F&B@Sea 2026 Delivers a Standout Edition, Highlighting Cruise Dining Trends and Honouring Industry Leaders
Global cruise food and beverage leaders gathered in Miami to explore the trends shaping the future of dining at sea
MIAMI, April 21, 2026 - F&B@Sea, the leading event dedicated to the cruise food and beverage community, welcomed cruise lines, suppliers, and hospitality leaders from around the world for a thought-provoking and highly successful 2026 edition at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center in Miami.
Across two days, the programme offered a forward-looking view of the future of dining at sea, brought to life through immersive experiences, expert-led sessions, and curated networking opportunities. The programme concluded with the 2026 F&B@Sea Awards, presented by Rémy Cointreau, celebrating the innovators redefining dining at sea.
“This year’s event once again demonstrated the strength, creativity and collaboration driving the cruise F&B sector forward,” said Chiara Giorgi, Global Brand Director, Seatrade Cruise. “From insightful discussions to innovative product showcases, F&B@Sea continues to provide a vital platform for the industry to connect, inspire and shape the future of cruise dining.”
The 2026 edition featured 230+ vendors showcasing the latest in food, beverage, and onboard technology, marking the largest iteration of the conference to date.
Content sessions moved beyond high-level themes to focus on how cruise food and beverage is evolving in real time, with a clear emphasis on experience, transparency, and innovation. These themes were also reflected across The Marketplace, where suppliers showcased a growing range of plant-forward and alternative ingredients, alongside solutions designed to deliver convenience without sacrificing flavour.
Insights from the Seatrade Cruise F&B Trends Report 2026 underscored two major priorities shaping the sector: experiential dining and global flavor exploration.
“They no longer just want a meal, it’s about an experience that immerses them into the culture,” noted Holly Payne, Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review & Deputy Editor, Seatrade Cruise News at Seatrade Cruise. “The cruise food and beverage industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation. The beverage sector is equally dynamic.”
Across sessions, speakers emphasized a shift in guest expectations, with increased demand for transparency and personalization.
“There’s a very clear rising expectation in transparency in sourcing. They want to have context and meaning behind the ingredients,” said Marisa Christenson, Associate Vice President Food & Beverage Operations & Development at Holland America Line & Seabourn.
Moderator & Seatrade Cruise Ambassador Jason Gelineau, Director at JAG Hospitality, noted, “The best part about cruise guests is they’ll tell you what they don’t like,” highlighting how direct feedback is shaping onboard offerings.
Sourcing and menu development discussions reinforced the importance of quality, seasonality, and destination alignment.
“Guests want fresh, fresh fish, fresh vegetables. They want it plated fresh, they want it served fresh,” said John Mulvaney, Director, Culinary Operations at Holland America Line, while Peter Tobler, Director, F&B Operations at Windstar Cruises, highlighted that “the menu, while it is a representation of global cuisines, needs to reflect the itinerary.”
Beverage programming emerged as one of the most dynamic areas of innovation.
“Fifty percent of people want to see the non-alcoholic options next to the menu with the regular cocktail items. Who would have thought that three to four years ago?” asked Phillip Jarrell, Vice President Travel Retail, Cruise & Key Accounts at Southern Glazers Travel, pointing to the rapid rise of mindful drinking.
Panelists also noted that “drinking with purpose will continue to expand,” driven particularly by Generation Z and broader beverage consumption patterns.
Sustainability conversations reflected both ambition and operational realities, particularly at scale.
“For cruise lines, consistency and quality are very important. At the end, you have to weigh what is non-negotiable and what you can do along the way,” said Alia Abou-Assali, Senior Vice President Purchasing and Logistics at Apollo Export Warehouse. Gerry Larsson-Fedde, Chief Operating Officer at Hurtigruten, added, “There’s a big difference between not sourcing anything locally and sourcing twenty to thirty percent,” underscoring the incremental progress being made across the industry.
A keynote from award-winning chef, restaurateur, author, and activist Marcus Samuelsson brought these themes together through a personal lens. In “A Sense of Place: Telling Stories Through Food Across Cultures and Coasts,” Samuelsson reflected on how travel shaped his culinary perspective through an early-career experience working aboard a cruise ship.
“Cruises really transformed my world… I loved pulling into port and getting a taste of the local cuisine,” he said. “It always goes back to that experience when I was a line cook at Seabourn and what I learned during those times.”
The closing conversation, on the reinvention of cruise dining with Vice President of Food & Beverage at Princess Cruises, Sami Kohen, left attendees ready to apply the latest innovations. “Today’s travelers are looking for something they’ve never experienced in their hometown,” he noted. Delivering unforgettable dining experiences at sea consistently and across multiple ships requires teamwork and serious execution, but “nothing is impossible.”
The event concluded with the 2026 F&B@Sea Awards, presented by Rémy Cointreau. The awards were an exciting ending to a thought-provoking and highly successful edition of the show, honoring those redefining standards and raising the bar for F&B experiences across the industry.
Veranstaltungshighlights
New show floor concepts, including the Matchmaking Café, a café-style lounge designed for buyers and suppliers to connect, and the Lido Deck, a chic, beach club-inspired retreat reimagining last year’s Speakeasy.
Experiential learning opportunities through the updated Taste & Learn Lounge, featuring a curated program of live culinary masterclasses and mixology showcases sponsored by Coca-Cola. Of note was a demonstration reimagining Caribbean food for cruise ships from Chef Norman Van Aken, James Beard Foundation “Who’s Who in American Food and Beverage” inductee.
The return of The Bistro as F&B@Sea’s tasting destination, where 80+ vendor products were transformed into elevated menu items demonstrating real-world onboard applications.
Curated tasting moments and the Bistro Showcase, highlighting featured brands, ingredients, and beverage innovations across the programme.
F&B@Sea will return to Mana Wynwood Convention Center, Miami, in 2027 from 07-08 April, continuing its mission to connect, inspire, and celebrate the global cruise culinary community.
About F&B@Sea
F&B@Sea is a one-of-a-kind cruise F&B experience. Launched in 2023, it provides a platform for professionals to explore innovations, discover new products, and connect with peers shaping the future of onboard hospitality and guest experience.
Find full details about F&B@Sea at www.seatradecruiseevents.com/fnbsea.
About Seatrade Cruise Global
Seatrade Cruise Global is the largest and longest-running event of its kind, bringing together every sector of the cruise industry, including cruise lines, suppliers, travel agents, and partners. The event offers a comprehensive conference program, a showcase of innovative products and services, and unparalleled networking opportunities.
Find full details about Seatrade Cruise Global at www.seatradecruiseevents.com/global.
Über Seatrade Cruise
Serving the international cruise community since 1970, Seatrade Cruise is the industry’s leading platform for collaboration, innovation, and connection. Comprised of the largest cruise events and trade shows, news channels, and coveted awards programs, the Seatrade Cruise portfolio reaches more than 20,000 professionals, 4,000+ suppliers, 120+ cruise line brands, and 140+ countries.
For more information on Seatrade Cruise Events, visit www.seatradecruiseevents.com.
For access to the latest news and industry updates, visit seatrade-cruise.com.
Seatrade Cruise Events are organized by Informa Markets, the largest B2B Events organizer in the world. To learn more and stay up to date, visit informamarkets.com.
