It’s an undeniable fact that one of the highlights on any good cruise is the excellent food. There are a number of cruise lines that have taken this a step further with culinary-themed programs that include cooking classes, competitions, wine tasting and more. The following are cruise lines, some large and some more intimate, that offer an amazing array of culinary experiences for those who appreciate fine dining and good wine.
For a combination of excellent cuisine and fine wine in an entertaining atmosphere, Celebrity Cruises is a great choice. Possibly Celebrity’s most notable restaurant, Qsine, which was the first cruise line to offer their menu on an iPad, features food for people with a taste for adventure, and has been described by some as the most extraordinary restaurant on land or sea. What can you expect at Qsine? Food is served with a modern and playful approach. Guacamole served deconstructed so you can make it yourself at the table, sushi lollipops, and Chintini’s, are just a few of the unique items you can order. Select ships also offer patio dining. A chef will prepare the meal for you, or if you are in the mood, you can cook it yourself on the grill, with the chef’s assistance of course should you need it. For those who appreciate a good glass of wine, Cellar Masters wine bar has at least 350 selections of wine and their state-of-the-art Enomatic system allows guests to choose their favorite, push a button and enjoy! In addition to their amazing cuisine, Celebrity’s “Savor Your Destination” cruises showcase the talents of special selected guest chefs and winemakers. Celebrity Life’s culinary activities give guests a chance to get involved and learn or improve cooking skills. Star Chef’s Cooking Competition is a challenging and entertaining cook-off between two senior chefs who are each paired up with a lucky guest to make a gourmet dish in twenty minutes. Other activities include the Art of Food and Wine Pairing, where questions are answered about food and wine combinations; the Reidel Wine Crystal Workshop, which demonstrates how the shape of a glass effects the taste of wine; and Mixology 101, which is a not just your average bartending course.
Crystal Cruises Wine and Food Festivals at Sea
Crystal Cruises offers special food-themed cruises featuring world-famous chefs, mixologists and wine experts. These cruises center around the unique customs and cultures of each destination. There are a number of these cruises coming up in 2012, from May to December, which include destinations in Europe, the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and Australia. Exclusive cruises onboard the Serenity during May and June, from London to Rome, will feature Master Chef, Nobu Matsuhisa; Modern Mixologist, Tony Abou Ganim; Michelin Star Chef, Heinz Beck and other famous food and wine specialists. There will be cooking demonstrations, cookbook signings, a dinner prepared by Matsuhisa and much more. For those who are interested in learning more about food and wine pairing, dinner in the Crystal Symphony Vintage Room is also available for an extra charge.
Holland America Culinary Arts CenterFood and Wine Magazine’s Culinary Arts Center with its cooking classes presented in unique theater-style kitchens is at the heart of every Holland America Cruise. 2012 promises to be another exciting year with a line-up of over sixty celebrity chefs, wine experts and cookbook authors set to make various appearances on the cruise line’s fifteen ships. Holland America also offers cooking classes for teens on select cruises. In other exciting news, Holland America Cruises recently teamed up with the world famous restaurant Le Cirque, which will transform the cruise line’s Pinnacle Grill into “An Evening at Le Cirque” for one evening on nearly every cruise. Le Cirque signature dishes and wine will be served and the setting will be changed to create a true Le Cirque experience. For those who are interested, reservations must be made and there will be an extra fee for this event. Le Cirque will also be giving cooking demonstrations in the Culinary Arts Center.
Oceania’s Bon Appetit Culinary Center
Oceania Cruises sister ships Marina and Riviera, (which will make her debut in May of this year), have been called the first ships designed for epicureans–those who appreciate the finer things in life–when it comes to dining and wine. Each ship offers ten dining venues, which are comparable to some of Europe’s five star restaurants. Six of these are gourmet open-seated restaurants with no additional surcharge. For those who want an intimate dining experience, Privee is an exclusive private restaurant which can be booked for up to eight guests. Good food always requires fine wine and there is no shortage of wine on board. Marina is said to have an astounding 7,000 bottles of wine in its cellar, including some very rare ones. La Reserve is not only a restaurant that pairs fabulous food and wine, but also a wine-tasting center that conducts seminars taught by experts in the field.
Bon Appetit is a unique culinary center which is only cooking school at sea to offer hands-on instruction. These classes of no more than 24 aspiring cooks taught by master chefs, promise to be a one-of-a-kind experience in learning about local cuisine as well as homemade pasta. It’s one thing to be part of a group assisting a chef, but to have your own cooking station is awesome!
Seabourn’s Shopping with the Chef
It is especially fitting that each guest on a Seabourn cruise is welcomed aboard with a glass of champagne because this all-suite luxury cruise line offers exceptional service. Seabourn has a collection of five small cruise ships that provide an intimate experience with no more than 225 suites on each ship. “Shopping with the Chef” has become one of the highlights of Seabourn cruises where guests actually accompany a chef as they go to a market for fresh produce or seafood. Although this is not available on every cruise, guests who are lucky enough to experience this activity will learn much about the cuisine of the region they are visiting. It is recommended that those who are interested inquire about this activity as soon as they board.
SilverSea Culinary and Wine Voyages
One of the attractions on SilverSea Cruises another cruise line with smaller intimate ships, is Star Supper Club a unique reservation-only venue, resembling the supper clubs of the 1930s, complete with cabaret singers. SilverSea has recently partnered with Slow Food Promozione, an international organization which seeks to promote greater enjoyment of food through education about the importance of high quality, taste and production. SilverSea’s La Terraza Italian restaurant is the only restaurant at sea to feature slow foods on its menu.
SilverSea offers three different culinary and wine programs on selected cruises. Culinary Arts Voyages provide cooking demonstrations by world-renowned chefs. The first Relais & Châteaux École des Chefs at sea cooking school includes some of the same features as the Culinary Arts Voyages, plus Lunch and Learn, a personal event with the chef; and cooking competitions offering educational experiences in culinary skills. Finally, Wine Series Voyages offer tastings, lectures, and tours to world class wineries and vineyards.
Royal Caribbean Cruises and Princess Cruises Chef Table Dinners
The Chef’s Table is designed as a special treat for dining enthusiasts, and offers the rare opportunity to be welcomed into the inner sanctum of the ship’s galley to enjoy a full evening of memorable sights, tastes and conversation hosted by the executive chef. It takes diners behind the scenes to see what it takes to run a kitchen. Enjoy champagne and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a special multi-course tasting dinner paired with selected wines.
Needless to say the opportunities are abound for food and wine enthusiasts to explore and learn while cruising.
