Exciting cruise ship cuisine that’s worth the weight gain

Intimate culinary journey

I rate cruises as much for their culinary offerings as for snazzy staterooms, luxe amenities, and glimmering ports of call. So when a friend and her parents invited my husband and me to join them aboard an eight-day culinary-themed Oceania Cruises ship from Miami — with stops in Key West, Belize, Honduras, and Mexico — I began dieting in advance. With onboard cooking classes, exciting gastronomic excursions, and VIP meals at a variety of shipboard restaurants, I knew this would not be an average cruise. 

Unlike some vessels, the ship, Marina, offers an array of enticing restaurants, including a Parisian-style bistro with famed master chef and executive culinary director for Oceania Cruises, Jacques Pépin, at the helm, along with a Tuscan-themed restaurant, a bright fresh Asian eatery, a classic steakhouse, and two casual cafes: Waves Grill and Terrace Café.