Articles
A chef gives a culinary demonstration at the Westerdam's Culinary Arts Center.
Savoring Fine and Culinary Arts On Holland America's Westerdam
By Judy Colbert
It’s one thing to sail the seven seas in search of fine art and antiques. It’s quite another to travel among those works of art. That's precisely what you can do today, though, on many cruise ships including those of Holland America Line.
Launched in 2004, the 1,915-passenger Westerdam, for example, is a virtual floating gallery. Many of the 82,500-ton ship’s public areas are decorated with striking works of art. But a master's degree in fine arts is not required to appreciate these works.
Self-Guided Art Tours
As part of Holland America's onboard enrichment program, passengers can take a self-guided iPod art tour of the ship.
Radio personalities Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harryman serve as narrators. Stein Kruse, Holland America's president and CEO, introduces the tour. The recording is also peppered with comments from ship architect and designer Frans Dingemans and others associated with the art program.
The iPod tour includes directions to each piece. Descriptions of the artwork are also included.
That said, on water as on land, art is open to the individual interpretation of the viewer. For example, a lifelike bronze dolphin statue flanks the front Lido Deck pool (*shown at right).
But is it one dolphin shown through a series of movements? Or, is it several dolphins?
If you want the official answer, click your iPod. You'll learn from Sedona artist Susanna Holt that you're looking at one dolphin.
The iPod tour also features interviews with such artists as Holt, appropriate music (cue the ocean sounds as you look at Holt’s dolphin statue) and photos of the objects.
What if you don't have an iPod? No problem. Just check one out at the Internet area of the Explorations Cafe sponsored by the New York Times. There is no fee.
If you want to get a head start in previewing the art before you even sail, just access the online recordings at www.hollandamerica.com.
Dutch Heritage in Art
Passengers perusing the Westerdam's public areas will soon discover that the primary art theme onboard the Westerdam is Dutch heritage in the New World.
There are paintings of such historic Dutch ships as Henry Hudson’s Half Moon. Enhancing the ship’s atrium are Waterford-designed crystal sculptures of the Half Moon.
You'll also enjoy discover other works with a Dutch theme, such as an original Andy Warhol portrait of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
Beyond the Dutch themed art, other artistic jewels onboard include a magnificent chandelier that adorns the Vista dining room ceiling. Architect Frank Gehry created a cardboard chair.
A large wooden palace doorway with silver overlay comes from India. Elevator doors evoke the Art Deco mood of New York City’s Chrysler Building. Maritime paintings by Stephen Card grace the main stairwells
Art of the Kitchen
Food is often top of mind for cruisers. So be sure to savor the Westerdam’s culinary arts as well.
Start by attending demonstrations on sushi preparation and vegetable and fruit carvings presented in the atrium.
Take a tour of the ship’s galley to watch chefs and kitchen crew prepare recipes for hundreds of hungry diners.
Culinary Arts
Center
Check your daily program. Usually at least once on a weeklong cruise, Executive Chef Michael Sabourin, Pinnacle Grill Chef Philip Heise, other onboard chefs or any of up to 60 celebrity chefs that sail annually with the line perform a complimentary cooking demonstration in the Culinary Arts Center, a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen.
Resembling a TV cooking show set, the Culinary Arts Center is located within a $1 million theater. Large plasma video screens bring the chef’s talents up close, regardless of where you’re sitting. In addition to the free demonstrations, guests may sign up for cooking classes and workshops that carry a fee.
So you might take home the secrets of a chocolatier extraordinaire, fromager, wine visionary, pastry chef, cookbook author or celebrity chef. On our cruise, we enjoyed the chef's preparation of chilled raspberry soup and Dungeness crab cake with a sweet Thai chili sauce.
Often food and wine selections for the culinary programs reflect the local ports of call or signature items from the kitchen’s repertoire.
Recipe cards are available at the demonstrations and also within the Lido restaurant (definitely grab the recipes for Dutch cheese fondue and bread pudding). This way, participants can fully appreciate the cooking presentations without taking notes.
Culinary mastery is not
limited to adults. New 45-minute
sessions are offered as part of Club HAL, the line's supervised
children’s activity program.
So your kids might learn to prepare breakfast, dinner and snack recipes.
Whether your taste is more toward the fine arts or the culinary arts, the Westerdam fields an interesting mix of options to satisfy both mind and palate.
For More Information
Holland America Line: 877-724-5425 or www.hollandamerica.com
Freelance writer Judy Colbert is a native of Washington, D.C. She is the author of "Virginia: Off the Beaten Path" and "Maryland and Delaware: Off the Beaten Path.
*Photos are owned, copyrighted and used courtesy of Holland America Line. All rights reserved. Do not link to nor copy these photos. Thank you.