Celebrating 15 Years of Oceania Cruises’ Culinary Centre: A Milestone of Gastronomic Excellence
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Oceania Cruises, renowned as the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, is celebrating a significant milestone in 2024—the 15th anniversary of The Culinary Center, the first-ever hands-on cooking school at sea. This celebration comes with a host of new culinary classes for 2025 and beyond, promising to excite and inspire food lovers across the globe.
The Birth of a Culinary Icon
Fifteen years ago, ahead of the launch of Marina
, Oceania Cruises introduced The Culinary Centre, revolutionising the cruise industry by offering an immersive, hands-on cooking experience at sea. Today, this innovative concept is available on four of the line’s elegant ships: Marina, Riviera, Vista, and the upcoming Allura, set to join the fleet in Summer 2025.
New Culinary Classes for 2025
In honour of this 15-year milestone, Oceania Cruises is introducing a variety of new culinary classes for 2025, highlighting dishes from diverse regions such as the Pacific Northwest, Polynesia, and Australia. With more than 60 classes currently available, The Culinary Centre offers a unique opportunity to explore a destination’s culture and history through its cuisine or refine fundamental kitchen skills under the guidance of dedicated Chef Instructors.
The Visionary Behind the Centre
Chef Kathryn Kelly, the Director of Culinary Enrichment, is the visionary force behind The Culinary Centre. She leads a talented team of 11 Chef Instructors and is also the architect of Oceania Cruises’ Culinary Discovery Tours—chef-led excursions that allow guests to shop for local ingredients and learn to prepare destination-inspired dishes. These tours are available in over 40 destinations worldwide, with new tours planned for 2025.
An Innovative Culinary Experience
“We are the only cruise built by foodies, for foodies. Food is at the heart of everything we do at Oceania Cruises,” said Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. “The popularity of The Culinary Centre is a testament to the incredible work done by Chef Kelly and her creative team, as they continue to drive our culinary legacy.”
Chef Kelly added, “It’s been an amazing evolution over the past 15 years. I am thrilled to be working with such a creative and collaborative team as we constantly look for new dishes and class themes to introduce to our curious guests.”
Global Culinary Expertise
The Chef Instructors at The Culinary Center bring a wealth of experience and diverse backgrounds, from working with Julia Child to leading food programs at major companies like Google and Amazon. With their fingers on the pulse of global culinary trends, these experts ensure that Oceania Cruises guests receive top-notch culinary education.
Highlighted New Classes
- Culinary Northwest Passage: Inspired by the innovative chefs from Seattle to Anchorage, this class celebrates the farm- and sea-to-table ethos of the Pacific Northwest, including guest favourite fish and seafood fundamentals.
- Down Under Abundance: This class highlights the diverse ingredients and prized meats of New Zealand and Australia, celebrating the sea, mountains, and vineyards of this unique region.
- It’s a Dessert Party: An evening class offering decadent desserts paired with beverages like Champagne and Grand Marnier spritzers.
- South Seas Salt Life: This class embraces Polynesian cuisine and features fresh, seasonal ingredients influenced by French and Chinese culinary traditions.
- Snow Days Brunch: A cozy brunch class perfect for snowy days, complete with warming cocktails and comfort food recipes.
