Oceania Cruises introduces 'Go Local' tours

Oceania Cruises will offer "small batch" tours that embed guests in the fabric of local communities.

About 120 Go Local tours will be offered in Europe, Alaska and South America, Oceania said.

Sample tours include a "Shepherd for a Day" excursion in Mahon, Spain, where guests will be welcomed to a family farm in the Spanish countryside and introduced to the lifestyle and operation of the farm, including the milking and shearing of the sheep. Guests will also learn the intricacies of making goat cheese and afterward have a meal at the family table.

In another tour, guests in Buenos Aires will shop at local markets and then retire to a local residence where dinner is prepared and enjoyed. There will be opportunities to ask the butchers for the best cuts, the fish monger for today's catch or to haggle with the grocer for the best price on vegetables, Oceania said.

"On our new Go Local tours, you don't see the highlights or even visit a landmark. On these tours, you are being introduced to local artisans, shopping local markets, and quite literally becoming part of a local family. You're learning about and experiencing generations-old traditions and the ways of their day-to-day lives," said Bob Binder, president and CEO for Oceania Cruises.