The New Year is rolling in, and countless vacationers are already looking forward to the fun cruises and exotic destinations that they’ll be enjoying later in the year. But cruising doesn’t have to be just about fantastic food and lounging around. In fact, year after year, plenty of cruisers find the time to combine relaxation with opportunities to grow personally and learn a little about pretty much any topic under the sun.
Enrichment programs have been a staple aboard luxury lines like Cunard and Oceania for years. At the same time, more mainstream cruise lines have long offered modest library facilities and limited classes in dancing, cooking, fitness, and more. As more cruisers seek to expand their horizons, however, ships are offering lectures and classes on a variety of subjects, ranging from history and language, to art and wine tasting. The best part is that these enrichment experiences are far from boring and can easily be incorporated into an unforgettable, fun-filled cruise.
Princess and other lines offer lectures on a broad range of topics on its cruises. Speakers are drawn from experts in fields such as archeology, cultural history, marine biology, and countless other disciplines. In addition, the line’s ScholarShip@Sea program offers passengers the opportunity to take fun classes in hobby-oriented pursuits, such as ceramics and photography, as well as technical subjects such as navigation. Likewise, Royal Caribbean offers classes on topics like dance, wine tasting, and cooking. The cruise line also offers instruction in languages, as well as jewelry-making, scrapbooking, and other crafts.
In addition, every cruise line offers a range of shore excursions, many of which enable participants to delve into the history, culture, or the ecology of their favorite destinations.
When you find yourself with a few extra hours during your next cruise, why not spend the time learning something new through one of the ship’s enrichment programs or educational shore excursions?
Consider it a New Year’s resolution!
