Emerald Cruises has partnered with Chef Ben Robinson for two culinary-themed sailings onboard the line’s 100-guest luxury yachts, Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara. Chef Robinson, best known as an executive private yacht chef from TV’s Below Deck, will bring his distinctive culinary style to two, 8-day sailings: first in the Mediterranean onboard Emerald Cruises’ Coastal Gems of Italy and Croatia sailing departing 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 joining these special departures will have multiple opportunities to sample Chef Robinson’s cuisine while interacting with and learning from him. At an evening welcome reception that kicks off each sailing, guests will meet the chef and enjoy a signature cocktail. During an onboard cooking demonstration, Chef Robinson will share his creations from locally-sourced ingredients, along with cooking tips with time for an interactive Q&A session. A special shore excursion with Chef Ben creates opportunities to savor the flavors of each region together. Finally, Chef Robinson will customize three dinner menus for guests in 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,” 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 sailing on Emerald Azzurra departs Venice on October 28, 2023, and calls on two ports in Croatia—Šibenik and Dubrovnik—before making its way back across the Adriatic to the port towns of Brindisi and Gallipoli 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 a visit to a falconry center in Šibenik, a private concert in the old city theater in Dubrovnik, and a guided tour of Pompeii.
The eight-day Hidden Charms of the Caribbean, aboard Emerald Sakara will depart San Juan on March 2, 2024, and island hop its way east calling on 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.
Chef Ben Robinson is accomplished on both land and sea. He worked under Italian master chefs in Florence and gained an apprenticeship at three-Michelin Star restaurant The Fat Duck, based in the United Kingdom. Ben was a head chef on yachts for more than ten years, including the largest sailing yacht in the world. He is well known for his appearances on Bravo Television Network’s Below Deck, Below Deck Mediterranean, and Galley Talk and is also featured on The Food Network. Chef Ben runs a high-end catering business for which he travels all over the United States and is known to share his masterful skill set across the world. Ben believes food is not only nourishment but medicine and art. He is a Certified Health Coach which gives him the upper hand with dietary restrictions. He enjoys the puzzling aspect of food creations and surprises each client with a one-of-a-kind tailor-made dinner experience.
