There are cruise dinners. There are specialty restaurants. And then there is a moment when a cruise line quietly shifts the entire conversation about what dining at sea can be.
That moment just happened.
Celebrity Cruises has officially earned the first-ever Five-Star rating for a restaurant at sea from Forbes Travel Guide. Yes, you read that correctly. Not best at sea. Not best in category. The first Five-Star restaurant on the ocean.
And the restaurant?
Le Voyage
Le Voyage, located aboard the brand-new Celebrity Xcel, is the culmination of Celebrity’s partnership with globally celebrated chef Daniel Boulud. If that name sounds familiar, it should. Boulud is one of the most respected chefs in the world, and this is his first signature restaurant at sea.
Forbes Travel Guide is the only independent global rating system that evaluates luxury hotels, restaurants, spas, and cruises through anonymous, in-person inspections. No fluff. No marketing spin. Hundreds of objective standards. Service matters. Details matter. Consistency matters.
So when they say Five-Star, they mean it.
Celebrity earned eight total awards this year, including recognition for multiple ships and restaurants. But Le Voyage made history.
And that is the kind of culinary flex that makes my suitcase start whispering, “You know you want to sail again.”
What Makes Le Voyage Different
I’ve been on the Xcel, but unfortunately did not get the opportunity to dine at Le Voyage. What I’ve found out is that this is not just a dinner reservation. It is a cultural journey on a plate.
The menu draws global inspiration, weaving flavors from around the world into refined, elegant dishes. Guests can choose elevated à la carte offerings or indulge in a five-course tasting menu. It is the kind of place where you linger. Where the lighting flatters everyone. Where the service anticipates what you need before you ask.
And then there is the wine.
I know Celebrity’s wines. I was lucky enough to sit down with the winemaker of some of their signature wines while with the Celebrity staff in Napa, so I know that Celebrity already boasts one of the most awarded wine programs at sea, with more than 500 selections representing sought-after regions and acclaimed labels. Pairing that collection with Boulud’s cuisine? That is how you land a Five-Star rating.
Celebrity’s Culinary Evolution
If you have sailed Celebrity in the past decade, you have likely noticed something. The food keeps getting better. Not just good for cruise food. Just good, period.
Celebrity was the first cruise line to earn a Forbes Travel Guide Star Award back in 2023. In 2025, they were recognized in the inaugural ratings for cruise ship restaurants. This year, they pushed even further.
Celebrity Ascent earned Four Stars overall, and its own Le Voyage location also earned a Four-Star rating. Fine Cut Steakhouse on Ascent and on Celebrity Apex were recognized as well.
Celebrity Flora continues to shine as one of the most eco-conscious and intimate expedition experiences afloat.
And Xcel? She is recommended overall and is quickly becoming the ship everyone is talking about. With new restaurants, the three-story Bazaar venue that transforms throughout each sailing, the largest spa in the fleet, and entertainment that rivals land-based productions, Xcel is clearly built to impress.
But let’s be honest. A Five-Star restaurant at sea is the headline.
And Speaking of Sailing…
Now here is where it gets personal.
I will be boarding Celebrity Beyond in May for a full week of ocean, sunshine, and that particular kind of relaxed elegance Celebrity does so well. Beyond is part of the stunning Edge Series, with her outward-facing design, floating Magic Carpet platform, rooftop garden, and some of my favorite stateroom layouts at sea.
I cannot wait.
Beyond does not have the Five-Star Le Voyage from Xcel. But she does have her own Le Voyage location. And after this Forbes announcement, you can be absolutely certain that I will be investigating whether I can secure a table and experience it for myself.
You know me. If there is a culinary moment to be had, I am not missing it.
I want to see how the ambiance feels. I want to taste how the flavors unfold. I want to understand what makes this partnership between Celebrity and Daniel Boulud so powerful that it changed the standards for dining at sea.
Because here is the thing.
Cruising used to be about convenience. About unpacking once. About waking up somewhere new. And yes, those things still matter. But increasingly, cruising is also about experiences you cannot replicate on land.
A Five-Star restaurant on the ocean qualifies.
Why This Matters for Travelers
For those of us who love travel and love good food, this shift is significant. It signals that cruise lines are no longer content to compete only with other cruise lines. They are competing with the best restaurants in the world.
When Forbes places a shipboard restaurant in the same conversation as globally acclaimed land-based establishments, that changes perception. It elevates cruising. It attracts a new kind of traveler. And it reassures longtime cruisers that their loyalty is being rewarded with meaningful innovation.
For my readers who appreciate elevated experiences, who savor a perfectly plated dish, who believe that dinner can be as memorable as the destination, this is exciting news.
And yes, I will report back.
The Plan
In May, while sailing on Beyond, I will:
• Explore whether I can dine at Le Voyage onboard.
• Compare the experience to what we now know about Xcel’s Five-Star version.
• Dive into the wine program, because someone has to do the research.
• Share every delicious detail.
You know I will not hold back.
Whether you are already a devoted Celebrity cruiser or you are cruise-curious and watching from the sidelines, this is one of those moments that feels like a turning point.
The ocean just got a little more Michelin-adjacent.
And I, for one, am ready to book the table.
- For more information and to book a sailing with Celebrity Cruises, please visit www.celebritycruises.com
- Call Celebrity Cruises at 1-888-751-7804
- Or contact a trusted travel advisor.
