Cunard unveils its bucket-list shore experiences for 2027, introducing nearly 600 curated excursions across Queen Anne’s South America Discovery and Queen Victoria’s Full World Voyage. Designed to complement the itineraries, the experiences emphasize cultural immersion, historic landmarks, regional cuisine, and distinctive natural settings.
Notably, Queen Anne’s 90-night South America voyage will include 15 maiden calls and visits to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Highlights range from Rio Carnival experiences and a four-day journey to Machu Picchu to tango performances, wine tastings, and locally hosted dining in Buenos Aires. Meanwhile, Queen Victoria’s 109-night voyage will travel through destinations including Hong Kong, Sydney, and Cape Town, alongside overnight stays in New York, Los Angeles, and Singapore.
Additionally, excursions include climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge, exploring the Blue Mountains, visiting Hong Kong’s Lantau Island, ascending Table Mountain, and touring South African wine estates, positioning destination-based experiences as a central component of Cunard’s 2027 programming.
Image Credit: Cunard
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Bucket-list Cruises
- Luxury cruise itineraries centered on once-in-a-lifetime landmarks create space for premium travel products that blend transportation, exclusivity, and destination-led storytelling.
- Immersive Shore Excursions
- Curated cultural activities, local dining, and heritage tours point to new value in cruise experiences that feel personalized, authentic, and deeply connected to place.
- Extended World Voyages
- Long-duration sailings with overnight urban stays and multi-continent routes reflect growing demand for slower, high-spend travel formats that combine comfort with global exploration.
Where This Applies
- Luxury Travel
- High-end tourism providers can benefit from experience-rich packages that pair iconic destinations with refined service, cultural access, and memorable exclusivity.
- Cruise Tourism
- Cruise operators are differentiating through destination programming, turning shore experiences into a core competitive feature rather than a secondary itinerary add-on.
- Cultural Tourism
- Museums, heritage sites, culinary hosts, and local guides gain relevance as affluent travelers seek meaningful encounters with history, cuisine, and regional identity.
