CRUISES

THESE 10 BRANDS ARE THE BEST OF THE NEW WAVE OF CULINARY-FOCUSED CRUISES.

- BY JANICE WALD HENDERSON

Cruise ship culinary experiences just keep getting better and better. At onboard restaurants, chefs are gleefully pushing past the limits, presenting exquisite dishes that rival anything they could whip up on land. And with companies offering lavish tasting menus, immersive cooking classes, and expertly curated culinary shore excursions, there's never been a better time for food lovers to take a cruise. Book a berth on these 10 sailings for the best bites and sips at sea—and memories that you'll savor long after you disembark.

WINNER

1. SILVERSEA

Silversea tops this list for the second consecutive year thanks to its centerpiece S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program, which comes to life through local ingredients on kitchen and bar menus, hands-on culinary classes, and exhilarating shore excursions. La Dame, Silversea's flagship restaurant, embodies the meticulous, multilayered approach to food and drink through haute cuisine. Be sure to sample the fougasse, so freshly baked its olive oil aroma perfumes the entire restaurant. (silversea.com)

2. EXPLORA JOURNEYS

Launched in 2023, Explora Journeys is a new cruise line but has already sailed into second place. Its nine dining experiences include its signature restaurant Anthology, where guests can devour a seven-course tasting menu that celebrates Italy's regional foodways. For a midday or late-night snack, head to the all-day Emporium Marketplace, which stresses à la minute preparations. Or sit back and let the food come to you with in-suite dining that includes specialty dishes from its restaurants. (explorajourneys.com) Hurtigruten's Coastal Express route to the Arctic Circle includes Norwegian ingredients and menus, as well as a chance to be dazzled by the northern lights.

3. THE RITZ-CARLTON YACHT COLLECTION