What are some affordable cruises with enrichment programs?

[thermal]

I love enrichment programs.  I love learning about the different ports we're visiting, different cultures etc.  I'd Much rather spend 45 minutes learning about astronomy than attending a pool party. 

 

My understanding is that cruise lines like Viking offer great enrichment, but they're currently out of my price range.  

 

What are some relatively affordable cruises that also offer great enrichment?  

 

Thank you very kindly. 

[lenquixote66]

6 minutes ago, thermal said:

I love enrichment programs.  I love learning about the different ports we're visiting, different cultures etc.  I'd Much rather spend 45 minutes learning about astronomy than attending a pool party. 

 

My understanding is that cruise lines like Viking offer great enrichment, but they're currently out of my price range.  

 

What are some relatively affordable cruises that also offer great enrichment?  

 

Thank you very kindly. 

We have friends who have the same preference and they only cruise with Princess.You might want to check them out.

[mnocket]

You're correct about Viking, also expedition cruise lines offer extensive enrichment programs, but they are even more expensive.  I'm afraid that when you turn to the less expensive mainstream lines, it's a bit of a crapshoot.  Most have some form of scheduled lectures, but the topics and quality vary greatly and really can't be predicted in advance. You won't know until you get onboard who the lecturers are and what their topics will be.  Sometimes the presentations are nothing more than thinly disguised sales pitches for excursions or the onboard shops.  Sometimes they are very interesting.  The thing is, you can't tell in advance which you're getting. 

Edited December 7, 2023 by mnocket

[Heidi13]

2 hours ago, thermal said:

I love enrichment programs.  I love learning about the different ports we're visiting, different cultures etc.  I'd Much rather spend 45 minutes learning about astronomy than attending a pool party. 

 

My understanding is that cruise lines like Viking offer great enrichment, but they're currently out of my price range.  

 

What are some relatively affordable cruises that also offer great enrichment?  

 

Thank you very kindly. 

 

Of the mainstream cruise lines, Cunard may have the best enrichment program.

[Mangrove Snapper]

Celebrity has their “Beyond the Podium” guest speakers. On the cruises we’ve been on, many were about the wildlife, nature, history, or local customs of the area.  

 

On our Greenland/Iceland cruise, one speaker was a retired FBI forensic analyst. Her talks were extremely well attended. 

[Aquahound]

Holland America has a decent enrichment program.

[Honolulu Blue]

14 hours ago, thermal said:

I love enrichment programs.  I love learning about the different ports we're visiting, different cultures etc.  I'd Much rather spend 45 minutes learning about astronomy than attending a pool party. 

 

My understanding is that cruise lines like Viking offer great enrichment, but they're currently out of my price range.  

 

What are some relatively affordable cruises that also offer great enrichment?  

 

Thank you very kindly. 

The enrichment programs you will find depend on where you're going, who you're sailing with, how much you're willing to pay, and what you're willing to put up with.

 

Basic cruises on mainstream lines in the Caribbean mostly offer "lectures" on the upcoming ports and their excursions and/or shopping opportunities. Enrichment value is limited, but you didn't pay a lot for the cruise (I hope).

 

The longer the sailing, at least on mainstream lines, the more enrichment lectures there will be beyond the basic port talk(s).

[ontheweb]

Princess for Alaska cruises has a naturalist onboard who provides enrichment.

[cruisemom42]

32 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Princess for Alaska cruises has a naturalist onboard who provides enrichment.

Celebrity does also — at least they did 2 years ago. Many cutbacks have occurred since then…

[ontheweb]

2 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

Celebrity does also — at least they did 2 years ago. Many cutbacks have occurred since then…

Our Princess Alaska cruise was pre-Covid, so I hope that having a naturalist is not something that has disappeared.

[cruisemom42]

12 hours ago, Aquahound said:

Holland America has a decent enrichment program.

HAL rarely has an actual lecturer onboard except for crossings and longer cruises. They do offer talks (called EXC talks) that are kind of like TED talks, given by the cruise director usually. The quality of these varies but they are not promotional.

[Mangrove Snapper]

1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

Celebrity does also — at least they did 2 years ago. Many cutbacks have occurred since then…

 

I hope they still have them.  They had a naturalist on our Alaska cruise last summer on the Millennium (2022) - Celia Garland.   She was on Edge with us in June, 2021 and Reflection in December, 2021, and she was great every time.  In Alaska, they also had another gentleman who spoke about other topics.  

[Szt]

We took an Adriatic cruise on NCL last year and there was a member of the staff that was a history buff. She gave great talks on the history and politics of the different ports. I don’t know if this is the norm or we just got lucky. 
 

Maybe, those of us who enjoy that, should make our voices heard to the cruise lines. Money talks. If enough people let them know this may tip the scales toward one line or another, they will add more talks like this to stay competitive. Or maybe we truly are the minority. I do hope cruise lines read these posts. 

[Joebucks]

I honestly don't understand this request, as it come up from time to time. Is there some shortage of information in the world? If I wanted to learn about a port, there is more info out there than I would know what to do with. Then you need a $10,000 cruise to learn. What makes the cruise line the authority in information?

 

On the other hand, I'd understand wanting to experience the best tours with the best tour guides. Seeing the world seems more in line to what cruising brings, and the best of the best tours would be a great experience.

 

What am I missing?

[navybankerteacher]

Among the mainstream lines, Cunard seems to have more - certainly on their trans-Atlantic crossings.  Other than them I only recall HAL having some.

[sanger727]

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

I honestly don't understand this request, as it come up from time to time. Is there some shortage of information in the world? If I wanted to learn about a port, there is more info out there than I would know what to do with. Then you need a $10,000 cruise to learn. What makes the cruise line the authority in information?

 

On the other hand, I'd understand wanting to experience the best tours with the best tour guides. Seeing the world seems more in line to what cruising brings, and the best of the best tours would be a great experience.

 

What am I missing?

 

I think this is more about preferred entertainment. If you want to cruise to A, B, and C; you choose a certain cruise. However, you will usually have some sea days and free time on the ship. Some people choose to fill that time at the pool, playing bingo, playing trivia, listening to live bands, etc. It sounds like the OP prefers live lectures to fill the free time. 

[cruisemom42]

3 hours ago, Joebucks said:

I honestly don't understand this request, as it come up from time to time. Is there some shortage of information in the world? If I wanted to learn about a port, there is more info out there than I would know what to do with. Then you need a $10,000 cruise to learn. What makes the cruise line the authority in information?

 

On the other hand, I'd understand wanting to experience the best tours with the best tour guides. Seeing the world seems more in line to what cruising brings, and the best of the best tours would be a great experience.

 

What am I missing?

 

No reason to not have both.

 

Most internet sources are just "scratch the surface" options. For me, I like an immersive travel experience and that includes having someone who is truly an expert on at least some aspects of the places/region visited who can help fill in the picture, connect the dots, provide answers to questions that are not readily researched, even give a knowledgeable opinion when asked.

 

I don't hang out at the pool, use the casino or spa, shop or participate in many onboard activities like wine tastings. I can't just spend all my time reading! Lectures hit a sweet spot for me.

 

[navybankerteacher]

7 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

No reason to not have both.

 

Most internet sources are just "scratch the surface" options. For me, I like an immersive travel experience and that includes having someone who is truly an expert on at least some aspects of the places…

 

I don't hang out at the pool, use the casino or spa, shop or participate in many onboard activities like wine tastings. I can't just spend all my time reading! Lectures hit a sweet spot for me.

 

Agreed - and some lines do provide talks by knowledgeable people, which go beyond discussing shoppertunities at upcoming ports of call.

[ldubs]

15 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Agreed - and some lines do provide talks by knowledgeable people, which go beyond discussing shoppertunities at upcoming ports of call.

 

Speaking of the mainstream lines, there used to be "workshop" and lecture sessions offered up that were fun to attend by those interested in the subjects.   Those have basically disappeared in favor of the "infomercial" sessions.  On our  recent cruises it seems even the shoppertunity sessions were fewer.   I'm not sure because I didn't really pay attention.  Just a perception.  

 

Related, there used to be a lot more group fitness programs (like Zumba).  These were pretty well attended.  They still happen but not offered as frequently as before.    

[navybankerteacher]

21 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

Speaking of the mainstream lines, there used to be "workshop" and lecture sessions offered up that were fun to attend by those interested in the subjects.   Those have basically disappeared in favor of the "infomercial" sessions.  On our  recent cruises it seems even the shoppertunity sessions were fewer.   I'm not sure because I didn't really pay attention.  Just a perception.  

 

Related, there used to be a lot more group fitness programs (like Zumba).  These were pretty well attended.  They still happen but not offered as frequently as before.    

You realize, I hope, that an essential factor in all lines’ approach is how to maximize the bottom line.  In efforts to increase sales (essential to fill the incoming multi-thousand passenger ships), the lines must focus on reducing non-revenue producing expenditures, even activities which cost nothing beyond the use of space which might otherwise be dedicated to  some revenue-producing activities.  The general disappearance of libraries in tandem with the increase in numbers of bars being perhaps the most obvious manifestation.

[Honolulu Blue]

36 minutes ago, ldubs said:

On our  recent cruises it seems even the shoppertunity sessions were fewer.   I'm not sure because I didn't really pay attention.  Just a perception.  

My perception is similar to yours - on the cruises I've been on after the restart, the shopping aspects seem to have been deemphasized - fewer fliers, less time for the "shoppies" at their desks and on video, less mention of shopping in town, etc.  This could be for any number of reasons - different cruise lines, different ports, an increase in charters, etc.

[ldubs]

1 minute ago, navybankerteacher said:

You realize, I hope, that an essential factor in all lines’ approach is how to maximize the bottom line.  In efforts to increase sales (essential to fill the incoming multi-thousand passenger ships), the lines must focus on reducing non-revenue producing expenditures, even activities which cost nothing beyond the use of space which might otherwise be dedicated to  some revenue-producing activities.  The general disappearance of libraries in tandem with the increase in numbers of bars being perhaps the most obvious manifestation.

 

I think we all realize that. From a customer retention standpoint, I wonder if there is a balance between cost cutting and non revenue attractions that might keep and even draw customers.    IMO, the library rooms have been an under utilized space for a long time.  At the risk of sacrilege, I do not consider their disappearance a negative.  

[navybankerteacher]

3 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

…IMO, the library rooms have been an under utilized space for a long time.  At the risk of sacrilege, I do not consider their disappearance a negative.  

For some reason it seems that the ships for passage on which people are willing to pay higher fares all seem to have comfortable libraries (in addition to certain other amenities).  Just part of the marketing done by the managers of those lines.

[ldubs]

14 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

For some reason it seems that the ships for passage on which people are willing to pay higher fares all seem to have comfortable libraries (in addition to certain other amenities).  Just part of the marketing done by the managers of those lines.

 

You make a good point.  I've only been on mass market lines but expect there is a much different atmosphere.  

[cruisemom42]

20 hours ago, ldubs said:

IMO, the library rooms have been an under utilized space for a long time.  At the risk of sacrilege, I do not consider their disappearance a negative.  

 

I think this is a case of "Know thy audience."  The libraries were removed on Holland America ships a few years ago and due to continued VOCIFEROUS complaints, they are now being restored on all ships. 

 

When you think about it, it makes sense: HAL focuses on longer cruises and tends to attract an older population. You may not want or need a library on a week-long cruise to the Caribbean, Alaska, or Mexico. But when you're regularly offering cruises of a month, two months, etc., people aren't in a frenetic vacation mode. And while some HAL cruisers have embraced eReaders, many still prefer books -- the weight of which makes it difficult to bring enough to last for long cruises.

 

Personally, I don't use ship libraries as I love my Kindle and have quite specific tastes in reading material. But I think in this case HAL management misread their core passengers.