Gastronomy is one of the most important pillars of a vacation for many travelers; enjoying fine dining is one of the most coveted luxuries, and learning about haute cuisine from renowned chefs is a favorite experience for many. Oceania Cruises, recognized worldwide for its focus on gastronomy and destinations, is celebrating the 15th anniversary of its Culinary Center this year, the first hands-on cooking school at sea.
Since its inauguration in 2009 aboard the Marina, the Culinary Center has transformed the passenger experience by combining cruise luxury with a passion for cuisine. This anniversary marks a significant milestone for the cruise line, reaffirming its leadership in the culinary field and announcing exciting new developments for 2025 and beyond.
The Culinary Center was an innovation conceived by Oceania Cruises as a space where food lovers could explore, learn, and refine their culinary skills while discovering fascinating destinations. Equipped with custom kitchens, individual stations, and professional-grade equipment, this concept quickly became a distinctive feature of the Oceania fleet.
The Culinary Center has evolved over the years, but its essence remains the same: to provide an enriching and personalized experience for passengers. From learning to cook destination-inspired dishes to discovering the most advanced culinary techniques, each class is designed to satisfy food enthusiasts of all levels.
Today, it is available on four ships in the company's fleet: the Marina, the Riviera, the Vista , and the upcoming Allura, which will debut in the summer of 2025. Over the years, this space has offered more than 60 different classes, ranging from basic cooking skills to exploring the culture and history of destinations through their gastronomy.
To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Culinary Center, Oceania Cruises has announced new classes for 2025, inspired by iconic culinary regions such as the Pacific Northwest, Polynesia, and Australia. Among the new offerings are:
- Culinary Northwest Passage: A tribute to the innovative chefs of the Pacific Northwest, with a focus on seasonal cuisine and surf and turf dishes.
- Down Under Abundance: A journey through the flavors of New Zealand and Australia, celebrating their seafood, meats and wines.
- South Seas Salt Life: A class inspired by Polynesian cuisine, highlighting fresh and typical ingredients from the region.
- It's a Dessert Party: An afternoon experience that combines decadent desserts with drink pairings.
- Snow Days Brunch: A cozy brunch with family recipes perfect for cold days.
In these new classes, Oceania Cruises is proud to offer culinary experiences that connect passengers with the cultural richness of the destinations visited.
A team of experts at the helm
Chef Kelly, Director of Culinary Enrichment at Oceania Cruises, has worked tirelessly to expand and diversify the offerings at the Culinary Center. She is also the creative mind behind the Culinary Discovery Tours™, chef-led excursions that allow passengers to immerse themselves in local cuisine by accompanying them on ingredient shopping trips to markets and learning from local experts and artisans.
Chef Kelly leads a team of 11 talented Chef Instructors with impressive backgrounds, including training at prestigious institutions such as Le Cordon Bleu and the Culinary Institute of America. This diverse team brings global culinary trends to life, ensuring that every class is both educational and exciting.
In 2025, Oceania Cruises also plans to expand its Culinary Discovery Tours™with new excursions that promise to take passengers on culinary journeys around the world. These experiences combine learning, exploration, and cooking, offering a unique immersion into the culture of each destination.
With 15 years of success and a renewed vision for the future, Oceania Cruises' Culinary Center continues to consolidate its position as a benchmark at sea, taking world-class cuisine to new horizons.
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