Celebrity chef Ben Robinson, known for his numerous appearances on Bravo TV’s Below Deck reality series, has partnered with Emerald Cruises on two culinary-themed sailings onboard the company’s 100-guest luxury yachts, Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara.
Chef Robinson will provide his distinctive culinary style to two eight-day sailings: first in the Mediterranean onboard Emerald Cruises’ Coastal Gems of Italy and Croatia sailings, which depart Venice on October 28, 2023, then to the Caribbean on the Hidden Charms of the Caribbean sailing departing San Juan, Puerto Rico, on March 2, 2024.
Guests on these notable departures will have multiple opportunities to sample Robinson’s cuisine while interacting with and learning from him. During a welcome evening reception that begins each sailing, guests will interact with the chef and enjoy a signature cocktail. During an onboard cooking demonstration, Robinson will share his creations from locally-sourced ingredients, along with cooking tips, with time for an interactive Q&A session. A unique shore excursion with Chef Ben enables guests to savor the flavors of each region together. Finally, he will customize three dinner menus for guests in the La Cucina dining room during the sailings.
“As you can imagine, I’m a huge fan of yacht cruising, so when I learned about Emerald Cruises’ beautiful, modern yachts, I knew I wanted to cook onboard. It’s a natural fit for me,” Chef Robinson says. “I look forward to sharing my passion for food with the guests and exploring the culinary traditions of these regions together.”
The eight-day Coastal Gems of Italy and Croatia features two port stops in Croatia—Šibenik and Dubrovnik—before returning across the Adriatic to Brindisi and Gallipoli port towns on either side of Italy’s “heel.” From here, the yacht rounds the “toe,” calling on Messina in Sicily and heading north to Naples and Rome. A few highlights on this itinerary include visiting a falconry center in Šibenik, a private concert in the old city theatre in Dubrovnik, and a guided tour of Pompeii.
The eight-day Hidden Charms of the Caribbean, aboard Emerald Sakara will sail east to the Culebra and Vieques Islands in Puerto Rico, St. John, USVI and Jost Van Dyke in the BVI, St. Barths and St. Kitts before concluding in St. John’s Antigua. Guests can look forward to kayaking in the bioluminescent bay in Vieques, a BBQ lunch on the beach in Jost Van Dyke, and plenty of opportunities to snorkel in the clear waters of the Caribbean.
Robinson worked under Italian master chefs in Florence and gained an apprenticeship at a three-Michelin Star restaurant The Fat Duck, based in the United Kingdom. He was a head chef on yachts for over ten years, including the largest sailing yacht in the world. Robinson is well known for appearing on Bravo Television Network’s Below Deck, Below Deck Mediterranean, and Galley Talk and is also featured on The Food Network.
Chef Ben also operates a high-end catering business across the U.S. and is known to share his masterful skill set worldwide. He is a Certified Health Coach, which helps him tailor any dish’s dietary restrictions. He also enjoys the puzzling aspect of food creations by providing a one-of-a-kind tailor-made dinner experience.
Emerald Cruises offers diverse river and yacht cruises on three continents. Emerald Azzurra, the line’s first ocean-going vessel, debuted in March 2022; it is a 100-guest luxury yacht sailing the waters of the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Red Seas, and new for the 2023/2024 season, the Caribbean and Central America. In November 2022, Emerald Azzurra was named Best New Luxury Ship in Cruise Critic’s 2022 Editors’ Picks Awards. Emerald Sakara, the brand’s second luxury yacht, will launch in 2023. On the rivers, Emerald Cruises sails eight branded Star-Ships in Europe and one on the Mekong. The brand offers innovatively-designed ships, outstanding service and a focus on active shore excursions and onboard wellness offerings through their signature EmeraldACTIVE program. Emerald Cruises is part of Scenic Group, which includes Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Mayflower Cruises & Tours and Evergreen Tours in Australia.
For more information, contact your local travel advisor; visit Emerald Cruises’ website, Emeraldcruises.com or call the consumer/travel agent reservations line at 844-428-8389.
