Dreams can come true for foodies on a culinary cruise where fine dining and special events are waiting to be enjoyed. Not only do these sailings offer the opportunity to journey in luxury from one magnificent port to another but also feature unique epicurean experiences and delicious cuisine.
Enjoy all the many pleasures of a luxury sailing enhanced with all things culinary, such as food theme cruises, cooking classes with master chefs and best of all, enjoy their masterpiece dishes. These culinary cruises often feature celebrity chefs who demonstrate their techniques and may even bring you along as they explore local markets for ingredients for that night’s dinner.
Culinary theme cruises offer many special features for guests that enhance the vacation experience. They offer exclusive shore excursions, private cocktails parties, gourmet dinners with master chefs and wine-pairing workshops. Below is a sampling of what some of the luxury cruise lines are offering epicureans.
Crystal Cruises
Crystal Cruises is acclaimed for its cuisine and offers culinary shore excursions designed for foodies on select sailings. Experiences include farmer’s market tours, cooking classes, plus wine tastings and pairings. Guest hosts include Michelin-starred chefs and Iron Chefs.
The famous cuisine of celebrity Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, better known as “Nobu,” has been served onboard Crystal’s luxurious ships for over a decade and is acclaimed for his legendary Japanese cuisine. Guests may savor some of the legendary chef’s creations at his onboard specialties restaurants, Silk Road and the Sushi Bar. He will also be a special VIP guest on an “Epicurean Escapade” culinary theme cruise and be host at a classic “Omakase” dinner and Sake tasting sessions.
Enriching theme cruises include the highly acclaimed and always popular Crystal Wine & Food Festival held on various sailings including segments of a World Cruise. This celebration of the culinary arts features top chefs and wine experts, attracting fine food connoisseurs from around the world.
Celebrated chefs prepare signature dishes offered on the dinner menu, demonstrate cooking techniques and share pointers on their artistry. There are also wine-pairings, dinners and parties and offer a wonderful opportunity for foodies.
Oceania Cruises
Immerse yourself in European culture on Oceania Cruises’ expanded Culinary Discovery Tours which offer several food excursions on Mediterranean sailings aboard the epicurean-designed luxurious Marina and Riviera. Guests will have a unique opportunity to meet with culinary experts as they explore food markets, restaurants, vineyards, farms and cooking schools. Lectures are given on local cuisine with a destination-inspired tasting or class at The Culinary Center onboard.
Highlights include a Chef’s Gastronomy Tour and Tapas Lunch in Barcelona; a cooking demonstration where guests may enjoy the cuisine of Provence with Michelin Chef Reine Sammut Chef Market Tour Cannoli Making and Lunch in Catania, Cretan Cooking Class with Lunch and other exciting tours. Foodies flock to the popular Jacques Pépin Cruise on the Riviera, hosted by the master chef who is also the Executive Culinary Director of the luxury line. Guests are treated to specially designed menus, lectures, demonstrations, unforgettable dinners and more.
Silversea Cruises
Silversea Cruises boasts the only cooking school at sea — “L’École des Chefs by Relais & Châteaux” — which offers hands-on instruction on cooking and entertaining. Guests may enjoy cooking demonstrations and competitions, where expert chefs create their signature dishes that are paired with wines selected by the sommelier and showcase the latest and best culinary techniques.
There is also an epicurean “Lunch & Learn,” event offering small groups the opportunity to sample a fabulous meal of specially prepared dishes.
Dine at the exclusive Le Champaigne, reserved for just six to 12 guests and the only Relais & Châteaux restaurant at sea. Indulge in an evening of seasonally inspired dishes served here that are created from the finest artisan products and freshest, locally sourced ingredients. Menus are continually changing to reflect the voyage destination to provide guests with authentic regional flavors.
Windstar Cruises
Special culinary events are offered by upscale Windstar Cruises, such as complimentary private events like the “Evening in Ephesus.” This unforgettable experience includes a five-course white-glove-service dinner held in the courtyard in front of the historic Library. Romantic and exquisite, this dinner under the stars is accompanied by a trio from the Aegean Chamber Orchestra.
The newest Private Event Host is “Royal Chef” Darren McGrady, once personal chef to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; Diana, Princess of Wales and Princes William and Harry. He hosts an exclusive evening at Picton Castle where guests may enjoy appetizers and sparkling wine.
Culinary River Cruises
Enjoy some of the world’s most beautiful scenery as you journey along the rivers of the world on luxurious river cruises. Upscale AmaWaterways serves the finest cuisine and is the only river cruise line that is a member of the prestigious Chaîne des Rôtisseurs — the world’s oldest gastronomic society. AmaWaterways offers specially designed walking tours offering a “taste of Europe” in select destinations. These culinary tours include visits to cooking schools and food specialty shops, chocolatiers, bistros and biergartens, for an insight into local cuisine and culture.
Avalon Waterways lets you taste culinary masterpieces as you savor northern France with regional specialties and local wines. Visit this food lover’s paradise and experience cooking demonstrations and a trip to a farm.
Uniworld River Cruises offer an Epicurean Adventure Program on several journeys that were designed to immerse guests into the culinary world. Each expands their knowledge through onboard culinary demonstrations, private tastings and enjoy fine wines perfectly paired to each course.
Feel like you are in foodie heaven as you Indulge your culinary passion and experience an incredible culinary cruise and “taste the world.”
For more information on Culinary Cruise deals, visit us at LuxuryTravelTeam.com or call our luxury cruise experts at 1-866-738-2470.