…
With the debut of its new luxury cruise ship `Riviera’ in May 2012, Oceania Cruises is expanding and enhancing its culinary enrichment programme with the introduction of Culinary Discovery Tours to more than 25 ports worldwide. Uniquely designed for each port, the new tours provide guests with the opportunity to explore local food markets in small groups, alongside an expert chef.
“It was ground-breaking when Oceania Cruises introduced the first hands-on culinary school at sea with the launch of Marina,” said Kunal S. Kamlani, the line’s president. “Now with the introduction of sister-ship Riviera we are taking culinary enrichment to a whole new level to solidify our reputation as the cruise line for epicureans.”
Guests will have the opportunity to visit an artisanal cheese maker, a chocolatier, a wine vineyard or a fish market. Tours also incorporate mini-lectures, demonstrations or lunch before returning to the ship’s Bon Appetit Culinary Centre for a hands-on cooking class, drawing inspiration from the local market.
“In Athens, guests will visit the Agora meat and fish market followed by lunch in the Plaka,” said Kathryn Kelly, culinary enrichment director of Oceania Cruises.“When in Barcelona, we enjoy a Spanish olive oil tasting, shop at Santa Caterina Market and then finish the day with lunch at a top tapas restaurant.”
Oceania Cruises’ Culinary Discovery Tours will launch this spring in Europe aboard the 1250-guest luxury cruise ships Riviera and Marina and can be booked prior to departure. The programme will roll out in Asia, South America and the Caribbean in winter 2012-13. Prices start at $175 per person, including the escorted market tour and cooking class.
On Oceania Cruises’ smaller, 650-guest ships – Regatta and Nautica – the new Culinary Discovery Tours will combine excursions to local markets with hands-on cooking experiences at a shore-side cooking school or a well-known restaurant kitchen. In Istanbul, for example, guests will follow their tour with a cooking class at Cooking Alaturka.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
