October 8, 2026 — Windstar Cruises has named the five James Beard Foundation chefs who will each host a sailing in 2027, on itineraries that range from the Greek islands to French Polynesia and East Asia.
TravelPulse reported the lineup on October 7. Each hosted cruise includes dinners with paired wines, recipes tied to the itinerary and live cooking demonstrations. On selected voyages the visiting chef and Windstar’s executive chef also lead a market tour ashore. Fares and an on-sale date were not given and are TBA.
The five sailings
| Dates (2027) | Ship | Itinerary | Chef |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 13–20 | Wind Surf | Treasures of the Greek Isles: Mykonos, Patmos, Santorini, Monemvasia, Nafplio | Roel Alcudia |
| September 5–16 | Star Breeze | French Polynesia and the Cook Islands, including Papeete and Bora Bora | Felix Tai |
| September 8–16 | Star Legend | Aegean Sea Odyssey via the Corinth Canal, along the Turkish coast to Istanbul | Cara Tobin |
| October 14–21 | Wind Surf | Athens to Rome by way of Monemvasia, Gythion, Sicily and Sorrento | Cody Hogan |
| November 4–14 | Star Seeker | East Asian Legends: Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam | Christine Lau |
The partnership is in its eleventh year. More than 40 chefs chosen by the foundation have sailed with Windstar, and 31 have contributed dishes to the menus in the line’s Amphora restaurants. Foundation chief executive Clare Reichenbach said the partnership “brings something new and exciting to each cruise experience.” Windstar’s ships carry between 148 and 342 guests.
What it means for airline travelers
- Small ships sell out. With no more than 342 guests on board, a themed sailing has little last-minute space. Waiting for a late industry rate is riskier here than on a large ship.
- Tahiti is the hardest to reach on standby. Papeete (PPT) has few flights from the U.S. and they run full. Give yourself two days, and have a backup plan for the September 5 departure.
- Several itineraries are one-way. The October cruise starts in Athens (ATH) and ends in Rome (FCO), and the September Star Legend sailing ends in Istanbul (IST). Check loads home from the final port.
- Autumn works in your favor in the Mediterranean. Mid-October transatlantic loads are generally lighter than in July, which makes the Athens-to-Rome sailing the easiest of the European trips for non-rev travelers.
- Asia in November: the Star Seeker itinerary covers four countries, so check entry requirements for each. Embarkation and disembarkation ports were not listed in the report.
Sources
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