MICHELIN-STARRED ALAJMO BROTHERS HOST EXCLUSIVE CRYSTAL CULINARY VOYAGE

Ultra-luxury cruising is entering a new culinary era, with Crystal announcing an exclusive Mediterranean voyage hosted by one of the world’s most celebrated Michelin-starred chefs.

From September 8 to 15, 2026, Crystal Serenity will sail from Venice to Athens, joined by Massimiliano Alajmo and his brother and restaurateur partner Raffaele Alajmo for a rare, immersive dining experience at sea.

The seven-night sailing promises unprecedented access to the acclaimed culinary duo, whose restaurants have long defined modern Italian fine dining.

For Crystal guests, it offers something rarer still, the opportunity to engage directly with the chefs behind the cuisine while sailing through one of Europe’s most storied regions.

A private audience with culinary royalty

Throughout the voyage, guests will experience the Alajmo brothers’ philosophy through a series of intimate onboard events designed to bring their world closer.

This includes a live Q&A session and book signing, alongside guided wine tastings featuring selections from the family’s own cellars, hosted by Giovanni Alajmo, the next generation of the celebrated dynasty.

Exclusive hosted dinners, personally led by Massimiliano and Raffaele, will take place at Osteria d’Ovidio and the ultra-exclusive Vintage Room. These intimate experiences offer guests the chance to experience Michelin-calibre cuisine in a uniquely personal setting, an offering rarely seen even at the world’s finest restaurants.

“For us, cooking has always been about sharing emotion, culture and a sense of place,” said Massimiliano Alajmo. “We are very much looking forward to meeting Crystal’s guests in person, exchanging ideas, and bringing the spirit of our kitchens to life onboard.”

Elevating the art of dining at sea

The collaboration reflects Crystal’s broader ambition to position its culinary offering among the finest in global hospitality. The Alajmo brothers’ partnership with Crystal began in 2025, when they reimagined menus at Osteria d’Ovidio aboard Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, introducing a more refined expression of their signature modern Italian cuisine.

Their influence sits alongside Crystal’s collaborations with some of the most recognisable names in global dining, including Nobu Matsuhisa, whose Nobu restaurant is exclusively at sea with Crystal, and restaurateur Riccardo Giraudi, who introduced Beefbar to the line.

“The evolution of Crystal’s culinary program has always been rooted in authenticity, craftsmanship and meaningful partnerships with the world’s most respected chefs,” said Gunter Lorenz, Crystal’s Vice President of Food and Beverage.

A Mediterranean voyage defined by taste

Departing Venice and concluding in Athens, the itinerary itself provides a fitting backdrop, tracing a path through the cultural and culinary heart of southern Europe. Yet the defining feature of this sailing is not simply the destinations, but the rare access it offers to one of the world’s most respected culinary families.

For travellers increasingly seeking immersive and meaningful experiences, the voyage reflects a broader shift in luxury travel. The greatest indulgence is no longer excess, but access. Access to extraordinary people, extraordinary places and extraordinary moments.

Australians are quietly rewriting the rules of travel, moving away from peak-season getaways and crowded hotspots as climate concerns and changing habits reshape the industry, new research from Booking.com shows.

The 2026 Travel & Sustainability Report reveals that timing and destination are now central to how Australians approach travel, with 42 per cent planning to holiday outside peak periods and 43 per cent actively avoiding overcrowded destinations.

This is not just about comfort. It reflects a broader shift in thinking, where travellers are increasingly aware of their impact on places they visit, with many deliberately trying to reduce pressure on popular destinations.

At the same time, climate is no longer a background consideration. It is shaping decisions in a far more immediate way. Nearly three-quarters of Australians now factor extreme weather into where and when they travel, while more than a quarter have already changed or cancelled trips in the past year due to weather events.

There is also a growing sense that some destinations are becoming less viable altogether. More than half of Australians say certain locations have become too hot to visit at their preferred time of year.

A generational split is emerging

While sustainability is now firmly on the agenda, the report highlights a gap between what travellers say and what they actually do.

Younger Australians tend to express stronger views about sustainable travel, yet it is older travellers who are more likely to follow through with practical actions such as reducing waste, cutting energy use and shopping locally.

That does not mean younger travellers are disengaged. They are more likely to participate in cultural experiences and conservation-focused activities, pointing to a different interpretation of what sustainable travel looks like.

From intention to behaviour

The shift is already playing out in booking patterns. Across the region, more travellers are choosing accommodation with recognised sustainability credentials, and sustainable travel is moving from a niche consideration to a mainstream expectation.

Yet barriers remain. Cost, confusion and a lack of clear information continue to hold some travellers back from making more sustainable choices, suggesting the industry still has work to do in making those options accessible and easy to understand.

For now, the direction is clear. Travel is becoming less about ticking off destinations at peak moments and more about timing, impact and experience.

Or, put more simply, Australians are still travelling, just a little more thoughtfully than before.