Once a popular vacation option for partying beachgoers and families seeking a bargain-friendly getaway, cruising has long garnered a reputation for bland buffets and generic itineraries. And while today’s ships boast unique onboard entertainment offerings, enrichment opportunities and whiz-bang features, with a variety of myths floating across the internet, it’s easy to be fooled into associating cruising with the outdated misconceptions of the past.
[See: 10 Things You Shouldn’t Do on a Cruise.]
But the reality is today’s cruise lines appeal to versatile preferences, budgets and age groups and offer everything from stimulating educational programs to immersive forays ashore. If your top priority is culturally driven experiences onboard and onshore, the key is planning ahead and finding a cruise that fits your travel style. If you dream of cruising without being part of the partying masses, here are four steps to turn your cruise experience into a cultural learning opportunity.
Choose a Cruise Line That Caters to Your Preferences
The first step when picking a cruise is pinpointing the lines offering inventive itineraries and onboard activities tailored to your interests. For example, if you love hitting the spa or you’re a traveling foodie, consider MSC Cruises, a Mediterranean-based line that offers a European flair paired with unique amenities and services, from Balinese-inspired massages to upscale specialty dining experiences. MSC dishes out cuisine from around the world, including gourmet delights from world-class chefs such as Carlo Cracco, Jean-Philippe Maury, Roy Yamaguchi and Jereme Leung. In addition to Caribbean cruises, you can also sail around the world with MSC, from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe and beyond.
[See: 10 Top Cruises for Health Nuts.]
Pick Your Itinerary Wisely
If you’re angling for a culture-packed cruise, choose an itinerary with destinations that offer more than swaying palms and sandy beaches. Choose a cruise that visits diverse destinations showcasing their rich history and heritage. For example, if you choose a cruise that stops in Curaçao, which lies outside the hurricane belt, you’ll dock right in the heart of downtown Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island itself offers plenty of noteworthy landmarks and cultural treasures, including its iconic pastel-colored colonial architecture, its storied Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue and its popular Dutch restaurants serving up traditional specialties like bitterballen and stroopwafels (Dutch cookies held together with a thin layer of syrup).
Opt for Educational Excursions
While your cruise line and itinerary are important, the excursions you select can make or break your cruise. If you opt to skip immersive experiences ashore, you’ll miss out on authentic experiences and the chance to connect with locals. Look for educational opportunities such as walking tours or access to top museums and landmarks. Use reputable outfitters like Viator.com to find excursions that take you away from the cruise port and fellow tourists to experience must-see attractions and lesser-known gems. Also, look for interactive and engaging excursions ashore. For example, instead of departing your ship for a ride into Rome for some pizza, sign up for a pizza-making class.
[See: 10 Underrated Cruise Destinations for 2017.]
Look for Cruise Lines with Innovative Culinary Offerings
One common gripe about cruises is their bland buffets. Look for ships offering alternative specialty dining experiences for elevated at-sea meals. Also look for a cruise line that dishes up regional specialties from around the world at its restaurants and make sure you try the cuisine every time your ship stops in port, such as saganaki in Athens, Greece, or paella in Barcelona, Spain. By sampling the local food, you’ll gain a better understanding of each destination’s people and culture.
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4 Ways to Turn Your Cruise Into a Cultural Experience originally appeared on usnews.com
