Excursion Society Goes Beyond the Ordinary

Shore excursions, which take cruise passengers off their ships to experience local attractions and culture, are a highlight of any cruise. They range from snorkeling adventures in the Caribbean, to dog sledding in Alaska, to museum tours in the great port cities of Europe and more.

A year ago, Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates launched a unique shore excursion program called the Excursion Society. This popular program offers exceptional shore excursions exclusively to its members – cruise guests who seek truly distinctive experiences while on shore.

Consider some of the on-shore experiences being offered by the Excursion Society during 2008:
· Step off the ship in Monte Carlo, Monaco, for a special tour focused on one of its local delicacies: olives and wine. After traveling to Grasse, you’ll learn to make authentic black olive tapenade. Later, in the heart of the village of St. Paul, you’ll enjoy sampling local wines in a medieval cellar.
· Near Livorno, Italy, travel through the Tuscan hills to Chianti wine country, passing castles that date from the 1400s. Savor the flavors of Tuscany with an authentic Italian cooking class. You’ll create three types of pasta and learn about sauces that enhance them. Then, it will be time to sample your work, along with other Tuscan dishes, deserts and wines.
· After docking at Christchurch, New Zealand, board the TranzAlpine Express for a rail journey through the mountains. You’ll return to Christchurch by private motor coach, winding through stunning scenery and driving across the Canterbury Plains. On the way, you’ll stop at a working dairy farm to enjoy a sumptuous lunch.
· In the blue waters of the lagoon at the French Polynesian island of Bora Bora, view beautiful rays and black-tipped sharks. Swim and snorkel in the clear water before visiting a private islet for a barbeque lunch. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to develop useful skills for island life, such as tying a pareo, opening coconuts and playing the ukulele.

If you would like to experience shore excursions that go beyond the ordinary, ask your travel professional about joining the Excursion Society.