The following tips will help you to pick the right wine/culinary cruise and what to expect once you set sail.

1. Basic background information. Ask a travel agent who specializes in cruises, as culinary cruises can be like hidden gems cooked up by the cruise line itself, by a chef or a winery, or by a gourmet publication.

2. Wish to learn more about wine? Wine-themed cruises offered by Crystal Cruises, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, Cruise West, Clipper Cruise Line and American Safari Cruises. Two of Royal Caribbean's Voyager class ships also boast the Vintages wine bar that offers an expanded wine list of 61 offerings from Robert Mondavi, Beringer Blass and Niebaum-Coppola, and represents some of the world's premiere wine-growing regions. This wine bar offers a full schedule of events, including a class called "Making Sense of Wine," three levels of wine tastings ranging from wine values to rare and expensive wines, and a Spanish-language wine introductory class.

3. Wish to learn to cook? Lots of cruise lines offer cooking classes and demonstrations. For example, Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 has a special eatery, called the Chef's galley, where you can not only learn how dishes are prepared, but also eat what you've just been shown how to cook. If you seek healthy cooking, consider Norwegian Cruise Line's annual "Cooking Light" ship shape cruise adventure to the eastern Caribbean. "Cooking Light" magazine readers can join the editors and staff to enjoy cooking demonstrations, fitness programs, and wine and food seminars. In addition, Holland America Line is in the process of adding "Culinary Arts Centers," or demonstration kitchens, to every ship in its fleet. The ships Ryndam, Prinsendam, Zaandam, Westerdam, Rotterdam, and Statendam can boast the kitchens available.

Silversea is rolling out its Viking Cooking Schools at sea this summer. The original culinary theaters will feature custom-designed cooking stations equipped with Viking professional-caliber cookware, cutlery and countertop appliances and will give guests a chance to actively participate in cooking classes rather than just watch cooking demonstrations.

4. Your favorite cuisine. Maybe you drool over macadamia-encrusted fish in a mango and papaya sauce. Ask your travel agent about a culinary cruise of Hawaii.

Tips on Choosing the Gourmet Cruise >>