Whether your interests lie in enjoying lectures and cooking demonstrations by master chefs, exclusive vineyard tours with famous winemakers, or tasting masterful creations you’ve prepared in a cooking school classroom, we can help you find a culinary cruise to whet your appetite.
Big Names Onboard
Many cruise lines appoint chefs from well-known restaurants as menu consultants or to create at-sea dining venues. While travelers can savor dishes by professionals year-round, these chefs often make special appearances on culinary themed cruises, giving you the opportunity to glean expert tips from the masters. Michelin-starred Parisian chef and restaurateur, Jean-Pierre Vigato designs menus for Paul Gauguin Cruises and will show off his gastronomic techniques aboard a roundtrip Istanbul sailing in June. Acclaimed sushi chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa expands his empire aboard Crystal Cruises and offers an intimate gourmet experience aboard a 12-day sailing from Rome to the Black Sea complete with sake tastings, book signings, and exclusive Chef’s Choice dinners. Passengers sailing on Oceania Cruises Mosaic Masterpiece Cruise in September with Julia Child’s cooking cohort, chef Jacques Pépin, will savor his specially designed menus, as well as attend chef lectures and culinary demonstrations.
Regionalized cuisine plays a prominent role on culinary cruises, with a bounty of exotic ingredients awaiting travelers at every port. Acclaimed chefs lauded for their acumen in working with these unique ingredients serve as special onboard guests and conduits of local culture. For instance, James Beard award winner and famous Hawaiian restaurateur, chef Alan Wong, will join the m/s Paul Gauguin sailing to Tahiti and the Society Islands at the end of July. Chef Wong will share his expertise using fresh South Pacific island ingredients through a question and answer forum and insightful cooking demonstrations.
Epicurean Education Afloat
Travelers seeking food-centric sailings also look to cruise lines’ culinary floating classrooms. The first Relais & Châteaux L’École des Chefs cooking school at sea was founded aboard Silversea Cruises. On board the Tokyo to Hong Kong cruise, guests will enjoy Silversea’s comprehensive program which sharpens knife skills and culinary know-how. Visits to a farmers’ market to shop for local ingredients, and lunch-and-learn instruction from Culinary Trainer, chef David Bilsland provide fascinating insight into Asian cuisine. The Bon Appétit Culinary Centers on Oceania Cruises’ newest ships Riviera and Marina, feature 24 fully equipped workstations to facilitate ongoing cooking classes. Royal Caribbean International features a Chefmakers Cooking Academy, offering a variety of courses such as making tapas and cocktails or cooking with your kids.
Wine Outings
Wine serves as a natural pairing for food lovers and wine tastings aboard cruise ships take tasting flights to the high seas. Learn how to detect a varietal’s nuances through onboard lecturers by esteemed sommeliers and enjoy personalized tours with the finest local winemakers. Celebrity Cruises’ Immersive Wine Cruise to France, Spain and Portugal in October blends wine education and delicious tastings. Explore some of the most famed vineyards of Bordeaux and Rioja, and taste some of the best local wines of the region.
Sometimes the best access to wine regions across the globe are the tributaries explored by river cruises. Uniworld’s exclusive Epicurean Adventurer Program explores areas such as Alsace and the Rheingau during the Castles along the Rhine itinerary, where you can do a tasting at Castle Vollrads and have your Black Forest cake too!
Main Course of Action
Whether you want to do an olive oil tasting in Italy or see how artisanal cheeses are made in Australia, opportunities for food and wine adventures while cruising are limitless. Call us today to help you plan a culinary journey suited to your personal tastes, as well as design enticing pre- or post-cruise add-ons. Whether planning a sailing in conjunction with a land-based food celebration such as the Vinexpo in Bordeaux or getting your name on the list at a Michelin-starred restaurant, we’ll make sure your vacation is delicioso!
