Windstar Introduces Five New James Beard Foundation Sailings for 2026

Windstar Cruises has announced five new chefs for its 2026 James Beard Foundation sailings, the latest milestone in a 10-year collaboration that has redefined culinary travel at sea. This season, select voyages will feature wines from the GALLO Luxury Wine portfolio, typically reserved for private tasting rooms.

The 2026 season brings together James Beard Foundation affiliated chefs and luminaries like José Garzón, Belinda Bishop, mother-daughter duo Kirsten and Mandy Dixon, Gabriel Kreuther, and David Uygur. Complementing this roster of acclaimed chefs are some of California’s most distinguished wine producers: Orin Swift, J Vineyards and Winery, Louis M. Martini, and Denner Vineyards.

Each year, Windstar’s chef-hosted culinary voyages invite guests into an immersive world of flavor—from live cooking demos, time to interact with the chefs, and chef-led market tours to four-course dinners with wine pairings, all curated by some of the most celebrated chefs in the country. The five James Beard Foundation Themed Cruises for 2026 Include:

“Mayan Legacies with Chef José Garzón” (Colón to Cozumel, February 9–17, 2026) – This eight-day sailing explores the uncommon Caribbean along the Gulf of Honduras with Chef Garzón, where Latin and Island culinary influences come together in vibrant port cities. Discover unspoiled beaches, ancient Mayan temples rising above rainforest canopies, and remote islands like the UNESCO biosphere reserve— Isla San Andres—accessible only by small ships like Wind Surf. Chef Garzón is the innovative force behind Garzon Latinx Street Food and Bad Chancla on Capitol Hill in Seattle, WA, where he has earned acclaim for his vibrant, bold approach to modern Latin American cuisine. At Bad Chancla, he uses locally sourced ingredients to create plates that celebrate community, tradition, and creativity, with each dish telling its own story.
“Beach Fun & Sun: A Remote Caribbean Getaway with Belinda Bishop” (Roundtrip from Philipsburg, March 14–21, 2026) – This relaxing seven-day Caribbean escape with Chef Belinda Bishop aboard Wind Surf brings travelers to secluded beaches and experiences like snorkeling a historic wreck in Tortola or piloting a RIB through the bays of Jost Van Dyke. As Grenada’s culinary ambassador and award-winning American-Grenadian chef, Chef Bishop specializes in fusing traditional Caribbean cuisine with contemporary techniques, creating healthy, well-balanced dishes using garden-fresh vegetables and spices that incorporate historical cultural references from across the region. Her career highlights include managing restaurants in New York, Florida, and Atlanta, cooking for celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and President Bill Clinton, and founding The Grenada Culinary and Mixology Federation to train aspiring chefs and mixologists. Her latest venture, Belinda’s at the Tower Estate, offers an intimate farm-to-table multi-course dining experience in a Historic Great House, while she also serves with World Central Kitchen on global humanitarian food initiatives.
“Scenic Alaska with Kirsten and Mandy Dixon” (Juneau to Vancouver, May 15–23, 2026) – Sailing aboard Star Seeker, see glaciers up close, watch whales, and look for bears. This eight-day itinerary explores the best of Alaska with coastal wilderness cruising along the Canadian Inside Passage, Alaska’s Misty Fjords, and Tracy Arm—plus stops in Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, and Juneau, all in a single week. Chefs Kristen and Mandy Dixon will craft menus highlighting Alaska’s bold, frontier flavors, reflecting the approach that has made their wilderness lodges award-winning destinations. The mother-daughter team of acclaimed Alaska chefs, authors, and lodge owners are known for highlighting local flavors at Within the Wild Adventure company and Tutka Bay Lodge. They blend classical and Alaskan cuisine, have written cookbooks, mentored emerging chefs, and advanced Alaska’s culinary scene internationally.
“French Feast: Normandy, Brittany & Aquitaine with Chef Gabriel Kreuther” (Rouen to Bordeaux, August 19–26, 2026) – Chef Gabriel Kreuther, a two-Michelin-star chef and 2025 finalist for JBF’s Outstanding Chef Award (one of only four nominees), headlines this seven-day sailing aboard Star Legend exploring France’s most captivating corners, including neolithic stones and Arthurian legends in Brittany and walking the legendary streets of Paris and vineyards of Bordeaux. Kreuther will lead cooking demos, market tours, and a wine-paired dinner curated to reflect the region’s rich culinary heritage.
“Classic Italy & Dalmatian Coast with Chef David Uygur and Denner Vineyards” (Venice to Rome, October 7–15, 2026) – From the glittering fountains of Rome to the storied canals of Venice, guests explore the wonders of Italy’s iconic cities along with the Amalfi and Dalmatian Coasts. Onboard Wind Surf, Chef Uygur leads a culinary journey inspired by Balkan, Mediterranean, and Italian traditions, featuring food and wine pairings with Denner Vineyards’ meticulously crafted Rhône and Bordeaux varietals, and a special chef-hosted dinner. Inspired by his Turkish-American heritage and trips to Italy, Chef Uygur taught himself to cure meats nearly two decades ago and honed his skills at Lola before opening Lucia in Dallas’s Bishop Arts neighborhood in 2010. His restaurant features house-cured salumi and pasta made fresh daily served in a relaxed, polished atmosphere that feels like dining at his home, earning a 2024 James Beard Award nomination for Outstanding Chef and Michelin Bib Gourmand status. Lucia’s ever-changing menu reflects his eclectic approach, blending Italian techniques with diverse culinary influences, and has consistently garnered acclaim from local and national press since opening.

2026 LUX Wine Cruises

“Treasures of the Greek Isles with Orin Swift Winery” (Roundtrip from Athens, May 14–21, 2026) – From Santorini and Mykonos to the Acropolis and ancient Ephesus, experience the seven-day itinerary aboard Wind Spirit alongside avant-garde winemaker Dave Phinney of Napa’s Orin Swift winery.
“Scenic Alaska with J Vineyards and Winery” (Vancouver to Juneau, May 7–15, 2026) – Guests will uncork a single-vineyard Pinot Noir from Sonoma’s J Vineyards and Winery and toast Alaska’s majestic beauty aboard Star Seeker.
“French Feast: Normandy, Brittany & Aquitaine with Louis M. Martini” (Rouen to Bordeaux, June 3–10, 2026) – After exploring the culinary prowess France has to offer, compare the legendary wines of Bordeaux to the award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon—a staple from Napa’s Louis M. Martini vineyards on this sailing aboard Star Legend.
“Connoisseur’s Delight: Northern Spain & Portugal with Maze Row Wine Merchant” (Bordeaux to Lisbon, August 26–September 3, 2026) – On this eight-day sailing aboard Star Legend, travelers enjoy long days in port and overnight stays as they explore everything from Galicia’s legendary seafood and port wine within sight of the Douro River. Along the way, they’ll sip their way through pop-up tastings and presentations from the Maze Row Wines portfolio, pairing each destination with rich local flavor.
“JBF + LUX Wines: Classic Italy & Dalmatian Coast with Chef David Uygur and Denner Vineyards” (Venice to Rome, October 7–15, 2026) – See details of this itinerary aboard Wind Surf among the James Beard Foundation sailings above.