Attention all foodies!
Oceania cruises, renowned for offering the finest cuisine and most engaging culinary enrichment programs at sea, is expanding its delectably popular Culinary Discovery Tours to include some of the Mediterranean’s most remarkable destinations.
The foodie-focused cruise line first introduced the Culinary Discovery Tours to provide guests with epicurean interests the opportunity to experience firsthand the cultures of the world through their cuisine.
“From private tastings of regional varietals to jaunts through bustling fish markets, each Culinary Discovery Tour enables guests to experience firsthand the authentic flavors that define the local cuisine of the destinations we visit,” said Kathryn Kelly, Director of Culinary Enrichment for Oceania Cruises.
“Cuisine is a significant part of a community’s culture, and we’re excited to bring to life the rich culinary traditions found in new destinations for our guests.”
What’s new to the Culinary Discovery Tours in 2016?
Witness stunning Provencal landscapes on Oceania Cruises Culinary Discovery Tours!
Antibes, France – Provençal Olive Grove Luncheon
Enjoy a scenic 45-minute drive to Domaine de la Royrie, an olive grove dating to the 15th century, followed by a walking tour amongst the majestic, silver-leaved olive trees and learn the artisanal methods for making superior extra virgin olive oil. You’ll soon be joined by a neighboring winemaker and discover the authentic flavors of Provence at a lunch complemented by a tasting of superb regional varietals.
Bandol, France – Provençal Lunch & Wine with Master Chef
This tour takes you to the stone cottage home of the legendary Master Chef Rene Berand! Following a stroll through magnificently abundant gardens and a cooking demonstration of classic Provencal dishes, you’ll be escorted to his nearby restaurant, Le Bistrot de Jef, to enjoy a Mediterranean-inspired lunch paired expertly with local Bandol wines to the backdrop of stunning views of Provence.
Casablanca, Morocco – Chef Tour & Moroccan Cooking Class
Take an exotic journey through the ancient city of Casablanca’s famous Central Market & olive market. Wander transfixed through colorful stalls selling a variety of fresh fish, fruits, vegetables and flowers, and preserved lemons and breads that will be purchased by your chef and used later for an onboard modern Morroccan cooking class. At the olive market, every imaginable variety and color of olive are displayed in spectacular juxtaposition beneath the building’s Moorish designed arches – a truly unique, culinary delight!
Culinary Discovery Tours are your chance to truly savour culinary specialties.
Catania on Sicily, Italy – Chef Market Tour, Cannoli & Lunch
On this chef-guided tour, you’ll have the chance to truly savor the specialties of this magical city. The walking tour begins with a sampling of delicious Sicilian street food – like arancini, a fried rice ball with various fillings – followed by a stroll through the ancient, exotic Mercate del Pesce di Catania street market, where locals sell everything from blood oranges to cuttlefish. Next, you’ll enjoy a tasty lunch of Sicilian dishes and wines at the charming Ostier Vinoteca. The day ends with an authentic Sicilian-style cannoli from a family-owned patisserie. Bellisimo!
Heraklion (Iraklion) on Crete, Greece – Cretan Food & Wine with Farm-to-Table Lunch
Learn (and taste!) the secrets behind what makes Crete a culinary mecca! Along with the chef and a local expert, you’ll meander through the streets of the Old City, stopping at bakeries and coffee shops for tastings of pastries, breads, coffees and olive oils bursting with flavor. Lunch is served at Areutosa, a charming all-Cretan restaurant with a passion for showcasing locally grown ingredients, cooking methods and recipes, enhanced by fine wines from the island.
Palamos, Spain – Spain’s Trendiest Culinary Destination
This one’s for the real foodies; delve into an intimate, behind-the-scenes look of the Catalan region, boasting more Michelin chefs than anywhere on earth. Visit Can Solivera, a producer of artisanal Arbequina olive oil, and sample the fruity, fresh, aromatic oil. After shopping at the Forallac farm-shop, prized for 100 percent extra virgin olive oil soap and creams, you’ll experience authentic Catalan cuisine at La Placa de Madremanya for a cooking demonstration and seven-course tasting lunch with wine. Ole!
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