Regal Cruises has unveiled a new season of theme cruises aboard the 900-passenger Regal Empress, ranging one to six nights, departing from Florida and New York City. Offerings, designed and run by Creative Entertainment, a leader in theme cruise entertainment, include murder mysteries, blues performances and workshops, wine tastings and seminars, and St. Patrick's Day festivities. Additional themes in development are to be unveiled later in the year. The murder victim could be anyone, including a willing passenger. Wedding gifts are encouraged, either real or a written description, the most creative, unique gift winning free passage on a future murder-mystery cruise.
Fares are per person double and include port charges.
Seminars and tastings, sponsored by Paterno Importers, one of the largest wine importers in the US, cover the basics before moving on to discussions of how to select similar wines from different vineyards and choosing wines by taste not price tag. Wines used during the cruise may be purchased or ordered from leading US wine merchants present at the seminars. Afternoon workshops where musicians share their craft with hands-on instruction for the novice and the professional lead to late night jam sessions with passengers encouraged to join in. The April 7 sailing also features the recording of the live performances onto CD, available for purchase on board. St. Patrick's Day, March 17, is celebrated on a one-night Sunspree cruise to nowhere, departing Port Manatee on the holiday.