No matter where you choose to vacation, you can turn it into a cultural cruise with authentic, exclusive experiences that showcase each destination’s people, history, culture, and cuisine.
You’ll find onboard destination immersion with guest lecturers, cooking classes introducing globally inspired foods, and a wide variety of shore excursions offered on every cruise.
These are some of the best cultural cruise experiences you can enjoy on Celebrity Cruises.
Learn The Art Of Parilla In Punta Del Este, Uruguay
Punta del Este, Uruguay
On a cruise to Punta del Este, sip local wine in a scenic vineyard as a master asador (grill chef) guides you through the art and science of cooking on a parrilla, an open-fire iron barbecue grill that Uruguayans, masters of beef and barbecue, swear by as the best way to cook their prized beef.
Read: Incredible Uruguayan Food to Try on Your Vacation
Parilla grilling in Punta del Este, Uruguay
Watch as the chef carefully builds the fire, showing how to attain the perfect balance of coal, wood, flame, and heat that will result in a perfectly grilled steak with just the right amount of charred crust outside and a tender and juicy interior. Sit with other guests and savor your steak along with other local dishes, and enjoy another glass of wine.
Sing, Dance, & Feast In A Thatched Pub In Dublin, Ireland
John Gibney & Sons in Dublin, Ireland
Join a resident band of merrymakers that includes singers, dancers, and a comedian for a good old fashioned night of entertainment and hearty Irish food during your cruise to Dublin at one of the city’s most famous thatched-roof pubs.
Enjoy a bit of craic (lively, local conversation) as you lift a pint of plain, and join in singing along to spirited Irish tunes and soulful ballads you may know and love. Sit back and be dazzled by a troupe of dancers performing classic Celtic dances.
Guinness beer
Savor the flavors of authentic Irish dishes to enjoy with the city’s beloved Guinness beer.
Read: One Day in Dublin
Journey To Bob Marley’s House In Falmouth, Jamaica
On cultural cruises to the Caribbean, hop on a tour bus and make the trek to pay homage to Bob Marley, reggae music’s iconic founder. Jamaica’s beautiful landscape glides by on the way to the mountain village of St. Ann and Nine Mile, Marley’s home and also his final resting place.
Jamaican jerk chicken
Walk through the original rooms of the house, kept as they were when Bob lived there. In the museum’s theater, hear and see his live performances through state-of-the-art projection equipment. On the return trip, make a stop at a traditional jerk shack to enjoy another one of the things that Jamaica is known for.
Walk The Birthplace Of America’s Revolution In Boston, Massachusetts
Faneuil Hall in Boston, Massachusetts
Get a firsthand look at America’s revolutionary beginnings before your next cruise from Boston on a day-long excursion around the city and its historic suburbs. Retrace the route of Paul Revere’s midnight ride at Lexington Green, and see the battlefields of Lexington and Concord where America’s first patriots defeated the King’s redcoats and started the War of Independence.
Read: One Day in Boston
Quincy Market in Boston, Massachusetts
Visit Faneuil Hall, the meeting and marketplace built on Boston’s waterfront in 1742. Stroll through Quincy Market and have a grazing good time at food stands serving the city’s best foods, from Boston baked beans with brown bread and New England clam chowder to Boston cream pie.
Make a late afternoon stop in the historic North End, the oldest residential neighborhood in the U.S., to see Paul Revere’s house, the Old North Church, and Little Italy.
Enjoy An Immersive Tlingit Tribe Experience In Sitka, Alaska
Totem poles in Sitka National Historical Park, Alaska
Soak in the beauty of Sitka National Historical Park and spend time with the Tlingit, Southeast Alaska’s indigenous people. Learn about Tlingit history and culture through an interpretive dance and song performance held in a traditional clan house. See how their canoes are carved from a single piece of wood, and hear stories passed down through the generations.
Walk totem trails and marvel at the “ambassadors of Alaska’s Native culture” as the totem poles are known. The carvings on each totem pole signify something special, like commemorating an event, remembering an important person, or preserving a legend.
During your cruise to Sitka, visit landmarks including St. Michael’s Cathedral, the Bishop’s House, and Castle Hill, once a Tlingit village, that define the Russian influence on the Tlingit culture.
Stroll Through A Bamboo Forest Near Kobe, Japan
Discover beauty and serenity as you take in the sights of Arashiyama, one of the most scenic towns in Japan. Ride a rickshaw over the impressive Togetsukyo Bridge, which has been the site for many period films.
Tenryu-ji Temple in Kobe, Japan
Visit the Tenryu-ji Temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to experience the beauty of Japanese garden design and see a fine example of a Buddhist temple. Further your discovery of Japanese culture during your cruise to Kobe with lunch at the Michelin Guide-recommended Zen vegetarian restaurant on the temple property.
Read: Famous Temples in Japan
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto, Japan
Stroll the path of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, where thousands of tall bamboo pillars reach to the sky and sway in the breeze, creating a magical, otherworldly atmosphere. Snap a selfie or a skyward shot for a lifetime memory.
Tour the villa and gardens of Okochi-Sanso, the former estate of a famous Japanese film star. Marvel at the gorgeous residential architecture and the view of the city from the garden. Sip a cup of matcha tea, one of the best things to buy in Japan, and nibble on a sweet bun before you depart.
Read: Two Days in Kyoto
Take The Wheel Of A Sailing Yacht In Halifax, Nova Scotia
Peggy’s Cove in Halifax, Nova Scotia
One of the best things to do in Halifax is to board the 45-foot luxury sailing yacht, J. Farwell, in the Halifax Harbor and set out on a scenic adventure that’s so much more than a typical sunset cocktail cruise.
Working with the experienced and helpful crew, you’ll learn the art of sailing: pulling up the sails, tacking (turn maneuvers), and even taking the wheel if you wish. As you enjoy the spectacular Nova Scotia coastline glide by, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, whales, and other wildlife commonly seen in Halifax Bay.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
After your turn at the wheel, sit back, relax, and sip wines from Nova Scotia vineyards and nibble on local cheeses.
Browse Boston to Nova Scotia Cruise Itineraries
Hike Through A Cloud Forest In Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve in Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Set off on a guided trek through the misty tropical treetops in Costa Rica’s Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve and get insight into the eco-conscious culture of Costa Rica.
Scarlet Macaws in Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Walk, watch, and discover how the low-slung clouds that keep the forest shrouded in a misty fog make the forest greens deeper and the colors of the forest’s wildlife—scarlet macaws, toucans, sloths, frogs, jaguars, and butterflies—even more vivid.
Cross over one of four hanging bridges to reach a hummingbird garden and hear the audible buzz from these tiny creatures, called “jewels with wings.” See eye-popping varieties of orchids that hummingbirds sip nectar from, and be dazzled by many varieties of flowering bromeliads and heliconia of red, yellow, and orange.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve in Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Encounter cascades of waterfalls and rushing rivers below as you trek across a long, descending suspension bridge toward a butterfly farm, where you’ll watch the flutterings of thousands of butterflies.
Read: An Insider’s Guide to Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Ride A Vintage Train Over The Taieri Gorge In Dunedin, New Zealand
Dunedin Railway Station, New Zealand
As part of a culturally enriching cruise to New Zealand, begin a fascinating train journey at the restored Dunedin Railway Station, a decidedly grand building designed in a gingerbread-house style that earned its architect, George Troup, the nickname “Gingerbread George.” Marvel at the station’s interior, including the main hall’s mosaic floor composed of 750,000 Royal Doulton tiles.
Train ride through Taieri Gorge
Board a vintage railcar and begin a round-trip journey through the beautiful and dramatic scenery of the Otago peninsula and the Taieri Plains, not visible by mere road travel. From a vantage point of high viaducts, see the deep canyons carved by the Taieri River as it makes its way to the Pacific Ocean.
Hear lively commentary from the train’s conductor about the railway’s history and the Otago Gold Rush of 1861. Snap pictures as the train slows at the scenic cultural attractions en route.
At the turnaround point in Pukerangi, take the opportunity to stretch your legs and take a selfie at the tiny railway building to mark a memorable New Zealand cruise experience.
Feed Alpacas On A Farm In Adelaide, Australia
Alpaca farm in Australia
Travel in an all-terrain vehicle along the picturesque Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia for a unique, hands-on farm experience. You’ll ride along with one of the owners to explore a working alpaca farm.
Get up close to the alpacas, petting and feeding them. Learn about breeding, production, and how and when the animal’s luxurious fiber is harvested.
Koala in Australia
Roam the farmland, which is also a sanctuary for endangered marsupials and other native animals, and be on the lookout for koalas resting in trees and kangaroos lounging in fields. See the sanctuaries housing wallabies, pademelon, squirrel gliders, bandicoots, and dozens of other indigenous animals.
After shopping for alpaca handicrafts, enjoy a traditional Aussie barbecue feast.
Read: Best Things to Do in Adelaide
Book Your Cultural Cruise
Ready to enjoy your own cultural cruise experience? Browse our cruise itineraries online or call one of our vacation specialists at 1-800-852-8086.
