The insistence on fresh, seasonal ingredients can be challenging for chefs on longer ocean cruises and the logistics involved are a whole different story. However, in a nod to the "paddock to plate" trend, HAL's upcoming flagship MS Koningsdam will grow micro-greens in its Culinary Arts Centre; herb gardens flourish on the sundecks of Viking River Cruises' longships; and Princess Cruises recently introduced "Cook My Catch" on its Alaska cruises, whereby passengers fish for their own wild seafood and then choose how it's cooked.

Our desire for hands-on expert instruction has led to cooking demonstrations in the ship's atrium being superseded by dedicated cookery schools, where cruise passengers can learn anything from bread-making basics to the finer points of French haute cuisine.

Shopping with the chef at local markets transforms an everyday chore into a cultural adventure and if you want to take your knowledge of wine, beer or spirits to a new level, there is a sampling session to suit. Here's a selection to whet your appetite.

THE CLASS Miele Culinary School

THE CRUISE LINE Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' Europa 2

WHAT'S COOKING The sous chef takes up to 12 guests (using six worktops) through fun, non-intimidating "connoisseurs of cuisine" classes. A range of dishes is taught, including destination-focused cuisine and classics such as sushi, pasta and lobster. Gourmet experts give presentations in the Culinary School on select cruises; Wolfgang Otto's "Perfect Meat Academy" and Italian ice-cream workshops are hugely popular.

NEED TO KNOW Two- to three-hour classes are held once or more per cruise, depending on demand, and cost 80 euros, including wines, apron and recipes. hl-cruises.com

THE CLASS Grain by Luke Cooking Studio, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

THE CRUISE LINE APT

WHAT'S COOKING Acclaimed Vietnamese-Australian chef, restaurateur and APT ambassador Luke Nguyen set up Grain last year. As well as mastering the basics of Vietnamese food preparation, students learn about the history behind each dish. There are two studios and a pantry stocked with fresh ingredients. Classes are led by Luke's team and he hosts classes on two APT cruises a year.

NEED TO KNOW The 14-day "Luke Nguyen's Vietnam and Mekong River" cruises depart on July 29 and December 2, 2016. Both start with three nights in HCMC, where Luke hosts a walking tour for guests to sample street food and see where his parents grew up. See aptouring.com.au

THE CLASS Kitchen Table

THE CRUISE LINE Viking Ocean Cruises' Ocean Star & Ocean Sky

WHAT'S COOKING Classes combine a one- or two-hour shop-with-chef tour in the morning and a three-hour prep and cooking session in the test kitchen/private dining room to make a three-course dinner with the produce you've bought earlier. Dinner is paired with wines selected by the head sommelier and is a lavish event that's educational as well as extremely enjoyable. Viking is all about expanding horizons – and now waistlines.

NEED TO KNOW Classes for a maximum of 12 guests are held once or twice per cruise, depending on the length of the cruise, and cost US$299. See vikingcruises.com.au/oceans

THE CLASS Culinary Arts Centre

THE CRUISE LINE Holland America Line

WHAT'S COOKING All HAL cruises feature free one-hour cookery demonstrations as well as 90-minute hands-on classes with the chef. The Culinary Arts Centre onboard MS Koningsdam becomes a restaurant by night. Recipes include dishes from Canaletto or the Pinnacle Grill and regional dishes relating to the ship's destination and guest chefs make appearances on select cruises.

NEED TO KNOW On seven-day cruises there is a minimum of two classes, and three on 10-day-plus cruises, for up to 12 guests. They cost $38 and include a 90-minute class and lunch in the Pinnacle Grill. See hollandamerica.com

THE CLASS The Culinary Centre

THE CRUISE LINE Oceania Cruises' Oceania Marina, Riviera & Sirena

WHAT'S COOKING You can learn anything from basic prep and cooking techniques to the finer points of regional cuisines from all over the world; at some ports you can shop with the instructor-chefs for produce to cook later. There's a huge range of classes and you'll learn as much about local culture as about the food itself – tempting topics include At Home in Sicily, Global Gourmet and Planet Veggie. In-depth, four-session "immersion programs" are offered on select cruises.

NEED TO KNOW Classes are $91 each and average about 90 minutes. Twelve cooking stations accommodate up to 24 guests. See oceaniacruises.com

THE CLASS Culinary Arts Kitchen

THE CRUISE LINE Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Regent Explorer

WHAT'S COOKING The line's first cooking school will be, as befits the "most luxurious ship ever built", a state-of-the-art space with 18 superbly equipped workstations – but classes will cater to all skill levels, from beginners to experienced chef-instructors. Topics range from French cuisine to fish preparation, cooking the perfect chicken and afternoon tea à la Downton Abbey. There will be a strong emphasis on individual instruction and a tie-in with Gourmet Explorer Tours.

NEED TO KNOW Classes will vary according to each cruise and will cost $117 for about 90 to 120 minutes. See rssc.com

THE CLASS Cookery Club

THE CRUISE LINE P&O Cruises World Cruising's Britannia

WHAT'S COOKING A first for P&O, the Cookery Club has proved incredibly popular since the ship launched last year – bookings are taken up to four months in advance. A maximum of 24 guests take classes ranging from Thai street food to Spanish tapas, bread-making and family-friendly cake-making, under instruction from P&O's Food Heroes (James Martin, Eric Lanlard and Marco Pierre White), a roster of visiting British masterchefs or the resident chef-instructors. The Cookery Club is also used for wine tastings and special hosted dinners.

NEED TO KNOW Three-hour classes cost $84 or $188 if your class is led by one of the celebrity chefs. See pocruises.com

THE CLASS Relais & Chateaux L'Ecole des Chefs

THE CRUISE LINE Silversea

WHAT'S COOKING On select cruises, former Cordon Bleu instructor David Bilsland leads a series of workshops that include hands-on instruction and entertaining cooking demonstrations. Workshops cover topics that range from knife skills and kitchen terminology to making sauces and wine-pairing. The "Market to Plate" experience, which again is offered only on select cruises, is an escorted tour of a local market to shop for fresh ingredients, followed by a cooking class on board or at a Relais & Chateaux property.

NEED TO KNOW Classes and events held by the only Relais & Chateaux L'Ecole des Chefs at sea are included in the fare. See silversea.com

DAYS OF WINE AND CRUISES

BEST TASTINGS

DROP ON IN On MSC Divina's Caribbean cruises you can learn how to blend, bottle and label your own wine – then take home a bottle or case of your personalised tipple. Led by winemakers from California's Napa Valley, the Blend Craft activities include re-creations of a famous 1976 European wine competition featured in the movie Bottle Shock – involving tastings, of course. See msccruises.com.au

SOMETHING BREWING

Avalon Waterways runs beer-themed river cruises in Europe that include visits to regional breweries, a food and beer pairing dinner and onboard workshops conducted by an expert known as the "beer pope". Beer-themed cruises (including a pub crawl in Vienna) from Budapest to Prague depart November 9, 2016 and July 16, 2017. See avalonwaterways.com.au

OPEN DOORS Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden's Cellar Door venues have proved very popular since their introduction last November. Tastings of Glandore wines are accompanied by an iPad guide and two helpful hosts. Choose the White Label ($14) or Black Label ($18) menu and if you're going in a group (maximum 16), it's best to book in advance. See pocruises.com.au

MAKER'S MARK Some of Australia's best-known wine-makers are hosting river cruises in Europe under APT's new Wine Ambassadors program. Experts such as Bruce Tyrrell (Tyrrell's Wines) will lead excursions to regional wineries, host wine-pairing dinners and present seminars on European and Australian wine-making techniques and traditions. There are nine departures between June and November and the program will return in 2017. See aptouring.com.au

GIN O'CLOCK

Top-rated German ship Europa 2 carries the largest gin collection at sea – 37 types in all, from all over Europe. Up to 25 guests can sign up for a gin-tasting session in the Herrenzimmer lounge (cigar bar), which takes in the spirit's history, a sampling of the botanicals used in different varieties and recipes for delectable gin-based cocktails. You'll never order a boring old G&T again. See hl-cruises.com

PERFECT MATCH Embark on a Chocolate Journey in Princess Cruises' signature wine bar, Vines, where you can indulge in the decadently delicious combo of dark chocolate and red wine. Three chocolate varieties from the Dominican Republic, Peru and Venezuela are paired with three top-quality wines in a moreish session hosted by the sommelier. Worth every cent of the $51 cover charge. See princess.com

BOTTLE IT Viking River Cruises' Bordeaux itineraries include a tour to Camus Cognac, the world's sixth-largest Cognac producer, where you can blend and bottle your own brandy. You'll learn the art of making an XO (extra old) blend, which is bottled, labelled and recorded on the Camus registry, so you can order another bottle when that one runs out. See vikingrivercruises.com.au

COCKTAIL HOUR Celebrity Cruises' Taste events include Mixology 101, hands-on classes led by expert bartenders who reveal the secrets of creating classic cocktails. Find inspiration for exciting new concoctions at the Solstice-class ships' World Class Bars and next thing you know, you'll be whipping up magnificent mojitos, martinis and Manhattans. See celebritycruises.com.au

CLASSICS FOR CONNOISSEURS Oceania Cruises' La Reserve restaurants onboard Oceania Riviera and Marina have joined forces with the Wine Spectator magazine to offer wine seminars, vintage tastings and gourmet food-and-wine degustation dinners in the intimate 24-seat venues. Designed to appeal to the most discerning epicureans and oenophiles; bookings absolutely essential. See oceaniacruises.com

LA DOLCE VITA Lovers of Italian food and wine (and who isn't?) can partake in a memorable wine-tasting and cooking session at the Michelin-starred Hotel Ristorante Don Alfonso in Sorrento on Azamara Club Cruises' eight-night Greek Isles to Cote d'Azur voyage (May 2017). After sampling a few wines from the 25,000-bottle pre-Roman cellar, you'll prepare and cook a meal from the restaurant's menu. Then you get to sit down for a leisurely lunch to enjoy the fruits of your labour. See azamaraclubcruises.com

*Prices quoted are per person