On these theme cruises you can get a wine education. Enjoy fine sups and hear from winemakers and other experts, including at lectures, shore excursions and wine tastings.
Check out these special cruises designed for wine lovers.
Un-Cruise Adventures: Sipping and glaciers combine on this seven-day Alaska cruise aboard the 84-passenger sailing yacht Safari Endeavour. Onboard the June 15 sailing, round-trip from Juneau, will be Kevin Correll of Barrage Cellars boutique winery in Woodinville, Wash. The focus is on the vineyards of Washington State, along with fine barrels from France.
AmaWaterways: This river cruise line has a whole series of wine cruises featuring noted vintners — 17 total this year. Most of the sailings are in the fall and spring, including on the Danube, Mosel, Rhine, Mosel, Douro and Seine rivers. Onboard the "Celebration of Wine" cruises, top wine experts including Peter Marks, Master of Wine, Constellation Brands, one of only 24 Masters of Wine in the U.S., lecture and lead tastings on a Paris & Normandy cruise embarking November 13.
Avalon Waterways: Wine Appreciation Cruises, including eight itineraries on the Danube and in France next year, are designed to be wine-education adventures. A wine authority is onboard each cruise to offer expertise, tastings are held at local wineries, and a special dinner is offered with food and wine pairings. Itineraries include 16-day Paris to the Cote d'Azur and 11-day Burgundy & Provence, both in March and October.
SeaDream: Four cruises in Europe in the fall on this line's intimate, 112-passenger yachts, get you to high quality vineyards where you spend time with winemakers – such as at a dinner with the owners of Portugal's oldest table wine producer, José Maria da Fonseca. Activities shipboard – run by world-renowned wine experts – include both wine tastings and master classes – with opportunity to take a blind-tasting test and receive a SeaDream wine diploma based on your knowledge.
Crystal Cruises: Wine & Food Festival theme cruises take place several times a year, including on an upcoming 12-day sailing on the Crystal Symphony from Singapore to Bali, embarking January 15. Wine educations are onboard – on the Asia sailing Fongyee Walker and Edward Ragg, co-founders of Dragon Phoenix Fine Wine Consulting, Beijing's first and fully independent wine consulting and education service.
Norwegian Pearl: This Norwegian Cruise Line ship is the scene for a Wine, Dine & Music theme cruise, organized by Flying Dutchmen Travel. The five-day Bahamas sailing, embarking on October 25, will have onboard winemakers and sommeliers from the Kendall-Jackson family of wines, educating guests about pairing wine and food. Others onboard include celebrity Chef John Ash and Grammy Award-winning duo America.
American Cruise Lines: Cruise for a week on the Columbia & Snake rivers with Regina Daigneault, a Master Sommelier and wine pairing expert. Visit vineyards including Barnard Griffin and Domaine Pouillon. The sailing is October 18 on the 120-passenger paddlewheeler Queen of the West, from Clarkston, Wash. to Portland. There are also other wine cruises on the small ship line's calendar including on the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands in the fall and spring.
Paul Gauguin Cruises: Cruise through paradise in the Society Islands and Tuamotus while hearing from Daniel Baron, winemaker at Sonoma's Silver Oak Cellars. The 10-day cruise on the Paul Gauguin, embarks from Papeete, Tahiti on December 3. Baron will lead lectures and wine tastings.
Windstar Cruises: Explore the wines of Spain on an eight-day cruise on the Wind Surf, embarking on November 15. Sailing from Barcelona to Lisbon, passengers will have opportunity to sip their way through regions such as Andalucía and Catalonia, visiting places including Jerez de la Frontera, the "Sherry Capital of the World," and the Museo de Vino in Mijas, Spain. Two complimentary themed excursions are included in the cruise fare. Offering expert commentary onboard will be Stephen Metzler and Almudena de Llaguno, founders of Classical Wines.
Oceania Cruises: Food and Wine Trails is hosting several theme cruises on Oceania ships. For instance, vintners from New York's Paumanok Vineyards and Maryland's Black Ankle Vineyards will be on the Insignia on a 10-day Barcelona to Lisbon cruise, embarking August 5. Group activities include private parties and tastings and a winemakers dinner.
Contributed by Fran Golden, USA TODAY
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