From celebrity chefs to exotic markets, authentic restaurants and enriching workshops, you’ll encounter some tasty treats during your cruise, onboard and ashore. Many cruise lines take great pride in their dining options whether it’s tucking into a burger at a poolside grill, taking a trip to a local market to grab some ingredients for a master class, or luxurious fine dining. You’ll find the best food as you glide from port to port sampling the delights onboard your cruise ship, and exploring the local eateries.
Get your teeth into some of the best foodie experiences on your cruise ship and ashore:
Viking Ocean Cruises: Viking's Kitchen Table
If you like your food with a bit of adventure, join this interactive experience of culture and cuisine. You will explore local markets to select the best ingredients needed to create delicious regional dishes, guided by a chef and translator. As you stroll around the quaint markets be sure to suggest to the chef any local dishes you adore, and he may cook them for you. Get all the latest tips and tricks from Viking’s world-class chefs, as they plate up exquisite dishes for you in your own private kitchen. This unmissable excursion is in high demand so be sure to book ahead of your cruise.
Any destination that fuses together a mixture of Asian cultures is a foodies paradise, and that’s exactly what Singapore has to offer. The local restaurants and street food stalls are packed with a diverse selection of flavours and intriguing ingredients to create unforgettable savoury and sweet dishes. Local favourites include chilli crab smothered in sweet and savoury gravy, Laksa - a spiced coconut broth - and fried carrot cake. Visit the bustling Maxwell Food Centre located in the heart of the business district to sample the famous Tian Tian Chicken Rice, or check out the historic Lau Pa Sat market for authentic local cuisine.
Holland America Line: America’s Test Kitchen
An award winning cruise line in the category of dining, Holland America Line know good food. The cruise line is taking its onboard foodie experience to the next level, by introducing a fleet wide live cooking show from the famous TV show America’s Test Kitchen. Master your culinary skills as you learn techniques for making fresh pasta, flawless pies, and beautiful cake decorating in a fantastic workshop. Watch an exclusive, live, 45 minute cooking demonstration as chefs share tips, samples, and recipes with a different theme every day. These include ‘Meatless Mondays’, ‘We Love Chocolate’, ‘Getting to Know Chilli’s’ and many more.
Spain
Home to some of the most popular cruise ports in the Mediterranean including Barcelona, Vigo, and Bilbao, Spain offers incredible and delicious cuisine. Traditional cafes line the streets of most Spanish cities, as you wander the city of Barcelona satisfy your sweet tooth by tucking into Churros, a fried dough that’s traditionally sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, and served with luxurious chocolate sauce for dipping. No trip to Spain would be complete without sampling its famed Paella, originating from Valencia you can enjoy this dish with seafood, vegetables, or chicken with a glass of fruity Sangria.
Norwegian Cruise Line: Moderno
This authentic Brazilian Steakhouse is a must when sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line. Featured onboard most ships in the fleet, this delicious speciality dining option embraces South American influences to create cuisine that’s simply mouth-watering. Indulge in an array of slow-roasted meats carved straight onto your plate by Pasadores. Not only is the meat incredible, but the salad bar includes a selection of delicious sides to complement your dinner whilst sipping a tropical Caipirinha - Brazil’s national cocktail.
India
Immerse yourself in a world of fragrant spices and adored cuisine, any cruise that stops in India is a foodies heaven. If your cruise takes you to Goa, treat your taste buds to a traditional one-plate lunch consisting of vegetables, kokum-infused water, various seafood, and rice. Indulge in an abundance of food in Mumbai; from street food to restaurants this culinary hub is the ideal place to experiment with Indian cuisine. Popular street food ranges from kebabs, dosa, bhel puri, and the scrumptious pani puri - a hollow crisp loaded with chickpeas, tamarind chutney, and spicy water.
Celebrity Cruises
Masters of modern luxury, Celebrity Cruises see food as one of life’s greatest pleasures. This is evident onboard the Celebrity Cruises fleet through expert food and wine pairings and spectacular specialty dining options. Dining onboard is nothing less than a culinary journey with options including authentic Italian, exotic Asian and classic French cuisine. Send your senses on an adventure with the unique concoctions on offer at Qsine. Dishes like Sushi Lollipops and Disco Shrimp can be ordered via iPad and arrive in delightfully unexpected compositions.
With the mantra of "cruises as we are", Pullmantur has created a new, innovative platform that will combine the expertise of current chefs and delectable cuisine, with three Michelin-starred chef, Jordi Cruz. Aptly named Gastrolab, guests will experience creative new dishes made with the best, locally-sourced ingredients through this new feature.
It could be argued that any cruise itinerary could include a culinary adventure, whether this occurs on the ship or when exploring a new port. Self-proclaimed foodies will no doubt be on the look out for new things to try all over the world, whether this be new and possibly unheard of cuisine in Croatia, or speciality dining on a luxury cruise. Be brave and get stuck in to all the fresh and exciting foods you come across on your next cruise.
