Discover the Taste of Indonesia with renowned Australian Chef Benjamin Cross Aboard Aqua Blu

In May 2008 Chef Cross relocated to Bali, after a chance holiday on the way to Barcelona left him mesmerized by the people, culture, and food. He first brought his brand of magic to the legendary Ku de Ta, then set up Mejekawi, a fine-dining concept under the same brand in 2013. Five years later, Ben ventured out on his own to open Hank’s Pizza & Liquor, Fishbone Local, Mason, and The Back Room with BHG (Brett Hospitality Group) as Co-Owner and Executive Chef.

His restaurants frequently top the list of the island’s best restaurants, which has become considered a food mecca. Cross attributes this to his food ethos, which is unpretentious and simple, based on top-quality produce and the ability to let the ingredients speak for themselves.

These limited-edition 2022 Chef-hosted departures will offer an abundance of unique opportunities for our guests aboard the Aqua Blu:

• Customized Market Tours: Travel with our Chef to local markets to learn about locally grown and harvested ingredients – so essential to the freshness of our dishes.

• Master Cooking Class: Attend a cooking class or a kitchen tour hosted by our Chef as he walks you through his secrets of recipe planning, preparation and execution.

• Interactive Q&A with the Chef: Find out how the dynamic international food scene is transforming the way our Chef designs his latest visions of culinary creativity.

As Consulting Chef for the Aqua Blu, Cross brings his philosophy of uncomplicated food to the table. Incorporating the culinary traditions of Indonesia alongside European and Mediterranean influences in a curated and inventive menu with over 160 dishes, the quality and freshness of the produce such as organic Javanese prawns, rare-breed Balinese black heritage pigs, and line-caught fair trade tuna, will be the culinary highlight of the cruise.