If “foodie” is a word people use to describe you, then consider a cooking school on your next cruise.
Silversea has the only “Relais & Chateaux L’Ecole des Chefs” cooking school at sea.
These classes, offered completely free of charge, are designed to highlight the cultural flavor of each ships itinerary. This unique curriculum offers hands on training, and entertaining events. Classes include basic knife skills and kitchen terminology; baking; sauces; cooking demonstrations with wine pairing and Q & A sessions. Watch cooking competitions between culinary trainer David Bilsland, former instructor at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in London, and the ships own culinary team. “Lunch and Learn” events offer small groups of guests the chance to sample a wonderful meal of specially prepared dishes, and “take it home” recipes allow guests to indulge in their favorite dishes even after the cruise. “Market to plate” allows a guest to tour a local market, followed by a cooking class, and “culinary outings” where guests visit a local restaurant or venue and enjoy a unique culinary preparation.
There are nine remaining L’Ecole des Chefs sailings for 2013, two of which are wine series as well.
Oceana Cruises offers the Bon Appetit Culinary Center aboard Marina and Riviera.
Each course is $69 per passenger, where students
work at their own cooking station. This state of the arty facility offers multiple courses; pizza and pasta making; making the perfect brunch; healthy cooking; and Mediterranean-inspired meals.
Prefer just to watch the chefs in action?
Holland America offers cooking demonstrations in their Culinary Arts Center. Guests can watch as instructor prepares the dishes, and take home a copy of the recipe.
Celebrity Cruises, also offers cooking demonstrations by their culinary team, and recipes for later use, but does not have a specific venue for these activities.
Prefer not to do the cooking? Consider booking a Chefs table experience.
On Princess Cruises you can watch the chef in the galley as he prepares your multi-course mea paired with fine wine. Demand is high for this experience so book early.