Themed voyages help you leave your problems on dry land

The fear of shallow pockets isn’t keeping North Americans away from the deep blue seas.

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Seabourn Cruise Line

The Champagne and Whirlpool service is one of the features aboard Seabourn Cruise Line’s luxurious Odyssey.

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About 12.8 million North Americans are expected to take a cruise this year, up from 10.2 million last year, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, a nonprofit trade organization.

And the North American fleet is growing. Thirty-four ships are expected to be introduced between 2008 and 2012, according to the association. They include Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and Carnival Cruise Line’s Dream, which launch in late 2009, and cruise fans are already booking passage on them, said travel consultant Glen Demark, co-owner of GalaxSea Cruises in Conyers.

“People are … booking them now because of what they hear,” he said.

Choosing a cruise depends on your preferred destination and activities, length of the trip and, of course, price. We asked cruise experts for their picks in four categories.

LUXURY

The Yachts of Seabourn’s Spirit www.seabourn.com carries 450 guests, with itineraries that include an 11-night Greek Isles holiday at the end of October, starting at $5,150 per person.

“You will feel as if you are on a private chartered yacht,” said Viki Couch, a travel consultant with Explorations in Atlanta.

Crystal Cruises www.crystalcruises.com, which sleeps about 900 passengers, combines the “best of the five-star luxury cruising with the large ship experience,” said Howard Moses, president of the Cruise Authority in Marietta. The line’s world cruise sails to 41 ports in 37 countries from January to April 2010. Fares will be announced later this month. Looking for a shorter itinerary departing a little sooner? There is a 14-day holiday Caribbean cruise starting Dec. 23. Fares begin at $7,445. The cruise departs from Miami and stops in St. Maarten, St. Barts, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Curacao and Aruba.

ROMANCE

Windstar Cruises www.windstarcruises.com is tops among some cruise specialists for its interesting itineraries, high level of service and adult-oriented activities, such as massages. The masted ships in Windstar Cruises’ fleet “have a real sexy feel to them,” Couch said. The Wind Surf, which carries 312 guests, offers a seven-night cruise leaving Monte Carlo and arriving in Civitevecchia (Rome), starting at $1,949 per person.

SeaDream Yacht Club’s www.seadreamyachtclub.com two mega yachts hold 55 couples and provide a luxurious, intimate setting with snug alcoves for private dining al fresco, said Linda Coffman, the Augusta-based author of Fodor’s “The Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises.” A nine-day December cruise leaving San Juan, Puerto Rico, and disembarking at St. Thomas starts at $2,999 per person.

MULTIGENERATIONAL

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s www.royalcaribbean.com Freedom of the Seas is a favorite for family travel, several cruise specialists said. About one-third of Royal Caribbean’s passengers travel as families, said Coffman, who writes about her voyages on www.cruisediva.com. Activities run the gamut from video games to wine tastings to bingo. Prices for November start at $599 per person for a weeklong Caribbean cruise.

SPECIAL INTEREST

Themed cruises represent a wide range of special interests that appeal to foodies, music fans, hobbyists and more.

Moses has seen an increase in interest on his Web site www.themecruisefinder.com for cruises related to alternative lifestyles, such as swingers. It could be partly due to the buzz generated by the CBS show “Swingtown,” he said. Listed on the site is Mitch’s Party Swingers Cruise, which has a seven-day Halloween trip on the Norwegian Star that leaves out of Los Angeles and travels to the Mexican Riviera. Rates start at $2,793.

Music cruises cover all genres, and Coffman recommends jazz cruises for a relaxing experience. Lines such as Holland-America, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and MSC Cruises are among those with jazz events planned for later this fall and winter.