Food glorious food: on-shore culinary adventures for cruisers

By Sue Bryant

One of the joys of travel is sampling the local cuisine in the destinations you visit. From biodynamic Greek wines to fresh Icelandic langoustine, here are some of the culinary delights you’ll be able to try on Saga’s many popular and exciting extra shore excursions, many of which have a food and drink theme. (These are paid for excursions in addition to the wide selection of included on shore excursions.)

Tapas in Andalucia

From Malaga, head into the Andalucian countryside to learn more about local culinary traditions. You’ll visit Colmenar, one of the pueblos blancos (white towns) for a tasting of churros – sugary strands of doughnut dunked in chocolate.

Suitably fuelled, you’ll continue to the village of Alfarnate, surrounded by silvery olive groves. Visit a traditional olive mill to learn about production of 'liquid gold' before heading to a family homestead. Here, you’ll learn about Spanish country living, culture and food, with a chance to taste traditional tapas.

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Portugal and Spain City Explorer

Wachau wines

Austria’s Wachau Valley is one of the most beautiful stretches of the Danube, the river carving its path through steep hills, with immaculate vineyards lining the slopes. This is where crisp, fresh-tasting Riesling, Chardonnay and Grüner Veltliner are produced, so join a tour to taste five of the finest vintages.

You’ll learn about wine production in the Wachau, which was introduced some 2,000 years ago by the Romans, and the unique terroir that produces such delectable wines. Back on board, soak up the glorious scenery as your Wachau Valley to Vienna cruise continues.

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Scenic Gems of the Danube

Christmas and New Year on Spirit of the Danube

Gin in Gibraltar

When you call at Gibraltar for a day of exploring this extraordinary British Overseas Territory you will discover that, being an outpost of Britain, Gibraltar naturally has a strong tradition of gin distilling.

So why not join a tour to sample its wares? You’ll learn all about the art of distilling and the botanicals that make Gibraltar’s gin unique. Then there’s a chance to sample several different gins.

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Tales of the Mediterranean

Make your own paella

Paella originated in Valencia, made from the Bomba rice that grows in the paddy fields outside the city. Learn the science of paella-making for yourself at a hands-on workshop in the suburb of Algirós, which has a superb market bursting with fruit and vegetables, cheese and hams, spices and baked goods.

Once you’ve explored the market, it’s time to cook. A professional chef will guide you through the process. You’ll also learn to make the perfect Spanish omelette and coca de llanda, a traditional Valencian sponge cake made from lemon and olive oil. Finally, sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

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Moroccan Sights and Spanish Cities

Music and wine in Mykonos

Mykonos is famed for its glamour and beaches – but what about its wine? On a wine-tasting tour with a difference you can be driven across the island’s arid interior, with views across the sparkling sea to Delos in the distance and stop at the organic Vioma vineyard.

Here, owner Nikos Asimomytis will tell you all about his biodynamic wines, free of chemicals or pesticides. What’s more, the vines here flourish, Nikos says, thanks to speakers dotted around the vineyard playing classical music. Studies show that plants respond to this and you can judge for yourself when you taste his delicious reds, white, and dessert wine.

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Ancient Greece and Sicily

Shellfish in Croatia’s oyster capital

While showy Dubrovnik gets all the attention, sleepy Ston along the Croatian coast is often overlooked. But if you love shellfish, make a point of joining this tour to Croatia’s oyster capital.

Ston is surrounded by stone walls, built between the 14th and 16th centuries, which snake for more than four miles over the hills, considered the longest defensive structure in the world. Shimmering salt pans are dotted around the town, while oysters and mussels are grown in the clear, sheltered water of the bay. You’ll head out on a local boat to the oyster and mussel beds to learn about the whole growing process before a tasting of these delicacies, harvested fresh from the sea that day.

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Charms of Croatia and the Mediterranean

A taste of Iceland

You’ve probably chosen a cruise to Iceland to gaze in wonder at geysers, glaciers and fiery volcanoes, but don’t overlook the local cuisine. While you’ll no doubt hear about the delights, or not, of the famous fermented shark, Iceland is also known for its delicious seafood.

Join a tour from Reykjavik that takes you across Iceland’s wild, volcanic landscapes to the coastal town of Stokksnes, distinguished by its black sand beaches. You’ll learn about the local belief in elves and trolls, or huldufólk; surveys show that more than half the population of Iceland believes that these 'hidden people' either do or might exist. Your destination, though, is a local restaurant famed for its langoustine, harvested from the waters here. Feast on fresh-caught crustaceans, their tender tails sautéed in garlic and butter, served with a squeeze of lemon, new potatoes, dill pickles and salad.

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Iceland Explorer

A Romanian feast

Discover the delights of Bucharest, Romania’s capital, and learn about the country's cuisine along the way. You’ll tour the city’s grand boulevards and see the opulent Palace of Parliament, one of the world’s largest buildings.

Next, it’s into the atmospheric Old Town to taste some Romanian specialities. Typical dishes include zacusca and bean paste salad – a spread made from aubergines and peppers – cream of vegetable soup, a herby chicken stew and apple strudel. After lunch, there’s time to wander the cobbled streets and stop for coffee in a traditional café.

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From Budapest to the Black Sea

Pass the Port

No trip on the Douro in Portugal is complete without a port tasting. On a river cruise you’ll see immaculate vineyards curving around the contours of the hills as you sail along the beautiful Douro Valley, as well as traditional rabelo boats which, historically, used to transport barrels of wine on the treacherous journey along the turbulent river from the vineyards to Porto itself.

The Douro has been tamed by a series of locks now and the barrels travel by road but the whole port production story is no less romantic. The town of Vila Nova de Gaia, on the south bank of the Douro facing Porto, is where all the grand port lodges are based. Visit the Cálem cellar to see how the wine is stored and matured, and to sample two different types of port in the tasting room.

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Douro Explorer

Aalborg’s famous BeerWalk

Beer and Denmark are inextricably linked; this is one of Europe’s top beer-loving nations and the home of the famous Carlsberg, after all. If you’re a beer drinker, don’t miss this guided pub stroll in Aalborg. There’s an entire street here, Jomfru Ane Gade, dedicated to pubs, clubs and restaurants, which you’ll visit on your tour of three of the town’s best watering holes.

Learn about the vast range of speciality beers enjoyed in Denmark and taste six different brews in a souvenir glass bearing the Aalborg Beerwalk logo, which is yours to keep.

The final stop on the tour is Søgaard’s Bryghus where a classic Danish treat awaits: an open sandwich of dark rye bread topped with herring and curry salad. Follow this in the time-honoured manner with a Rød Aalborg Akvavit chaser.

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Gems of Denmark and Scandinavia

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