Atlas Ocean Voyages has named the guest chefs and food experts for its 2027 Epicurean Expeditions. The headline additions are Food Network champion Crista Luedtke and Food & Wine contributing editor Anthony Giglio, the line announced on Oct. 29. Six returning chefs round out a schedule that runs from April to October across the line's three small ships.
The sailings mostly stay in Europe and North Africa, with stops in the Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and the Adriatic. Each ship carries fewer than 200 guests, so a chef on board is not a distant celebrity on a stage. Guests can join cooking demos, tastings and talks, plus the line's popular Yachtsman Cook-Off.
Who is on board, and when
| Expert | Ship | Date (2027) | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Wilamowska | World Voyager | April 6 | Las Palmas to Seville |
| Crista Luedtke | World Traveller | April 15 | Las Palmas to Málaga, 8 nights |
| Bobby Marcotte | World Voyager | April 16 | Seville to Casablanca, 9 nights |
| Massimo Capra | World Navigator | April 17 | Canary Islands and Madeira |
| Ippy Aiona | World Traveller | April 23 | Málaga to Nice |
| Massimo Capra | World Navigator | April 27 | Las Palmas to Lisbon |
| Ippy Aiona | World Traveller | May 1 | Nice to Naples |
| Martin Gimenez Castro | World Navigator | May 7 | Lisbon to Bordeaux |
| Julieta Davey | World Traveller | May 9 | Naples to Valletta, 7 nights |
| Anna Wilamowska | World Traveller | June 7 | Naples to Athens |
| Martin Gimenez Castro | World Traveller | June 27 | Athens roundtrip, 11 nights |
| Anthony Giglio and Anna Wilamowska | World Traveller | Aug. 20 | Livorno to Dubrovnik, 9 nights |
| Massimo Capra | World Traveller | Oct. 9 | Monte Carlo to Lisbon, 8 nights |
The two newcomers
Crista Luedtke makes her Atlas debut on World Traveller in April. She was the first Triple G Grand Champion on Food Network's "Guy's Grocery Games" and has appeared on "Tournament of Champions." Her route from Las Palmas to Málaga takes in the Canary Islands, Morocco and southern Spain, from spice markets to Andalusian olive oil and seafood.
Anthony Giglio joins as a guest wine expert in August. He is a sommelier, educator and the author of 11 books, including the annual Food & Wine Wine Guide. His nine-night trip from Livorno to Dubrovnik covers Tuscany, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and Montenegro. Pastry chef Anna Wilamowska is on the same sailing, and the line says the two will explore how fine chocolate and desserts pair with the wines of Italy and the Adriatic.
"Our Epicurean Expeditions celebrate the connection between cuisine, culture and discovery," said James A. Rodriguez, president and CEO of Atlas Ocean Voyages. He said Giglio "has an extraordinary ability to make wine approachable through the stories of the people and regions behind every bottle."
The returning lineup
- Massimo Capra, an Italian chef and TV regular from "Restaurant Makeover" and "Chopped Canada," has the most sailings, with three.
- Bobby Marcotte won Guy's Grocery Games: Triple D Legends and is known for meat-forward American cooking. His route pairs Andalusia with Morocco.
- Ippy Aiona blends Native Hawaiian and Italian American cooking. He was the youngest finalist on "Food Network Star."
- Martin Gimenez Castro won the first season of Top Chef Poland and is a seafood specialist and Marine Stewardship Council ambassador.
- Anna Wilamowska is a pastry chef and chocolatier trained in Michelin-starred kitchens.
- Julieta Davey founded Mamá Cacao in Costa Rica and talks about chocolate from bean to bar.
Who these cruises suit
These are not cooking schools. They are regular Atlas voyages with a food expert layered on top. That makes them a good fit for couples where one person loves food and the other just wants a nice trip.
Pick a sailing by the chef you like, or by the region. Wine fans should look hard at the Aug. 20 trip, and seafood lovers at Castro's two cruises.
How to book
Atlas says to book through a travel advisor or by calling 1-844-44-ATLAS. You can compare the line's ships, including World Navigator and World Voyager, on our Atlas Ocean Voyages page.