From Seasick to Sous Chef: My Unexpected Cooking Class at Sea

I've never been the most graceful person on solid ground, let alone on a ship. So when I spotted the flyer for the Executive Chef's cooking demonstration on the Norwegian Prima, my first instinct was to laugh and walk away. My husband, however, had other plans. "Come on, it'll be fun," he said, practically dragging me toward the Taste Kitchen on Deck 8. "What's the worst that could happen?" Famous last words. The Taste Kitchen is one of those spaces on the Norwegian Prima that makes you forget you're floating in the middle of the ocean. It's a bright, modern galley with gleaming stainless steel counters, professional-grade equipment, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Caribbean. About thirty of us had gathered, a mix of cruise enthusiasts and people who, like me, were there primarily because their spouse insisted on it. I grabbed a spot near the back, hoping to be inconspicuous. That's when Chef Marco swept in like he owned the place—which, in a way, he did. I'd later learn he's the executive chef for the Norwegian Prima, responsible for feeding thousands of guests every single day across multiple restaurants. He was tall, probably in his early sixties, with salt-and-pep…