Astronaut to headline Caribbean cruise

Gene Sloan | USA TODAY

Always wanted to meet an astronaut? Here's your chance: Luxury line Silversea will have one onboard a December sailing in the Caribbean.

The line says former U.S. astronaut Thomas David Jones, a veteran of four space shuttle flights, will headline the Dec. 5 voyage of the Silver Spirit out of Fort Lauderdale.

The eight-night trip includes calls in Key West; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Santo Thomas de Castilla, Guatemala; and Belize City, Belize. Fares start at $2,750 per person.

An astronaut from 1990 through 2001, Jones spent a total of 53 days in space on his four space shuttle missions. He holds a Ph.D in planetary science and also has worked as a planetary scientist and space operations consultant. He also is the author of four non-fiction books.

Unveiled in 2009, the 540-passenger Silver Spirit is the newest and largest of Silversea's vessels. Click through our photo tour of the ship in the carousel below for a glimpse of its public areas and cabins.