Chocolate! It’s a thing of indulgence, a melt-in-the-mouth sweet treat that thousands of us enjoy regularly. If you have an insatiable love for all things cocoa, what better way to delight your senses than with a chocolate-themed cruise?
With World Chocolate Day just around the corner on 7th July, there’s no better excuse!
If you’re looking for some chocolate-tasting treats for you or a loved one, read on as we take you on a mouthwatering exploration of some of the best chocolate cruise excursions. We’ll share where you can enjoy these chocolate-themed cruise activities, which cruise line offers them and what itineraries to look out for.
What is the world’s best chocolate destination?
When looking at the best destinations for a chocolate cruise tour, Belgium has to top the list as one of the chocolate capitals of the world. Belgian chocolate is famous for its high quality and rich, velvety texture with various flavoured fillings.
Belgium also reportedly has the most chocolate shops in the world, with over two thousand stores and sixteen museums!
There are several ports in Belgium, and cruise lines sailing to these often offer chocolate-themed cruise excursions. Discover the Choco-Story with a visit to The Chocolate Museum in Bruges.
Tour Le Chocolatier Manon Factory in Brussels or follow in the footsteps of the best chocolatiers with a chocolate walking tour in Antwerp.
Many of the leading cruise lines include a stop in Belgium in their itineraries. For example, P&O Cruises offers a Western Europe cruise holiday sailing from Southampton that stops in Hamburg and Bruges.
Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line‘s Northern Europe holiday sails from Southampton to visit Bruges and Amsterdam before sailing onto Norway and Iceland.
Make your own chocolate in St. Lucia
If you’re booking a Caribbean cruise, you may have heard a little about the chocolate heritage of St. Lucia. In fact, a common question we get asked is, ‘Does St. Lucia have a tour where you can make your own chocolate?’ And the answer is yes and a whole lot more too!
If you’re a chocolate-lover booking a Caribbean cruise, be sure to check out the unique chocolate agri-tourism experience, Project Chocolat, in St. Lucia. Hotel Chocolat runs this immersive experience, which gives you the opportunity to learn about the chocolate-making process from bean to bar.
On St. Lucia’s oldest working cacao farm, Rabot Estate in Soufriere, Project Chocolat takes you on a tour of the cacao groves, where you’ll learn about the biodiversity that supports cacao bean production. You’ll also get an insight into the fermenting and roasting process.
However, a highlight that makes Project Chocolat one of the best chocolate cruise tour experiences must be the making of this delicious treat! You’ll get to grind the cocoa nibs, blend and melt them, before pouring the mixture into a mould for your very own unique chocolate creation.
The Caribbean and St. Lucia are popular destinations for many leading cruise lines, so you’ll not be short of choice when booking to visit these sun-soaked islands. For example, Celebrity Cruises’ Ultimate Southern Caribbean cruise holiday sails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, visiting St. Lucia, as well as Antigua, Barbados and Martinique.
Or, if you have the time for a more extended cruise holiday, Regent Seven Seas‘ South America cruise is spectacular, sailing down the continent’s east coast before stopping in St. Lucia on its return.
A journey through chocolate history in Cozumel
While Mexico may be most renowned for its paradisal coastline of palm tree-lined beaches and vibrant coral reefs, it is also the home of chocolate. The history of chocolate goes all the way back to the early civilisations in Mexico, the ancient Mayans and Olmecs.
With the cacao tree native to this region, its bean was considered a gift from the gods. However, the way it was first enjoyed is very different to modern-day times!
With this far-reaching history, it is no wonder that Mexico, and particularly Cozumel, is the destination for many chocolate cruises. During your visit to Cozumel, you can embark on a chocolate discovery tour that allows you to explore traditional chocolate-making techniques and taste some of the finest Mexican chocolates.
A visit to the Kaokao Chocolate Factory is one of the best chocolate cruise excursions. You’ll get to watch the production process, learn about the history, craft your own chocolate, and, of course, sample the different delicious flavours.
You can book a cruise holiday that includes a stop in Cozumel with a variety of cruise lines. Royal Caribbean cruises offers a four-day Western Caribbean cruise from Texas to Cozumel. Alternatively, if you’d like to see more of the region, Princess Cruises sails from Fort Lauderdale to take in destinations including Princess Cays, Grand Turk, San Juan and Cozumel.
Uncover exquisite artisanry in Lima
Peru is another one of the top destinations for an outstanding chocolate-themed cruise excursion. Its chocolate history goes almost as far back as Mexico’s, with the humidity of the Amazonian rainforests making perfect conditions for the cacao tree.
In fact, Peru’s chocolate is so good that it won a gold medal in the International Chocolate Awards in 2019.
Look for chocolate-themed cruises with a stop in Lima to get to taste some of this country’s fine produce. In the country’s capital, you’ll find Chocomuseo, a museum of chocolate where you can learn about the history, get hands-on with the chocolate-making process and taste some of its outstanding produce.
Lima is also home to El Cacaotal, an artisanal chocolate tasting room and shop, and Roselen, known as one of the best chocolate shops in the world, thanks to its hand-painted, organic delicacies.
Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Azamara Cruises are just three leading cruise lines offering South American cruise holidays that stop in Lima. Or, for something extra special, take a look at Cunard Line‘s 78-night world cruise from Southampton. It circumnavigates South America’s entire coast and includes stops in the Caribbean and Florida.
Explore the joys of sweet Paris
No discussion of chocolate cruise tours would be complete without mentioning Paris, the city of love and chocolate. Known for its exquisite chocolate shops and patisseries, Paris offers a chocolate lover’s paradise.
Take a chocolate walking tour through the charming streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, indulge in mouthwatering hot chocolate at renowned cafes, and discover the art of making exquisite chocolate confections. Visit France’s Museum of the Art of Chocolate for an extraordinary art exhibition.
Here, while learning about the confectionary’s 4000-year-old history, you can also admire chocolate replicas of Paris’s most iconic attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.
Paris is a popular destination on many European cruise holidays, with cruise ships docking in Le Havre, just over a two-hour train journey away. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and MSC Cruises all offer Western European itineraries that include stops here.
Alternatively, consider Emerald Cruises or Avalon Waterways for a river cruise holiday and enjoy the opportunity to see more of the stunning French countryside.
