Windstar Cruises Unveils 2027 James Beard Foundation Chef Sailings

Five chef-hosted voyages pair James Beard Foundation culinary talent with destinations across Greece, Türkiye, French Polynesia, Italy, Croatia and East Asia.

MIAMI, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Some journeys are remembered for the places they visit. Others are remembered for what was served at the table. As the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation®, Windstar Cruises promises both. The world's leading small ship line has unveiled its 2027 lineup of James Beard Foundation Chef Sailings, featuring five culinary icons hosting voyages across three continents. Each sailing pairs a chef with a destination that has left a lasting mark on their cuisine, giving guests the chance to experience that connection firsthand.

"We're grateful to Windstar Cruises for their longstanding support of the James Beard Foundation," said Clare Reichenbach, CEO, James Beard Foundation. "This partnership brings something new and exciting to each cruise experience, connecting travelers with leading chefs and emerging talent in the culinary arts. The James Beard curated chefs represent exceptional talent and have a deep connection with the destinations—bringing the voyages to life through honoring the local ingredients, dishes and culinary heritage.

Windstar has been the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation for more than a decade. The relationship brings James Beard Foundation–recognized chefs and their recipes to sea through chef-hosted voyages and more than 80 chef-created dishes served across Windstar's entire fleet, connecting guests to destinations through the people, ingredients and culinary traditions that shape them.

"What matters most is how great food becomes part of the everyday Windstar experience," said Stijn Creupelandt, Windstar's chief operating officer. "These sailings give our guests a rare opportunity to spend time with remarkable chefs and discover the destinations we visit through their culinary perspective."

Inside a James Beard Foundation Chef Sailing

Guests will enjoy exclusive chef-hosted dinners with paired wines and recipes created specifically for each itinerary that showcase regional ingredients and local traditions. Live cooking demonstrations reveal the inspiration, techniques and stories behind the dishes. Market excursions in select ports with the chef and Windstar's resident executive chef offer a behind-the-scenes look at local ingredients, many of which later appear on the menu. With just 148 to 342 guests, Windstar's yachts create an intimate setting where experiences feel personal rather than programmed.

Meet the 2027 James Beard Foundation–Recognized Chefs and Their Voyages

• Treasures of the Greek Isles — Roel Alcudia (July 13-20, 2027 on Wind Surf)
  
  Roel Alcudia, executive chef of House of Stefas in New York's Hudson Valley, is known for his "freestyle Greek" cooking, which translates the flavors and traditions of the Aegean for an American audience while honoring their roots. Part of the James Beard Foundation's chef community, Alcudia was part of the opening team at Stissing House, a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist® for Best New Restaurant, and has cooked at Platform by JBF, the Foundation's culinary space in New York City. Sailing through Mykonos, Patmos, Santorini, Monemvasia and Nafplio, guests will explore the places that inspire his cuisine. Guests will sail on the newly refreshed Wind Surf sailing yacht.

• Māori Storytellers & French Polynesian Treasures — Felix Tai (September 5-16, 2027 on Star Breeze)
  
  Born in Malaysia and now executive chef at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawai'i, Felix Tai has dedicated his career to preserving and celebrating the culinary traditions of the Pacific. Fittingly, he'll host Windstar's Māori Storytellers voyage through French Polynesia, with stops in Papeete, the Cook Islands and Bora Bora. Drawing on years of exploring and interpreting the cuisines of the Pacific, Tai helps guests discover how food, storytelling and cultural traditions are connected across the islands. Felix was a 2026 James Beard Foundation Legacy Program Advisor.

• Aegean Sea Odyssey via the Corinth Canal — Cara Tobin (September 8-16, 2027 on Star Legend)
  
  Cara Tobin, chef and co-owner of Honey Road and Grey Jay in Burlington, Vermont, is a two-time James Beard Award nominee®, a three-time James Beard Award semifinalist® and one of America's leading voices in Eastern Mediterranean cuisine. Over more than a decade, she has traveled extensively through Türkiye, Lebanon, Syria and Greece, cooking alongside local women in their homes and learning the recipes and traditions that shape the region's food culture. Sailing from the Turkish coast to Istanbul, guests will hear how those experiences found their way onto her menus.

• Enchanting Greece & the Amalfi Coast — Cody Hogan (October 14-21, 2027 on Wind Surf)
  
  Cody Hogan, executive chef of Lidia's Kansas City, trained at Chez Panisse before joining Lidia Bastianich's culinary team in 1998. Over nearly three decades, he has worked alongside the renowned chef in her restaurants, as her studio kitchen chef and culinary assistant on her Emmy Award-winning PBS series, and at events at the historic James Beard House. This itinerary sails from Athens to Rome, pairing Greece's medieval ports of Monemvasia and Gythion with an Italian journey through Sicily and the Amalfi Coast, including access to Taormina, Pompeii and Sorrento.

• East Asian Legends — Christine Lau (November 4-14, 2027 on Star Seeker)
  
  Born in Hong Kong, Christine Lau has built a career that blends Chinese, Japanese and Italian influences into a style that has earned recognition from The New York Times. Her restaurant Kimika was named a 2022 James Beard Award semifinalist®. That breadth makes her an ideal guide for an itinerary spanning Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam, where guests will experience the diversity and surprising connections among East Asia's culinary traditions.

The James Beard Foundation Experience on Every Sailing

The five chef-hosted voyages are the signature events of Windstar's James Beard Foundation experience, but they are only part of the story. Every Windstar sailing across the fleet features recipes developed by James Beard Foundation–recognized chefs, bringing the collaboration to life even on itineraries without a visiting chef onboard. Over the past 11 years, this collaboration has brought over 40 celebrated chefs selected in partnership with the Foundation to sail with Windstar, and 31 of those chefs have directly contributed dishes to Windstar's Amphora menus.

For example, the Treasures of Southern Spain & Morocco sailing (March 14–22, 2027) on Wind Spirit features destination-inspired menus celebrating the flavors of Spain and Morocco. While no guest chef sails on that itinerary, James Beard Foundation chef-created recipes remain part of the culinary experience.

To Book: Guests can visit Windstarcruises.com, call 866-258-7245, or request a call from a Windstar vacation planner. To learn more about Windstar's partnership with the James Beard Foundation and view all chef-hosted sailings, visit the James Beard Foundation Chef Sailings page.

Windstar Cruises imagery here, credit to Windstar Cruises.

Contacts:

Ana Lanzas, Director of Public Relations / Ana.lanzas@windstarcruises.com

LDPR, windstar@ldpr.com

About Windstar Cruises:

For four decades, Windstar Cruises has been reimagining small-ship cruising with a distinctive blend of relaxed luxury and genuine connection to the world's most captivating destinations. From its origins with motor sailing yachts tailored for upscale yet casual travel, Windstar has grown into a diverse fleet of four Star Class all-suite yachts—including its newest addition of Star Seeker in December 2025—and three Wind Class sailing yachts, offering voyages that are both intimate and inspiring. It's highly anticipated yacht, Star Explorer, is set to debut in December 2026, expanding the fleet to eight yachts accommodating 150-350 guests. Windstar's legendary Wind Class sailing yachts are also undergoing a meticulous two-phase redesign to be completed by 2027. Windstar yachts sail to more than 330 ports across Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, Alaska, Canada and New England, Japan, the South Pacific, and Asia. Unlike most cruise lines, Windstar sails year-round in the Mediterranean and Tahiti, offering different destination experiences seasonally. Each Windstar voyage is designed to immerse guests in authentic cultural experiences, all while delivering the comfort, service, and style that define the Windstar difference. 

Windstar Cruises is proud to be part of the Xanterra Travel Collection®, a distinguished group of global hospitality and travel companies with a legacy spanning over a hundred years. Xanterra operates iconic national parks, including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, and Death Valley. The Xanterra Travel Collection® is owned by The Anschutz Corporation, the ultimate owner of the Broadmoor, Sea Island, and entertainment giant AEG, Anschutz Entertainment Group. 

About the James Beard Foundation:

The James Beard Foundation® (JBF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to leading chefs and the broader culinary industry toward a new standard of excellence. Our guiding principle, Good Food for Good®, informs our vision of a vibrant, equitable, and sustainable independent restaurant industry that stands as a cornerstone of American culture, community, and economy, and drives toward a better food system. For 40 years, JBF has been instrumental in recognizing, amplifying, educating, and training the individuals who shape American food culture. Today, our mission comes to life through the prestigious James Beard Awards, industry and community-focused programming, advocacy and policy initiatives, and culinary events and partnerships nationwide—including at Platform by JBF® and the James Beard House in New York City. Learn more at jamesbeard.org, sign up for our emails, and follow @beardfoundation on social media.

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SOURCE Windstar Cruises