TUI Cruises is doubling down on onboard entertainment, with its ship Mein Schiff Flow set to host two back-to-back music-themed sailings in the Mediterranean in March 2027.

The first pairs the line with Germany's well-known ELBJAZZ Festival for a seven-day western Mediterranean loop. Sailing March 8 to 15 (or March 9 to 16), the route runs from Palma de Mallorca to Civitavecchia for Rome, then on to Marseille and Barcelona before returning to Palma. The lineup leans on jazz, soul and groove, with headliners including Nils Landgren Funk Unit, China Moses, Swedish vocalist Viktoria Tolstoy and pianist Jacob Karlzon performing across the ship during the week.

Straight after that, from March 15 to 22, the same ship switches genres entirely for a tribute-to-ABBA sailing, pointedly titled "Take a Chance at Sea." This one charts a different course through the western Mediterranean: Palma, then Cádiz in southern Spain, a call at Tangier in Morocco, and Málaga on the Costa del Sol, before heading back to Mallorca. Cover band One Night in Sweden by Nobel Composition supplies the hits, while music lecturer Jorg Hinz adds context with stories about the band, career background and archival material. There's even a pub quiz running under the motto "The Winner Takes It All."

Both cruises are seven nights and departure-port convenient for anyone flying into Palma, a hub served by carriers from across Europe. The itineraries are punchy rather than port-heavy — three or four stops each — which suits travellers who care more about what happens onboard than ticking off destinations. The ELBJAZZ sailing essentially bundles a festival ticket into a Mediterranean holiday, while the ABBA trip is a niche crowd-pleaser that will land well with fans who missed out on the band's Voyage concerts in London, or who simply want their Abba with sunshine and tapas.

TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff fleet operates on an all-inclusive-ish, German-market premium model, so announcements like this tend to fill fast with loyal repeat guests. If either theme appeals, booking early is the sensible move — themed sailings typically command a premium over standard itineraries on the same route, and cabins near venues go first.

For music lovers weighing a spring 2027 break, the choice is straightforward: smooth jazz and soul between Rome and Barcelona, or dancing queens between Cádiz and Tangier. Credit: Cruise Industry News.