Emerald Cruises will welcome Celebrity Chef Ben Robinson for two culinary-themed sailings on its 100-guest luxury yachts, Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara, in 2023 and 2024.

Chef Robinson, best known as the executive private yacht chef on TV’s Below Deck, will bring his distinctive culinary style to two eight-day sailings. The first sailing, onboard Emerald Cruises’ Coastal Gems of Italy and Croatia tour, departs Venice on 28 October 2023, and the second, the Hidden Charms of the Caribbean itinerary, departs San Juan, Puerto Rico, on 2 March 2024.

Chef Robinson is accomplished on both land and sea. He worked under Italian master chefs in Florence and gained an apprenticeship at Berkshire’s three-Michelin Star restaurant, The Fat Duck.

Ben Robinson was a head chef on yachts for over ten years, including the largest sailing yacht in the world. He is well known for appearing on Below Deck and Below Deck Mediterranean, both being runaway hits on Bravo TV, followed by Netflix UK.

Guests joining these exclusive special sailings will have multiple opportunities to sample Chef Robinson’s cuisine and join cooking demonstrations. At the evening welcome reception that kicks off each sailing, guests will meet the chef himself and enjoy a signature cocktail.

During the onboard cooking demonstrations, Chef Robinson will share his creations, made with locally sourced ingredients, and share cooking tips during an interactive Q&A session. He will also lead guests on onshore excursions to add his insights and flair to the experience.

He will also design three customised dinner menus, which will be served in the yachts’ exclusive onboard dining room, La Cucina.

“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 on board. It’s a natural fit for me,” said Chef Robinson. “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 explores life along the Mediterranean and Adriatic coasts in contemporary luxury.

Highlights include a visit to a falconry centre in Šibenik, a private concert in the old city theatre in Dubrovnik, and a guided tour of Pompeii. The sailing departs from Venice and visits two ports in Croatia—Šibenik and Dubrovnik—before making its way back across the Adriatic to the southern Italian ports of Brindisi and Gallipoli.

From here, the yacht rounds the foot of Italy to Messina in Sicily before heading north to Naples and Rome. Prices for the eight-day sailing start from £4,790 per person based on a 28 October 2023 departure onboard Emerald Azzurra.

The eight-day Hidden Charms of the Caribbean uncovers lesser-known gems. Guests can look forward to kayaking in the bioluminescent bay in Vieques, a barbecue lunch on the beach in the British Virgin Islands, and plenty of opportunities to snorkel in the clear waters of the Caribbean.

The eight-day sailing departs from San Juan, Puerto Rico, before island hopping eastwards, visiting the Culebra and Vieques Islands, the US and British Virgin Islands, St. Barths and St. Kitts before arriving in St. John’s, Antigua. Prices start from £5,245 per person based on a 2 March 2024 departure onboard Emerald Sakara.

For more information, visit www.emeraldcruises.co.uk or contact your local travel agent.

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