Three celebrity chefs to join 2024 MSC world cruise

They will join the voyage at different intervals to prepare a complete menu of three to four courses, each showcasing the best of their respective cuisines from around the world, and greet passengers. 

Reuben Riffel

South African chef Reuben Riffel will join the ship on February 18 in Port Elizabeth to serve a menu inspired by the flavours of South Africa. Passengers will have the chance to taste authentic cape spiced pickled fish, peppered Karoo lamb and malva pudding. 

Allan Vila Espejo

Allan Vila Espejo is a veteran Brazilian restaurateur. He will board the ship on March 3 in Rio de Janeiro to cook authentic manioc soup, Bahia-style fish stew with vegetables and coconut milk, and a traditional Brazilian chocolate coconut cake. 

Niklas Ekstedt

On April 22 in Reykjavik, Iceland, Michelin-starred Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt embarks MSC Poesia to serve up Scandinavian dishes inspired by natural ingredients and his farm-to-ocean ethos, including poached lobster and confit salmon. 

2024 world cruise

MSC Poesia’s 121-day world cruise, featuring 52 destinations in 31 countries, started in Genoa, Italy on January 5. 

Currently circumnavigating Africa, the ship is scheduled to cross the Atlantic to South America, visit Caribbean islands, and call the US East Coast and Canada. MSC Poesia will then return to Northern Europe via Greenland and Iceland with the voyage concluding in Germany in May.