Those statistics perfectly align with the surge of cruise lines introducing shore excursions showcasing the gastronomic heritage of select destinations and onboard enrichment programs featuring the cruise lines' star-chefs and some of the world's premier culinary and wine experts. 

Whether you are a casual "foodie", wine-connoisseur or a gastronome, there are many excellent opportunities to combine the joy of cruising while expanding your culinary palette.     

 

Regent Seven Seas' 2007 Food and Wine Circles of Interest program offers culinary and wine demonstrations showcasing the flavors of Italy, Norway, or France’s Bordeaux region – including shore excursions – under the tutelage of world-renowned chefs and experts of the food and wine industry. Also, the intimate, hands-on Le Cordon Bleu culinary workshop has expanded to include chef-led market visits in select Asian, Alaskan and European ports. For Seven Seas Society Members (past passengers), there's the Regent Signature Cellars, the line's private fine Wine Club. 

Aboard Celebrity Cruises, the complimentary enrichment lectures often include highly-regarded chefs from shore-side restaurants and, for a fee, wine tasting opportunities. This year, the line is featuring select sailings concentrating on the Pacific Coast Wine Country featuring onboard food- and wine-themed activities and shore-side excursions. The next sailing takes place on the Celebrity Mercury (November 2, 2007) and includes onboard culinary and wine events at locations such as the Seafood Cooking School and Wine Tasting in Astoria, Oregon, and the wine country of Napa Valley during a stop in San Francisco, California.  

Part of the $225 million fleet-wide Signature of Excellence enhancement, Holland America Line's Culinary Arts Center (in partnership with Food & Wine Magazine) is a major attraction on all sailings. The state-of-the-art center, designed to replicate a TV show kitchen, offers guests the opportunity to view cooking demonstrations and participate in classes conducted by celebrity or guest chefs and to partake in wine seminars.

So popular is the cruise culinary craze that even kids are getting in on the fun. With Princess Cruises' Junior Chefs@Sea Program, younger passengers can don mini-chef uniforms and get behind the scenes for some non-cooking activities (sushi rolls, cake decorating, etc.) The line also has a multitude of culinary courses for adults offered though their Scholarship@Sea program, including cooking demonstrations conducted by visiting chefs and wine tasting events. 

There are culinary events on almost every major cruise line, and the menu of guest chefs, sommeliers and programs is continually changing, so be sure to ask your expert at Luxury Cruising Agency about the opportunities on your cruise.