Cruising is a fantastic way to experience several destinations but it is also becoming synonymous with over-the-top food and fine dining. From cooking classes through to celebrity chefs and wine tastings, and from small boats to some of the world’s biggest ships, these are the absolute best sailing options for food and drink lovers.
Holland America Line (HAL) has led the cruise food scene for some time. Boasting a culinary council including famous chocolatier Jacques Torres, sushi master Andy Matsuda and renowned chef Jonnie Boer of three-Michelin star De Librije, a World’s 50 Best Restaurant that had a pop-up onboard HAL ships. In the past, the fleet partnered with the America’s Test Kitchen team to bring the cooking show to the ships, and today offers its own approach: Port to Table, which showcases local cuisine through cooking demonstrations, curated menus and culinary tours at various stops. Of course, there’s plenty of speciality dining options too.
Seabourn Cruise Line’s culinary programme is one for the fine dining fans. The company has partnered with renowned American chef Thomas Keller, of three Michelin-starred The French Laundry, Per Se, Ad Hoc and Bouchon. Seabourn guests can visit his onboard restaurant The Grill to indulge in updated versions of iconic dishes like lobster thermidor, or try some of his contributions to the menus of The Colonnade and The Patio. Guests are also able to join one of the onboard chefs as they go shopping on shore to local food markets as part of Seabourn’s Shopping With The Chef.
Viking Cruises offer immersive trips with a destination-focused dining approach. For the avid foodie, they also have The Kitchen Table, an experience that includes a trip with one of the ship’s chefs to a local market to purchase ingredients later used to host a cooking class focused on regional cuisine. The evening ends with a decadent and exclusive meal.
Marco Pierre White doesn’t need much of an introduction. Restaurateur, author and “the first celebrity chef”, he is one of the best-known British food personalities in history. He’s paired with P&O Cruises to offer Celebration Night menus and, as patron of The Cookery Club, he regularly teaches masterclasses and hosts dinners while sailing. On P&O Cruises’ larger ships, he’s hosted live cooking demos. Cruises with Marco Pierre White can be booked on P&O Cruises’ website.
French-born American chef Jacques Pépin joins the list of celebrity chefs bringing their food to the seven seas. With his expertise, Oceania has curated an excellent onboard menu. The food programme is enhanced by Culinary Discovery Tours, which includes moreish and exclusive local food tours and cooking classes onboard at The Culinary Center. Oceania Cruises also serves an expansive vegan menu as well as featuring a cold-pressed raw juice and vegan smoothie bar. There’s no need to compromise health goals while cruising any more.
With more than 20 food spots, no buffets and a Michelin-starred culinary council, Virgin is the rebel child in the cruising industry and we are all for it. Catering to a younger crowd, Virgin has teamed with renowned mixologists Charles Joly and Julia Momosé to craft a fun cocktail menu bound to get the party started. Dining options include a coffee shop, fresh food market, ice cream parlour, lively Korean BBQ, the over-the-top experimental menu at The Test Kitchen, ramen spot, veggie-forward restaurant and even a Drag Brunch. You will be travelling with your taste buds while partying like a rockstar.
Luxury cruising and Culinary Arts Kitchen Classes are what Regent Seven Seas Cruises are about. Both the Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Explorer offer culinary classes onboard with experienced teachers. Choose from a series of classes including Flavours of the Aegean, A French Love Affair and Beyond Patagonian Deliciousness, which can all be seen in the line-up for both ships.
Jump into your own reality TV fantasy by participating in the MasterChef at Sea experience with MSC Cruises. Are you ready to try the Mystery Box Challenge? Afterwards, you can recover by eating at one of the many global cuisine restaurants, including a tapas bar, teppanyaki restaurant and sushi lounge, among other international cuisines. MSC's upcoming flagship MSC World Europa will be offering immersive culinary experiences as well as a full-scale onboard micro-brewery, gin speciality bar, The Raj Polo Tea House and more.
MasterChef UK winners – where are they now?
Under the direction of renowned chefs Daniel Boulud and Cornelius Gallagher, who both run Michelin-starred restaurants, Celebrity Cruises offers one of the best dining options at sea, with destination-inspired and locally-sourced offerings. You can also craft your own wine blend onboard, guided by a sommelier as part of Celebrity’s Blendtique programme. Take part in a food and wine pairing workshop, indulge in a mixology lesson or book a Macallan Scotch or Jack Daniel’s whiskey tasting. We won’t judge if you choose to do all of them.
Everything you wanted to know about wine but were afraid to ask
Smaller cruise ships normally translate to a more luxurious, gourmet experience. This is the case with Paul Gauguin Cruises. Jean-Pierre Vigato’s Paris restaurant, Apicius, holds a Michelin star, and he leads La Veranda, PG’s alfresco dining option. Is there anything more lovely than enjoying a meal and a glass of wine while sailing through the splendid blue waters of the South Pacific?
Windstar Cruises is the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, which brings some of the most coveted chefs and mixologists onboard. As part of this partnership and the all-inclusive boutique programme, Windstar offers guests the option to join Windstar’s James Beard Foundation Culinary Themed Cruise experience, where guests are able to go shopping in the local food markets with chefs and learn culinary techniques. You can also enjoy dinner at the Spanish-inspired Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso, who has racked up 10 Michelin stars at his restaurants, or have the perfect barbecue with global grilling authority, Steven Raichlen.
Silversea offers an impressive collection of international flavours to please every palate, but the highlight of its offering is S.A.L.T. Kitchen. This is Silversea’s exclusive destination-focused restaurant that stands for Sea and Land Taste programme. Curated with Adam Sachs, former editor-in-chief of Saveur magazine, the menu changes with every port visited.
An all-inclusive cruise is more often than not a fantastic opportunity to relax and enjoy travelling without the hassle of having to roam around and try to squeeze a month’s worth of sightseeing into a day. If relaxing and getting pampered while tasting global food is your vibe, Norwegian Cruises offers the Food Republic programme. Specially-crafted menus with global influences that allow you to travel the world without even having to leave the ship. And the best part? No cleaning or dishes at the end of the meal.
Move over kids, Remy is for the adults who think Ratatouille is a cinematic masterpiece. Dinner starts with the Collette, a chilled Champagne cocktail, and continues with a seasonal menu with multiple tasting courses including delicacies such as langoustines, duck, elk and Kobe beef, and finishes with a delightful gourmet cheese trolley. If anyone knows his cheese, it’s Remy. Other options include a five-course dessert menu, a Champagne brunch and a six-course wine tasting paired with gourmet small plates. Excuse us while we go book our next holiday…
Barges have become the luxury option for those wishing to indulge in the local scenery and enjoy a slow-paced holiday full of indulgent meals. Cruise through Burgundy’s lush landscapes in the Grand Cru for an incredibly decadent food experience, which includes a Michelin star dining experience at Abbaye de la Bussière, a stunning converted Cistercian abbey. Visit the covered market of Les Halles and tour Château d'Arcelot for a delightful French wine tasting.
Cruising along the world-famous Canal du Midi in southern France (also known as foodie paradise), this exclusive barge sleeps just seven guests. The journey will take you to explore the villages of Minerve and Mirepoix where you can enjoy wine tastings and visit Château de Pennautier for another wine tasting and gourmet French lunch. Take a lovely stroll through the food markets joined by Savannah’s chef to buy produce from the Languedoc-Roussillon region and choose the fresh ingredients that will become luscious meals onboard Savannah.
Scenic is debuting two new gourmet luxury culinary river cruises. Tastes of Southern France is dedicated to the wonders of French cuisine and tantalising wines. The luxurious tour includes after-hours access to the Cité du Chocolat, an interactive workshop, and exclusive onboard cooking lessons. It focuses on the best culinary highlights of the region: from the finest wines of Beaujolais to the gastronomic capital of Lyon. If that wasn’t enough, butler service for every suite is also included.
When you think of luxury food, do you think of freshly-caught seafood? Then this is the cruise for you. The Luxe Island Seafood Cruise takes place in a 69-foot (29m) charter boat that cruises through Rottnest Island and showcases the best of Western Australia. Premium beverages, freshly-caught lobster and a seven-course degustation menu full of local delicacies are the perfect day-cruise adventure for seafood lovers.
Avalon Waterways knows how to cater to foodies. With three fantastic categories to choose from: Avalon Wine Cruises, Avalon Food Cruises and Avalon Beer Cruises there are itineraries for everyone. These are culinary experiences designed to satisfy your cravings. If you close your eyes you can almost smell the fresh, flaky, buttery croissants and hear the Champagne bubbles served chilled to perfection next to some hors d'oeuvres. If the cruise option leaves you hungry for more, Avalon also offers culinary land tours in some of the home ports.
Love this? Follow our Pinterest page for more food inspiration
Oenophiles rejoice, a wine river cruise is the best way to indulge on your next holiday. Ama Waterways has just launched its new wine cruises which feature European Wine Immersion Sailings and North American Wine Host Sailings. The tours are full of epicurean experiences such as pairings, truffle hunting, vineyard tours and, most importantly, lots of wine. These are cruises hosted by someone who is just as passionate as you are about drinking. What’s not to love about that?
Are you an avid sailor? Enjoy the delights of the dolce far niente (pleasant idleness) life by sailing around the beautiful Amalfi Coast while sipping limoncello, or try moreish honey and figs in the clear waters of Croatia by joining a food and wine flotilla. Let the crew guide you or take the reins of your own sailing adventure.
For a taste of Southeast Asia, the Aqua Mekong is the way to go. Partnered with multi-award winning chef and restaurateur David Thompson, the menu is a food lover’s dream. It’s also an excellent option for vegetarians and those with dietary restrictions. Onboard cooking demonstrations, market expeditions with the ship’s chefs and top-notch local delicacies make this cruise a fully immersive culinary journey in a beautifully designed ship that showcases modern architecture.
How does 12 Michelin stars in just one trip sound? Sign us up. Join the Belmond Napoleon: Epicurean Burgundy for a 12-star cruise that will have you dining in top French restaurants every night of your cruise, on top of fantastic meals onboard, gorgeous scenery and plenty of wine.
Everything we’ve come to know and love from The Ritz-Carlton can now be experienced at sea at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. The menu has been masterfully designed by chef Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the three Michelin-star restaurant in Wolfsburg. The Ritz-Carlton is certainly going to revolutionise the luxury cruise industry.
If you love food but also like to make health-conscious decisions while travelling, it's possible to do both with SeaDream Yacht Club. It offers a modern take on raw food, vegan and organic offerings that complement its already fantastic gourmet dining experiences. SeaDream also features a tea menu with 12 blends exclusively prepared for the cruise line by a master blender in Kent, United Kingdom. Want more? You’ll also get inclusive wine pairings. We feel more relaxed just thinking about it.
A-ROSA Gourmet cruises offers sophisticated dining, wine pairings and local French food with live cooking sessions that will impress anyone. With this premium all-inclusive, you can truly relax and use your holiday for what it’s really meant for: eating to your hearts' content.
Emerald River Cruises wants to showcase the regions it sails through by offering some fun food tours that will surely give anyone a peek at the local cuisines in every destination. Attend a French cookery class or learn to make a Black Forest gâteau in Germany. Share the table with a local family in Slovakia or savour a rural dinner at the beautiful Quinta da Pacheca wine state in the Douro valley. How about a chocolate, waffles and fries tour through Belgium or a street food tour of Saigon? The real problem is choosing just one.
Europe is full of foodie destinations but America is also full of gems. And it doesn’t get much better than getting a taste of the authentic flavours of the South cruising the Lower Mississippi River from New Orleans to Memphis and eating everything in between. On the American Queen, you’ll get a taste of great music, soul-filling food and historic sightseeing.
CroisiEurope focuses on local food and drinks on all its itineraries, with menus designed by head chef Alain Bohn, member of the esteemed French association Maîtres Cuisiniers de France. This focus has resulted in specific wine and gastronomic cruises that are everything you could wish for. Choosing between Alsatian or Bordeaux wines every night to pair with your French cheeses is the kind of dilemma we want to have while on holiday.
Read our review of a CroisiEurope barge cruise through Provence
If you're looking for an affordable alternative to sailing that satisfies your gourmet palate, Escape Yachting may be the perfect option for you. With a fully-manned boat and all dinners onboard and ashore included, you can relax and enjoy the local food. If you are feeling more adventurous, you are also welcome to get involved with sailing or choose your own itinerary. They currently sail in the UK, the Caribbean and Croatia.
Discover the cheapest and most expensive foodie cities in Europe