NYE Special: Order Sparkling Wine Like a Local in Cruise Destinations Around the World

If you’re my kind of traveler: who believes every cruise and every destination and every moment is just a little bit better with a glass of something effervescent! this guide is for you.

Sparkling wine isn’t just a drink—it’s a cultural passport. The wine of celebration and occasion is produced in vineyards around the world – many, I am happy to report, on the itineraries or pre- and post-extensions of incredible cruises! - and depending on where in the world your ship calls, the name for those bubbles changes just enough to make you want to fit in like a local when you order it.

Here’s how to ask for your favorite bottle of bubbles in ports of call around the world.

And a favorite cruise of mine for each sparkling wine region.

Here’s hoping the New Year brings you many moments and cruises to toast!

Happy cruising and Happy New Year!

Lynn Elmhirst, executive producer and host

FRANCE

In the capital of sparkling wine, Champagne is woven into everyday life as the wine to drink as an aperitif before a meal, the little glass you have when you get together with friends, and of course, the beverage of celebration.
Champagne of course is the sparkling wine produced exclusively in the region of Champagne. Peruse the wine list for sparkling wines made in other regions of France, which are usually called Crémant.

Feeling extra French? Lean in and request “des bulles” (literally “some bubbles”). Well, aren’t you charming.

The cruise: Ultra-luxury hotel and resort company Belmond’s Coquelicot is a floating, 3-suite villa in the intimate waterways of Champagne, fully hosted by a personal crew and private chef and a partnership with legendary Champagne house Ruinart.

Champagne and canapes on the terrace of our Silversea cruise docked in Monte Carlo

ITALY

Italy, too, lives for sparkling wine, with Veneto’s Prosecco as the country’s proud ambassador of sparkling wine. For something more refined, look for Franciacorta or Trentodoc. Listen for the Italian word you’ll hear everywhere: “Bollicine”—their delightful nickname for “little bubbles.”

The cruise: Uniworld's La Venezia offers a luxury, all-inclusive river experience through the Venetian Lagoon and Veneto, featuring immersive cultural excursions (like after-hours St. Mark's), gourmet dining, visits (glassblowers, mask makers), and stays on a floating boutique hotel with opulent local decor, beyond larger cruise ship reach.

Combine Prosecco with peach nectar, and what do you have? A Bellini, best drunk while overlooking the Grand Canal, of course.

SPAIN

One of Europe’s biggest cruise ports just happens to be the capital of Spanish sparkling wine. When in Barcelona, order Cava, Spain’s crisp traditional-method bubbly. In Penedès, you may spot Corpinnat, a premium label worth splurging on. And if a server asks if you’d like “vino de aguja,” it means lightly fizzy—perfect for an afternoon by the sea.

The cruise: Scenic Eclipse's Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona offer an ultra-luxury all-inclusive, 6-star discovery cruise featuring all-verandah suites, butler service, up to 10 dining venues, spa, and exclusive excursions like submarine/helicopter rides, allowing deep dives into Spain, France, Italy, and beyond from the vibrant heart of Barcelona.

Stay tuned for our episode on board Scenic Eclipse in the Mediterranean in Season 3! (Watch a ship tour of Scenic Eclipse in Antarctica and the Mediterranean HERE.)

PORTUGAL

Ask for Espumante, especially in Bairrada. Locals may casually call it “vinho com bolhinhas” (wine with little bubbles). It’s as charming as it sounds—especially when paired with a sunset over the Atlantic.

The cruise: Atlas Ocean Voyages is the American sister of a Portuguese cruise and shipping company; with global itineraries that include coastal cruises Portugal and Spain, focusing on "Epicurean Expeditions" that blend culinary discovery with cultural immersion, using small, yacht-like ships to access unique ports and even Seville (up the river), featuring local food, wine, history, and authentic small-group excursions with onboard experts, all part of an all-inclusive experience.

We filmed one coming up in the next season of World’s Greatest Cruises; stay tuned! (Learn about Atlas’ Epicurean Expedition Cruises HERE.)

ENGLAND

Believe it or not, England produces sparkling wine – some of the best in the world! In 2025, as the BBC reported in such a British way, “an English fizz became the first non-Champagne to be named the world's top sparkling wine.”

English sparkling wine is having a fabulous moment. So spread your wings a little in the UK and try the local bubbles instead of Champagne or prosecco. Take your cue from that BBC article and ask for a glass of “fizz.”

The cruise: British luxury cruise line Cunard is the best way to cruise while paying homage to all things English. World’s Greatest Cruises’ Season 2 includes our episode aboard the iconic Queen Mary 2 on an equally iconic Trans-Atlantic Crossing; sip some English fizz in London post-cruise! (Watch highlights HERE.)

AUSTRALIA

Down Under, the go-to phrase is “bubbly.” It’s cheerful, informal, and perfectly suited to a country that also invented Sparkling Shiraz, perhaps the most festive red on earth. If you hear Aussies asking for “bubbly,” “sparkling” or “fizz,” you know good times are ahead.

The cruise: Another of our favorite cruise lines, Seabourn, offers both expedition and classic luxury cruises to New Zealand and the South Pacific. They visit key locations like Milford Sound, Auckland, and offer unique experiences like Zodiac cruises and cultural immersion.

(That's me toasting the glorious icebergs of a bay in Greenland aboard Seabourn Venture, top. And Seabourn's famous Caviar and Champagne party on deck holding position next to a stunning glacier, below)

NEW ZEALAND

Next-door New Zealand produces top-tier traditional-method sparklings (often labeled Méthode Marlborough), but everyday chatter sticks to “bubbles” or “fizz.” Best enjoyed after a hike, a beach day, or… honestly anything.

The cruise: Another World’s Greatest Cruises partner, Viking, offers itineraries that explore Australian cities close to its wine regions like Melbourne, as well as Sydney, Brisbane, and Darwin, as well as natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef.

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa’s premium traditional-method wine is Méthode Cap Classique, or MCC. But among friends you’ll hear: “Shall we open some bubbly?” The answer is always yes—especially in Franschhoek’s sun-soaked tasting rooms.

The cruise: In Season 1, we featured Regent Seven Seas Cruises experiences in Alaska (watch an episode HERE), and the luxury line also sails to South Africa, featuring Cape Town, with cruises often including destinations like Durban, Port Elizabeth, and Walvis Bay, offering luxury experiences with safaris and vineyard tours as included shore excursions.

ARGENTINA

In Argentina, the common term is Espumoso or simply Espumante—perfect with empanadas or a rooftop sunset in Buenos Aires. The country’s famous wine region of Mendoza produces a wide range of sparkling wines using the traditional method.

The cruise: Season 1 of World’s Greatest Cruises features our Silversea cruise along the coast of South America between the iconic cities of Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, exploring both countries' stunning coastlines and cultural touchstones like a behind-the-scenes segment at Rio’s famous Carnival. (Watch the episode HERE.)

START YOUR TRIP!

Images: World's Greatest Cruises