As far as luxury excursions go, you can’t do much better than a helicopter flight in Antarctica with Scenic Eclipse © Nacho Gutierrez
Helicopter excursion, Snow Hill Island
At the start of the Antarctic cruise season in November, guests on board select Scenic Eclipse expeditions can take an unforgettable helicopter excursion to Snow Hill Island.
The super-quiet Airbus H130 aircraft whisk you to a landing spot on the island, where a short hike led by the polar Discovery team takes you to a spectacular vantage point for observing a vast breeding colony of Emperor penguins.
Snow Hill Island is surrounded by thick pack ice in the Weddell Sea, which makes it inaccessible to most expedition ships and would involve an arduous 10-kilometre hike to reach the colony.
Available on Scenic Eclipse’s 13-day Antarctica in Depth voyage departing 24 November 2027.
AzAmazing Evening, Gibraltar
Several of Azamara’s eight- to 12-night voyages in 2027 feature calls to Gibraltar, where the cruise line presents one of its famous (free) AzAmazing Evenings – a candlelit concert in the mystical St Michael’s Cave.
Set deep within the Rock of Gibraltar, the performance transforms a natural wonder into a cultural stage, bringing together local musicians, choirs and community groups in a setting that most visitors would never experience in this way.
AzAmazing Evenings are created exclusively for Azamara guests and are only possible because of the line’s commitment to extended time in port and late departures, allowing guests to experience destinations long after the day‑trippers have left.
When in Rome
Let Crystal’s experts take you on a stress-free, privileged access journey that showcases Rome’s most treasured art and archeological landmarks.
Starting with priority entrance to the world-renowned Vatican Museums, highlights include the Sobieski Gallery, the Hall of the Immaculate Conception and the magnificent Raphael Rooms, with access to a special section not typically open to the public.
After visiting St Peter’s Basilica, a three-course lunch will be served at an elegant, first-class restaurant.
The day-long tour culminates with dedicated entrance access to the Colosseum arena where gladiators fought, providing 360-degree views of the amphitheatre.
Available on Crystal Symphony’s nine-night voyage from Valletta to Barcelona, departing 18 May 2028.
Chef and winemaker for a day
Guests onboard Oceania Allura’s 10-day sailing from Trieste to Barcelona, departing 7 November 2027, shouldn’t miss the chance to visit the award-winning winery Vinakoper, a short drive from the historic – and refreshingly untouristy – port of Koper, Slovenia.
In a fun, hands-on class at Vinakoper, a leading chef will demonstrate how to prepare traditional dishes from the Istrian Peninsula, using local ingredients such as seafood, truffles and Istrian pasta.
After a multi-course lunch, the focus turns to winemaking. A master oenologist will share the basics of blending wines so you can make your own cuvée, which is then bottled and labelled for you to take home as a memento.
Wine and dine in a luxury French château
A two-day stay in beautiful Bordeaux on Regent Seven Seas Splendor’s 13-night voyage from London to Lisbon in September 2027 offers the irresistible opportunity for a leisurely exploration of an 18th-century château in France’s renowned Saint-Emilion wine region.
This exclusive evening starts with a tour of Château de Ferrand’s cellars, where you’ll learn about the estate’s terroir and grape varieties while sampling signature wines.
A multi-course dinner follows, paired with Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé wines that complement the dishes. The sommelier will add further insights into the wines’ rich heritage and production methods. Santé!
Visit Kochi Castle on a private tour with Seabourn
Japan in autumn is as spectacular as it is in cherry-blossom season and hotspots are becoming busy.
In Kochi, on Shikoku Island, Seabourn guests can take a private, chauffeur-driven tour to experience some of the prefecture’s most spectacular autumnal sites, sans crowds.
The customised journey includes a tour of Kochi Castle, a traditional bonito lunch, and an afternoon at Monet’s Garden at Marmottan.
This exquisite re-creation of Monet’s garden in Giverny is the only one of its kind in the world and reflects the artist’s reverence of Japanese art and culture that inspired Giverny in the first place.
Available on Seabourn Encore’s Tokyo round trip, departing October 23, 2027.
Learn how to make authentic empanadas in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires S.A.L.T. experience and Rio Carnival
If sought-after box Carnival’s spectacular Samba Parade aren’t enough of an enticement to jump aboard Silver Ray’s 12-day cruise from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro in February 2028, a standout Silversea S.A.L.T. experience in Buenos Aires is sure to seal the deal.
Argentinian celebrity chef Pedro Lambertini will conduct a private masterclass on everything you ever wanted to know about beef at the Quincho Santo Domingo rooftop terrace in the city’s historic San Telmo district, followed by a hands-on empanada cooking lesson.
A three-course asado barbecue lunch will be served, accompanied by premium Argentine wines, with Chef Pedro on hand to share colourful stories about his country’s remarkable culinary traditions.
When the famous expressionist died in 1944, he bequeathed all his work to the City of Oslo, and the tour showcases Munch’s long and successful career, his many eccentricities and his innovative printing techniques.
You’ll then meet the museum’s team of skilled craftsmen in the conservation department to discover how they restore old works of art and prepare masterpieces for viewing.
Available on Viking’s 15-day Viking Homelands ocean itineraries Stockholm to Bergen and vice versa; 16 departures May to August 2027.
For more information, visit Azamara, Crystal, Oceania Cruises, RSSC, Scenic, Seabourn, Silversea, Viking.
Tags: Azamara Viking Oceania Cruises Silversea overseas cruises