Luxury cruisers are savvy when it comes to cuisine, and cruise lines are having to roll out celebrity chef-designed menus and offer exclusive epicurean experiences to meet the needs of this ever-discerning cruiser. Here, we look at some of the best culinary offerings at sea.
Foodie experiences have become such a major selling point for luxury cruisers that the (six!) godparents on Oceania’s latest ship, Oceania Allura, are all high-profile chefs.
As the top cruise lines know, it’s not just about providing fine wining and dining these days – all clients expect that – culinary experiences must be next level.
Gourmet travellers are turning their backs on the sort of molecular gastronomy that resulted in ingredients reduced to foam or ‘soil’ and more recent technological practices, such as ordering meals and drinks on apps.
According to the latest Seatrade Cruise F&B Report, discerning cruisers are looking for seasonal dishes that focus on hyper-local produce, lighter alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and personalised wining and dining experiences. Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines are the new favourites, while Japanese, French and Italian cuisines are classics for good reason.
Hands-on cooking and mixology classes onboard, plus creative culinary tours and dining at Michelin-style restaurants or in private homes ashore are major drawcards; trailing around a local market with one of the ship’s chefs for a morning doesn’t cut it in this highly competitive scene.
New for Oceania Cruises
As well as introducing chefs as godparents, Oceania Allura’s 12 culinary venues – among them signature restaurants Jacques, Red Ginger, Italian Toscana and Polo Grill – include the new Creperie, which serves French crepes, Belgian waffles and bubble waffles and Italian ice cream.
A selection of Japanese-Peruvian dishes has been added to popular pan-Asian specialty restaurant, Red Ginger. Known as Nikkei cuisine, these exciting menu items celebrate the best of Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine. Oceania’s upcoming Sonata-class ships – the 1,390-guest Oceania Sonata is due in 2027 – will have a dedicated Nikkei Kitchen restaurant, as well as the new La Table par Maîtres Cuisiniers de France.
Allura’s Grand Dining Room features more than 270 new recipes from Oceania’s culinary team, led by its two resident Master Chefs of France and Executive Culinary Directors, Chefs Alexis Quaretti and Eric Barale. Also new for Allura is the Gerard Bertrand Wine Pairing Luncheon.
Talking of drinks, the art of mixology is perfected on Vista and Allura. Guests can indulge in specialty beverages at the Bubbly Bar and Ultimate Bloody Mary Bar and sample the latest trends and techniques such as flavoured mist bubbles, an extensive selection of low- and no-sugar wines and zero-proof cocktails.
New culinary studios for Regent
While Oceania Cruises introduced culinary classes at sea on Marina and Riviera and doubled the size of them on Vista and Allura, sister line Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Culinary Arts Kitchen proved equally successful onboard Seven Seas Explorer, Splendor and Grandeur.
Now Regent is launching the new Epicurean Enrichment Studio onboard Seven Seas Mariner (during her current world cruise) and Seven Seas Voyager (from May 2026) following the ships’ multimillion-dollar refurbs.
“Our guests want to see the world through a culinary lens. The Epicurean Enrichment Studio is the natural evolution of our program — blending history, flavour and authentic experience into every voyage,” says Chef Kathryn Kelly, executive chef and director of culinary enrichment for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Luxury travellers can embark on a series of presentations, demonstrations and shore excursions designed to deepen their appreciation of global cuisine and cultural traditions, based around five key pillars: Epicurean Passport Series; Chef’s Circle; Chef’s Table; Chef-Led Epicurean Enrichment Tours; and Chef-Hosted Dining.
See here for full details of the program; guests can book online 120 days before the cruise departs, or sign up for events at a special reception onboard at the start of the cruise.
Silversea’s S.A.L.T. program
Silversea’s innovative S.A.L.T (Sea and Land Taste) program debuted on Silver Moon in 2021; it has proved so popular that it is now available onboard Silver Ray, Silver Nova, Silver Dawn and Silver Muse.
S.A.L.T. has four pillars: S.A.L.T. Kitchen, which serves regional menus based on the ship’s destination; S.A.L.T. Bar, where mixologists blend local ingredients with traditional spirits to create signature ship cocktails; S.A.L.T. Lab, where chefs lead cooking classes that focus on regional dishes; and S.A.L.T. Experiences, a collection of shore excursions that showcase the best chefs, exclusive restaurants, private kitchens, wineries and more in select ports.
This time last year, Karryon sampled the S.A.L.T. experience with Silver Nova. Silver Moon is now in Australia until February during her world cruise – she then makes her way across Asia to Japan, where she will be based in March and April.
Likewise, Silver Nova is in Australia fleetingly, then Asia. Both ships have limited availability in Australia and New Zealand; guests keen to experience the S.A.L.T. experience locally should book now for late 2026 or early 2027.
Scenic Epicure
The two ultra-luxe Scenic Eclipse yachts offer up to 10 dining experiences – including room service – plus highly sought-after hands-on culinary masterclasses.
Scenic Epicure sessions on select itineraries are held in Chef’s Garden@Scenic and in venues such as Lumière and in the ships’ galleys – they are tailored to suit the experience and class sizes and guests need to check the daily onboard entertainment schedule to book.
Scenic Eclipse I and II excel in the culinary space – 38 chefs create outstanding menus based on the destinations the ships are sailing through as well as multicultural classics, and open galleys allow guests to observe all the action. The 270-guest Scenic Ikon, launching in 2028, is slightly larger than the Scenic Eclipse yachts and will have 15 distinct dining venues.
Scenic Ikon will feature established Scenic Eclipse favourites such as Koko’s Asian Fusion, French restaurant Lumière, Italian steak and seafood Elements, and the more casual Yacht Club. She will also introduce new on-trend venues such as Alkemia, featuring plant-based dishes, Textura (Spanish tapas), Summa for share plates, and the new Crustory pizzeria.
For more information, visit Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, Scenic.
