Windstar Cruises partners with winemakers for themed sailings featuring curated tastings and food pairings. Photo / Windstar
Cruise lines are increasingly going all out to quench wine lovers’ thirst for travel, rolling out sailings with onboard tasting masterclasses and vineyard-focused itineraries, writes Tamara Hinson.
Here are six truly corking cruises.
Celebrity’s wine-related offerings include three, five and seven-bottle packages in classic or premium formats. Passengers choose their wines onboard, or can opt for bespoke options, combining affordable wines with something more decadent (such as Celebrity’s grand cru champagnes).
Jan Sorensen, vice-president of food and beverage, is especially proud of a certain sauvignon. “Our 350 wines include a Caymus ‘Special Selection’ cabernet sauvignon – a wine so esteemed that legendary wine critic Robert Parker said that few wineries can match the winemaker’s consistency,” Sorensen says.
Add onboard Cellar Master tastings, wine-pairing workshops and the cruise line’s haul of 18 awards at Wine Spectator’s 2023 Restaurant Awards, and you can’t go wrong.
Cunard was the first cruise line to offer wannabe sommeliers the chance to gain WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust) qualifications, and although they’re no longer offered, there are endless opportunities for self-education, whether it’s with champagne flights or cruises to famous wine regions (we recommend the Bordeaux sailing which features a tour of the Chateau Lafite Rothschild estate).
Wine menus are categorised by body and dryness, with biodynamic, organic and vegan options. Finally, there’s the tech. “We use Coravin wine preservation systems, allowing us to pour wine without removing the cork,” Edward Dieusaert, Cunard’s food and beverage director, says.
“This means passengers can enjoy individual glasses of our Legendary Wines of the World collection without compromising bottle quality.” Or spending their entire salary on a single bottle…
In 2026, this French river cruising line’s cruises for grape lovers include new wine-themed cruises along France’s Saone and Rhone rivers. Passengers will visit various legendary estates, sampling the grand crus of Tain l’Hermitage and hearty reds from Saint-Remy-de-Provence.
We’re particularly excited about the four-night wine-themed Burgundy sailing in November 2026, timed to coincide with Beaujolais Nouveau Day, held to celebrate the first release of beaujolais nouveau wine. Expect fireworks, fiestas and lots of wine.
Increasingly, passengers simply want to sample wines from the regions they’re sailing through – something Norwegian Cruise Line has cottoned onto.
“We’re seeing more requests for wines which mirror itineraries, whether it’s Greek Assyrtiko or Italian Super Tuscan wines,” Gary Anslow at Norwegian Cruise Line says.
Sailings include wine-focused cruises through lesser-known wine regions, and the cruise line regularly consults world-renowned winemaker Michael Mondavi to keep its selection current. Onboard “meet the winemaker” sessions provide passengers with new perspectives on the wine world, and we’re not talking about bog-standard sommeliers.
Recent guest oenologists (wine experts to you and me) include designer and vineyard-owner Salvatore Ferragamo, whose most sought-after creations include his Bolle di Borro sparkling wine. Fashion and fizz – what’s not to love?
Love a wine-soaked cruise? In 2026 Windstar’s sailings include the seven-day Treasures of the Greek Isles with Orin Swift Winery cruise, and the eight-day Scenic Alaska with J Vineyards and Winery itinerary.
Don’t know your pinot noir from your pinot gris? Consider the Greek Isles sailing, accompanied by award-winning avant-garde Californian winemaker and allround expert Dave Phinney, whose bestselling wines include ones named Machete and Prisoner. Passengers will also get the chance to taste wines paired with dishes prepared by chefs who’ve bagged James Beard awards.
Even the most discerning wine snob will be impressed by Oceania’s passion for the mighty grape. Onboard sommeliers serve some of the world’s rarest wines and excursions on the various wine-themed cruises include decadent lunches at some seriously swanky wine estates.
But that’s not all. “Our Rare Wine Collection has some of the planet’s most prestigious wines,” beverage services director Daniela Oancea says. “This includes wines from estates such as Chateau Margaux, Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Cheval Blanc, with Napa Valley wines such as Opus One.” Hit the jackpot in the casino? Consider offloading your winnings onboard with a bottle of Napa Valley’s Harlan Estate Red Blend – a snip at $2375.
For a grape escape, book one of Princess Cruises’ wine-themed cruises. They’re not just about estate visits, but about gaining a deeper understanding of wine.
Take the Oregon sailing which includes a visit to the wine store specialising in Pacific Northwest wines, or the Canadian cruise offering passengers the chance to pair local wines with delicious cuisine at Butchart Gardens’ Blue Poppy restaurant.
What’s more, the onboard wine selection was curated by Doug Frost, one of only four people worldwide to hold both Master of Wine and Master Sommelier titles.
Wondering which ship to sail on? Forget about cabin sizes and capacity – simply choose one with a Vines Wine Bar onboard. They’re the setting for regular wine tastings, and with 100 biodynamic and rare vintages you’re unlikely to taste the same wine twice. Unless you want to.