More New Luxury Cruise Experiences to Delight Foodies and Wine Lovers!

8. Experiencing Tasty Cuisine on Epicurean Expeditions

Tasting savory small bites is an easy way for travelers to get a sense of any local cuisine. In Spain, travelers sailing on Atlas Ocean Voyages often enjoy sampling Basque Country pintxos, which are similar to tapas but often smaller, and presented with a toothpick in the middle.

It’s one example of the “deep dive” into local tastes and culinary traditions that travelers can experience on one of the upscale line’s Epicurean Expeditions. This upscale line has just unveiled its new Europe 2028 collection with 37 Epicurean and Cultural Expeditions between April and September.

Guests will sail in comfort and style on an upscale, 400-passenger vessel. On its Epicurean Expeditions, Atlas is expanding its Baltic presence, marking a return to Egypt and Turkey, and introducing Lavrion, Greece, as a new embarkation port with convenient access to Athens. The lineup also includes 26 overnight stays and visits to 13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Plus, new ports of call range from Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Boulogne-Sur-Mer in France, to Poros and Naxos, Greece; Casamicciola Terme (Ischia) and Agropoli (Paestum), Italy; Ostende (Bruges), Belgium; Fjallbacka and Ystad, Sweden; Saaremaa, Estonia; and Svolvær (Lofoten), Norway.

Just one of the many new 2028 Epicurean Expeditions is an eight-night sailing on World Voyager from Malaga, Spain, to Lisbon, Portugal on May 14, 2028; it’s priced starting at $6,199, but a Pavlus expert will assist you in getting the best price, any special promotions or amenities, and without any service fee.

9. Dining Space Redesigns Completed on Wind Star

Earlier this year, Windstar Cruises completed the final stage of its comprehensive redesign for the lovely sailing yacht Wind Star. Dining was a top redesign focus, so much attention was placed on Amphora, the ship’s signature restaurant.

That eatery now sports a new look with updated furnishings, custom banquette seating, new flooring, wall finishes, and ceiling treatments. Another dining space, the Veranda, also reflects a refreshed interior. Most notable from our guests’ feedback is the completely reimagined buffet with a new layout.

This vessel is a fabulous floating hotel for exploring the South Pacific, among other regions of the globe. For instance, on dozens of dates in 2027, it sails the seven-night “Dreams of Tahiti” voyage roundtrip from Papeete, Tahiti. Varying by departure, fares start at just $3,323 per person, double occupancy.

10. New Specialty Cruises with Celebrity Chefs

Oceania Cruises’ new 2027 Specialty Cruises take cuisine, culture and personal connection to a higher level. Select voyages will be hosted by Claudine Pepin, daughter of patriarch chef Jacques Pepin; renowned chef and TV host Sara Moulton; and Oceania Cruises’ own Chef Alexis Quaretti and Chef Eric Barale, executive culinary directors and Master Chefs of France.

So, if you’re a foodie, check these options below. Just don’t wait long to contact a Pavlus personal travel planner as these may sell out quickly, given their strong appeal for foodies.

• A 13-day “Culinary Luminaries Specialty Cruise” aboard Oceania Vista will depart from Athens to Rome on June 2, 2027. Look for specially crafted menus, tastings and culinary demonstrations with Chefs Quaretti and Barale, alongside notable guest chefs. Pricing begins at $7,099 per person, double occupancy.
• The 14-day “Sara Moulton Specialty Cruise” will sail roundtrip from London, departing June 8, 2027, aboard Oceania Marina. Formerly with the Food Network, Moulton currently hosts “Sara’s Weeknight Meals” on PBS. She’ll host a gala dinner onboard, among other activities. Priced from $6,949 per person, double occupancy.
• An 11-day “Claudine Pepin Specialty Cruise” on Oceania Riviera will depart September 30, 2027, roundtrip from Tokyo. Guests will learn about the culinary traditions of Japan alongside Claudine Pepin, James Beard Award winner. She’ll conduct live cooking demonstrations, host a gala brunch, and participate in select shore excursions. Fares begin at $5,149 per person, double occupancy.

11. New Wellness Pavilion Cafe for Queen Victoria

When wellness programming is combined with cuisine, it’s a healthy, tasty recipe for guest satisfaction. So, after Cunard Line’s 2,000-passenger Queen Victoria completes a planned drydock in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, between October 17 and November 5, 2026, the ship will emerge with a new Wellness Pavilion Café. This venue is already on two other Cunard ships, Queen Anne and Queen Elizabeth.

Queen Victoria’s guests venturing inside the health-focused café will discover breakfast, lunch, and daytime dining menus that celebrate both plant-based cuisine and sustainably sourced meat, fish, and dairy.

Among many choices, guests might experience this new wellness cafe on Queen Victoria’s 16-night “Portugal And Morocco” itinerary, roundtrip from Southampton, England, U.K., on May 12, 2027.

12. New Itineraries Open Up More Shoreside Experiences

Sometimes, it’s the simple introduction of a new, mainstream itinerary with multiple departure dates that opens up new culinary or beverage options to more guests.

Perhaps you’d love to learn more about French wine-making techniques and sample local Bandol wines? That’s definitely on tap during Viking’s new, 14-day “Mediterranean, Malta & North Africa” itinerary for 2028 and 2029. For five hours during a Marseille, France, port call, guests taking the line’s “Le Castellet & Wine Tasting” excursion can explore that hilltop Provençal village and the Domaine de Fregate vineyard.

During that same itinerary’s Casablanca, Morocco, port call, Viking’s six-hour “Moroccan Cooking Class” excursion will take guests to the bustling Central Market with its seafood, fruit, vegetable and spice stalls. Next, guests will step into the kitchen of Dar El-Kaid, a Morocco restaurant, to learn about local spices and methods for preparing Moroccan entrees and desserts. Travelers will then sample the tasty dishes they’ve helped prepare.

Viking’s new “Mediterranean, Malta & North Africa” itinerary in 2028 and 2029 visits seven countries, and operates roundtrip from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. Fares are priced from $9,999 per person, double occupancy. Definitely chat with a Pavlus personal travel planner to get the best deal and any added amenities, all with no service fee.

The Pavlus Difference — We Sell Experiences

Yes, it’s fabulous to mull over all the wonderful new culinary developments by luxury cruise lines and we’re happy to present some of those here. For foodies, gourmet aficionados, and oenophiles alike, they’re exciting and enticing.

But at Pavlus Travel & Cruise, we also know that the perfect vacation isn’t simply about any cruise line, ship, venue or destination. Yes, those matter, of course. But the most memorable vacations are ones filled with cherished moments for a lifetime of memories. Experiences are top of mind for today’s global luxury travelers.

Our customers tell us they love cooking alongside a Michelin-star chef or local family’s matriarch; shopping for local ingredients and produce in an exotic fresh food market; digging into baking dough or noodle-making with the locals; or sipping, savoring, and soaking in the views while seeing the world. In particular, chatting with local people from other cultures about their day-to-day lives is often priceless.

So, at Pavlus, we tell clients that we sell “the experience,” because we know what really counts. We’ll do our very best to explain what’s out there to match with your personal budget, vacation style and personal interests. But we’ll also showcase the kinds of experiences that any vacation offers, so you can make the best vacation choice.

Also check out these other “Why Pavlus” factors that help make us the best go-to vacation resource for luxury travelers.