London - As far as cookery classes go, this one takes some beating. For starters, it’s not me donning chef’s hat and apron, but my three children. Better still, they’re making something they actually want to eat: pancakes!
Even more originally, the lesson is being taught at speed - 15 knots, to be precise - mid-Aegean en route from Istanbul to Lesbos. The children are beating their batters until their little arms ache. “No lumps,” says chef Dave. “We want nice fluffy pancakes.”
We’re enjoying a 12-day cruise on Holland America’s flagship Nieuw Amsterdam and, since embarking in Venice a week ago, we’ve been wowed by what’s on board.
One of her two outdoor swimming pools is not only surrounded by gargantuan sunbeds with decadent mattresses, it even boasts a retractable roof reminiscent of Wimbledon’s, in case of inclement weather. And as for the ship’s Culinary Arts Centre - venue for the pancake lesson - it resembles the set of Ready, Steady, Cook.
For mums like me who struggle to soft boil an egg, this facility is manna from heaven. With demos scheduled here almost daily, I’ve already learned how to make frittatas and veal chops in tomato sauce.
But today at the hob are my ten-year-old twins Nathalie and Gabriel, and Hannah, who’s eight. “Cooking’s all about making mess,” smiles Dave, eyeing the carnage created by my brood’s one-handed egg-cracking. I’m smiling too, because for once I won’t be clearing it up.
Batter mixes ready, its time for pancake-flipping. Youngsters are instructed that when the pancake’s edges start to bubble, it’s ready to flip, and then they set to decorating. Inspired by our trip to Athens four days earlier, Gabriel loads assorted berries into impossible tiers, declaring it the Parthenon atop the Acropolis. Then in one bite he demolishes 26 centuries of history.
Like the cooking classes, our itinerary caters well for all generations, a perfect blend of culture and R&R.
At a trio of Greek islands, we laze on beaches fringed by turquoise sea, in stark contrast to overnight stays in vibrantly exciting Istanbul and Venice (Mum’s favourites) and our visit to ancient Olympia (children’s favourite). We lined up at the starting block used by Olympians in 776 BC and ran a seriously exhausting race in 40C heat. I lost.
The next hour was spent fashioning winners’ wreaths from branches snapped off overhanging olive trees, like in ancient times. Back on board, when we weren’t in the showcase theatre watching jugglers and magicians - food was top of the menu.
A fascinating Behind The Scenes Kitchen Tour lifted the lid on how the pros dish up gourmet cuisine for 2 000 guests (apparently, 23 000 eggs are consumed onboard weekly). Dinner at pan-Asian speciality restaurant Tamarind was memorable, which only proved that I definitely prefer eating to cooking. Anyway, my children are now more than able.
“Right,” I say, putting my feet up when we get home, “what’s for dinner?”
Holland America (hollandamerica.co.uk, 0843 374 2300) offers a 12-day Mediterranean Empires cruise from £1 754 (about R25 500) per adult and £445 per child full-board, including return flights with British Airways from Gatwick to Venice and transfers.
The cruise visits Athens, Katakolon, Istanbul, Lesbos, Kusadasi, Santorini and Cephalonia. Viator (shoreexcursions.viator.com) offers independent shore excursions. A four-hour tour of Athens costs from £62.15 per person, but it’s free for under-12s. - Mail on Sunday