Fine dining is no longer a supporting act in the world of cruising - instead, it’s progressively becoming a defining feature of luxury travel. As travellers increasingly prioritise experience-led travel, food is now one of the strongest signals of quality, craftsmanship and personalisation at sea.
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SixStarCruises’ latest research reveals just how central cuisine has become to the luxury cruise experience. In an internal survey of existing customers, 74% of respondents said fine dining and specialty restaurants are "what luxury cruising means to them", outweighing options like celebrity chef collaborations or brand partnerships. The findings point to a clear shift in expectations: today’s luxury traveller values consistency, flavour and service just as highly as headline names.
To reveal where the world’s most exciting culinary experiences can be discovered by cruising, SixStarCruises has created The Global Fine Dining Capitals of the Sea. This index reveals the world’s leading gastronomic destinations accessible by cruise and how curated itineraries allow explorers to experience exceptional cuisine both on shore and on board.
Certain cities continue to set the global benchmark for fine dining, offering an unrivalled concentration of Michelin-recognised restaurants, culinary heritage and international prestige.
Paris remains the world’s dominant culinary capital, home to 520 Michelin-recognised restaurants and 132 Michelin stars. Its reputation extends beyond star counts, underpinned by a culture of hospitality celebrated through events such as Salon du Chocolat, Taste of Paris, and the Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival. Recent recognition for Plénitude, winner of the World’s 50 Best Art of Hospitality Award (2024), further cements Paris as the gold standard for service-led dining.
Barcelona leads the Mediterranean food scene, boasting 117 Michelin-starred restaurants and 29 stars, alongside a striking 69% year-on-year increase in food tourism searches on Google Trends (GT). The city's culinary momentum is reinforced by festivals such as La Mercè and Festa Major de Gràcia, as well as Disfrutar's recognition as the Best Restaurant in the World, positioning timeless Barcelona as both innovative and globally influential. Ultimately, Rome continues to blend culinary tradition with global appeal. With 82 Michelin restaurants and 21 stars, and food tourism growth at +15% according to GT, Rome remains a cornerstone destination for travellers seeking authenticity. Events such as the Sagra della Porchetta di Ariccia and the Chianti Wine Festival highlight the city's enduring synchronicity between food, culture, and place.
Alongside established culinary capitals, several European cities are gaining recognition for their evolving dining scenes and rising international interest.
Athens has emerged as a modern gastronomic hub, boasting 35 Michelin-starred restaurants and 18 Michelin stars. Food tourism searches on Google have increased by 9%, supported by festivals such as the Athens Street Food Festival, the Athens Burger Festival, and the Athens International Food Film Festival. Additional recognition through the FNL Best Restaurants Awards 2025 reflects Athens' growing confidence on the global food stage.
Another key destination, Lisbon, combines affordability with fine dining credentials, featuring 52 Michelin restaurants and 26 stars, while also holding the title of Europe's Best Culinary City Destination (2024). The growth of food tourism, at +6% on GT, is driven by a vibrant local scene and festivals such as the Festival of Saint Anthony and Alma do Vinho, which are additional factors attracting foodies to the city. Venice has similarly made a name for itself, boasting 65 Michelin restaurants and 13 stars, meaning its culinary appeal is closely tied to experience and atmosphere. Reinforced by the world - renowned hotel Cipriani winning a Global Recognition Award (2025) and the enduring draw of the Carnival of Venice.
Across the Caribbean, food tourism is becoming increasingly popular, signalling a shift from traditional sun-focussed travel towards dining-led experiences. This growth reflects the importance of personalised dining experiences. As one SixStar customer recalled: “On our first visit to Aquilina, the waiter noted I loved lobster and ensured I had a side dish of lobster every time I dined there for the rest of my trip.” A testament to the actual value of bespoke dining - it's no surprise that Anguilla has recorded a 4,400% growth in food tourism interest on Google Trends and was named the Caribbean's Leading Culinary Destination 2024, supported by the Anguilla Culinary ExperienceBarbados follows with +3300% growth, anchored by the Barbados Food & Rum Festival and recognition as Best Emerging Culinary City Destination 2024. St. George’s, Grenada has seen +3000% growth, with Rhodes Restaurant awarded Best Hotel Restaurant 2025. Meanwhile, Martinique shows +1,700% growth, driven by Restaurant 1643 winning Best Restaurant 2025.
Finally, Grand Cayman has experienced 2,400% growth on Google, supported by events such as Taste of Cayman, Cayman Cookout, and Avecita being named Best Hotel Restaurant 2025, making it another star destination for those looking to soak up the sun and enjoy excellent food. The Caribbean is a fantastic destination to visit almost all year round.
Australasia continues to strengthen its reputation for contemporary, produce-led dining, offering a different expression of culinary luxury. Sydney has seen a 10% growth in food tourism, supported by events such as Good Food Month and Vivid Sydney, with Saint Peter named Restaurant of the Year at the Gourmet Traveller AwardsVibrant Melbourne remains a culinary heavyweight, recording +16% growth and anchored by the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival and the Time Out Food & Drink Awards 2025. Meanwhile, Brisbane is one of the region's fastest-growing cities, with a 25% growth rate, and Attimi was named Best New Restaurant in QLD/NT, making it one to watch. In New Zealand, Auckland (+3%) and Wellington (+7%) continue to build global recognition, with Paris Butter named Best Restaurant in New Zealand and Supra winning New Restaurant of the Year.
SixStarCruises’ customer survey highlights how central dining has become to the luxury cruising experience. 74% of respondents define luxury cruising by fine dining and speciality restaurants, far outweighing those who prioritise chef collaborations alone. When asked what makes dining memorable, travellers highlighted:
Unique food quality and flavour (72%)
Beautiful settings (66%)
Personalised and attentive service (56%)
This emphasis on care and consistency is echoed in customer feedback: "If they don't have a dish on the menu, it's made specifically for the following evening." Great food is a clear indicator of an exceptional cruise experience.
Passenger rankings reveal clear leaders in onboard dining. SixStar’s internal data regarding cruise lines reveal that Regent Seven Seas dominates the top ten favourite restaurants, followed by Oceania, Silversea, Azamara and Seabourn.
|
Rank |
Restaurant |
Cruise Line |
|
1 |
Compass Rose |
Regent Seven Seas |
|
2 |
Prime 7 |
Regent Seven Seas |
|
3 |
Red Ginger |
Oceania |
|
4 |
Pacific Rim |
Regent Seven Seas |
|
5 |
Prime C |
Azamara |
|
6 |
Polo Grill |
Oceania |
|
7 |
S.A.L.T |
Silversea |
|
8 |
Jacques |
Oceania |
|
9 |
La Dame |
Silversea |
|
10 |
Solis |
Seabourn |
Meanwhile, favourite dishes such as miso sea bass, lobster, lobster tempura and fillet mignon reflect expectations that premium ingredients and restaurant-quality execution are standard at sea.
Food-led cruising is increasingly motivated by a desire to experience cuisine in context. When asked which regions they most want to explore for food, respondents cited:
Mediterranean (43%)
Southeast Asia (29%)
South America (9%)
The Mediterranean’s dominance reflects its density of Michelin-recognised cities, cultural heritage and cruise accessibility, making it a natural centrepiece for culinary itineraries.
High-growth destinations such as Anguilla (+4400%), Grenada (+3000%), Dominica (+2400%), and Barbados (+3300%) contrast sharply with declining or static interest in regions such as Cyprus (–10%) and Cuba (–29%), highlighting a widening gap between destinations actively investing in culinary identity and those standing still.
Luckily, a single itinerary allows travellers to experience multiple high-end dining cities without repeated flights or hotel changes, maximising time spent dining rather than travelling. Modern luxury cruising blends destination-led food experiences ashore with high-end onboard dining that mirrors local quality, with cultural connection declared essential to 32% of guests, reinforcing demand for regionally inspired menus and storytelling through food.
The findings behind The Global Fine Dining Capitals of the Sea reveal a clear shift in how luxury travel continues to change. Fine dining is no longer a complementary feature of cruising; it has become a central reason to travel, and cuisine now sits at the heart of decision-making for premium cruise travellers.
Cities with deep culinary credentials, such as Paris, Barcelona and Rome, and fast-rising Caribbean and Australasian destinations, are seeing the strongest growth in food-tourism interest. This is particularly evident where dining is paired with cultural festivals, emerging chef talent and internationally recognised awards for an overall experience. The beauty of cruising is that these destinations are no longer experienced in isolation: instead, travellers can move seamlessly between multiple culinary capitals, experiencing a breadth of world-class dining in a single journey.
Lisa McAuley, Managing Director of SixStarCruises, says: “Today’s travellers are no longer choosing cruises solely for destinations or itineraries, but for the quality of the experience on board… and cuisine sits right at the centre of that. From chef-led menus and regionally-inspired dishes to personalised service that mirrors the world’s best restaurants, luxury cruise lines are redefining what it means to dine at sea. It’s this seamless blend of destination-driven flavour, creativity and consistency that now sets true luxury cruising apart. The result is a form of travel where quality, creativity and care arrive at the table, night after night.”
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