Top five quirky cruises

These days, there are cruise holidays for just about everyone. Cruise lines are doing their utmost to make sure that no demographic group is left out by featuring family, single, senior, gay and lesbian, disabled, romantic, budget-conscious and luxury cruises. There are cruises that cater to special interest groups, such naturists and naturalists, gourmets and fitness fanatics, explorers and golfers.

Then there are the themed cruises for the more select and extreme groups of connoisseurs, devotees and eccentrics – including bloggers, psychics, chocolate lovers, students of Shakespeare and world championship bingo players.

Cruise travel news and reviews site CruiseCritic.co.uk has taken a look at some of the more unusual themed cruises currently available to U.K. travellers and has produced its Top Five Quirky Cruises for 2009:

1. Bikers Onboard - Hogs on the High Seas Mexican Riviera Rally on Mariner of the Seas sails 25 March - 5 April 2009. The formal dress code is “leathers required,” but no bikes are allowed onboard. A fun rally cruise for all motorcyle enthusiasts, this voyage offers some $300,000 U.S. in giveaways and prizes.

2. Tum ti dum ti dum ti dum, Tum ti dum ti dum ti da da - The Archers on Black Prince departs on 30 March 2009. This cruise provides an opportunity for passengers to meet members of the cast of the long-running BBC Radio 4 soap about country folk. Sometimes guests are included in episodes that are specially written for the cruise.

3. Spooks at Sea - Spycruise: Operation Istanbul incorporates spies, .ies and espionage on Seabourn Odyssey from 8-18 July 2009. Passengers will hear real spy stories; learn about the Cold War, intelligence tradecraft and clandestine equipment; and meet real spies from the CIA, RCMP and KGB. This sailing will takes place in Istanbul, Yalta and Balaklava and includes a visit to the home and office of the infamous Soviet spy Kim Philby.

4. Celestial Cruising - This astral cruise for astrologers happens aboard MSC Sinfonia on 9 April 2009 and features a 17-day voyage from Rio de Janeiro to Livorno. Clear night skies will be perfect for star-spotters, who can learn about astrology through courses from international experts, study the constellations and signs of the zodiac and view the starry skies first-hand from the bridge of the ship.

5. Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd takes to the high seas on Carnival Imagination, 1-4 May 2009. Pink Floyd won't be there, but Think Floyd will. Billed as the greatest American Floyd cover band ever - and apparently garnering "personal acclaim" from band member David Gilmour - they'll host a Floyd extravaganza at sea.

A comprehensive list of themed cruises on offer to U.K. travellers can be viewed on cruisecritic.co.uk.