Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has announced the return of “Top Chef” alumnus and James Beard Award semi-finalist Chef Bryan Voltaggio for a pair of specialty culinary cruises in 2023 and 2024. Following his sold-out “South of France” river cruise last fall, Chef Voltaggio will return to the Scenic fleet starting with Scenic Eclipse for a nine-day “Iconic Panama Canal” sailing departing Montego Bay on October 31, 2023. Next summer, he returns to the rivers of France for the June 18, 2024, departure of the eight-day “Bordeaux Affair” itinerary aboard Scenic Diamond.
At an evening welcome reception that kicks off each sailing, guests can sip a custom cocktail and rub elbows with the chef. During onboard cooking demonstrations, Chef Voltaggio will share his culinary secrets—tips, techniques, and even a recipe—with guests, who will also have the chance to sample his creations. Afternoon Q&A sessions will detail the chef’s experiences as a restaurateur, celebrity chef and culinary master. The main course on both sailings is a special dinner designed by Chef Voltaggio to highlight each region’s ingredients and flavors.
The “Iconic Panama Canal” sailing onboard Scenic Eclipse includes 10 dining experiences. Colombia’s remote Isla de Providencia, guests can snorkel, hike and explore the village of Santa Isabel, the island of Santa Catalina, and the world’s third largest barrier reef system. Stops in Panama’s Bocas del Toro and San Blas Islands provide ample beach time; opportunities to explore mangrove swamps and search for sloth, caiman and hundreds of bird species; and interact with Panama’s indigenous peoples. Guests will transit the Panama Canal and explore the landscape and wildlife among the islands nestled in the Gulf of Panama.
The “Bordeaux Affair” voyage makes its way through France’s wine region along the Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde rivers. Chef Voltaggio’s programming is accented by samples of Grand Cru Classé wines, strolls through medieval villages and a concert at Château d’Agassac. In the village of Libourne, guests will choose between time surrounded by the 16th-century architecture and a Gothic church, exploring the town of Bergerac or calling on Château Siaurac for a wine tasting. Other opportunities include exploring the Médoc wine region via an 18.6-mile roundtrip cycling excursion along the Captain’s Road, spending the day sampling red wine or focusing on the regions blend of 16th-century and World War II history. Guests can also explore Bordeaux on foot or bicycle, or choose to shop with a chef at Bordeaux’s food markets before heading back to the ship for an oyster tasting and cooking lesson in Scenic Culinaire.
Guests who book either sailing by June 30 can benefit from special savings of up to $3,000 per couple off the “Iconic Panama Canal” sailing, and up to $1,000 per couple off “Bordeaux Affair.” Both itineraries are eligible to receive extra bonus options when paying in full with 72 hours of booking or 12 months prior to departure.
For more information, visit www.scenicusa.com.
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