If the thought of the traditional Christmas dinner fills you with dread, either because you’re the one who’s going to be doing the cooking or you’re just sick of the same old same old, then a last-minute escape to the Caribbean with Oceania may be just the thing. The line’s Miami-round trip Holiday in the Tropics departs on December 23 but even if that’s a little too last minute for you, there’s a culinary treat in store on a number of Oceania’s Caribbean sailings departing early in 2015.
Why are these sailings so special? Well, if you’re in search of seasonal fare with a difference, you’ll be pleased to know that Oceania is offering incredible Culinary Discovery Tours on-board one of its ultra-luxury ships, Riviera. These bespoke excursions offer luxury cruisers the chance to not only sample incredible Caribbean cuisine, but explore local food markets, farms and restaurants in the experienced company of a chef from the ship’s Bon Appetit Culinary Centre.
Guests will also visit a private estate on St Lucia, which is situated on a former sugar plantation and which these days is more noted for its fantastic herb garden. Then, they’ll step inside the estate owner’s home for some expert cooking instruction and help to create a menu of authentic (and tasty) cuisine, all the while learning about the history of both the dishes and the region. They’ll then call at Castries Market which has sold local farmers’ produce for over 100 years.
After that, it’s a trip to St John’s for a master-class overview of the huge variety of tropical fruits available which are used to mouth-watering effect in local dishes. Then, it’s a trip to the revered Sunset Lounge Hotel for a cooking demonstration with a difference, in that you’ll get to help to prepare lunch.
If after all this talk of tasty Caribbean flavours, you’re inspired to experience them for yourself, just head over to our Oceania Cruises page, where the Holiday in the Tropics voyage is still available. Even if you actually love your traditional Christmas dinner and look forward to it passionately, that’s no excuse not to experience the Caribbean’s culinary delights for yourself next year and you’ll be pleased to know that we have an excellent selection of Caribbean cruises available.