Caribbean,” departing from Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 15, brings comedians Fyvush Finkel, Jack Carter, Avi Hoffman and a host of other comics to the eastern Caribbean for a week. Sponsors include the National Center for Jewish Cultural Arts (800-882-9000, ext. 32).

•Celebrity Cruises presents its second annual “Savor the Caribbean” series beginning Feb. 8. Eight culinary-themed cruises, in partnership with Bon Appetit magazine, will feature cooking demonstrations by famous chefs, rum tastings and lectures by cookbook authors.

The seven-night cruises start in Fort Lauderdale and visit Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas (800-722-5941, www.celebrity.com).

•Crystal Cruises has announced a long list of special cruises for the coming winter. Themes include jazz, finance and fitness, wine and food festivals, books, Asian art, language lessons, piano instruction and film fests (800-820-6663, www.crystalcruises.com).

•Liberty Travel promotes the “Richard Nader Oldies’ Rock & Roll Cruise” on the Carnival Legend, May 5-12. The ship leaves from New York City and stops at St. Thomas, Tortola and San Juan.

Liberty also arranged an Eastern Seaboard cruise from New York City next July 10-17 called “R Family Vacations.” It’s for gay and lesbian families and was founded by Rosie and Kelli O’Donnell and Gregg Kaminsky. Ports to be visited by the Norwegian Dawn include Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Provincetown and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. (888-271-1586, www.libertytravel.com).

•The Olivia organization has scheduled several cruises designed for lesbian travelers, including a Mayan Caribbean cruise, Oct. 30-Nov. 6, on Holland America’s Veendam. That cruise features a film festival and showings of “The L Word” TV show.

On a four-night Bahamas cruise, Jan. 29-Feb. 2 on Holland America’s Zaandam, country music star Wynonna Judd will be the headliner. For the full Olivia cruise lineup, call (800) 631-6277 or see www.olivia.com.

•Radisson Seven Seas offers a long slate of “Spotlight” cruises with themes ranging from antiques to wine. For example, the Seven Seas Voyager’s “Spotlight on Antiques,” Nov. 1-12, cruises with appraisers from the BBC’s “Antiques Roadshow.” On shore, passengers go antiquing from Monaco to Istanbul. For a list of other Radisson Seven Seas “Spotlight” cruises, call (877) 505-5370 or see www.rssc.com.

On Seven Seas Mariner, Jan. 27-Feb. 12, the Spotlight illuminates the tango and other dances with a Latin American twist, while the ship visits various ports between Buenos Aires and Manaus, Brazil.

•Silversea’s Silver Whisper features “Caribbean Celebrations,” Nov. 20-29, with guest chef Christopher Freeman of Topper’s at the Wauwinet in Nantucket, Mass. The voyage goes from Fort Lauderdale to Colon, Panama. There are many other Silversea theme possibilities late this year (877-215-9986, www.silversea.com).