Oceania Cruises Expands Its Free Land Programs for Select 2023 and 2024 Itineraries

Published - 06 June 2023, Tuesday

Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, invites travellers to explore the treasured wonders of the globe’s largest cities and unique corners through its meticulously designed Free Land Programs. At no extra cost on select 2023 sailings, and now extended into 2024 voyages, the Free Land Programs are available on 24 featured sailings reaching Africa, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and beyond.

Travellers who book by 30 June 2023, may lengthen their voyage to include immersive Pre- and Post-Cruise Land Programs with award-winning itineraries featuring more than 600 alluring destinations. Valued at up to $5,000 per stateroom, these Land Programs explore coveted places like the Cape Winelands, Taj Mahal, Jerusalem’s Old City and more.

Oceania Cruises

Free Land Program offerings have limited capacity and are subject to availability.

Highlight Land Programs include:

TOKYO: THE GREAT METROPOLIS

Destination - Tokyo, Japan

3 Nights | Pre- or Post-Cruise Tokyo, Japan

Only icons can truly encapsulate a metropolis as big and bold as Tokyo, especially ones that represent the capital’s extraordinary diversity. For a historical perspective, the 7th-century Sensoji Temple and the National Museum of Nature and Science speak volumes. The Imperial Palace bridges the past and present, as samurai warriors lived in the castle that once stood where Japan’s imperial family now resides. The ultimate view of the city and Mount Fuji in the distance is from atop Tokyo Tower, a symbol of Japan’s rebirth as an economic powerhouse.

This in-depth Tokyo programme is available as part of Oceania Cruises’ Free Land Tour Program as a pre-cruise or post-cruise offering on board Riviera’s Japanese Awakening Cruise departing 9 March 2024, 11-day voyage from Seoul to Tokyo; Land of The Rising Sun Cruise departing 20 March 2024, and 1 April 2024, 12-day voyage from Tokyo to Tokyo; and Exalted East Asia Cruise departing 13 April 2024, 15-day voyage from Tokyo to Singapore. It is additionally offered on Regatta’s North Pacific Passage Cruise departing 4 October 2023, 24-day voyage from Los Angeles to Tokyo.

RIO: A CIDADE MARAVILHOSA

Destination - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

3 Nights | Pre- or Post-Cruise Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

It’s hard not to fall in love with Rio, especially when this irrepressible city is presented so beautifully. What better introduction than seeing the highlights from every conceivable angle, including from atop Sugarloaf Mountain, which you reach via cable car. Rio is synonymous with the uber-exuberant festival Carnival, and a behind-the-scenes look divulges exactly how the outlandish floats and lavish costumes are made. Even a taste of Rio leaves you wanting more, so an entire day is devoted to independent exploration.

The Rio: A Cidade Maravilhosa programme is available as part of Oceania Cruises’ Free Land Tour Program as a pre-cruise or post-cruise offering on board Marina’s Cape Horn Mariner Cruise departing 21 January 2024, 24-day voyage from Rio de Janeiro to Santiago de Chile; Bountiful Brazil Cruise departing 5 March 2024, 10-day voyage from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro; and Incandescent Amazon Cruise departing 15 March 2024, 21-day voyage from Rio de Janeiro to Miami.

AUTHENTIC BUENOS AIRES

Destination - Lima, Peru

3 Nights | Pre- or Post-Cruise Buenos Aires, Argentina

Live like a local porteño through experiences that genuinely characterise the lifestyle. The capital’s architectural diversity becomes apparent in the boldly coloured El Caminito neighbourhood and in Casa Rosado, where President Juan Perón and his wife, Evita, famously delivered speeches from the balcony. You may pass her mausoleum in Recoleta Cemetery. The cultural importance of the tango emerges during a sultry dance performance over dinner. Porteños often spend weekends at country ranches much like the estancia where you can watch gauchos while savouring grilled asado and signature Argentine wines.

The Authentic Buenos Aires programme is available as part of Oceania Cruises’ Free Land Tour Program as a pre-cruise or post-cruise offering on board Marina’s Legendary Latin America Cruise departing 18 December 2023, 24- day voyage from Lima to Buenos Aires, and Bountiful Brazil Cruise departing 5 March 2024, 10-day voyage from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro.

CHILEAN WONDERS & WINE

Santa Rita Wines

3 Nights | Post-Cruise Santiago de Chile (San Antonio), Chile​​​​​​

Savour characteristic Chilean wines and drink in the country’s wondrous natural beauty. The foothills on the outskirts of Santiago contribute to an inland terroir that produces enviable wines, as a tasting at Viña Santa Rita confirms. With the towering Andes as a backdrop, the sky-high ski resort Portillo offers spectacular views. The watershed Battle of Chacabuco was fought nearby, leading to Chile’s independence. Colonial architecture clings to the steep hills of Valparaiso, a lovely seaport that earned a UNESCO World Heritage designation for its 19th-century urban landscape.

The Chilean Wonders & Wine programme is available as part of Oceania Cruises’ Free Land Tour Program as a post-cruise offering on board Marina’s Cape Horn Mariner Cruise departing 21 January 2024, 24-day voyage from Rio de Janeiro to Santiago de Chile. Image Credit: Santa Rita Wines

NEW ZEALAND’S NATURAL WONDERS

Auckland

3 Nights | Pre- or Post-Cruise Auckland, New Zealand

Life is noticeably different beyond Auckland’s city limits. The pace is slower, the air exudes an aura of joy and nature isn’t shy about flaunting her wonders. It won’t take long to embrace the beauty, especially in the fertile farmlands, the ideal setting to savour a flight of wines at a boutique vineyard. It’s easy to lose yourself in natural environments such as Muriwai Beach, where colonies of seabirds ride the offshore updrafts. And what a rare treat to cruise across a deep cavern lake eerily illuminated by thousands of glowworms.

The New Zealand’s Natural Wonders programme is available as part of Oceania Cruises’ Free Land Tour Program as a pre-cruise or post-cruise offering on board Regatta’s Maori Heritage Cruise departing 8 February 2024, 16-day voyage Sydney to Auckland, and Dazzling Oceania Cruise departing 24 February 2024, 15-day voyage Auckland to Sydney. Image Credit: Liam Spicer

CULTURAL SYDNEY

Botanic Gardens of Sydney

3 Nights | Pre- or Post-Cruise Sydney, Australia

Become immersed in Sydney’s extraordinary Aboriginal culture for a glimpse into an ancient lifestyle that still flourishes today. Take the ferry to Goat Island and discover its significance to the Aboriginal people, who own it once again. Wander about the Royal Botanic Garden and the national park Ku-ring-gai Chase for an understanding of herbal medicines and how the indigenous people nurtured the land. Deepen your insight even further by browsing Aboriginal artwork and listening to elders tell spiritual Dreamtime stories.

The Cultural Sydney programme is available as part of Oceania Cruises’ Free Land Tour Program as a pre-cruise or post-cruise offering on board Regatta’s New Zealand Discovery Cruise departing 25 January 2024, 14-day voyage Sydney to Sydney; Maori Heritage Cruise departing 8 February 2024, 16-day voyage Sydney to Auckland; and Dazzling Oceania Cruise departing 24 February 2024, 15-day voyage Auckland to Sydney. Image Credit: Botanic Gardens of Sydney

JERUSALEM: A HOLY SANCTUARY

Destination - Jerusalem, Israel

3 Nights | Post-Cruise Jerusalem (Haifa), Israel

The Holy Land becomes all the more meaningful upon viewing its most hallowed destinations. Jerusalem is especially moving, as it holds great symbolic significance for Jews, Christians and Muslims. Consequently, UNESCO deemed the Old City worthy of a World Heritage site designation. The fortress-like Church of Nativity in Bethlehem is another sacred Christian landmark, as it is believed to mark the birthplace of Jesus. The ruins in Caesarea attest to the former grandeur of the seaport that Herod the Great built to honour Emperor Augustus Caesar.

The Jerusalem: A Holy Sanctuary programme is available as part of Oceania Cruises’ Free Land Tour Program as a post-cruise offering on board Riviera’s Sheiks & Pharaohs Cruise departing 14 May 2024, 15-day voyage Dubai to Jerusalem.

DUBAI DISCOVERY

Destination - Dubai, United Arab Emirates

3 Nights | Pre-Cruise Dubai, UAE

Marvel at Dubai’s iconic architecture as a prelude to experiencing the city like a local. Photo stops at Jumeirah Mosque and the instantly recognizable Burj Al Arab hotel serve to pique your interest in Dubai. Still, the ultimate view awaits you from the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper. Prepare to be awed. Browsing the souks offers a far more intimate exploration, as does cruising the lagoon in a traditional dhow. A day in Abu Dhabi presents the capital’s charms, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Grand Mosque.

The Dubai Discovery programme is available as part of Oceania Cruises’ Free Land Tour Program as a pre-cruise offering on board Nautica’s Exotic Eastern Spices Cruise departing 8 December 2023, 20-day voyage Dubai to Singapore. It is also offered as part of the Free Land Program on Riviera’s Middle East Meandering Cruise departing 19 December 2023, 10-day voyage Dubai to Abu Dhabi.

INDIA’S CROWN JEWEL

Destination - Agra Fort UNESCO site, India

3 Nights | Pre- or Post-Cruise Mumbai, India

Although watching a radiant sunrise and sunset at the Taj Mahal may well be the highlight of this exploration, it is by no means the only attraction that will leave an indelible impression. The time between these two spectacles can be spent at the UNESCO World Heritage site Agra Fort or at the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, a marble mausoleum known as the “Baby Taj” as it is considered to be the model for the Taj Mahal. Delhi also delights through architecture such as the triumphant arch India Gate.

The India’s Crown Jewel programme is available as part of Oceania Cruises’ Free Land Tour Program as a pre-cruise or post-cruise offering on board Riviera’s Sumptuous Arabia Cruise departing 29 December 2023, 10-day voyage Abu Dhabi to Mumbai, and Sublime Southeast Asia Cruise departing 8 January 2024, 20-day voyage Mumbai to Singapore.

AN EDO EXPERIENCE OF TOKYO

Tokyo

3 Nights | Post-Cruise Tokyo, Japan

From your base in Tokyo, you will visit some of the most impressive sights of Japan, including various ancient temples as well as some of its modern and natural wonders. Discover Tokyo’s fascinating Shogun history and Japan’s rich tradition of art at superb museums, stroll through beautiful Edo-period gardens and feel like a local as you visit Tsukiji Outer Market. During your leisure time, explore the colourful market street Ameyoko and take in the high-energy atmosphere of Ginza, Tokyo’s upscale shopping and entertainment district.

The Edo Experience of Tokyo programme is available as part of Oceania Cruises’ Free Land Tour Program as a post-cruise offering on board Riviera’s Land of The Rising Sun Cruise departing 20 March 2024, and 1 April 2024, 12-day voyage from Tokyo to Tokyo. Image Credit: Aleksandar Pasaric

CAPE WINELANDS & WILDLIFE

Cape Town

3 Nights | Pre- or Post-Cruise Cape Town, South Africa​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Enjoy inspired wine tastings in the epicentre of the esteemed Cape Winelands, paired with opportunities to view animals synonymous with Africa. Dutch-influenced towns and country estates dot the fertile wine region, ensuring an experience that is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate. Not far away lies Aquila, a private game reserve where you may spot the Big Five – lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and Cape buffalo. Look for other species at the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve and penguins at Boulders Beach.

The Cape Winelands & Wildlife programme is available as part of Oceania Cruises’ Free Land Tour Program as a pre-cruise or post-cruise offering on board Nautica’s South Africa Spotlight Cruise departing 9 May 2024, 12-day voyage from Cape Town to Cape Town. Image Credit: Christian Heitz

For additional information on Oceania Cruises’ small-ship luxury product, exquisitely crafted cuisine, and expertly curated travel experiences, visit oceaniacruises.com, call +852 800-967609 (Hong Kong), +65 31 651 677 (Singapore), or speak with a professional travel advisor.

e. [email protected]

w. www.oceaniacruises.com

s. www.facebook.com/OceaniaCruises​​​​​​​

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