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Shore Excursions for Food Lovers

While cruise ship cuisine is known to be exceptionally plentiful and delicious, food can be the star of a shore excursion, too. Enjoying the flavors of an exotic port of call is part of the pleasure of taking a cruise vacation. Some shore excursions are specifically designed to showcase local cuisine – and, some will even teach you to prepare it.

For example, Crystal Cruises offers a shore excursion in Lisbon that introduces guests to the rich, flavorful dishes of Portugal. You’ll travel from Lisbon to Cascais, the beach resort once favored by Portugal’s royal family. At the Albatroz Palace Hotel, you’ll take a cooking lesson overseen by the hotel’s executive chef. You’ll also have the pleasure of dining on your culinary efforts.

Guests on Regent Seven Seas cruise ships that stop at Koh Samui in Thailand can take a guided tour of a market where many local residents do their shopping. With the guide’s help, you’ll select fresh ingredients for a cooking class at a nearby resort. There, you’ll watch and assist as a resort chef demonstrates traditional Thai cooking methods for items like chicken soup with fresh coconut milk and deep-fried crabmeat.

Lessons are not a part of Holland America’s Drums of the Pacific Luau shore excursion in Maui – this one’s all about dining, with a side of relaxation and entertainment. A flavorful suckling pig is the centerpiece of a buffet loaded with traditional local dishes and other favorites. Along with this gastronomic delight, you’ll enjoy a show of music and dance styles from around the South Pacific.

If your cruise doesn’t offer any food-oriented shore excursions, you can create your own. For example, the Tivoli Gardens amusement park in Copenhagen is full of restaurants and open-air carts that offer traditional Scandinavian fare (try the open-faced sandwiches). In Santiago, Chile, the Central Market is a popular lunch destination for both locals and tourists: try a fish special at one of the many cafes. Wellington, New Zealand, has lots of lively coffeehouses and delis where you can sample local cheeses, flavored honeys and, of course, kiwi fruit.

Please note that all shore excursions mentioned above were being offered at the time of writing, but are subject to change. For more tips on making your next cruise a culinary experience, email me at [email protected].