cooking classes

[RuthC]

Please don't make the mistake of just comparing cabin prices. Remember that O fares include airfare or a credit (e.g., recently approx $1.5k per person for SFO to Europe), and all specialty restaurants, non-alcohol beverages, etc.. Recently introduced O Life adds tips, internet and excursions at no added cost. And O's TA commissions are good enough to assure ample TA OBC offers.

Price Alaska for summer 2016 and compare "net daily rates" (I.e., all trip expenses you will incur). You will find that O is very close to HAL (of course, minus HAL's liberal smoking policy).

 

And, of course, then there's the food itself:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/v-7/articles.cfm?ID=1944&et_cid=2560386&et_rid=109005508&et_referrer=Boards

I've sailed on Oceania. I know what my price was, even after the credit for not using their air. I know what I pay for extra charge restaurants on HAL. I stand by the 4X cost difference I stated.

 

When it comes to "...the food itself" Oceania isn't as great as its reputation would have it. Was it better than HAL? In some venues (such as Waves), yes. In the dining room? Not so much. In the steak house? Not at all.

Service wasn't anywhere near as good as on HAL.

 

As far as the HAL "liberal" smoking policy, the two smoking areas on Riviera let out a terrible stench. I had to avoid the port side near the indoor smoking area completely. At least on HAL, I can pass by the indoor smoking area without gagging.

[ZSandy25]

Maybe I'm missing something but, here is the HAL description and the video. Just not the same thing as O's facilities.

 

From HAL website:

Each Culinary Art Center features a theater-style venue, with two large plasma video screens and a large cooking display counter where guests can learn from Holland America Line’s own professional culinary staff. Offered on all sailings and ranging from itinerary based cuisine to fruit and vegetable art, the flavorful and fun classes enable guests to discover the finer art of entertaining during their cruise. Sign up for an intimate hands on cooking class or attend one of the very popular cooking demonstrations in the theater.

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/virtual-tours-videos/Main.action?cat=activities&subcat=all&type=video&id=6&title=Culinary%20Arts%20Center%20presented%20by%20%3Cem%3EFood%20&%20Wine%3C/em%3E%20magazine%20(0:59)

 

Contrast this with O's 24 station, high tech teaching kitchen with dedicated chef and support staff.

Just felt I needed to add a footnote to the discussion, HAL does offer many venues where one can just sit and watch a food prep being done by various food personnel, they are very well attended IMO. You are usually given a small sample and a copy of the item that was prepared.

 

The cooking classes offer a different venue, as posted one must sign up for these classes onboard. My first stop when boarding is to go to the front desk and sign up. The class is limited to 12 as posted, there is an assigned menu for the group to follow. You will be given a HAL chef's apron to wear and keep. I have 8 of them and a chef's hat was given one time.

 

It IS a hands on class, you chop, you cook, you taste and you have fun. You will be given two sets of menu cards, one to put safely away and one you will use at your station to make notes and get food splatter on and follow.

 

After class you are escorted to the PG, you will not be eating the food you prepared (health issues) but be served the same menu prepared by the chef. Wine is served with the meal.

 

If you think this might be of interest to you I say go for it. I will defiantly be signing up when I board the Oosterdam in Feb. Bon Appetit'

[POA1]

The list of cruises with guest chefs is here:

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-onboard/Activities.action

 

Click on Guest Chef Schedule on the left. You can't direct link, sorry.

 

Even if your cruise doesn't have a guest chef, you'll still have culinary demos and the classes. They'll be done by a HAL chef.

[3rdGenCunarder]

The list of cruises with guest chefs is here:

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-onboard/Activities.action

 

Click on Guest Chef Schedule on the left. You can't direct link, sorry.

 

Even if your cruise doesn't have a guest chef, you'll still have culinary demos and the classes. They'll be done by a HAL chef.

 

Thanks for posting the link to the link. My cruise will have a Caribbean guest chef. Sounds like fun!

[hunt182644]

Please don't make the mistake of just comparing cabin prices. Remember that O fares include airfare or a credit (e.g., recently approx $1.5k per person for SFO to Europe), and all specialty restaurants, non-alcohol beverages, etc.. Recently introduced O Life adds tips, internet and excursions at no added cost. And O's TA commissions are good enough to assure ample TA OBC offers.

Price Alaska for summer 2016 and compare "net daily rates" (I.e., all trip expenses you will incur). You will find that O is very close to HAL (of course, minus HAL's liberal smoking policy).

 

And, of course, then there's the food itself:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/v-7/articles.cfm?ID=1944&et_cid=2560386&et_rid=109005508&et_referrer=Boards

 

Flatbush most posters on here are way to polite to say what they really think about your utterances. I for one will say what most others think take a hike.:rolleyes: