FEATURE Travel like a local Itinerary teams are continually developing new excursions to immerse passengers in the local traditions and cultures of the destinations they visit during cruise calls. Richard Humphreys highlights some of the cultural experiences on offer in ports and destinations worldwide While forecasting cruise trends for 2024, MSC Cruises said guests are “no longer content” with just visiting well-known tourist attractions and are instead seeking to “experience destinations in a way that reflects the local lifestyle”. In addition, they want more time onshore to experience destinations “like a local” and explore in an “authentic and leisurely” way. Travellers are also demonstrating a “heightened eagerness” to explore diverse cultures and experience new destinations. Recognising this shift in attitudes, the cruise line has adapted its experiences accordingly. For example, on MSC Bellissima’s cruises from Tokyo, Japan, to Busan, South Korea, passengers can go on excursions to Gamcheon, to see what life in a typical Korean village is like and sample local delicacies, such as bulgogi and bibimbap. Explora Journeys, MSC Group’s luxury brand, is taking a similar approach. For instance, as part of a cruise in the Caribbean and Central America, guests will be able to take ‘The Indigenous Arhuaco Discovery Journey’ to visit two indigenous villages in Colombia and immerse themselves in traditions of the Arhuaco people. They will be able to sample the cuisine, participate in a traditional ceremony and meditation, and discover the art of ‘mochila’ weaving. “At every destination, Explora Journeys will provide inspiring opportunities for guests to discover authentic cultural, historical, and culinary delights from an extraordinary perspective,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s cruise division. In its State of the Cruise Industry Outlook 2023 report, Cruise Lines International Association highlighted that multiple cruise lines are offering more immersive cruise travel opportunities and sustainable tour experiences for guests, while also scheduling longer and overnight calls in certain ports. Celestyal Cruises uses the tagline ‘Authentic Excursions’ for its Greek sailings, which include excursions that enable guests to learn more about the country’s food, culture and history. Meanwhile, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 2024 ‘In Search of the Northern Lights’ sailings will allow guests to experience the Sami culture when they call in at Alta, Norway, so they can learn how the country’s indigenous people live and thrive. Azamara Cruises, which is well known for its ‘Destination Immersion’ itineraries, will offer numerous immersive experiences during a five-month world voyage that will take guests to the ‘Wonders of the World’. In the following pages of this special feature, we showcase some of the authentic and immersive experiences on offer for cruise guests in ports and destinations around the world. 172 Photo: MSC Rights On a MSC cruise to Falmouth, Jamaica, passengers can enjoy an authentic bamboo rafting experience, including a visit to Martha Brae, a village founded in 1762 by a plantation owner
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