Have you ever gazed at a port of call over the railing of a cruise ship and wished that you could really experience the culture – the sights, smells, textures, sounds and flavors – of the place you are visiting? The Excursion Society makes that kind of experience possible.

Three years ago, Cruise Holidays launched the Excursion Society, a unique shore excursion program. This popular program offers unusual, complimentary shore excursions exclusively to it members – cruise guests who seek truly memorable, distinctive experiences while on shore. The Society’s excursions are available on selected Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean cruises.

When Holland America’s Zuiderdam stops in Oranjestad, Aruba, on November 6, for her 10-DAY PANAMA CANAL SUNFARER cruise, Excursion Society members will have the opportunity to experience the island’s artistic side. First up is a visit to Fort Zoutman, which dates from 1796 and is among the island’s oldest structures. The fort’s restored tower, the Willem III Tower, now houses the Fort Zoutman Museum. The museum has a fascinating collection of artifacts from the early days of civilization on Aruba.
From this immersion in Aruba’s past, the group will transition to the island’s vibrant present with a visit to the Access Art Gallery in the heart of Oranjestad. Here, Excursion Society members will not only browse the gallery’s works – they will have the opportunity to talk with local artists during a lecture and reception. A lunch of delicious local specialties will follow.

The group will top off its excursion with a tour of Aruba’s Numismatic Museum, which has coins from more than 400 countries. The amazing 40,000-piece collection was assembled by three generations of an Aruban family.

If you would like to experience this and other shore excursions that go beyond the ordinary, ask us how you can join the Excursion Society.