5 free foodie experiences you need to try

A Regent Seven Seas® cruise is perfect for seeing the world in style and, with over 2000 free shore experiences on offer, it’s the only truly all-inclusive luxury cruise line. While you can find luxurious suites on board, fine dining and culinary classes at sea; the shore experiences are also a real draw. From learning how to make tiramisu on a traditional farm in Italy, to dining by a salmon creek in Alaska, we’ve handpicked a few of our favourite free foodie moments during a Regent Seven Seas® cruise.

T’ai chi, Dim Sum and Tea in Hong Kong

Disembark at Hong Kong during our Far East Asian Adventure for a fascinating tour filled with t’ai chi, dim sum and tea, three ancient components of Chinese wellness. Start by learning more about t’ai chi, the elegant 12th-Century martial art renowned for improving muscle tone and breathing. Up next is a traditional meal of dim sum, a type of steamed snack that dates back to the Qing Dynasty and includes buns, pastries and dumplings filled with meat and vegetables — enjoy them spicy, savoury or sweet. Wind down at the end of the tour with a cup of tea — full of essential oils and vitamins and a key part of Chinese folk medicine. You’ll discover that tea is more of a ritual here than simply a drink.

Farmhouse Culinary Experience in Rome, Italy

Following a picturesque 30-minute journey through the countryside you’ll arrive at a traditional Italian farmhouse, meet the owners and get to work in your cooking class — learning to prepare legendary Italian dishes such as traditional fettuccine with ragù sauce and tiramisu cake. After your class, you’ll be tucking into an authentic four-course lunch complete with local liquors and fine wine, before kicking back under the farm’s shady fruit trees. You can indulge in this wonderful rustic experience on our Navigate The World cruise.

Gold Creek Salmon Bake in Juneau, Alaska

Step from your ship onto the pier in Juneau and head for a mouth-watering al fresco meal at Gold Creek Salmon Bake, a hot spot in Alaska for over 30 years. This tour is available on our Bears, Whales & Alaska In Style cruise. You’ll be dining under a sheltered domed canopy beside pretty Salmon Creek, tucked away in south-east Alaska’s leafy rainforest. Enjoy an incredible all-you-can-eat feast, featuring everything from Cheechako Chicken to Gold Rush Potatoes and Clam Chowder to Chilkoot Baked Beans, with scrumptious blueberry cake for dessert. Unwind to the sound of a local musician and soak up views over the pretty waterfall, before ending the tour by roasting marshmallows over a crackling campfire.

Pizza-making School at a Winery in Rome, Italy

Another authentic Italian foodie outing from our Navigate The World cruise is this pizza-making tour, in beautiful countryside on the outskirts of Rome. You’ll be creating your own pizza for lunch at the Casale Marchese estate, built on two ancient Roman cisterns and owned by the Carletti family since 1713. Learn more about the region’s 2000-year winemaking history as you look around the winery wing of the estate, home to over 10 varieties of grape, before sampling these yourself — pair your piping-hot pizza with the finest Casale Marchese wines, from zesty Frascati to fruity Merlot, and a selection of delicacies including bruschetta and locally-produced ham.

Cruise George Inlet and a Crab Feast in Ketchikan, Alaska

A top tour option on our Bears, Whales & Alaska In Style adventure is this cruise and crab feast around George Inlet. Depart Ketchikan Harbour for a scenic coastal drive — passing an old sawmill, canneries and totem poles en route — before arriving at warm and homely George Inlet Lodge. From here, board a pontoon boat for a 90-minute cruise along Alaska's Inside Passage and the stunning George Inlet, and discover a silver mine, snow-tinged mountains in Mahoney Glacial Cirque and 2000-foot waterfalls. After crossing the fjord to a secluded estuary and seeing Tongass National Forest — the largest temperate rainforest on Earth — you’ll gain a quick insight into crab cracking before an exquisite Dungeness crab meal back at the lodge.