"The soul of Oceania Cruises has always been deeply rooted in extraordinary cuisine," said Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises. "By naming Food & Wine Best New Chefs alumni as the godparents of Oceania Allura, we're paying homage to the future of food and the creative forces driving it forward. It's a celebration of passion, talent, and the global language of gastronomy."
Since 1988, Food & Wine Best New Chefs program has honored more than 400 rising culinary stars who are redefining how we cook, eat, and connect through food. The alumni include some of the most influential figures in modern cuisine. Now, in a first for the cruise industry, a group of these culinary innovators will serve as the ceremonial godparents of Oceania Allura, marking the first time this prestigious title has been awarded to a group of chefs.
"Food & Wine Best New Chefs have helped shape the future of dining through their creativity, innovation, and bold ideas for more than three decades," said Hunter Lewis, Editor in Chief of Food & Wine. "Oceania Cruises shares that same spirit of discovery, creativity, and excellence, making this a meaningful opportunity to honor the lasting impact these chefs have had on the culinary world. We're thrilled to team up with Oceania Cruises in this unprecedented tribute to the visionaries behind today's most exciting cuisine."
Oceania Allura, Oceania Cruises' newest 1,200-guest ship, promises an elevated onboard experience defined by exceptional personalized service, an elegantly relaxed ambience, and The Finest Cuisine at Sea®.
With more than 270 brand-new recipes, an expansive hands-on Culinary Center and accompanying Chef's Studio, the return of Oceania Cruises' signature French restaurant Jacques and new inventive Nikkei dishes recently announced as additions to the menu in its popular pan-Asian venue, Red Ginger, Oceania Allura embodies the cruise line's culinary excellence while pushing the boundaries of innovation. Her glistening christening and naming ceremony will take place on November 13, 2025, in Miami, Florida.
With this announcement, Oceania Cruises not only redefines the traditional role of a ship's godparent, it reaffirms its status as the cruise line created by foodies for foodies. Beyond Oceania Allura, guests can share an incredible Alaskan journey with 2023 Food & Wine Best New Chef Aisha Ibrahim aboard Oceania Cruises' first-ever Best New Chefs Cruise on August 18 - 28, 2025.
On this 10-day sailing from Seattle to Seattle on Oceania Riviera™, food lovers will experience special menus, cooking demonstrations, and fabulous pairings among the many epicurean discoveries at sea and on land aboard the only true foodie ship sailing in the region. Two additional Best New Chefs Cruises will debut on Oceania Allura in 2026, with more details to be announced later this year.
A full overview of Oceania Allura's 2025 and 2026 itineraries can be found at OceaniaCruises.com.
About Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises® is the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line's eight small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,250 guests and feature The Finest Cuisine at Sea® and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences are available aboard the designer-inspired, small ships, which call on more than 600 marquee and boutique ports in more than 100 countries on seven continents, on voyages that range from seven to more than 200 days. Oceania Cruises® has two additional ships on order scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2028 or 20291. Oceania Cruises® is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH). To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com.
1 Delivery for the second Oceania Cruises ship is contractually scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2028, but may be delayed to 2029.
SOURCE Oceania Cruises
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