A cruise holiday isn’t just an opportunity to sit back, relax and tackle the all-you-can-eat buffet when the urge strikes (I mean, it can be just this if that’s what you want), but it can also provide a wonderful opportunity to broaden your horizons, try something new, explore fascinating cultures and enrich your mind, heart and soul. Amongst Caribbean island-hopping itineraries, many cruise lines offer special journeys which provide cultural voyages around the globe.

The Best Enrichment Cruises

Whether you’re looking to indulge your passion for history and Renaissance culture or wish to expand your culinary expertise by seeking out local tricks, tips and flavours, there’s an enrichment cruise for your tastes and interests.

So, to celebrate these rewarding journeys of discovery, we have selected five of the very best enrichment cruises currently offered by the world’s leading lines.

Jazz at Sea

Cunard – Queen Mary 2, Transatlantic, 25 October 2016

Cunard is set to host their third Jazz at Sea cruise this October, with a stronger line up than ever before. The seven-night cruise from New York to Southampton will play host to Grammy Award-winning artists, Gregory Porter and Dee Dee Bridgewater (she’s actually grabbed three of the awards). The two legendary artists will be performing exclusively for guests of the Queen Mary 2, running through their extensive repertoires.

With a strong jazz theme running throughout the cruise, the itinerary also includes gala balls, spectacular shows and on-topic, expert-led lectures. Ideal for those with a passion for jazz, this cruise provides a unique opportunity to get closer to some of the genre’s biggest names and delve into some of the most interesting chapters of music history.

Book your cabin aboard the Jazz at Sea cruise

Food Heroes Cruises

P&O Cruises – Ventura, Iberia, 30 October 2016

P&O Cruises know just how much on-board dining means to cruise guests, and have gone to huge lengths to ensure that their cruises offer unmatched culinary journeys. Central to this dedication is the Food Heroes programme, in which the line invites a selection of the world’s best-loved chefs to star on-board their fleet – offer cooking guidance, advice and inspiration.

Although the likes of James Martin, Marco Pierre White and Mary Berry have featured aboard the fleet in the past year; we reckon the pick of the kitchen bunch is Atul Kochhar, the critically-acclaimed, Indian-born chef. Kochhar’s modern take on Indian dishes has won him fans around the world. His Sindhu restaurants aboard the P&O Cruises fleet provide a fusion between traditional and modern Indian cuisines.

Book your cabin aboard the Food Heroes cruise

Explore the World

Fred. Olsen Cruises – Black Watch, The Whole World, 8 January 2017

Have you got a couple of months to spare? And the thirst to explore the furthest stretches of the planet? Fred. Olsen Cruises’ exceptional round-the-world cruise aboard the laid-back Black Watch is the perfect chance to immerse yourself in countless cultures, visiting almost every country imaginable.

Have you got a lengthy list of must-visit countries and cities? Tick a load off in one fell swoop aboard this amazing round-trip from Southampton, visiting over 20 different nations across six different continents. As you are carried from one leg of the cruise to the next in the utmost luxury and comfort, you’ll realise it has never been easier to visit Christ the Redeemer and the Pyramids in a single trip.

Book your cabin aboard this Around the World cruise

Marine Science Discovery

Celebrity Cruises – Selected Itineraries, the Caribbean

Celebrity Cruises are dedicated to protecting and preserving the world’s oceans, and have employed the help of marine scientist, Dr Ellen Prager to help in their quest. Across selected sailings, Dr Prager will be helping Celebrity Cruises guests understand the underwater world, and how delicate the marine ecosystem is. Prager and Celebrity Cruises hope that sharing information about protecting the world’s oceans can help encourage more aqua activists in the future.

A highlight of an Ocean Discoveries cruise with the doc is the Atlantis Submarine Expedition. Guests are invited on-board a state-of-the-art submarine to submerge deep under the surface of the sea and explore the underwater world, experiencing the joys of passing shoals of tropical fish.

Wine Tours with Will Lyons

Cunard – Queen Victoria, Spain and Portugal, 1 June 2018

We all love a tipple or two on holiday, but how much do we know about the wine we are supping in the restaurants, bars and lounges of the ships we’re sailing aboard? The seven-night Queen Victoria cruise to Spain and Portugal at the start of June 2018 gives you the chance to learn a thing or two about the nectar of the grape.

Award-winning wine writer Will Lyons will be featured on-board the majestic liner providing expert insights into the world of wine. Alongside his official talks, Lyons will likely be found inspecting the ship’s wine offerings, providing pairing and tasting tips for those who need it most. With an unbeatable nose for wine, Will could take your appreciation for the vine to the next level.

And the ship calls in at a number of handy locations, so you can continue your wine exploration on foot – visiting leading vineyards and wineries.

Book a cabin aboard the Wine Tours cruise

If none of these cruises inspire you, there’s a huge range of deals aboard other itineraries at great prices if you book with Cruise1st UK. To find your perfect cruise, visit our homepage or call us today on 0808 2746 777.