ChefMakers classes

[alcie]

Has anyone done these? I keep checking the website hoping to see a schedule for FOS, even if it's a March sailing, but so far nothing. I'm trying to find out if they still offer classes for kids.

[CruisinDawn]

Have you looked here? http://atyourschool.youritdept.com/chefmakers/jsp/WelcomeToRoyalCaribbeanChefMakers.jsp

It shows Freedom on the drop down menu. I do believe these classes are not going over as they expect and it seems they are dropping a few, maybe a sign of the entire program. Not trying to start any rumors just an observation.

 

BonVoyage

Dawna

[T&JCruisers]

We were on the FOS in January and they offered several. Some reasonable but most around $100.00. They are done by an outside vendor not the RC staff. We were told this by the Head Chef who did not care for them but obviously had no say so in their presence on the ship.

 

We were also told this was a new "venture" for RC.

[meredy338]

I had booked a class for our 3/19 sailing on the Liberty. When some other family members went on to book yesterday they couldn't get ANY liberty itineraries to show up.

 

I contacted Chefmakers (not an easy task, good thing I had a confimation email) and here is the response I got

 

"I'm terribly sorry but, Chefmakers will no longer be on Liberty of the Seas. Liberty of the Seas will be sailing to Europe in April and due to lower interest we will only be running classes on Freedom of the Seas. If you would like to sail Freedom on the Seas we would be more then happy to assist you in signing you and your family up for class. "

(Yeah, let me go ahead and cancel my cruise for NEXT week so I can hop on Freedom and take your class)

 

I replied to ask if we would still be having on our sailing or if the money we already paid would be refunded. Still waiting on that response.....

[tulsamomof2]

Do the ships have any "free" cooking demos anymore? Or is Chefmaker taking them over. I don't want to cook (I'm on vacation!) - I just want to sit back and watch and learn....

 

I'll be on Freedom in July...and I'm hoping they'll have something other than Chefmakers. OR - can you just sit in on the Chefmakers for no fee?

[Butterfly625]

I also have booked two classes with Chefmakers on the Liberty sailing this Sunday 3/13. I went to "my cruises" to see if I had any messages regarding this new info and all seemed well, no refunds or messages. I'm hoping that when the Liberty changes routes in April that is when they will be discontinuing the classes on the Liberty. All I can do at this point is wait to board in 3 more days to find out, my first class is on Mon. and the second on Fri. Both are scheduled on sea days.

 

Either way I'm just excited about getting away and I'll still have a good time if they cancel (heading straight to the casino with my refund). :)

 

Butterfly625

[Grandeur]

I also have booked two classes with Chefmakers on the Liberty sailing this Sunday 3/13. I went to "my cruises" to see if I had any messages regarding this new info and all seemed well, no refunds or messages. I'm hoping that when the Liberty changes routes in April that is when they will be discontinuing the classes on the Liberty. All I can do at this point is wait to board in 3 more days to find out, my first class is on Mon. and the second on Fri. Both are scheduled on sea days.

 

Either way I'm just excited about getting away and I'll still have a good time if they cancel (heading straight to the casino with my refund). :)

 

Butterfly625

 

I took a class on Freedom in November and the experience was awesome. The hands on was great and a fun experience. If your classes are still on, I am sure you will enjoy as well. Will be on Allure in a few weeks and would have taken another one if offered....but isn't :(.

[CruisinDawn]

I had booked a class for our 3/19 sailing on the Liberty. When some other family members went on to book yesterday they couldn't get ANY liberty itineraries to show up.

 

I contacted Chefmakers (not an easy task, good thing I had a confimation email) and here is the response I got

 

"I'm terribly sorry but, Chefmakers will no longer be on Liberty of the Seas. Liberty of the Seas will be sailing to Europe in April and due to lower interest we will only be running classes on Freedom of the Seas. If you would like to sail Freedom on the Seas we would be more then happy to assist you in signing you and your family up for class. "

(Yeah, let me go ahead and cancel my cruise for NEXT week so I can hop on Freedom and take your class)

 

I replied to ask if we would still be having on our sailing or if the money we already paid would be refunded. Still waiting on that response.....

Come join in on our thread for your cruise. :D http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1184941&page=45

 

BonVoyage

Dawna

[stompy]

I had booked a class for our 3/19 sailing on the Liberty. When some other family members went on to book yesterday they couldn't get ANY liberty itineraries to show up.

 

I contacted Chefmakers (not an easy task, good thing I had a confimation email) and here is the response I got

 

"I'm terribly sorry but, Chefmakers will no longer be on Liberty of the Seas. Liberty of the Seas will be sailing to Europe in April and due to lower interest we will only be running classes on Freedom of the Seas. If you would like to sail Freedom on the Seas we would be more then happy to assist you in signing you and your family up for class. "

(Yeah, let me go ahead and cancel my cruise for NEXT week so I can hop on Freedom and take your class)

 

I replied to ask if we would still be having on our sailing or if the money we already paid would be refunded. Still waiting on that response.....

 

That stinks!

 

We have 8 sea days on our next cruise and I was looking forward to the classes.

[stompy]

Do the ships have any "free" cooking demos anymore? Or is Chefmaker taking them over. I don't want to cook (I'm on vacation!) - I just want to sit back and watch and learn....

 

I'll be on Freedom in July...and I'm hoping they'll have something other than Chefmakers. OR - can you just sit in on the Chefmakers for no fee?

 

the fruit/sushi/cake demos but the RC staff are completely separate from Chefmakers classes.

 

BTW-the trainers are RC employees and are just licensing the Chefmakers material (at least they were a few years ago when they were hiring)

[Butterfly625]

Just got notification of both of my Chefmakers classes being cancelled. No other explanation, but my credit card will be given a credit. We sail out tomorrow and I'm trying to finish up packing, so decided to check emails before I pack up laptop and Surprise! Cancellations, oh well, maybe it will be on the Allure when I go next year. If not I'll just keep watching Paula Dean.....

 

I'm too excited to be stressed about a cooking class...

Butterfly625

[stompy]

Just got notification of both of my Chefmakers classes being cancelled. No other explanation, but my credit card will be given a credit. We sail out tomorrow and I'm trying to finish up packing, so decided to check emails before I pack up laptop and Surprise! Cancellations, oh well, maybe it will be on the Allure when I go next year. If not I'll just keep watching Paula Dean.....

 

I'm too excited to be stressed about a cooking class...

Butterfly625

 

They said that since Liberty was going to Europe they were doing away with the classes and they'd only be offered on US Freedom cruises...

[wah gwan]

Meredy, did you end up getting your refund?

I am an ex chefmakers employee if anyone has any questions! :)

 

I had booked a class for our 3/19 sailing on the Liberty. When some other family members went on to book yesterday they couldn't get ANY liberty itineraries to show up.

 

I contacted Chefmakers (not an easy task, good thing I had a confimation email) and here is the response I got

 

"I'm terribly sorry but, Chefmakers will no longer be on Liberty of the Seas. Liberty of the Seas will be sailing to Europe in April and due to lower interest we will only be running classes on Freedom of the Seas. If you would like to sail Freedom on the Seas we would be more then happy to assist you in signing you and your family up for class. "

(Yeah, let me go ahead and cancel my cruise for NEXT week so I can hop on Freedom and take your class)

 

I replied to ask if we would still be having on our sailing or if the money we already paid would be refunded. Still waiting on that response.....

[Merion_Mom]

Meredy, did you end up getting your refund?

I am an ex chefmakers employee if anyone has any questions! :)

 

Here's a question.

 

Why "ex"? ;)

[MrsPete]

I think Royal Caribbean has a fantastic idea here with the Chefmaker classes. So many people like to cook and would be interested in taking a class during their vacation . . . but they need to be tweeked a bit:

 

I think more people'd be interested if the classes were a bit shorter. Make them 1.5-2 hours. That's as long as I personally am interested in committing to a class during a cruise.

 

Also, the prices are a bit high. If they were priced at $50/class, I'd probably sign up for two over the course of a week. Higher than $50, I'd probably think it wasn't worth the cost. Better yet: Offer a small discount if you bring a friend. That might make the difference between me going along or taking my husband.

 

They need to offer very basic classes for those people who missed out on learning to cook altogether (and I know an amazing number of young people who fit into this category), AND they need to offer intermediate specialty classes for those of us who are pretty good cooks but who'd like to learn a little something new.

 

Finally, they need to publicize these more heavily. With just a little publicity, I bet they could sell out before the cruise begins.

 

Really, with a few changes, this could be a huge money-maker for Royal Caribbean -- one that would register with passengers as a "perk" not as a "now they're charging for this" item.