Food & Wine Sailings

Some sailings put food and wine in the spotlight with guest chefs, winemakers and special menus. Here is how they work and how to judge one before you book.

What a Food-Themed Sailing Can Include

A themed voyage is a regular cruise with extra programming. Typical elements are hosted dinners with a guest chef, cooking demonstrations, winemaker tastings and pairing dinners, talks about regional cuisine, and shore tours to markets, cellars or farms. Some are organized by the cruise line itself; others are run by a travel company or club that books a block of cabins and adds its own events.

Lines also run longer-term programs. Holland America, for instance, has a Culinary Ambassador program whose members join selected voyages. We name a sailing only when its details are published by the line or organizer; ask us for what is scheduled on your dates.

How to Judge a Food-and-Wine Voyage

• Find out who is hosting, and how many events they lead during the cruise.
• Ask which events are included and which carry a fee.
• Check whether themed dinners are open to all guests or only to a group.
• Look at the ports: do they match the theme?
• Remember that guest hosts can change; book because you like the whole trip.

Wine at Dinner: Practical Points

Most ships sell wine by the glass and the bottle in every restaurant, and an unfinished bottle can usually be kept for you until the next evening. Lines differ on whether you may bring your own wine on board and whether a corkage fee applies, so check the policy before packing a special bottle. Drinks packages may include house wines but not premium labels. If wine is central to your trip, compare the cost of a package with buying a few good bottles; for many wine lovers, the second is the better buy.