Behind the Scenes with Atlas Ocean Voyages: Epicurean Expeditions

Photo courtesy @Atlas Ocean Voyages

Expedition cruising has always been about discovery – wild landscapes, rare wildlife, and journeys that take travellers far beyond the ordinary. But Atlas Ocean Voyages is proving that exploration does not stop at the shoreline. With their Epicurean Expeditions, food and culture take centre stage, offering guests a chance to connect with destinations through taste, tradition, and storytelling.

Recently, the Expedition Cruise Network spoke with Mara Papatheodorou, Master Foodie™ and former Bon Appétit editor, and Jason O’Keefe, Senior Director of Guest Experience at Atlas Ocean Voyages, to explore how cuisine has become a new frontier of expedition cruising.

What are Epicurean Expeditions?

Launched three years ago, Atlas’ Epicurean Expeditions are designed to immerse travellers in the culinary heart of each destination. Small luxury yachts carry fewer than 200 guests, allowing access to boutique ports across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and beyond.

Instead of a traditional expedition team, these voyages feature guest chefs, local vintners, culinary historians, and food experts. Guests can expect:

• Cooking classes and tastings led by renowned chefs.

• Market visits with the ship’s executive chef to select fresh produce.

• Intimate shore excursions, from cheesemaking in a farmhouse to Michelin-star dining experiences.

• The Yachtsman Cook-Off, a hands-on, guest-participation competition judged by chefs – a lively highlight unique to Atlas.

  
  

As O’Keefe explained, “Expedition is not only about zodiacs or wildlife. Tasting local cultures, learning from artisans, and dining in someone’s home – that is expeditionary too.”

Food as Connection

For Papatheodorou, who blends culinary expertise with cultural storytelling, food is the ultimate equaliser:

“One ingredient, 100 interpretations. Behind every taste is a tradition, and behind every tradition is a taste. Food unites us, wherever we go.”

Whether it is learning why honey tastes different just 50 miles apart in Italy, or discovering how Corsican cuisine is shaped by its rugged hillsides, these experiences go far beyond the dining table. They create what Mara calls “mouth-watering memories” – moments that linger long after travellers return home.

Who is it For?

Epicurean Expeditions appeal to:

• Food and wine enthusiasts eager to deepen their cultural understanding.

• Travellers who may not see themselves on a polar expedition, but are drawn to immersive experiences.

• Small-ship cruisers looking for intimacy, authenticity, and enrichment.

  
  

Advisors can position these voyages as inclusive, enrichment-driven journeys where nearly everything is covered – from fine wines and gratuities to cooking demos and cultural immersions.

Looking Ahead

While the Mediterranean remains the heart of the programme, Atlas is already expanding the concept. New itineraries in Northern Europe, the Canary Islands, and Morocco will see the epicurean philosophy woven into cultural expeditions.

As O’Keefe summed up: “When people recall their travels, they talk about what they tasted. We want every guest to walk away not only with memories of landscapes and landmarks, but with the flavour of a destination on their palate.”

For travel advisors, Epicurean Expeditions offer a fresh, compelling way to introduce clients to expedition cruising – one where discovery is measured not only in miles travelled, but in dishes shared and traditions savoured.

Watch the full interview here: