Today called it "the trend of the summer." Julia Robers, Jenna Bush Hager and Meghan Markle are all fans. You can even buy luxury sets in marble, acrylic and hand-painted styles. No, it's not pickleball! It's the 144-tile game with origins in China and variations around the world that's now suddenly everywhere: Mah Jongg.
Now, superfans are taking their obsession to sea. "Crak Your Bags" Mah Jongg cruises are drawing hundreds of guests a cruise and creating floating communities of connection and competition—and bookings on some ships are already sold out through 2026.
News writer Jill Fox and travel advisor Susan Bishop founded the popular cruise series in 2022. "Our cruises aren’t just vacations; they’re welcoming, fun-filled gatherings where friendships form naturally and every guest feels part of the group. Mah Jongg may be what draws people in, but it’s the personal touches, shared adventures and lasting relationships that make our journeys unforgettable." Read on to find out why Mah Jongg cruises are one of the most popular themed cruises of 2025.
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Why Are Mah Jongg Cruises Going Viral in 2025?
Fox says playing Mah Jongg is the perfect remedy for the social isolation people may have been experiencing in recent years. "Mah Jongg has been around for generations, but its recent surge in popularity is all about connection and community. After the pandemic, people were eager to rebuild their social circles, and Mah Jongg offered the perfect way to meet-up, laugh and share time together," says Fox.
And a few new aesthetic upgrades haven't hurt. "Add in a healthy dose of social media FOMO complete with beautiful new sets, stylish tiles and matching accessories—and the game suddenly felt fresh and irresistible. And of course, when celebrities like Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker and Meghan Markle mention their love for the game, it only fuels the excitement." Mix that with cruising's surge in popularity and the result is the most viral vacay of 2025.
Linda Rosenson, who lives in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, has been on 10 Crak Your Bags cruises and says it's a hit recipe for a reason. "The opportunity to combine the following: a wonderful cruise vacation experience, the chance to travel with friends as well as make new ones and the joy of playing Mah Jongg with new people in an environment where we are provided all of the necessary 'ingredients' (tables & chairs, Mah Jongg sets and even prizes!!)"
"It's the ultimate safe and supportive space to share our stories, our Mah Jongg skills, our joys and sadness—and often laughter is truly the best medicine," she shares.
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How Did Mah Jongg Cruises Start?
Fox and Bishop met and bonded over their shared passion in 2019. Fox was throwing "Mah Jongg Mom's Nights Out" in town, and it was Bishop's idea to turn the popular hobby into a cruise series. "We decided to join forces and started small with a trip to Club Med, just a couple of hours from our South Florida homes. We floated the idea to friends and friends-of-friends on social media, and it sold out within a week. That’s when we knew we were on to something."
"Our first Caribbean cruise followed in March 2022 aboard the Regal Princess, where we hosted 40 players." Fast forward four years, and Crak Your Bags is now chartering entire riverboats in Europe. "The name of our company is a cheeky pun for 'pack your bags' and 'craks' are one of the tile suits in Mah Jongg," says Fox.
Over the past four years, the duo has hosted dozens of ocean cruises, from fall foliage trips to Nova Scotia to sailings throughout the Caribbean on cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Princess, Oceania and Celebrity. In spring 2026, they're especially excited about their third European river cruise with AmaWaterways to Paris and Normandy. "Guests on the Seine River cruisecharter will enjoy the convenience of unpacking just once on their 'floating hotel' while playing Mah Jongg and enjoying the gorgeous view," says Fox. Here's the full itinerary of upcoming cruises in 2025 and 2026:
Upcoming Cruises
Eastern Caribbean aboard the Celebrity Beyond, December 7-14, 2025Australia & New Zealand aboard the Celebrity Edge, January 29-February 11, 2026Western Caribbean aboard the Oceania Allura, February 19-26, 2026Paris & Normandy River Cruise aboard the AmaDante, April 11-26, 2026Cozumel aboard the Celebrity Beyond, November 18-22, 2026Mah Jonng Fever Tournament aboard the Celebrity Beyond, October 4-11, 2026In October 2025, Crak Your Bags will be offering beginner retreats at Miraval Spa in Austin, Texas.
What's Included on the Itinerary on a Crak Your Bags Trip?
Fox says Crak Your Bags tours offer a high-level of service beyond typical self-booked tour packages. Depending on the tour, price packages also include a paid beverage package, Wi-Fi and all-prepaid gratuities. Some also include on-board credits, and all have designated, reserved areas for tables and mini tournaments.
Fox and Bishop pay special attention to making sure each destination theme carries throughout the cruise. "This past April, we traveled to Amsterdam with a group of 140 Mah Jongg players for the world-renowned annual Tulip Time Festival, which blooms for six weeks each spring. We chartered the AmaWaterways AmaCerto, transformed the ship’s lounge by removing all of the furniture, and added 25 Mah Jongg tables complete with tulip-themed mats and commemorative tulip dice. Guests enjoyed the freedom to play whenever, and as often as they wished."
Rosenson is planning her next one. "The high level of organization by Crak Your Bags that supports these trips is extraordinary," says Rosenson. "This is a 'high-touch' experience before you ever walk on the ship. Information is communicated on a regular basis and there is a high level of engagement throughout the cruise. The balance of Mah Jongg time vs. independent time is perfect and the fellow guests become lifelong friends."
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