The charter broker difference
A culinary journey at sea: The Burgess charter experience
Published 31 March 2026
Few things capture the essence of a destination as vividly as its food. Paired with curated onshore experiences and immersive local adventures, every meal prepared on a Burgess yacht charter offers a new perspective on your destination – one rooted in local flavours, shaped by the seasons, and elevated by world-class culinary talent.
‘For me, cooking is a way to tell the story of the destination through food. Each region has its own flavours, traditions, and ingredients, and including them in the menu allows guests to experience the culture of the place in a very natural way. Sometimes a simple dish made with freshly caught fish, local olive oil, and herbs picked the same day can convey more about a destination and make them feel connected to where we are than something overly complicated.’ George Kalavros, chef on board CLELIA III
From preferences to plates
Your culinary journey starts long before you step on board. A detailed preference sheet allows the chef to understand your tastes, dietary needs, and culinary ambitions for the charter. From there, the chef creates initial menu concepts that suit both you and your guests as well as the destination.
Once on board, the process becomes far more fluid. Chef Phil Kelly of RENAISSANCE describes it best: ‘Dining on charter is entirely bespoke. A menu may begin as an idea, but it naturally evolves around the guests’ personal preferences, the destination, and the season. Often, those spontaneous moments – shaped by fresh local ingredients and the setting – become the most memorable meals of the trip.’
Beach BBQ
Catch of the day
Vineyard excursions
On deck dining
Chef Phil, RENAISSANCE
Lavender in Provence
A local approach
Dining on board a yacht is a sea-to-table experience no restaurant can match. Embracing a local, in season approach not only elevates every dish, but also offers a more sustainable way to enjoy the world’s most celebrated cruising grounds. Shorter food miles, fresher ingredients, and partnerships with regional producers ensure each meal is deeply connected to place.
‘What I enjoy most about working with fresh, local, in-season ingredients on charter is the connection it creates between the food and the destination. Every place has its own flavours, traditions, and amazing producers, and being able to build a menu around what is available locally makes the cooking much more meaningful.
'For guests, when they realise the fish was caught that same morning or the vegetables were harvested only a few hours before the meal, they’re always much more invested in what they’re eating. These moments make the dining experience feel special and personal, and this is something that makes cooking on charter unique.’ George Kalavros, chef on board CLELIA III
Rooted in the region
Wherever you choose to charter and whatever your culinary interests, our charter brokers can craft a journey tailored entirely to you – one that lets you experience your cruising region in an entirely new light. Think truffle hunting in Croatia, private lavender estate tours with distillation demonstrations in the South of France, or chocolate making workshops with local artisans in St Lucia.
Many Burgess chefs describe this as the true luxury of dining at sea: menus that evolve not only with the day, but with the destination itself. For well-travelled guests, the most memorable dishes are often those rooted firmly in the region – local seafood, regional specialties, and ingredients found nowhere else.
After exploring food on land, the journey continues on board through high-end personalised, chef-driven artistry. While the yachts’ resident chefs deliver extraordinary cuisine, your charter can be taken even further with our network of world-class private chefs and specialist culinary talent. For sushi aficionados, enjoy one-to-one sashimi masterclasses with top chefs flown in exclusively for your charter, using the morning’s own catch. Those with a penchant for pastries can enjoy bespoke workshops with acclaimed pâtissiers, crafting delicate creations from locally foraged fruits.
Design your culinary charter experience
From sunrise breakfasts on deck to fire-grilled dinners on a secluded beach, dining at sea is an experience like no other.
Get in touch with our charter team today and begin planning your next adventure.
To find out more about Burgess’ yachts for sale and yachts for charter, please contact a Burgess broker. Alternatively, get in touch with one of our offices directly: London, Monaco, New York, Miami, Singapore or all other locations.
- Yachts, prices and availability are correct at the time of publication.
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