Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary and destination-focused cruise line, has unveiled a selection of its 2025 Specialty Cruises, offering enriching onboard programming. Led by renowned hosts, guests will visit fascinating destinations while experiencing world-class cuisine and cultural immersion opportunities.
Chef Kathryn Kelly, Oceania Cruises’ Director of Culinary Enrichment is the founder and driving force behind The Culinary Center. She oversees Oceania Cruises’ team of 11 talented Chef Instructors.
Kelly is the chief architect of the line’s signature Culinary Discovery Tours, a key part of The Culinary Center program. These popular chef-led excursions are available in more than 40 destinations worldwide. Guests have the opportunity to learn to cook destination-inspired dishes on board. Enrichment experiences include shopping for ingredients in local markets and learning from local experts and artisans about the food and culture of the region.
Throughout 2025, Oceania Specialty Cruises will invite guest authors, television personalities and chefs to lead classes in the state-of-the-art Culinary Center. Some of the invited guests include Claudine Pépin and Sara Moulton; Food & Wine 2023 Best New Chef Aisha Ibrahim; and Oceania Cruises’ own Executive Culinary Directors and Master Chefs of France - Alex Quaretti and Eric Barale.
“We are the only cruise built by foodies, for foodies,' said Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. 'Food is at the heart of everything we do at Oceania Cruises - we have literally built our ships around the culinary experience, from vast galley spaces to an unparalleled range of restaurants. I am so proud to say we were the first line ever to have a hands-on cooking school at sea, and the popularity of The Culinary Center shows no sign of abating. This is testament to the incredible work done by Chef Kelly and her creative team, as they continue to drive our culinary legacy.”
The culinary team are from all over the world, including Christchurch, New Zealand, to Riga, Latvia, to San Francisco, California. They are perfectly placed on Oceania ships to keep their fingers on the global food pulse and bring the latest culinary trends to the kitchen classrooms.
Backgrounds of the talented team of chef instructors include an early career as Julia Child’s executive assistant; executive chef for world-renowned television shows such as “Sesame Street” and “30 Rock”; and leading the food programs of blue chip companies including Google and Amazon. Many of the chef instructors are graduates of The Culinary Institute of America, Le Cordon Bleu, and Boston University’s prestigious gastronomy program.
“Oceania Cruises has always set the standard for onboard culinary excellence and immersive travel experiences, and our 2025 Specialty Cruises continue to raise the bar even higher,” said Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises. “These voyages are a celebration of our commitment to creating one-of-a-kind travel experiences, offering an unparalleled fusion of culinary and cultural offerings for our guests. Thanks to the impressive line-up of renowned chefs and experts to enhance our onboard programming, including specially crafted menu items in The Grand Dining Room and at the Chef’s Market Dinners in the Terrace Café by each of our culinary hosts, our guests are in the best possible hands.”
Celebrating 15 years, The Culinary Center is the first-ever hands-on cooking school at sea. The Oceania Marina is the first purpose-built foodie ship for the line. Other Oceania Cruises’ Culinary Centers are available on three other elegant ships: Riviera, Vista and the newest ship Allure, due to join the fleet in Summer 2025.
New culinary classes focus on dishes from the Pacific Northwest of the United States, tropical Polynesia, and down under in Australia.
The Culinary Center boasts more than 60 current classes taught in custom-built teaching kitchens with individual stations and professional-grade equipment. The classes offer the chance to explore a destination’s culture and history through food, or to hone core kitchen skills thanks to the faculty of dedicated Chef Instructors.
New Classes for 2025 Culinary Northwest Passage
One of the trendiest regions in the culinary world today is the Pacific Northwest. Truly a celebration of the farmer and the fisherman, this class is inspired by the innovative chefs from Seattle to Anchorage. The Pacific Northwest food scene embraces seasonality fish and seafood fundamentals. Guests will learn “deep dish” signature desserts that they will want to replicate when they return home.
Down Under Abundance
Traveling to New Zealand and Australia, chefs and guests marvel at the abundance of ingredients available. The seafood is diverse, and the meats are prized all over the world. Class celebrates the sea, the mountains, and the vineyards of this special region of the world.
It's a Dessert Party
Dine early and skip dessert so you can attend the dessert and beverages class at 8 p.m. It will finish before the evening show. Learn how to prepare a decadent lava cake paired with a glass of Champagne, or crêpes Suzette paired with a Grand Marnier spritzer. It's a wonderful evening class between dinner and showtime.
South Seas Salt Life
After a day swimming in blue lagoons and walking pristine white beaches, take a Polynesian cuisine class to celebrate fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients with subtle influences from France and China. Tradition and family gatherings dictate the Polynesian “salt lifestyle.” This Tama’a Maitai Polynesian-style meal is a fan favorite.
Snow Days Brunch
Bake hot cinnamon rolls and an egg casserole on a leisure day when it is cold or snowy outside. Snow day brunch is complete with a warming beverage or bubbly cocktail. The ship's mixologists’ are happy to share the recipe for an even more memorable brunch experience.
Oceania Cruises 2025
The cruise line’s eight small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,250 guests. Enjoy visiting destinations with a focus on culinary rich itineraries that span the globe. Voyages range from seven to more than 200 days. Oceania Cruises has two additional ships on order scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2028 or 2029. Now is the time to book an Oceania Cruise.
