'Star Trek' cruise will celebrate show's 60th birthday with William Shatner and more stars
- A "Star Trek" themed cruise will celebrate the franchise's 60th anniversary.
- The cruise will depart from Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 20, 2026 and visit ports in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas.
- Guests can expect appearances from actors who have appeared in various "Star Trek" series, including William Shatner and Walter Koenig.
“Star Trek” will have a 60th birthday celebration on the high seas.
The ninth installment of the popular theme cruise, Star Trek: The Cruise IX, will mark six nearly decades since the franchise’s first TV series premiered when it sets sail next year. Like past installments, the cruise will feature a stacked lineup of talent, including stars from the original 1960s show like William Shatner (Captain Kirk) and Walter Koenig (Ensign Pavel Chekov).
“We’ve planned a week of incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experiences to honor the 60th anniversary of Star Trek,” Chris Hearing, partner and executive director of theme cruises at Entertainment Cruise Productions, said in a news release. “Celebrating this milestone with both William Shatner and Walter Koenig is a dream come true for fans.”
Here’s what guests can expect.
Where will the cruise sail?
The week-long cruise will sail round-trip from the Orlando, Florida-area Port Canaveral on Royal Caribbean International’s Adventure of the Seas on Feb. 20, 2026. The ship can accommodate 3,807 guests, according to the cruise line’s website.
Passengers will visit Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Royal Caribbean’s private Bahamas destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
What can guests expect?
Along with Shatner and Koenig, “Star Trek” actors Bobby Clark (The Gorn), Sean Kenney (Captain Pike) and Sandra Gimpel (The Salt Vampire) will make appearances. Other stars from throughout the franchise will come aboard, as well.
Those include Jonathan Frakes (Commander William T. Riker), John de Lancie (Q), and Marina Sirtis (Counselor Deanna Troi) from “Star Trek: The Next Generation”; Nana Visitor (Kira Nerys) and Terry Farrell (Jadzia Dax) from “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”; Sonequa Martin-Green (Michael Burnham) and Anthony Rapp (Paul Stamets) from “Star Trek: Discovery” and others.
The itinerary will feature Q&A sessions and panels, shows, theme parties, meet-and-greet opportunities and more. Bars and restaurants and more onboard spaces will be decked out in Star Trek decor, and the programming will include other special guests such as scientists and writers.
How much does the cruise cost?
The cruise currently starts at $2,370 for returning guests and $2,530 for first-timers, according to its website. Guests who register for the Early Bird Sale will complete their reservations beginning March 3, while open booking will start on March 6.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for Paste BN based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.