Oceania Cruises will team up with a selection of Food & Wine Best New Chefs alumni who will serve as Godparents of its newest ship, Oceania Allura, debuting in July 2025.
Oceania Allura will be christened not by one godmother, but by a group of Food & Wine Best New Chefs alumni. The announcement was unveiled on June 21, 2025, at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, one of the industry’s most prestigious culinary festivals, a fitting backdrop for celebrating the chefs shaping the future of dining.
“The soul of Oceania Cruises has always been deeply rooted in extraordinary cuisine,” said Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises. “By naming Food & Wine Best New Chefs alumni as the godparents of Oceania Allura, we’re paying homage to the future of food and the creative forces driving it forward. It’s a celebration of passion, talent, and the global language of gastronomy.”
Since 1988, Food & Wine Best New Chefs program has honoured more than 400 rising culinary stars who are redefining how we cook, eat, and connect through food. The alumni include some of the most influential figures in modern cuisine. Now, in a first for the cruise industry, a group of these culinary innovators will serve as the ceremonial godparents of Oceania Allura, marking the first time this prestigious title has been awarded to a group of chefs.
“Food & Wine Best New Chefs have helped shape the future of dining through their creativity, innovation, and bold ideas for more than three decades,” said Hunter Lewis, Editor in Chief of Food & Wine. “Oceania Cruises shares that same spirit of discovery, creativity, and excellence, making this a meaningful opportunity to honor the lasting impact these chefs have had on the culinary world. We’re thrilled to team up with Oceania Cruises in this unprecedented tribute to the visionaries behind today’s most exciting cuisine.”
Oceania Allura, Oceania Cruises’ newest 1,200-guest ship, promises an elevated onboard experience defined by exceptional personalized service, an elegantly relaxed ambience, and The Finest Cuisine at Sea®.
With more than 270 brand-new recipes, an expansive hands-on Culinary Center and accompanying Chef’s Studio, the return of Oceania Cruises’ signature French restaurant Jacques and new inventive Nikkei dishes recently announced as additions to the menu in its popular pan-Asian venue, Red Ginger, Oceania Allura embodies the cruise line’s culinary excellence while pushing the boundaries of innovation. Her glistening christening and naming ceremony will take place on November 13, 2025, in Miami, Florida.
With this announcement, Oceania Cruises not only redefines the traditional role of a ship’s godparent, it reaffirms its status as the cruise line created by foodies for foodies. Beyond Oceania Allura, guests can share an incredible Alaskan journey with 2023 Food & Wine Best New Chef Aisha Ibrahim aboard Oceania Cruises’ first-ever Best New Chefs Cruise on August 18 – 28, 2025.
On this 10-day sailing from Seattle to Seattle on Oceania Riviera™, food lovers will experience special menus, cooking demonstrations, and fabulous pairings among the many epicurean discoveries at sea and on land aboard the only true foodie ship sailing in the region. Two additional Best New Chefs Cruises will debut on Oceania Allura in 2026, with more details to be announced later this year.
A full overview of Oceania Allura’s 2025 and 2026 itineraries can be found at OceaniaCruises.com.