When it comes to cruising, there’s one element that sorts the wheat from the chaff as far as I’m concerned, and that’s the exciting eating opportunities. As an advocate of luxury travel and food, cruises combine two of my favourite things and fellow foodies the world over are waking up to the incredible experiences awaiting them on the seas and in various ports.
If you’re a self-proclaimed food fanatic that enjoys the finer things in life, take a look at my top European cruise destinations for gastronomes.
Eastern Mediterranean Cruises
Eastern Mediterranean countries have a lot to offer in terms of amazing food, with Turkey being one of the most eclectic. Thanks to being part of both Europe and Asia, Turkish cuisine is fantastically blended in terms of influences, leading to inspired use of spices, exciting vegetable dishes and flavourful meat specialties, such as köfte. Cheese-filled pastries are very popular, too, and really engage your taste buds.
If Turkey sounds exciting, just wait until you get to Croatia, a country with staggeringly moreish cuisine. From elegant rice dishes through to octopus salad, cured ham and stuffed sauerkraut parcels, your tongue won’t know what has hit it as you ride a rollercoaster of sweet, zingy, fresh and rich flavours.
If you book an Eastern Mediterranean cruise, hopefully you’ll be stopping in Greece – where else will you find fresh taramasalata, stuffed vine leaves, locally produced feta and baklava dripping in syrup? Add in the grilled meats and fresh seafood and you might not want to get back on board the ship before it leaves port.
Northern Europe Cruises
For foodies with a more adventurous streak, a northern European cruise itinerary provides plenty of variety and surprises. While the beautiful coastline is picturesque enough to be a driving reason to book a cruise to this region, the foods on offer will absolutely seal the deal.
Norwegian food is famous for being diverse and, in some cases, a little scary. From tasty meatballs and sweet flatbreads through to salt cod and smoked sheep’s head, there’s something for everyone to try here. Not everything is an extreme test of your tongue’s mettle in northern Europe, however, as Amsterdam is home to some of the sweetest treats around. Caramel waffles, fried sweet dumplings and pastries are available in vast numbers, alongside hearty comfort food, such as stews and stamppot, a dish similar to bubble and squeak. The liquorice is worth a try, too.
A stop-off in Belgium is a must for any self-respecting foodie, if for no other reason than to have an authentic bowl of moules-frites (mussels with fries). Sweet waffles, potato croquettes and of course, the chocolate, are huge draws for anyone who loves a good a feed.
Western Mediterranean Cruises
Cruises around the western med are very popular and cover a lot of countries and with it, a huge range of cuisine waiting to be experienced. Rome is an obvious destination for foodies, what with hand-stretched pizzas and fresh pasta waiting to be devoured, but Barcelona is tempting as well, with rich tomato-based dishes and locally grown produce.
Ibiza used to be known as a party destination, but you might not know that it is heaven for budding gourmets. With rich meats, fresh seafood and sumptuous stews, there’s a lot to be said for this Balearic big hitter. Finally, can you really call yourself a foodie if you haven’t sampled the best of French cuisine? I don’t think so, which is why a cruise that includes the French Riviera is a must.
The Treasures of the Mediterranean cruise, courtesy of Marella, is ideal for budding foodies. This sumptuous seven-night cruise starts in Palma and visits plenty of culinary hotspots. The full itinerary looks like this:
Day 1 – Palma. Leaving port at 22:00 gives you ample time to taste the local paella and tumbet, a vegetable-heavy ratatouille-style dish.
Day 2 – At sea. This is a great opportunity to explore the on-board restaurants, including the amazing Surf & Turf Steakhouse. A must for meat lovers.
Day 3 – Olbia. Arriving at 08:00 and leaving at 17:00, you’ll have to be efficient to see the best of Sardinia, but as long as you sample the sea-urchin spaghetti or octopus salad, you’ll leave happy.
Day 4 – Naples. You’ll be in the home of arguably the best pizza in the entire world from 08:00 to 18:00 and close enough to Pompeii and Capri for some exploring.
Day 5 – Civitavecchia. Arriving at 07:00 and not leaving until 19:00, this is the perfect stop for anyone wanting to tick Rome off their bucket list. From historic sites to some of the best pasta, pizza, produce and gelato, there’s a lot to take in.
Day 6 – Ajaccio. You’ll be in picturesque Corsica from 08:00 to 15:00, so use the time well and seek out some of the local meaty stews on the seafront.
Day 7 – Palamos. Arriving at 09:00, you’ll have until 17:00 to enjoy this heritage-filled fishing region of Spain. The vast array of seafood tapas will be a real thrill.
Day 8 – Palma. You’ll arrive at 06:00, so depending on your return flight time, you should have plenty of time to visit anything you missed on your first day.
If you know your crostini from your crustacea, cruising round Europe and exploring some of the best foodie destinations is a great way to spend a holiday. The beauty of these types of trips is that you’ll find yourself in a new city most days, and there’s always time to pick a nice restaurant and try the local delicacies.
Bon appetit!
