CRUISE GPS

W​​​​​indstar Cruises is taking culinary inspired travel to the next level with its longstanding James Beard Foundation program and ongoing curated wine cruises. On the delicious docket are chef-led market tours, seasonal ingredients sourced at each port, and onboard menus inspired by regional traditions. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss.

Award-winning vineyards. Curated wine-paired menus. Special itineraries. If a wine-infused cruise is your dream, these Windstar wine cruises feature two exclusive vintner-led wine workshops. In-depth immersions teach guests how wineries grow and select grapes, then bottle them into unforgettable wines. On select cruises, you can also learn how to pair wine with a brilliant dish by an award-winning James Beard Foundation Chef. The remaining 2026 Wine Cruises include European favorites, while a special 2027 journey will debut Windstar’s new RiverOcean Voyages™ expertise.

Classic Italy & Dalmatian Coast with Chef David Uygur and Denner Vineyards. Sailing from Venice to Rome aboard Wind Surf, this itinerary doubles as a James Beard sailing, as Lucia Chef Uygur pairs Rhône and Bordeaux-style varietals from Denner Vineyards (Paso Robles) with Balkan/Mediterranean and Italian menus.

Star Explorer’s 2027 Culinary-Wine Cruise. Star Explorer is small enough to sail Europe’s rivers (Bordeaux via the Garonne, Rouen via the Seine, Seville via the Guadalquivir, and even London via the Thames) but can also reach coastal ports that river ships can’t. This eight-night sailing from Bordeaux to Lisbon calls on the Spanish coast and Portugal’s Douro region.

Windstar’s partnership with the James Beard Foundation (JFB) is a decade long and features several JBF‑lauded chefs aboard its growing fleet of yachts—not only to cook, but to lead demonstrations, host dinners, conduct wine pairings, and guide market tours ashore. Windstar’s Shop with the Chef shore excursions fuse culture and cuisine, creating a connection between place and plate. Back onboard, dining venues bring market treasures to life with inspired nightly menus.

The collaboration has brought more than 50 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 wine curated cruise, each nightly menu is crafted to highlight the spectacular flavors of Windstar’s exceptional ports of call.