By
Rebecca Gibson |
British TV chef and author Mary Berry CBE is to join a host of celebrity chefs sailing onboard P&O Cruises’ latest newbuild Britannia, which will launch this March.
Berry, who will join guests on a 12-night British Isles cruise on 6 July, is just one of ten chefs that will be sailing onboard Britannia this year to run cookery classes, host exclusive chef’s table dinners, and participate in Q&A sessions and book signings.
The two-hour classes will cost £100 per person (or £200 per person when hosted by two chefs) and take place in The Cookery Club, a dedicated cookery school with 12 stations for up to 24 people.
The line-up includes Nathan Outlaw, holder of four Michelin stars, who will sail on a 14-night Portugal, Spain & Morocco cruise departing 28 March, and Michelin-starred French chef Pierre Koffmann, who will join the ship for a 14-night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise departing 13 June with British chefs James Martin and Charlie Turnbull.
On 6 July, Theo Randall, the proprietor of Theo Randall at the InterContinental Hotel London Park Lane, will join Mary Berry and James Martin on a 12-night British Isles itinerary, while Lawrence Keogh, head chef at London’s Wolseley restaurant, will sail on a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on 18 July.
Meanwhile, Vivek Singh, who has three London restaurants, will join the ship’s 14-night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise departing 15 August; English chef, restaurant co-owner and TV personality James Tanner will sail on a seven-night France, Spain & Guernsey voyage on 8 August; and Daniel Galmiche, Michelin-starred executive chef at The Vineyard and TV chef, will board Britannia for a seven-night France, Spain & Guernsey cruise departing 5 September.
In October, Italian chef and author Antonio Carluccio will join guests on a 14-night Spain, Monaco & Italy cruise with James Martin and Charlie Turnbull, and Paul Rankin, the first Northern Irish chef to earn a Michelin star, will sail on a 14-night Portugal & Caribbean cruise with Eric Lanlard.
“With a stellar line-up of celebrity chefs and iconic professional kitchen appliances, Britannia is taking cookery classes at sea to the next level,” said Christopher Edginton, P&O’s marketing director. “Britannia will be quite unique in offering a dedicated cookery school that not only features a chef’s demonstration kitchen but also work stations for 24 guests.”
P&O has also partnered with KitchenAid and British design company Robert Welch as part of its new Cookery Club programme.
KitchenAid will supply the cooking school with various appliances including the Artisan Tilt-head Stand Mixer.
“We are very excited to be working with one of the most prestigious ships in the world,” said Israel Quintana, KitchenAid UK sales manager. “At KitchenAid we are dedicated to meeting all of life’s culinary challenges. Under the expert tutelage of this impressive line-up of guest chefs and with the help of our appliances, guests will be able to achieve perfect results every time.”
Robert Welch will supply its range of knives, which has been developed in collaboration with professional chefs.
“We are proud to be supporting such an exciting venture and to be showcasing our kitchen knives in these innovative surroundings,” said Rupert Welch, the project-managing director. “Our signature Knife Range has been developed with the help of professional chefs and it will be a great opportunity for cookery school attendees to learn knife skills under the guidance of real experts using the perfect tools.”