Do you like to cook? I mean, do you really like to cook! As in, I watch the Food Channel everyday and I say BAM when I add seasoning to my food. Do you kick it up a notch when preparing your specialty? Do you love to cook with butter and/or sugar? If you understand what I’m talking about then you need to take a culinary cruise. Learn to cook exotic things and enjoy it while you’re visiting fascinating places.
Culinary travel can involve learning new cooking techniques onboard a cruise ship, a river cruise ship or doing it shore-side as part of a cruise vacation. Any combination of these alternatives can be a blast.
Many cruise lines offer cruises where the cruise theme is food preparation and consumption. The culinary aspect of these cruises is usually led by a chef of renown or a Gastronome Cooking School and get down to the real nitty-gritty of the enjoyment of food.
Food cruises not only have fantastic food, they also have lectures and incredible meals prepared especially for the foodies on board. Some themed cruises also offer shore excursions to great local restaurants.
Shore-side culinary adventures can be as simple as taking a cooking class at an onshore venue during a cruise or as complex as taking time just before or after a cruise to enjoy a day or a week at a cooking school. Here are some ideas:
ONBOARD COOKING EXPERIENCES
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Enrichment is a primary focus at Regent. Part of what makes their cruises so rewarding is the way they enhance traditional cruising with insights of expert guest hosts through unique programming they call CIRCLES OF INTEREST. This occurs on board and shore-side to provide their passengers with opportunities to pursue different interests during their voyage.
A Le Cordon Bleu® Circle of Interest cruise is dedicated to preserving the mastery and appreciation of the culinary arts. Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Le Cordon Bleu have partnered not only to offer Signatures, the first and only permanent Le Cordon Bleu restaurants at sea, but they have also created Le Cordon Bleu Workshops. These workshops of limited guests, along with an onshore culinary experience, comprise the Le Cordon Bleu Circle of Interest. These are hosted by seasoned, award-winning chefs whose skill, innovation and professionalism truly define a Le Cordon Bleu chef. These celebrated chefs 
provide a hands-on introduction to the art of French cooking. Throughout these voyages, you will take part in three intensive two-hour workshops consisting of cooking demonstrations focusing on the preparation and presentation of French cuisine while discovering the secrets and techniques of world-renowned chefs.
Graduates will receive their own chef’s apron and hat, a tea towel, a special Le Cordon Bleu cookbook of classic recipes, and a certificate of participation.
There is an additional charge for these workshops.
Silversea Cruises
Silversea Cruises is known for its exotic worldwide itineraries and luxurious all-suite accommodations. Their onboard gourmet cuisine is to die for. This year they will feature a total of 14 culinary and wine theme cruises. These enrichment cruises feature the expertise of award-winning chefs from the world’s best known dining establishments, including the distinguished international association of boutique hotels and restaurants, Relais & Châteaux – Relais Gourmands. Every Silversea voyage features the "Collection du Monde", a set of 30 exclusive signature dishes created by Relais & Chateâux gourmands and the Silversea executive chefs. Wine experts from an assortment of prestigious estates and wineries will be on hand to host the Wine Series voyages.
Culinary travel can involve learning new cooking techniques onboard a cruise ship, a river cruise ship or doing it shore-side as part of a cruise vacation. Any combination of these alternatives can be a blast.
Many cruise lines offer cruises where the cruise theme is food preparation and consumption. The culinary aspect of these cruises is usually led by a chef of renown or a Gastronome Cooking School and get down to the real nitty-gritty of the enjoyment of food.
Food cruises not only have fantastic food, they also have lectures and incredible meals prepared especially for the foodies on board. Some themed cruises also offer shore excursions to great local restaurants.
Shore-side culinary adventures can be as simple as taking a cooking class at an onshore venue during a cruise or as complex as taking time just before or after a cruise to enjoy a day or a week at a cooking school. Here are some ideas:
ONBOARD COOKING EXPERIENCES
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Enrichment is a primary focus at Regent. Part of what makes their cruises so rewarding is the way they enhance traditional cruising with insights of expert guest hosts through unique programming they call CIRCLES OF INTEREST. This occurs on board and shore-side to provide their passengers with opportunities to pursue different interests during their voyage.
A Le Cordon Bleu® Circle of Interest cruise is dedicated to preserving the mastery and appreciation of the culinary arts. Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Le Cordon Bleu have partnered not only to offer Signatures, the first and only permanent Le Cordon Bleu restaurants at sea, but they have also created Le Cordon Bleu Workshops. These workshops of limited guests, along with an onshore culinary experience, comprise the Le Cordon Bleu Circle of Interest. These are hosted by seasoned, award-winning chefs whose skill, innovation and professionalism truly define a Le Cordon Bleu chef. These celebrated chefs 
provide a hands-on introduction to the art of French cooking. Throughout these voyages, you will take part in three intensive two-hour workshops consisting of cooking demonstrations focusing on the preparation and presentation of French cuisine while discovering the secrets and techniques of world-renowned chefs.Graduates will receive their own chef’s apron and hat, a tea towel, a special Le Cordon Bleu cookbook of classic recipes, and a certificate of participation.
There is an additional charge for these workshops.
Silversea Cruises
Silversea Cruises is known for its exotic worldwide itineraries and luxurious all-suite accommodations. Their onboard gourmet cuisine is to die for. This year they will feature a total of 14 culinary and wine theme cruises. These enrichment cruises feature the expertise of award-winning chefs from the world’s best known dining establishments, including the distinguished international association of boutique hotels and restaurants, Relais & Châteaux – Relais Gourmands. Every Silversea voyage features the "Collection du Monde", a set of 30 exclusive signature dishes created by Relais & Chateâux gourmands and the Silversea executive chefs. Wine experts from an assortment of prestigious estates and wineries will be on hand to host the Wine Series voyages.
According to, Silversea's executive vice president of worldwide sales and marketing David Morris "Our culinary and wine theme cruises are enriching lifestyle experiences offering a great way to travel and learn.” Passenger/Gourmets or those wanting to learn more about fine cuisine on any of these special Culinary Cruises aboard the Silversea Silver Shadow can join the visiting Relais & Chataeux Master Chef for onboard cooking demonstrations, regionally inspired cuisine, and a gala five-course dinner.
Holland America Line
This past October Holland America Line released a list of impressive guest chefs, wine experts, and others involved in the epicurean world that will join them on select 2008 cruises. The list includes notables, Cornelius Gallagher, former chef at Oceana (NY) and currently with.jpg)
Sonnier and Castle private events; Pichet Ong, chef at P*Ong Restaurant; Eric Lee, executive chef at Simi Winery; Tenney Flynn, executive chef at GW Fins; Joel Antunes, chef of Joel Restaurant; Susan Goss, owner and chef of the West Town Tavern in Chicago and dozens more. Augmenting the chefs will be a score of cookbook authors as well as wine and spirits experts including Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough, authors of the "Ultimate" cookbook series.
Holland America launched its innovative culinary program in 2005 with the construction of state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Centers aboard each of its 13 premium cruise ships offering culinary demonstrations, tastings and hands-on cooking classes aboard every sailing. These Culinary Arts Centers are not unlike the elaborate show kitchens used by celebrity chefs on television cooking programs. You might expect to see Emeril walk in at any moment.
In addition to the culinary experts mentioned above, Holland America Line showcases its own culinary stars during each of more than 500 annual cruises with demonstrations, tastings and hands-on cooking classes given by the ships' executive chefs and culinary staff.
SHORE-SIDE COOKING EXPERIENCES
Cruise West
Cruise West is an eclectic destination small ship cruise line offering many culinary cruises. Learn Mexican culinary techniques and savor the Ceviche (seafood "cooked" by marinating in lime juice) by the Sea results immediately! This culinary opportunity takes place at El Canipole restaurant in Loreto. You can also learn to shape a personal tortilla - round, oval, or triangular as you please - then bake it on a traditional comac. Mix ceviche (seafood "cooked" by marinating in lime juice) and savor a host of other Mexican specialties as well, including chicharrones en salsa verde, refried beans, pico de gallo salsa and guacamole.
Oceania Cruises
While on an Oceania Mediterranean cruise last year we enjoyed a shore-side culinary education experience at the Sorrento Cooking School located at the Esperidi Resort. The chef who taught us spoke very little English but was supported by an English
speaking assistant. The chef was, however, able to make her points understood when she needed to. We learned to make gnocchi, pasta, a terrific sauce, fish in crazy water and tiramisu. While we were making the gnocchi one of our classmates couldn’t seem to get the ratio of flour and water right. First he used to much water then too much flour. This went back and forth a couple times with the chef trying to coach him. She finally said Andy; you make my heart cry and did it herself. We had lots of laughs and came away with some fantastic recipes.
The best part of this class was being able to eat our delicious creations with a glass of champagne.
As we left, we also received a certificate and an apron from the school.
This past October Holland America Line released a list of impressive guest chefs, wine experts, and others involved in the epicurean world that will join them on select 2008 cruises. The list includes notables, Cornelius Gallagher, former chef at Oceana (NY) and currently with
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Sonnier and Castle private events; Pichet Ong, chef at P*Ong Restaurant; Eric Lee, executive chef at Simi Winery; Tenney Flynn, executive chef at GW Fins; Joel Antunes, chef of Joel Restaurant; Susan Goss, owner and chef of the West Town Tavern in Chicago and dozens more. Augmenting the chefs will be a score of cookbook authors as well as wine and spirits experts including Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough, authors of the "Ultimate" cookbook series.Holland America launched its innovative culinary program in 2005 with the construction of state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Centers aboard each of its 13 premium cruise ships offering culinary demonstrations, tastings and hands-on cooking classes aboard every sailing. These Culinary Arts Centers are not unlike the elaborate show kitchens used by celebrity chefs on television cooking programs. You might expect to see Emeril walk in at any moment.
In addition to the culinary experts mentioned above, Holland America Line showcases its own culinary stars during each of more than 500 annual cruises with demonstrations, tastings and hands-on cooking classes given by the ships' executive chefs and culinary staff.
SHORE-SIDE COOKING EXPERIENCES
Cruise West
Cruise West is an eclectic destination small ship cruise line offering many culinary cruises. Learn Mexican culinary techniques and savor the Ceviche (seafood "cooked" by marinating in lime juice) by the Sea results immediately! This culinary opportunity takes place at El Canipole restaurant in Loreto. You can also learn to shape a personal tortilla - round, oval, or triangular as you please - then bake it on a traditional comac. Mix ceviche (seafood "cooked" by marinating in lime juice) and savor a host of other Mexican specialties as well, including chicharrones en salsa verde, refried beans, pico de gallo salsa and guacamole.
Oceania Cruises
While on an Oceania Mediterranean cruise last year we enjoyed a shore-side culinary education experience at the Sorrento Cooking School located at the Esperidi Resort. The chef who taught us spoke very little English but was supported by an English
speaking assistant. The chef was, however, able to make her points understood when she needed to. We learned to make gnocchi, pasta, a terrific sauce, fish in crazy water and tiramisu. While we were making the gnocchi one of our classmates couldn’t seem to get the ratio of flour and water right. First he used to much water then too much flour. This went back and forth a couple times with the chef trying to coach him. She finally said Andy; you make my heart cry and did it herself. We had lots of laughs and came away with some fantastic recipes.The best part of this class was being able to eat our delicious creations with a glass of champagne.
As we left, we also received a certificate and an apron from the school.
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