Dale Earnhardt Jr. to make appearance on NASCAR cruise

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is joining the upcoming first official NASCAR-themed cruise, sort of.

The racing superstar won't actually be sailing but will come onboard NASCAR: The Cruise, on the 2,394-passenger Norwegian Pearl, to greet fans when the ship docks for a day in Key West.

Voted NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver the past 13 years, Earnhardt owns 50 NASCAR victories and won the Daytona 500 in 2004 and 2014. He is appearing in support of the Dale Jr. Foundation.

NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty, Rusty Wallace, Bobby Allison and Petty's famed crew chief Dale Inman are among racing celebrities slated to cruise with fans on the five-day Bahamas sailing, which embarks Miami on Jan. 29. Hosting the cruise is NASCAR TV analyst Kyle Petty.

The entertainment lineup includes concerts by the Beach Boys and 38 Special.

Authentic racing cars will be displayed on the deck of the ship during the cruise and special activities will include virtual racing simulators, pit crew challenges and Q&A and autograph-signing sessions with the drivers, according to cruise organizer Entertainment Cruise Productions.