Does Champagne Taste Better at Sea? The Unexpected Allure of Cruising for Food & Wine

Carol Wolniakowski, Guest Blogger, is the proprietor of Cuvée Wine Travel, Inc. where she specializes in food and wine travel.  Carol is an attorney-turned-wine educator with a passion for connecting people through food and wine. She has an Advanced Certification, with Distinction, from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, an advanced certificate from the International Sommelier Guild and is a Certified Specialist of Wine as well as a Signature Travel Expert.  She is a member of the Society of Wine Educators, the Wine Scholar Guild and La Châine des Rôtisseurs.

I’m happy to share Carol’s article written exclusively for Grape Experiences.

I am a recovering cruise skeptic.  I was once a card-carrying member of the ABC Club – Anything But Cruising (also Anything But Chardonnay unless it’s Chablis, but that’s another story).  Thousands of people, screaming kids, long lines, mediocre buffets: this was my impression of cruising. My eyes have now been opened to a world of luxury travel that is exciting and unique:  culinary cruises.

A culinary cruise is an ocean or river cruise that is enhanced with special food and wine offerings.  Epicurean travel and oenotourisme have exploded in popularity, allowing travelers the chance to savor Michelin-star quality meals, local cuisine and rare wines in destinations around the world. Now more than ever, people want to immerse in local culture and enjoy authentic experiences.  Food is the heart and soul of culture and the key ingredient to creating an enriching voyage. Thanks to television shows like Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, savvy travelers are hungry for adventures that will open their minds and delve into local traditions.  There have never been more food and wine-focused travel opportunities, and cruise lines are taking it to the next level with immersive experiences both onboard and onshore.  From gourmet cooking classes to biking through vineyards, culinary cruises offer endless options for food and wine enthusiasts.

Why a culinary cruise instead of a land trip?  The biggest benefit to a cruise is the ability to visit different locations without having to pack and unpack.  Imagine eating pintxos in a wine bar in Barcelona, sipping rosé in a cafe in Provence and sampling vintages of Chianti in Tuscany – all in the same trip.  Additionally, it is hard to deny the staggering beauty of the many vistas you see while traveling on water. Regal castles, rugged cliffs and historic ruins serve as the ultimate backdrop to your magical journey.

Epicurean cruises in particular allow you to enjoy fabulous food and wine while traveling to areas outside of wine country, like Alaska, Asia and the Caribbean.  Ocean cruises can take you to destinations not easily accessible by car or train and river cruises instantly immerse you in local culture by sailing through the middle of a country, docking in the heart of town. Cruises also are the perfect trip for groups, as they provide a common home base to gather while also allowing the freedom to do your own thing.  Friends and family with diverse palates and interests (and even non-drinkers) can happily travel together and create their own perfect getaway. Finally, there is incredible value in cruising that you just cannot match on land. For one price you get all meals, beverages, accommodations, entertainment, activities and more. Most luxury cruise lines also will include unlimited premium wines, beer and spirits.

At Cuvée Wine Travel, we have put together a list of top picks for luxury food and wine cruises that would please the most discerning of palates.  Impeccable service, elegant decor and upscale appointments compliment the elevated cuisine on each of these vessels. The small number of passengers and large staff-to-guest ratios ensure a relaxing and intimate dining experience.  Indulge in Champagne and caviar on your private balcony, sip a green smoothie at the spa or enjoy a burger and a beer by the pool. No matter what you are craving, you are sure to enjoy the diversity and quality of cuisine on the industry’s finest vessels.

Top Ocean Culinary Cruises

Oceania Cruises is known for having the “finest cuisine at sea,” with its dining program overseen by the one and only Chef Jacques Pépin.  From milling their own flour to operating a separate galley for each restaurant, Oceania’s commitment to culinary excellence is extraordinary.  The Grand Dining Room offers a large selection of menu items, including healthy Canyon Ranch spa cuisine and gourmet vegan options. Specialty restaurants include Jacques, featuring family recipes from Jacques Pépin, Toscana for upscale Italian fare and Red Ginger for bold Asian cuisine.  Oceania’s Marina and Riviera ships feature La Reserve by Wine Spectator for gourmet wine dinners and the exclusive Dom Perignon Experience, pairing six courses with a different vintage of Dom Perignon Champagne. Some exciting epicurean experiences include hands-on cooking classes in the onboard Culinary Center, chef-led visits to local markets and vineyard tours in renowned wine regions.  Itinerary Highlight:  7-Night Wineries & Wonders sailing from Barcelona to Rome; featuring a visit to a Super Tuscan winery estate complete with a wine pairing lunch.  Starting at $1,799/person.

Seabourn Cruises’ membership in the esteemed gastronomic society La Châine des Rôtisseurs and its partnership with Chef Thomas Keller demonstrate its dedication to superb gastronomy. Michelin-starred Chef Keller has created a unique dining concept for the fleet and has trained the staff to his notoriously meticulous standards. In addition to The Grill by Thomas Keller, you can savor everything from sushi to pizza in its indoor and outdoor venues.  In-suite dining on your veranda is also available for no additional charge. Enjoy educational wine classes, tastings and other culinary excursions as well as unique themed sailings like the Yoga and Wine meditation cruise. Itinerary Highlight: 7-Day Greece & Dalmatian Delights sailing from Athens to Venice; featuring a traditional wine, cheese and Marascino liqueur tasting in the old town of Zadar, Croatia.  Starting at $3,999/person. 

Sea Dream Yacht Club is said to be the cruise line for people who do not like cruising.  “It’s Yachting. Not Cruising” is their tag line and with only 56 cabins, Sea Dream truly creates a personalized experience.  Sailing to some of the most beautiful and secluded ports, Sea Dream offers a unique getaway unmatched in the industry. The casual yachting lifestyle combined with world-class cuisine creates the ultimate epicurean adventure. Sea Dream’s Signature Champagne and Caviar Splash is the perfect representation of its elegant informality with a gourmet barbeque on a white sandy beach. With the expertise of its Wine Director, Sea Dream has created a series of Wine Voyages hosted by world renowned wineries from France, Italy, the US and more. A representative of the winery will lead wine tastings and an exquisite winemaker degustation dinner onboard. Wine-focused Yachting Land Adventures will be offered as an optional way to expand your wine knowledge and immerse in local cuisine. Visit famous wineries in medieval Italian villages, tour historical wine cellars in Spain or explore hidden gems in hilltop villages of France. Itinerary Highlight: 7-Day Yachting Wine Voyage with Silver Oak and Twomey Wineries sailing from Bridgetown to Marigot; featuring an educational tour of the Firefly Plantation and Sea Salt Tasting on the island of Bequia. Starting at $2,999/person.

Silversea Cruises recently announced an exciting new culinary enrichment program called Sea and Land Taste (S.A.L.T.). Curated with Adam Sachs, the former editor-in-chief of Saveur Magazine, this program will offer immersive experiences that allow guests to “travel deeper” by connecting to local cultures through food. Learn about the traditions of regional cuisine through cooking demos with local chefs, authentic dinners, educational workshops and wine tastings. Silversea also features specific sailings called Wine Voyages that offer an introductory sommelier course and feature world-class vintners onboard to lead tastings and private vineyard tours. Guests can choose from a wide array of dining choices onboard, including Silversea’s interactive Hot Rocks concept at The Grill where you dine outdoors and grill your own food on hot lava rocks at your table. Itinerary Highlight: 10-Day South American Cruise sailing from Buenos Aires to Rio d Janeiro; featuring an Argentinean cooking lesson with dinner at Palermo, Buenos Aires.  Starting at $4,950/person.

Windstar Cruises touts an exclusive partnership with the prestigious James Beard Foundation.  By featuring some of the most talented chefs and sommeliers on themed sailings and in its dining program, Windstar gives you the chance to savor innovative cuisine and learn artisanal cooking techniques.  Chefs will lead market excursions and wine tastings, host cooking demonstrations and wine pairing dinners as well as conduct seminars and other educational events. Even if you are not sailing on a specific James Beard cruise, all sailings feature exquisite dishes specially created for Windstar by a team of talented James Beard award-winning chefs.  With most ships holding less than 250 passengers on board, the dining experience on Windstar is reminiscent of dining on a private yacht. The small size of the ship enables it to travel to more remote areas, allowing you to taste unique, authentic cuisine in interesting locales. Itinerary Highlight: 14-Day Windstar Crew Homeowns: Philippines & Indonesia with James Beard-awarding winning Chef Lee Anne Wong sailing from Hong Kong to Benoa; featuring a tour of a local seafood wet market in Puerto Princesa.  Starting at $4,299/person.

Top River Culinary Cruises

AmaWaterways is known for its themed Wine Cruises where a wine specialist – usually an American vintner or winemaker – travels on board to lead wine seminars and tastings.  The host typically brings hand-selected wines to serve at a special wine pairing dinner. Every AmaWaterways sailing features complimentary local wines with lunch and dinner and sparkling wine with breakfast.  The Chef’s Table restaurant is a lovely setting with a demonstration kitchen where diners can watch the chefs work their magic. AmaWaterways is also a proud member of La Châine des Rôtisseurs and features a memorable La Châine dinner on every sailing.  AmaWaterways sails on rivers all over the world, including wine regions in France, Germany, Austria and Portugal. Your choice of daily excursions can include a tour of a mustard mill, a wine tasting in a castle or a truffle hunt. And with complimentary bicycles on every ship, you can bike through vineyards with stately chateaux in Bordeaux or ride past the green terraced cliffs in Austria.  Itinerary Highlight: 7-Night Enticing Douro Wine Cruise with Host Madrona Vineyards sailing roundtrip Porto; featuring a Porto nature hike with Port wine tasting.  Starting at $3,299/person.

Crystal Cruises is the cruise line that changed my mind about cruising and opened my eyes to the many authentic, fascinating and delicious experiences available when traveling on water.  A highlight of my Danube River cruise was a private classical music concert in an abbey in Austria followed by a surprise lavish midnight “buffet” of Austrian specialties upon our return to the ship.  This was a definite WOW and I was an instant convert! Crystal is unique in offering both ocean and river cruises where Michelin-inspired cuisine is featured in a variety of venues. Specialty restaurants on its ocean voyages feature sushi, French bistro fare, prime steaks and more.  Open seating and 24 hour in-suite dining are included on all Crystal sailings. Its complimentary wine list has an impressive variety of wines and the Conoussier Wine List is every oenophile’s dream, curated with the world’s finest rare wines. The Vintage Room is reserved for its impressive 5-star wine pairing dinners that rival the best anywhere on land, with dishes expertly paired with world class wines like Cristal and Sassicaia.  Crystal also offers special Wine & Food Festival ocean sailings with culinary enrichment experiences onboard and onshore. Itinerary Highlight: 7-Night Delightful Danube, sailing from Budapest to Regensburg; featuring a visit to the famous Bavarian Hacklberg Brewery.  Staring at $4,799/person. 

Uniworld owns some of the most luxurious, distinctive ships on the river, including the stunning and newly renovated S.S. Bon Voyage sailing through the vineyards of Bordeaux and the lovely new S.S. Sao Gabriel sailing on the Duoro river.  Each vessel is uniquely designed to reflect the region in which it sails, including the dining venues. All meals are prepared using the finest and freshest local ingredients, whether you are enjoying Wiener Schnitzel in Mozart’s restaurant in Austria or Ossobuco Milanese in the Savoy restaurant in Italy.  With daily Afternoon Tea, lavish breakfast and lunch buffets and a Farewell Gala Dinner, Uniworld’s sumptuous cuisine is unrivaled. Every sailing includes unlimited fine wines, beer and spirits carefully selected by the sommelier to pair with local dishes. Of special note is Uniworld’s Connoisseur Collection: a special set of sailings with enhanced culinary experiences like visits to truffle farms, orchards and vineyards.  Itinerary Highlight:  8-Day Burgundy & Provence sailing from Lyon to Avignon; featuring an Hermitage terrace vineyards hike with wine tasting.  Starting at $3,449/person.

Cruise lines are revolutionizing culinary travel by offering unique experiences specifically designed for food and wine enthusiasts.  Who can resist the lure of sipping Champagne while gliding past steeply terraced vineyards, historic castles or sunsets over glistening waters? I can’t think of a better way to taste the flavors of the world. Take your taste buds on a new adventure by sailing on a culinary cruise! Cheers and Bon Voyage!

Thank you, Carol! Please find Carol Wolniakowski, JD, CSW, WSET III at carol@cuveewinetravel.com and explore her website, Cuvée Wine Travel, Inc. here.

Cheers! ~ Cindy

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