With four ships now restarted, Windstar Cruises and the James Beard Foundation have renewed their relationship that was already a natural combination. Extending that association through 2025, a highlight of the deal are themed cruises. Here’s the whole story, as Windstar designed it to be told.

SEATTLE, WA, August 16, 2021 – U.S. headquartered small ship cruise line Windstar Cruises has renewed and strengthened its relationship as the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind America’s food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability, aligning with the small ship cruise line’s commitment to fresh and local epicurean experiences around the world. 

Windstar Cruises and the James Beard Foundation have partnered in some capacity for the past five years. The new partnership extends until 2025 and includes three themed cruises per year hosted by a James Beard Foundation-affiliated chef beginning in 2022 (dates and chefs to be announced soon). 

The themed cruises will include chef demonstrations, as well as a hosted four-course dinner. Each of the themed cruise chefs will provide recipes for the sailing, which will also be featured on Windstar’s menus across the fleet and sailing regions. The partnership includes a variety of events and cross-marketing promotions, plus sponsorship status for the James Beard Awards in 2021. 

“The long-term partnership is a result of past successes of the unique travel-culinary program, which hand-picks acclaimed culinary experts to share their knowledge of cuisines of the world with travelers, and showcases exclusive recipes on sailings across Windstar’s fleet of six elegant yachts,” further explains Windstar President Christopher Prelog. 

“After so much time eating in our homes, we’re excited to travel and taste the best the world has to offer again. We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Windstar allowing us to pair James Beard Foundation-affiliated chefs with sailings to some of the world’s most delectable destinations,” says Kris Moon, President and COO of James Beard Foundation. 

Windstar Cruises is returning to operations in a phased manner, requiring vaccinated guests + crew among a host of health and safety precautions. Four of the line’s six yacht fleet are now back in the water cruising. 

For more details on Windstar Cruises, visit www.windstarcruises.com.