The Strand Cruise announced plans for its first culinary-themed cruise in March 2017. The cruise will be led by the Strand’s new executive chef, Christian Martena and guest chef, Sylvain Royer, Michelin-starred Chef de Cuisine of the R&B Lab Company.
Chef Christian, who’s responsible for both The Strand Cruise and the recently refurbished Strand Yangon, will join passengers on a four-night voyage from Bagan to Mandalay on March 13, 2017. Since moving to Yangon this past summer, Chef Christian has been travelling around Myanmar, visiting suppliers and farming communities to immerse himself the country’s distinctive regional cuisines and source the best produce and spices. Christian will be joined by Sylvain Royer, a Bangkok-based farm-to-table chef who is responsible for several highly acclaimed restaurants in the region, including the Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant in Bangkok.
Guest will have the chance to both visit ancient capitals and temples along the river and accompany chefs Christian and Sylvain on visits to markets. The chefs will also present some of their signature dishes pared with wines each evening, teach passengers how to shank oysters, and lead a blind food tasting contest.
A highlight of the itinerary is an exclusive mooring overnight at Ava, allowing passengers access the beautiful temple of Maha Aungmye Bonzan after the crowds have departed. The Strand Cruise is also the only operator on the river that visits to the iconic U-Bein bridge on both north- and south-bound itineraries.
The culinary-themed cruise will take place as part of the ship’s scheduled four-night cruise from Bagan to Mandalay and is a value-added experience offered at no extra cost to passengers. It is the second in a series of themed trips operated by The Strand Cruise through 2017 and will be repeated again in September 2017. Its first themed cruise will be a classical music Valentine’s Day cruise departing February 13 with eight classical musicians onboard.
Fare includes all excursions and activities on board as described in the set itinerary, three meals during full sailing days, soft drinks & local beer, house wine during meals, port charges, English-speaking guides (alternative language guides available), and satellite Wi-Fi in all cabins and public areas.