Michelin-Starred Culinary Partner for MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises has launched a new culinary partnership with Spanish chef Ramón Freixa. The announcement came at Freixa’s eponymous two Michelin-starred restaurant in Madrid.

Under the new partnership, MSC will introduce new main dishes and tapas developed by Chef Freixa. He’ll take part in interactive training with MSC chefs, enabling them to recreate signature dishes across the fleet.

The chef will design special dishes for Christmas and New Year menus. And, he’s working on plans for a gastronomy cruise.

“We are delighted to welcome Chef Freixa to our already impressive line-up of international chefs and restaurateurs, each selected as leading global experts in their respective cuisines. With their own distinct styles, flair and vision, together they create a unique fine-dining experience for our guests,” said Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises.

“We seek to work with world-class experts in their field and to collaborate with partners who hold the same core values as us. Ramón Freixa is the perfect partner for us, sharing our strong Mediterranean heritage, the desire to innovate, a commitment to excellence and a real passion for food.”

In addition to two Michelin Stars, Chef Friexa holds numerous additional awards for culinary excellence. He operates two restaurants in Madrid and one in Columbia. He’s appeared on Spanish Celebrity Masterchef and is the author of four books.

“My cuisine is based on three elements: produce technique, feeling and a search for magic, in which each dish is conceived to tell a story in sequences of flavor, texture and color. I have incorporated this approach into the recipes that I have created exclusively for MSC Cruises, reflecting our shared passion for the Mediterranean,” said Freixa.

Chef Freixa joins five other acclaimed chefs already collaborating with MSC Cruises. Roy Yamaguchi’s Asian Market Kitchen on board MSC Seaside welcomed its first guests in December 2017. The pan-Asian dining experience features three distinct restaurants: Teppanyaki, Sushi and Asian Fusion. The popular concept will be available on MSC Seaview, which debuts in June.

The line also announced recently that award-winning restaurateur and TV personality Joe Bastianich will create a signature dish for MSC Seaside. Guests aboard MSC Meraviglia enjoy the creations of chocolatier and pastry chef Jean Philippe-Maury, with plans to extend the partnership to MSC Bellissima, debuting in March 2019. Chinese chef Jereme Leung has developed a new hot pot restaurant for MSC Splendida, Sea Pavilion.

Michelin-starred chef Carlo Cracco continues his collaboration with MSC, creating special dishes for the Elegant Night, Christmas and New Year menus, as well as the DOREMI Chef by Carlo Cracco, a cooking activity for kids.