Themed cruises have emerged as an important component of cruise. From wellness, zombie to Star Wars, there’s a cruise for almost every kind of niche market.

Country music cruises have become particularly popular amongst Australians over last six years. Choose Your Cruise, a South Australian based family owned company founded the concept of country music cruises in 2009, titled Cruisin Country.

Their Cruisin Country No.6 will host the sixth annual country music festival at sea with a grand line-up of Australia’s leading country music artists featuring Adam Brand, Beccy Cole, Melinda Schneider, Shane Nicholson, Amber Lawrence, Felicity Urquhart, Drew McAlister, Luke O’Shea. The cruise departs on 13 November 2016 for a 8-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas.

So what happens aboard a Music Cruise?

Its a great opportunity to mingle with likeminded music fans and interact with your favourite homegrown Aussie artists. Country fans can immerse themselves in song writing and guitar workshops, open mic sessions where they can show their musical talent to special guest judges and performing artists.

Cruise Passenger spoke to Adelaide based country singer Beccy Cole. With nine Golden Guitars and multiple country hits on ARIA charts to her credit, Beccy is looking forward to the music festival aboard Legend of the Seas in November 2016. “Its amazing that you are on a ship full of music fans and as an artist I can interact with travellers who love music. There’s a lot of camaraderie and artists don’t lock themselves in their cabins and make themselves available most times,’

“There is a sense of kinship because everyone is there because of their love for music. I have met people who became really good friends after meeting on a music cruise,” said Miss Beccy who’s done 14 music cruises, 5 of them organised by Choose Your Cruise.

Beccy’s favourite ship for a music cruise is Radiance of the Seas, Vanuatu being a favourite destination.

The Routine

Each night the main act is performed twice for all guests. However there are always musical surprises throughout the day for guests like watching jamming sessions of artists. “The surprises are the best part of a music cruise,” said Miss Beccy.

‘Choose Your Cruise’ Music Cruises 2016

Cruise N Groove – Radiance of the Seas
Headlined by John Farnham. The 8-night cruise starts from 9 October-17 October, visiting Mare (New Caledonia), Lifou (Loyalty Islands) & Noumea (New Caledonia).Other artists include John Paul Young & The Allstar Band, Pseudo Echo, Jon English, Eurogliders and The Chantoozies.
A deluxe oceanview stateroom with balcony costs $4043 per person. For more check here
Bravo! 2016 – Radiance of the Seas
The cruise has an array of musical programmes like classical, musical theatre, opera and acts headlined by Australian and international artists like Teddy Tahu Rhodes, David Hobson, Marina :Prior, Cheryl Barker, Peter Coleman-Wright, Greta Bradman, Jonathon Welch, Simon Tedeschi.
The cruise sails for 7 nights, 17 – 24 October, 2016. Departing from Sydney visiting Mare and Noumea (New Caledonia) on board the luxurious Radiance of the Seas.BRAVO! Official Ambassador is Australian tenor and composer David Hobson.
A superior oceanview stateroom costs $4286 per person. For more check here
Rock the Boat 6 – Legend of the SeasExpect pure Rock & Roll for 7 nights, sailing from Brisbane on 6 November to 13 November 2016 with ports calls at Lifou, The Loyalty Islands, and The Isle Of Pines of New Caledonia.The line up features ten international acts and famous artists of the 60s like Peter Noone – the original voice of Herman’s Hermits, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, The Troggs, The Pacemakers, The Fortunes, Mike Pender’s Searchers, Badfinger featuring Joey Molland.
Rock the Boat 6 will be hosted by Australia’s walking, talking rock n’ roll encyclopaedia, Glenn A. Baker (three-time BBC ‘Rock Brain of the Universe winner). A large oceanview stateroom costs $3173 per person. For more check here