John Barrowman and Marc Almond to Headline Floating Festivals’ 2020 Theme Cruises

(1:45 p.m. GMT) -- Television and West End star John Barrowman will headline Floating Festivals' next Stages cruise, while Marc Almond is set to headline the eighties-themed sailing, Throwback.

The four-night Stages cruise will depart Southampton on September 27, featuring a call in Bruges, and the three-night Throwback voyage departs October 1, featuring a call in Cherbourg in France.

Royal Caribbean’s 4,180-passenger megaship Anthem of the Seas will host the sailings, with Barrowman set to be joined by big-name musical stars Lea Salonga and Ramin Karimloo.

Eighties pop star Marc Almond will be joined on the Throwback cruise by The Jacksons, Jimmy Somerville, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp, while fashion guru Gok Wan is set to DJ.

“Stages is all about enjoying the very best that the world of musical theatre has to offer and we firmly believe the line-up we have for 2020, along with all the other exciting additions we are yet to announce will make this our most successful charter yet”, said Floating Festivals director Jonathan Blackburn.

“The Throwback line-up we have so far is fantastic. Our passengers want to escape for three nights of fun and to celebrate the music they grew up listening to. This is exactly what they will be able to do on Throwback 2020 and we look forward to seeing them throwing themselves full throttle into the party of the year.”

Floating Festivals is also behind the "Sail Away with Jane McDonald" cruise, which also takes place onboard Anthem of the Seas. The Queen of Cruising will takeover the ship for a week-long sailing from Southampton on September 20, 2020, featuring a live Q&A session and two unique performances.