Sure, cruising is synonymous with eating…after all, those all-you-can-eat buffets aren’t going anywhere.

But these days, cruise lines are taking it to the next level and are offering a real culinary education on the high seas.

You’ve heard of Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, right?

Well that institution has partnered with Regent Seven Seas Cruise to offer both demonstrations and hands on classes. These three-day program ends with dinner at the school’s only permanent restaurant aboard a cruise ship, called Signatures.

The California-based Chefmakers’ Cooking Academy is no longer just for locals. They’ve teamed up with Royal Caribbean to bring you Chefmakers’ at Sea.

Hop aboard the Liberty of the Seas or the Freedom of the Seas for both adult classes and basic cooking classes for kids. Looking to pick up some local flavor and culture?

SilverSea has full cruises dedicated to the culinary arts through its partnership with Relais & Châteaux L’École des Chefs. Along with cooking demos and competitions, the cruise includes a local immersion experience called Market to Plate, where guests pick up items from the markets followed by a chef-led class.

After that kind of experience, you won’t have room for that all-you-can-eat buffet. But you will come home with a new set of skills.

Find out what you need to know about setting sail in our Cruise Travel section.

And check out the rest of our Daily Travel Tips here.