In May, a nine-night “California Beer Festival at Sea” will take place on the 2,852-passenger Celebrity Solstice. Its organizers, Cruise Specialists, are calling the sailing the first of its kind.

“Craft brew connoisseurs have just as much passion and depth as their wine counterparts,” said Greg Nacco, vice president of Cruise Specialists. “Beer may be the new wine in terms of methodology in brewing and diversity of flavors.”

Nacco thought of the cruise after doing a few wine-themed voyages with Celebrity, and found that craft beer also was extremely popular.

The Pacific Coast sailing departs Ensenada, Mexico, on May 6, 2013, visiting San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Calif., San Francisco, Astoria, Vancouver and Seattle.

Hosted by a California “Brew Master,” passengers on the Beer Festival at Sea will be able take a home-brewing lesson, attend craft beer tasting parties and a four-course craft beer pairing luncheon, and go on optional brewery tours.