CRUISE GPS
Celebrating Place
& Plate
Celebrating Place & Plate
Windstar Cruises showcases James Beard flavors and local market cuisine.
Windstar Cruises is elevating epicurean travel with chef-led market tours, seasonal ingredients from each port city, and nightly menus infused with regional soul—all courtesy of a unique James Beard Foundation partnership. At the heart of these Windstar experiences lies a culinary ethos rooted in fresh, seasonal ingredients, with chefs hand‑picking produce at local markets to inspire nightly regional menus.
While the James Beard Foundation hardly needs a primer, a quick refresher: It was created nearly 40 years ago as a way to channel Beard’s passions of the culinary arts. It celebrates food culture and supports the industry through initiatives ranging from diversity to advocacy and beyond. Windstar’s partnership with the James Beard Foundation (JFB) marks its 10th anniversary this year, affirming a decade of culinary innovation and collaboration. As the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar invites JBF‑lauded chefs aboard its intimate yachts—not only to cook, but to lead demos, host dinners, conduct wine pairings, and guide immersive market tours ashore.
What can travelers expect? Imagine strolling through the stalls of a Mediterranean market under your chef’s guidance, selecting ripe local produce, or seafood just hauled from the water. Windstar’s Shop with the Chef shore excursions blend culture and cuisine, creating an indelible connection between place and plate. Back onboard, Windstar’s dining venues bring market treasures to life with each dish celebrating intentional sourcing and ingredient integrity. Even on non‑themed sailings, James Beard-curated creations appear nightly in Windstar Cruises’ Amphora restaurant.
On the 2025 JBF sailings, guest chefs include Jamilka Borges, José Mendin, Jennifer Hill Booker, Jennifer Jasinski, and Amy Brandwein. These stars design menus, engage in cooking demos and wine pairings, host dinners, and guide guests on market trips. To date, the ongoing collaboration has brought more than 45 JBF‑recognized chefs aboard Windstar Cruises, which also champions Good Food for Good, a philosophy aligned with JBF and rooted in deliciousness, accessibility, and responsibility.
Whether choosing a JBF sailing or enjoying another curated cruise, each nightly menu is crafted to highlight the spectacular flavors of the regional cuisine. Unforgettable voyages of taste await.
This is travel that’s 180 degrees from ordinary.
CRUISE GPS
Celebrating Place
& Plate
Celebrating Place & Plate
Windstar Cruises showcases James Beard flavors and local market cuisine.
Windstar Cruises is elevating epicurean travel with chef-led market tours, seasonal ingredients from each port city, and nightly menus infused with regional soul—all courtesy of a unique James Beard Foundation partnership. At the heart of these Windstar experiences lies a culinary ethos rooted in fresh, seasonal ingredients, with chefs hand‑picking produce at local markets to inspire nightly regional menus.
While the James Beard Foundation hardly needs a primer, a quick refresher: It was created nearly 40 years ago as a way to channel Beard’s passions of the culinary arts. It celebrates food culture and supports the industry through initiatives ranging from diversity to advocacy and beyond. Windstar’s partnership with the James Beard Foundation (JFB) marks its 10th anniversary this year, affirming a decade of culinary innovation and collaboration. As the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar invites JBF‑lauded chefs aboard its intimate yachts—not only to cook, but to lead demos, host dinners, conduct wine pairings, and guide immersive market tours ashore.
What can travelers expect? Imagine strolling through the stalls of a Mediterranean market under your chef’s guidance, selecting ripe local produce, or seafood just hauled from the water. Windstar’s Shop with the Chef shore excursions blend culture and cuisine, creating an indelible connection between place and plate. Back onboard, Windstar’s dining venues bring market treasures to life with each dish celebrating intentional sourcing and ingredient integrity. Even on non‑themed sailings, James Beard-curated creations appear nightly in Windstar Cruises’ Amphora restaurant.
On the 2025 JBF sailings, guest chefs include Jamilka Borges, José Mendin, Jennifer Hill Booker, Jennifer Jasinski, and Amy Brandwein. These stars design menus, engage in cooking demos and wine pairings, host dinners, and guide guests on market trips. To date, the ongoing collaboration has brought more than 45 JBF‑recognized chefs aboard Windstar Cruises, which also champions Good Food for Good, a philosophy aligned with JBF and rooted in deliciousness, accessibility, and responsibility.
Whether choosing a JBF sailing or enjoying another curated cruise, each nightly menu is crafted to highlight the spectacular flavors of the regional cuisine. Unforgettable voyages of taste await.
This is travel that’s 180 degrees from ordinary.
MORE STORIES
What to Read Next
What to Read Next
Destination GPS
Québec City offers a distinct character connected by a world-class culinary scene.
Point of View
Explora Journeys’ onboard cooking school blends technique, storytelling, and regional flavor.
Destination GPS
Australia’s culinary identity feels bold, ancient, and impossibly fresh.
Shannon Friedman is the founder and lead planner behind Travel with Purpose Global (TWP), a boutique travel agency that turns great vacations into a vehicle for good. She specializes in building seamless, custom trips, taking the headache out of the logistics so her clients can simply focus on connecting and recharging.
But what really sets TWP apart is the engine behind it: 50% of the agency’s net commissions go straight to the Renewed Purpose Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding mercy ministries and housing for women and single parents. Ultimately, it means that just by booking a trip with Shannon and/or on her website www.travelwithpurposeglobal.com, you are helping restore individuals and families lives.