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February 20, 2026

Fine dining at sea reaches a new milestone: Celebrity Cruises receives from Forbes Travel Guide the first Five-Star rating ever awarded to a restaurant at sea, thanks to Le Voyage, created by chef Daniel Boulud aboard Celebrity Xcel.

This represents a historic recognition not only for Celebrity Cruises, but for the entire maritime hospitality sector. Forbes Travel Guide is globally regarded as the most authoritative independent authority in evaluating excellence in luxury hospitality.

Its rating system, based on anonymous inspections and on-site evaluations according to hundreds of objective criteria, serves as a benchmark standard for hotels, restaurants, spas, and cruise lines.

The awarding of the first Five-Star rating to a restaurant at sea officially marks the entry of onboard dining into the realm of international haute cuisine.

For Celebrity Cruises, this recognition is part of a path already undertaken in recent years. The company was the first cruise line to receive a Star Award from Forbes Travel Guide in 2023 and was featured in the inaugural ratings dedicated to shipboard restaurants in 2025.

In 2026, the company totals eight overall awards, across ships and restaurants, confirming a strategy focused on elevated hospitality, culinary innovation, and consistent quality throughout the fleet.

At the heart of this success is Le Voyage, the first signature restaurant at sea conceived by Daniel Boulud. The collaboration between the French chef, internationally recognized for his gastronomic vision, and Celebrity Cruises represents the culmination of a multi-year partnership.

Initially, Boulud created exclusive menus dedicated to suite guests; subsequently, the synergy expanded to the creation of a restaurant entirely designed for the experience at sea.

Le Voyage is not simply a dining venue, but a project that brings together gastronomic identity, storytelling, and design. The experience is conceived as a cultural journey through the flavors of the world: each dish integrates international influences, reinterpreted with contemporary elegance.

The setting reflects the same philosophy, with a refined atmosphere that accompanies guests on a cohesive sensory journey from the beginning to the end of dinner.

The culinary offering includes a high-level à la carte selection or a five-course tasting menu, designed to build a progressive and harmonious itinerary of flavors.

The proposal is further enhanced by one of the most awarded wine programs at sea: over 500 labels from the most renowned wine regions in the world, featuring rare selections and prestigious appellations.

The pairing between cuisine and wine thus becomes an integral part of the experience, helping to define a quality standard that exceeds expectations traditionally associated with cruise dining.

The Five-Star recognition for Le Voyage on Celebrity Xcel is not an isolated episode. Le Voyage aboard Celebrity Ascent also received a Four-Star rating, together with the Fine Cut Steakhouse featured on Celebrity Ascent and on Celebrity Apex.

Celebrity Xcel, defined as the company’s most innovative ship, represents the evolution of the Edge Series and integrates a range of new features designed to redefine the premium cruise experience.

In addition to two new restaurants, the ship introduces seven original experiences, an expanded spa — the largest ever created by the brand — an enhanced entertainment offering, and The Bazaar, a three-level space designed to eliminate the boundary between ship and destination.

Celebrity Ascent, also rated Four-Star by Forbes Travel Guide, embodies the company’s distinctive approach. With 32 restaurants, bars, and lounges, the ship offers an exceptionally diverse selection, including the multi-level Sunset Bar and the open-air Rooftop Garden with pools cantilevered beyond the ship’s edge.

Innovative accommodations such as the Infinite Veranda are also featured, designed to bring guests closer to the sea through seamless continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces. The Retreat, an exclusive area for suite guests with private restaurant, lounge, and sundeck, completes a positioning oriented toward contemporary luxury.

Celebrity Apex, the second vessel in the Edge Series, was also recommended in the 2026 ratings. The ship stands out for its innovative design and architectural spaces that enhance the connection with the ocean.

With 29 restaurants, bars, and lounges, Apex reinforces the central role of the culinary experience in Celebrity Cruises’ offering, maintaining a balance between aesthetic innovation and service quality.

Among the awarded ships is also Celebrity Flora, a 100-passenger mega-yacht specifically designed for expeditions to the Galápagos. The ship incorporates natural materials, solar panels, and an advanced positioning system that allows it to maintain course without anchoring, protecting the seabed.

The itineraries are led by certified naturalists from the Galápagos National Park, strengthening the company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental protection.

The common thread connecting these vessels is the ongoing commitment to elevating standards of hospitality at sea. Attention to service, a central element in the evaluation criteria of Forbes Travel Guide, represents a decisive factor.

The inspections conducted are based on hundreds of objective parameters, with a strong focus on excellence in personalized service. The result achieved by Celebrity Cruises confirms a strategy that integrates staff training, design innovation, and high-profile partnerships.

In an increasingly competitive cruise market, the Five-Star recognition for Le Voyage on Celebrity Xcel strengthens Celebrity Cruises’ positioning in the luxury cruise sector and consolidates the central role of gastronomy as a distinctive lever.

The combination of culinary vision, innovative design, high-level service, and international recognition helps redefine the expectations of contemporary travelers.

In this context, Celebrity Cruises consolidates its role as a key player in maritime hospitality, demonstrating how gastronomic excellence can become both an identity-defining and competitive element in the global cruise landscape.

Don’t miss further information, updates, and news from Celebrity Cruises on our website Cruising Journal.

Mara Di Dio

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