Get On Board with Chef Ethan Stowell and Holland America Line’s ‘Culinary Cruises’
Photo: Holland America Line

If you act fast, you can join Chef Ethan Stowell as he takes to the sea as part of Holland America’s culinary cruises.

Connecting food lovers with cruise lovers, this 7-day Alaskan voyage leaves Seattle on Sept. 8 with Stowell on board leading cooking demonstrations and joining in on an intimate reservation-only dinner along the way.

As part of its Culinary Council, Stowell is no stranger to Holland America Line. Just last month the cruise line debuted three new dishes from Stowell in partnership with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. Those dishes (Alaska cod sandwich with malt vinegar aioli; Alaskan salmon chop salad; and a roasted fennel crusted Alaska halibut) will be a staple on all six Holland America cruises making the trek to Alaska this season.

But this is your chance to mingle and learn directly from the chef who has created not only these dishes, but a slew of successful restaurants in Seattle, Spokane, and New York. 

If you haven’t booked the Stowell cruise yet and you’re schedule isn’t that flexible (Sept. 8 is only a week away, after all), opportunities with other Culinary Council chefs are slated for the remainder of the year.

West Coasters may find the 7-day Mexican Riviera cruise in November appealing. That roundtrip journey departs from San Diego with Chef Rudi Sodamin, also known as “the most decorated chef on the world’s oceans.” 

Here’s the full line up for the 2022 Culinary Cruises

Ethan Stowell

7-Day Alaskan Explorer, Sept. 11-18, 2022, roundtrip from Seattle, Washington.

Stowell incorporates the flavors of the Pacific Northwest on ships sailing in that region, using fresh, sustainably sourced Alaska seafood. His fare also is featured at New York Pizza and Lido Market across the fleet. Stowell is founder and CEO of ESR with an impressive roster of highly acclaimed restaurants. He was named one of the Best New Chefs in America by Food & Wine magazine and one of the Best New Chef All-Stars.

Jacques Torres

9-Day The Atlantic Coast, Oct. 1-10, 2022, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 

A French-trained master chef and artisan chocolatier, Torres guides chocolate desserts as well as the Chocolate Surprise Dessert Parade on board. After rising to executive pastry chef at New York’s legendary Le Cirque, he opened a chocolate factory and retail stores throughout New York. The James Beard Award winner is co-host and head judge on the Netflix culinary show “Nailed It” with Nicole Byer.

Rudi Sodamin

7-Day Mexican Riviera, Nov. 12-19, 2022, roundtrip from San Diego, California. 

As Holland America Line’s master chef and Culinary Council chairman, Austrian-born Sodamin oversees all aspects of shipboard dining. Rudi’s Sel de Mer is his namesake French seafood brasserie on board. His latest culinary masterpiece is an art table book called “Food Faces” that features more than 150 images of edible creations.

David Burke

7-Day Eastern Caribbean, Dec. 4-11, 2022, roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.

Burke enhances the menu at Pinnacle Grill, adding contemporary flavors and signature recipes. He recently opened five new restaurants, including Orchard Park by David Burke. During the pandemic, Burke’s #FeedtheHeroes program cooked and delivered 100,000 meals to frontline workers and charities. He has been featured on “Iron Chef America” and “Top Chef Masters.”

Andy Matsuda

10-Day Southern Caribbean Seafarer, Dec. 17-27, 2022, roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.

The Japanese-born Matsuda leads the sushi offerings at Nami Sushi, Tamarind and Lido Market. At Matsuda’s Sushi Chef Institute in Los Angeles, California, he teaches aspiring chefs and professionals about sushi and Japanese cuisine. Matsuda is at the forefront of sushi trends and techniques.