In a nod to Oceania Cruises' culinary ethos, the godparents of the Oceania Allura will be a group that has been on Food & Wine magazine's annual list of Best New Chefs.
The announcement was made on June 21 at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colo.
Since 1988, Food & Wine has honored 400-plus rising culinary stars. Oceania didn't say who would be in the godparents delegation.
The naming ceremony will take place on Nov. 13 in Miami. Allura will debut on July 18, when the ship departs Trieste, Italy, on a six-day cruise to Athens.
The naming ceremony is just one part of Oceania's partnership with Food & Wine.
A chef who was on the list in 2023, Aisha Ibrahim, will be on Oceania's first Best New Chefs Cruise, Aug. 18 to 28. On this 10-day Alaska sailing from Seattle there will be special menus, cooking demonstrations and wine pairings. Two more Best New Chefs Cruises will happen on the Oceania Allura in 2026, with details to be announced later this year.