How To Enjoy Jewish Heritage Cruise Trip

Cruising is a great vacation for all ages, and an especially wonderful way to bond with your family. A kosher cruise is a great way to commemorate your heritage, too—and the fun doesn't have to stop when you get off the boat. Here are some suggestions for how to celebrate your Jewish heritage on your next cruise, from on board to on land.

Read About Jewish History

Before your cruise, take some time to learn about Jewish history. While you're on board, visit the ports in which meaningful events took place and explore the local culture and traditions. Have conversations with other people on board and connect with the Rabbi. Give yourself the opportunity to try new foods, meet new people, and see new things. Visit places like Jewish heritage sites or synagogues that you might not have seen before!

Exploring Jewish history will give you a deeper connection to your heritage as well as introduce you to many different cultures along the way!

Connect with Rabbi on Board

To connect with other Jewish passengers and to learn more about your heritage, you'll want to meet Rabbi. A Rabbi is a spiritual leader who can be helpful in many ways. While it's true that the Rabbi is there for religious services and instruction geared towards followers of Judaism, they can provide much more than that. You don't have to be Jewish or even religious to seek out the advice of a Rabbi, as their role is one of guidance and wisdom. They're available on board in case you want to explore your roots, learn about the traditions of Judaism or simply reconnect with your heritage during your voyage.

As an added benefit, the Rabbi can help point you toward kosher options in the buffet lines or at specialty restaurants. If you wish to practice your faith while dining at sea, they'll be happy to guide you through this process!

The Rabbi also serves as a great resource if there are any spiritual issues you'd like assistance with during your trip—they're there for everyone who needs them!

Explore the Ship's Kosher Options

If you're looking for a healthy meal on your next cruise, kosher meals are the answer. Kosher food is prepared under rabbinical supervision and therefore adheres to Jewish dietary laws. But even if you're not Jewish, it's worth giving a kosher meal a try.

Kosher food is pareve, so the meal will be free of meat or dairy products. This is great news for those with lactose intolerance or other dietary restrictions! It also means that what you eat at dinner won't affect your ability to enjoy dessert later—no more skipping the latkes because you're saving room for cheesecake!

But it's not just about avoiding certain foods. A kosher diet includes fresh vegetables and fruit; whole grains such as rice, quinoa, and barley; beans; nuts; fish; and poultry such as chicken and turkey. The result? A delicious dinner that's also heart-healthy. It's the best of both worlds!

Visit the Ship's Synagogue

If your cruise ship has a synagogue on board, you can participate in Shabbat services. The prayer books are usually written in Hebrew and English, so don't worry about not knowing the language. Most of the people you will be surrounded by will probably be just as unfamiliar with the prayers, anyway. You never know—you may make some new friends who are also Jewish and who are on their own kosher tour adventure as well!

The rabbi on board will lead most of these services, but he or she may ask someone else to help lead if they're unavailable. Sometimes there's even a Torah (the holy book that contains all 5 books of Moses) that is used during Shabbat services!

Not only will this be a great way to celebrate your Jewish heritage while at sea, but it's also an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about your religion, traditions, and history.