Shore excursions take on a whole new meaning of delicious when you sail the world with Oceania Cruises.
Learning about the history and heritage of a destination is a great way to gain insight into the culture of the people who live there. On-shore excursions on cruise vacations are great for laying bare the sights and sounds of the various ports of call. But often, the way to a traveler’s heart is through their stomach. This is especially true with the delectable Culinary Discovery Tours™; offered by Oceania Cruises. Chef-led adventures offer tasting tours, farm-to-table visits, and cooking classes, hitting iconic culinary destinations and introducing new food finds no one has heard about.
Alexis Quaretti, Oceania Cruises' Director of Culinary Programs & Development, relates that Northern Europe has an especially diverse array of epicurean traditions. The Discovery Tours make it possible to explore new-to-you ingredients and innovations – whether you’re sitting fireside in the country kitchen of an Irish chef, wandering a bustling Danish food hall, or going back to the land on a small farm in Sweden. Culinary culture is everywhere, and Oceania Cruises will help you find a few wonderful and wander-ful taste sensations. Here are a few examples.
Food Market, Nordic Food Demo and Lunch, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Food markets are a fabulous way to get to know the food anthropology of a place, and Denmark has always been a hotspot for new culinary trends. On this immersive excursion, guests follow the lead of a local chef to the stalls of Copenhagen’s food markets, the epicenters of New Nordic Cuisine. This is a chance to see Scandinavia’s top culinary schools, participate in an interactive demo of techniques and enjoy a private luncheon, with a menu that honors Nordic traditions, yet interpreting them in unique ways.
Chef-Led Experience at Ballyknocken Cookery School, Dublin, Ireland
A private experience with Irish celebrity Chef Catherine Fulvio leaves you with the skills to prepare a traditional Irish stew at Ballyknocken, her residence and cookery school. After a cup of tea and some lemon cake, guests will take notes as Chef Catherine makes a beef and stout cobbler, one of her comfort-food favorites. You then don an apron and help her prepare an Irish Flag Soup with ingredients gathered from the Ballyknocken gardens. A Strawberry Shortcake Sandwiches is the cherry on top!
Chef-Led Local Farm Tour and Greenhouse Lunch, Visby, Sweden
Visby is a small town on the east side of the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. It is well-known for its medieval fortifications and stone streets, but equally as famous for its agritourism. On this food adventure, guests can visit two farms that have invigorated the Swedish farm-to-table food scene. The Oceania Cruises Culinary Center Chef will tell you all about this Gotland Island micro-cuisine on the way to Ejmunds Farm, which has been owned by the same family since 1862. Here, you learn about animal welfare, the prized cattle they raise and the organic black truffles planted under the hazelnut trees. At Lilla Bjers Farm, another multigenerational business, organic and sustainable farming are the top proprieties. Wander the fields with the farmers learning about their techniques, before going into the greenhouse for a multicourse lunch.
Chef-Led Market Tour and Latvian Cooking Class, Riga, Latvia
Gain insight into a true Latvian culinary escapade as you embark on a journey through Riga’s Central Market, which was once a hangar for German zeppelins. More than 3,000 vendors line the halls. Here, you will shop for ingredients for a cooking class and explore this foodie hub on your own. You then take a drive through Riga, touring the buildings, parks and Art Nouveau structures. Back on board, your cooking session begins using the ingredients procured earlier. The menu includes typical Latvian specialties – like meatballs in cream gravy, seasonal fruit chutney or minced mushrooms tarts.
