Cooking Classes - Prinsendam

[Beachnut53]

I have read on a number of threads rave reviews on HAL cooking classes and how one needs to sign up early as they sell out fast. Can anyone advise if they are offered on the Prinsendam? It is possible to register in advance or must one do it as soon as one embarks at the Front Desk?

[RuthC]

I don't remember if there were cooking classes on the Prinsendam, but I do remember that the ship has the facilities in the Wajang Theatre.
I can't imagine they would have everything, and then not have the classes.

[prescottbob]

...cooking class on the 'Explorer' like the other larger HAL ships but I may be wrong. I've only had the privledge to have cruised on 'her' for 48 days (a 22 day & 26 day) thus far so I'm considered somewhat of a Prinsendam 'freshman' as compared to many.

I do however recall cooking demos scheduled pretty much every day while at sea with one of the chefs or bakers. They also had some sort of celebrity (the Explorer speakers and the CD) cook off and another one that involved passenger volunteers in Novemeber.

The Wajang and culinary facility is fairly small so if you get more then 2-3 people on the "stage" it gets sort of crowded unlike the larger, full kitchens found on the larger HAL ships.

You might want to contact ship services and see if cooking classes would be available for your cruise. And certainly I would contact the front desk on embarkation and see "what's cook'in", as it were.

In any event, enjoy your cruise and the "Elegant Explorer".

Bon Voyage & Good Health! (& Bon Appetite!)
Bob:)

P.S. Be sure to sign up for the sommiler (sp?) dinner in the PG, if available for your sailing.

[Beachnut53]

Thanks Bob for the excellent suggestion on the Sommelier Dinner - can you advise what would be potential cost? Is it also held on a sea day?
Can one book it in advance? We are on a 14 day cruise of the Med.

[prescottbob]

Ahoy Beachnut!

The last one 'we' attended (Dec. '08) cost $75/pp. I believe it was held on a sea day. A prior Prinsendam Sommelier Dinner that comes to mind (May'07) then cost $65/pp and was held on a port night ("Gibraltar Night", me thinks).

Just for comparison purposes, the first HAL sommelier dinner we attended was in Oct., 2002 on the Statedam and it was held on a sea day and I believe the cost was $45/pp. The again a PG din-din then was a fairly new featute and ran $10pp (me thinks).

In so far as reserving a place (if they do indeed have one on your cruise) I would speak with the head wine steward or cellar master or whatever the lexicon is these days on your first night out.

Likewise, the head maitre d, aka the dining room manager these days should have the inside 'poop'. If all else fails your table wine steward or sommelier in training will find out for you.

BTW, if you look below the count down clock 'thingy' there are a couple of links. One will have some recent pix of the "Explorer's" public rooms (which will include the DR's, PG and the Wajang/Culinary Arts Center).

The review link also briefly mentions the Sommelier din-din in the ship section of the review.

Have a GREAT CRUISE!

Bon Voyage & Good Health!
Bob:)