The best way to experience another culture? Taste the food, of course. We’ve rounded up some of the best — and most delicious — foodie experiences you can have on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Hope you packed your appetite.
Satisfy your taste buds as you experience the best of Old San Juan on a small group walking tour with a local guide.
Credit: Royal Caribbean
Take a walking tour of Puerto Rico’s capital city, then learn to make an authentic Mojito and whip up some mofongo, a traditional Puerto Rican meal with plantain, red beans, white rice and pulled chicken with creole sauce.
Find it in: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Get there: On these Caribbean cruises
Graycliff Chocolatier surrounds you with delicious chocolate confections.
Credit: Royal Caribbean
If you’ve cruised to the Bahamas before, you may think you’ve seen the best of Nassau. Think again. This behind-the-scenes tour of the famous Graycliff chocolate factory lets you suit up in coveralls to see firsthand how regional cacao beans are processed and made into tasty chocolate. Then you’ll try your hand at creating your own chocolate delights, which will be packed in a special gift box for you to take home.
Find it in: Nassau, Bahamas
Get there: On these Caribbean cruises
Create a variety of authentic salsas and two margaritas while swaying to soulful sounds of salsa music.
Credit: Royal Caribbean
Get your groove on in the kitchen: Learn to make several tasty types of salsa (think tangy green salsa, mango and melon salsa, and more) as well as two kinds of margaritas—all while shaking your hips to salsa music. Sample some local culinary creations, then hang out on the beach or at the pool.
Find it in: Cozumel, Mexico
Get There: On these Western Caribbean cruises
Your tour is an exclusive and personalized culinary experience beyond the shops and luaus, past the main streets and hotels.
Credit: Royal Caribbean
Experience a “progressive brunch,” visiting three private homes in different neighborhoods of Kona and enjoying a special course of local seasonal specialties at each residence.
Find it in: Kailua Kona, Hawaii
Get there: On these Hawaii and transpacific cruises
Savor indigenous delicacies, such as fresh salmon dishes, grilled halibut and seasonal herbs and vegetables.
Credit: Royal Caribbean
Taste the freshest seafood imaginable during this visit to a rustic Alaskan kitchen. A fisherwoman and wilderness chef will teach you the secrets of fishing, preserving and cooking fish like salmon and halibut before you grill your own catch-of-the-day over a custom-made wood grill.
Find it in: Icy Strait Point, Alaska
Get There: On these Alaskan cruises
Savor a delectable selection of the region’s finest delicacies.
Credit: Royal Caribbean
For foodies, there’s nothing quite like a Vietnamese cuisine — with Eastern flavors and spices and a touch of French influence, meals are balanced, fresh and flavorful. During this tour, you’ll take a gastronomic adventure through Hoi An’s Old Town, learn about the spice trade beginnings, and discover techniques and local ingredients during a culinary demonstration and tasting by a skilled local chef.
Find it in: Hue/Danang (Chan May Port), Vietnam
Get there: On these Asian cruises
Tantalize your taste buds on a delicious gourmet tour of the best foods, liquors and wines in Marlborough.
Credit: Royal Caribbean
Take a gourmet tour of arguably the most delicious area of New Zealand, visiting the Prenzel tasting room for liquors and schnapps, the Spy Valley Winery, and the Makana chocolate factory, tasting your way through all the incredible souvenir options.
Find it in: Picton, New Zealand
Get there: On these cruises
Enjoy a day spent savoring Sorrento’s incredible flavors on a guided tour of the renowned Villa Massa liqueur factory, complete with a limoncello tasting.
Credit: Royal Caribbean
Learn how Sorrento’s flavorful lemons are used to make limoncello, a lemon-based liqueur, as you tour the famous Villa Massa liqueur factory and sprawling lemon groves. And yes, you’ll get to taste the sweet and zesty drink along with some homemade biscuits.
Find it in: Naples (Capri), Italy
Get there: On these Mediterranean cruises
Learn the art of Turkish cuisine as you prepare traditional dishes.
Credit: Royal Caribbean
Visit a Turkish country market, or “pazar,” with the best tour guide imaginable: a local chef. You’ll pick out fresh veggies, local olives, cheeses and homemade spreads to create your own traditional Turkish feast, complimented by Turkish wine or beer.
Find it in: Bodrum, Turkey
Get there: On these cruises
Is your mouth watering yet? Satisfy your appetite by exploring all of Royal Caribbean’s culinary adventures.
