Cuisine

Sail with Chef Benjamin Cross

Embark on an exclusive chef-hosted departure with Benjamin Cross, the mastermind behind the world-class cuisine served on board Aqua Blu

Share this offer

A culinary escapade

Australian Chef Benjamin Cross has built an illustrious career over two decades, starting off at the award-winning Byron Bay boutique hotel and restaurant Rae’s on Watego’s. He has honed his craft under some of the top icons of Australian cuisine: Janni Kyritsis from the former MG Garage, and Neil Perry as part of the re-opening team of XO. Today, Cross has become one of Indonesia’s most prominent culinary professionals and restaurateurs. His restaurant in Bali, Masonry, is ranked as one of the best on the island. 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. Since 2019, Cross has also worked as the consulting chef for Aqua Blu, ensuring that each of our East Indonesian expeditions is complemented by a world-class dining experience.

A CULINARY ADVENTURE LIKE NO OTHER

Tales of the spice route

A region’s soul is captured not only in its landscapes and waterways but its cuisine as well. In the nutmeg- and pandan-infused dishes of Aqua Blu, we find stories of ancient spice routes across the islands of Indonesia – over which wars were fought and kingdoms rose and fell.

With over 160 recipes crafted exclusively for Aqua Blu’s Indonesian expeditions, Chef Cross presents highlights including the 48-hour beef short rib rendang, Balinese suckling pig with bumbu Bali (Balinese spices), organic Javanese prawns marinated in fragrant oil and lime, and his personal favorite, freshly handline-caught fish grilled with Balinese sambal. Incorporating a variety of the region’s signature spices and flavors, the onboard menu allows explorers to embark on a multi-sensory journey of this incredible archipelago.

BOOK NOW

THE EXCLUSIVE CHEF-HOSTED EXPERIENCE

Chef-hosted departures

Join us on Aqua Blu for an exclusive chef-hosted departure from May 2 – 9, 2026 and experience the following unique activities:

Cooking Masterclass
Chef-Hosted Dinner
Cocktail Demonstration

Cooking Masterclass

Chef-Hosted Dinner

Cocktail Demonstration

What our guests say

The food was over the top AMAZING – literally three gourmet meals a day, with substitutions where necessary where a few of us had various dietary restrictions.
Aqua Blu Guest
January 2023
With Ben Cross as the Consultant Chef, we had high expectations...and the menu lived up to them! The attention to food preferences and dietary requirements did not go unnoticed either.
Aqua Blu Guest
January 2023
The food was so healthy and delicious. Each meal was a feast for the taste buds.
Aqua Blu Guest
January 2023
A quick word to say thank you SO MUCH for a fantastic trip. It really was up there with the best I’ve ever done. The ship is gorgeous, the crew are lovely, the food was outstanding and Raja Ampat itself was beyond beautiful. Really nice people on board too, and we had lots of laughs from start to finish.
Sue B
January 2020
We couldn’t have asked for a better vacation exploring Raja Ampat for the first time aboard Aqua Blu. Our cruise director Glen and his smiling crew prepared a new adventure for us each day. It’s an ideal family trip with all the planning taken care of. I took advantage of one of the best dive sites in the world while my daughter snorkeled. A highlight for my daughter and I was floating down the Blue River after an early morning hike to see the birds of paradise.
Jackie C.
January 2020