The Pulse: The First "MasterChef" Cruise Announces Celebrity Lineup
Why it Rates: As more Americans fancy themselves as foodies, a Holland America Line ship will host the first cruise modeled on the popular TV cooking competition. Among the special guests are celebrity chef judge Graham Elliot and past winners Luca Manfé and Christine Ha. - Theresa Norton Masek, Travel Pulse cruise editor
The programming lineup for the first-ever MasterChef Cruise was announced today for the seven-day culinary journey sailing to the Caribbean Nov. 8-15 on Holland America Line's Westerdam. Foodies and fans of America's most-watched cooking competition series MASTERCHEF (Mondays, 8:00pm ET/PT on FOX) will hone their culinary skills while getting up close and personal with their favorite series talent with over 15 hours of event programming including Mystery Box Challenges, MasterChef Trivia, Tag Team Challenges, cocktail parties, meet and greets, demonstrations and more.
Presented by Shine America, producers of the television series, and events company Life Journeys, the MasterChef Cruise features culinary events and demonstrations with world-class Michelin-Star Chef and MASTERCHEF judge Graham Elliot; series winners Christine Ha and Luca Manfe; the first-ever MASTERCHEF JUNIOR winner Alexander Weiss; previous season contestants Becky Reams and Bri Kozior and the current season's winner (to be revealed on the Sept. 15 finale).
MasterChef Cruise guests will be offered hours of entertaining and instructional events and demonstrations, including:
- Christine Ha's Mac-n-Cheese at Sea Competition - Christine will judge the first-ever Mac-n-Cheese at Sea competition where guests will compete to create their best version of the classic dish.
- Blind Taste Test with Graham Elliot - A few willing audience members will have the opportunity to test their taste buds with a challenge led by Graham.
- Tag Team Sushi - Get a front-row seat to the famous Sushi Tag Team Challenge featuring the MasterChef Stars.
- Master the Macaroon with Alexander - Learn to master Alexander's signature dessert, the ever-elusive Macaroon.
- Designer Pasta - Learn how to make authentic, homemade pasta with a demonstration from Luca Manfé.
- Craft Cocktails - Create craft cocktails with the MasterChef season 5 winner.
- The Finale - The MasterChef Stars compete in an all-out food war to see who is crowned the first-ever "MasterChef Cruise Champion."
Many of the activities will take place in the ship's Vista Show Lounge, which showcases state of the art video equipment, high-resolution LED panels and a seating capacity of 856 guests.
"MASTERCHEF fans and food lovers alike are in for an incredible journey with hours of original live programming that both entertains and instructs," said Vivi Zigler, president Shine 360° and digital, Shine America. "Guests will get to live the 'MASTERCHEF experience with some of the most skilled and beloved talent from the series, while also honing their own culinary skills."
"We are thrilled to be a partner with Shine America on the official first-ever MasterChef Cruise and can't think of a more ideal setting than sailing to the Caribbean with such passionate fans of the show," said Ibis Kaba, executive VP/producer of Life Journeys.
The cruise will set sail from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and visit Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line's award-winning private island in the Bahamas.
Headliner chef Graham Elliot is a self-described "Navy brat" who has traveled the world and all fifty states. He's a creative culinary wizard with an innate ability to successfully juxtapose four-star cuisine with humor, wit and out-of-the-box artistry. At age 27, he became the youngest Four Star Chef to be named in any major U.S. city and was named one of Food & Wine magazine's "Best New Chefs" in 2004. He also is a judge for MASTERCHEF and MASTERCHEF JUNIOR. In recent years Elliot has accrued several prestigious accolades, including multiple James Beard Foundation nominations as well as being named one of Crain's Chicago Business list of "40 Under Forty." Elliot operates the award-winning Graham Elliot Bistro in Chicago.
As a special highlight, cruisers will meet the winner of Season 5, who will be revealed in the season finale airing 8 p.m. PT on Monday, Sept. 15 on FOX.
Fares for the seven-night "MasterChef" cruise begin at $1,442 per person, double occupancy, and include activities associated with the MASTERCHEF Cruise shipboard programming. Premium programming opportunities are available for an additional cost.
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