Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2022

1 9 4 Home to picturesque scenery, unique wildlife and a rich cultural history, Wales offers a wealth of immersive experiences for cruise guests to enjoy. Suzanne Thomas, head of Cruise Wales, explained that an immersive experience is one that involves all the senses to encourage individuals to be present in the moment. The shore excursions available in Wales do just that. “Cruise guests are looking for more immersive experiences, so we’ve developed new shore excursions to cater to everyone’s needs – from food and drink experiences to castles and garden visits,” says Thomas. “Wales is also ideally suited for cruise lines looking to give guests adventurous outdoor experiences, with three national parks, five areas of outstanding national beauty and 870 miles of walkable coastline.” Cruise visitors will receive a traditional warm Welsh welcome when sailing into Fishguard Bay situated on the south-west coast of Pembrokeshire, which has a tender berth to allow larger cruise ships to moor, as well as an alongside berth. Here, disembarking passengers are greeted by Fishguard Bay’s welcome team and have the opportunity to watch live performances by local choirs, dance groups and schoolchildren. They can also purchase a selection of food, crafts and other handmade produce from local artisans. While in Fishguard, cruise guests can take organised excursions to nearby towns such as the medieval fishing town of Tenby, which offers natural beaches that are framed by 13th-century town walls. Wales is also home to many microbreweries, some of which are located in and around Tenby, and host tours and ale-tasting sessions. Elsewhere in the region, cruise guests can visit Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and take a tailored tour in Land Rover Defenders, organised in partnership with Milford Haven, to see the coastline, wildlife and heritage sites. Pembrokeshire also offers various other hands-on excursions, such as candle- and tapestry-making sessions, stargazing, photography, alpacatrekking and bird-watching sessions. Cruise guests can also visit the medieval castle and owl garden at Picton, near Haverfordwest. From zip-lining to foraging on the seashore and taking a craft class, the immersive shore experiences created by Cruise Wales and its partners are suitable for all cruise guests This is Wales EUROPE: REPORT “ From Barafundle Bay to St Davids, the country’s golden sands are without a doubt a must-see when visiting the area” Wales offers a number of hands-on excursions, including zip lining and kayaking near Snowdonia National Park Tenby features natural beaches that are framed by 13th-century town walls Photo: Visit Wales

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