It should certainly come as no surprise that gourmet dining is a big part of the luxury cruise experience, and when it comes to the finest cuisine, Crystal Cruises is a line which prides itself on offering some of the finest afloat on every itinerary. Now however, the line has announced two very special sailings which put the focus even more on food and indeed wine, by announcing two very special Wine and Food Festival voyages in 2016.
The first sailing will take place on Crystal Symphony, a 12-night Mediterranean sailing from Istanbul to Rome which will set sail on 1 May and be hosted by Michelin-starred French chef Alexis Gauthier. The second gourmet voyage will be overseen by long-time Crystal Cruises associate Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and will consist of a 10 night Alaskan round-trip from Vancouver, setting sail on 17 July.
Of course, the Mediterranean and Alaska are two very different cruise destinations, but one thing they have in common is fine cuisine and distinctive menus. The Mediterranean sailings will open up a wealth of contrasting culinary delights, offering guests the chance to create a host of specialties for themselves, while the Alaskan sailing will feature personally hosted dinners and special menus created by Nobu Matsuhisa in Crystal Cruises’ renowned Silk Road and Sushi Bar restaurants.
Highlights of the Mediterranean Experiences of Discovery sailing include demonstrations by Alexis Gauthier on the creation of some of his most famous dishes, along with hands-on instruction of guests, tours of the galley and of course, the chance to sample the creations in the ship’s restaurants. There’ll be tours of markets, hotels and restaurants ashore too, creating an all-round culinary experience. On the Alaskan sailing, Nobu will mix with guests and host a special multi-course chef’s dinner in Silk Road as well as present a number of special menus throughout the voyage. Again, the culinary experience continues ashore, with a crab feast in Ketchikan, the chance to sample Juneau’s famous salmon and traditional English tea in Victoria.
If all this talk of gourmet cuisine has whetted your appetite for the Crystal Cruises experience, take a look at the fantastic choice of Crystal Cruises we currently have on offer, including both these themed sailings.