Foodies who like their holidays with a side of celebrity chef chat now have another reason to watch the horizon: Rachael Ray has signed on to the 2027 edition of Chefs Making Waves, the food-themed cruise run by charter specialists Sixthman.
The sailing runs April 20-24, 2027, departing Miami aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Jewel and calling at Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Rather than a traditional cruise with a bit of food talk thrown in, the whole trip is built around eating and cooking together — chef-led demonstrations, shared meals, and plenty of chances to actually talk to the personalities onboard rather than queue for a selfie.
Ray joins an already strong roster. Clinton Kelly, Carla Hall and Michael Symon will be filming live episodes of their food talk show Chewed Up during the sailing, complete with recipes, debates and stories. They're joined by Kardea Brown, Tiffany Derry, Duff Goldman and Marcus Samuelsson. Brown is planning "Kardea's Family Reunion at Sea," a party mixing music, dancing, games and storytelling, while Samuelsson will host a conversation tied to his latest cookbook, Back to Green: Rediscovering a World of Delicious, Healthy Eating.
The programme goes beyond demos. Robbie Felice and Giorgio Rapicavoli will lift the curtain on how pop-up dining actually works in their session "Pop-Up Confidential," and Rapicavoli is also leading "Chops-Fit," a workout aimed at all ages and fitness levels. And in perhaps the most entertaining scheduling decision of the trip, pastry king and burger entrepreneur Joe Isidori swaps the kitchen for the DJ booth at one of the sailing's silent Headphone Dance Parties.
Sixthman CEO Jeff Cuellar says the draw is the warmth of the lineup and the chance for guests to genuinely connect with the chefs — the company's whole model rests on the idea that several days of shared meals and conversation builds a community you don't get from a one-night restaurant appearance.
For travellers, this is a niche-but-well-executed format: a short four-night sailing, a focused guest list of a dozen or so well-known food personalities, and programming designed so fans aren't just watching from row 30 of a theatre. If you've ever wanted to argue about the correct way to cook a steak with Michael Symon or hear Rachael Ray talk about what she's actually making at home, this is the sort of trip where that's a realistic Tuesday afternoon. Prices and cabin details weren't in the announcement, so keep an eye on Sixthman's site if you want to lock in a cabin — themed charters like this tend to sell in waves, with the popular chef-hosted events filling up fastest.
It's also a sign of where cruise entertainment is heading: less casino-and-buffet, more niche interest communities at sea. Food is the most obvious theme, but the same model has powered music charters for years. For anyone who plans holidays around meals anyway, a cruise where the meals are the point is a tidy fit.
Story via Cruise Industry News.
