43 range of Caribbean and South American destinations, including Aruba, Barbados, Curacao, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico and Puerto Rico. “Allura’s inaugural season was designed to entice curious world travellers,” says Worth, explaining that destinations were chosen to allow both new and returning guests to “reconnect with well-loved favourites and discover new ones for the first time”. Oceania Cruises has a strong focus on delivering high-quality culinary experiences, so it has developed ‘Go Local’, ‘Go Green’ and ‘Culinary Discovery Tour’ excursions to provide guests with a chance to dive deeper into the local culture and cuisine in a variety of different destinations. “For example, the ‘Culinary Discovery Tour’ in Barcelona, Spain, offers guests the chance to browse the stalls at La Boqueria and Santa Caterina Market whilst accompanied by one of our talented chef instructors from the onboard culinary centre,” says Worth. “They will then head back to the ship for a Catalan cooking lesson using local ingredients.” Culinary excursions aim to blend education and cuisine with immersive experiences that give guests the opportunity to gain an authentic point of view into life around the world. Guests calling at Saint George’s Port in Grenada, for instance, will learn about the history of the ‘island of spice’ by visiting a nutmeg manufacturer, hearing about other spices farmed on the island and sampling premium rums made with local sugarcane. Meanwhile, in Rijeka, Croatia, guests will be able to take part in a Croatian Hinterland excursion to explore Bajer Lake and Vrelo cave, sample homemade liqueurs and honey in the hamlet of Lic, and enjoy lunch made using farm-totable ingredients, such as smoked meats, cheeses and vegetables, in Bribir village. In addition, guests can choose from a range of excursions exploring local history and attractions. For example, in Ravenna, Italy, they can see different parts of the Unesco World Heritage Site, including the sixth-century Mausoleum of Theodoric, ancient Byzantine mosaics at the Sant’Apollinare Nuovo Basilica and the tomb of medieval poet Dante. Meanwhile, in Oranjestad, Aruba, guests seeking the thrill of adventure can explore the ocean depths in a submarine or take a ferry across to a private island where they can snorkel, visit the waterpark, zipline and enjoy a lunch buffet. For guests seeking a more private and unique experience, Oceania Cruises also offers exclusive excursions for small groups where they are provided with a personal driver and allowed to design their own itinerary based on their own interests. Guests visiting Saint George’s Port in Grenada will be able to learn about the history of spice farming on the island Photo: Adobe Stock/Nancy Pauwels
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