With food-focused events more popular than ever, 2024 has been called the year of the dinner party. Hotels, resorts and cruise lines are embracing this trend as part of their food-and-beverage offerings. Below are standout properties and cruise experiences that center memorable, communal dining.
© Contiki
Chateau de Cruix
Set in France’s Beaujolais wine region, Chateau de Cruix is a 16th-century estate operated by Contiki that specializes in al-fresco, family-style dining. Meals highlight regional ingredients—fresh produce, cured meats and local cheeses—served in a relaxed, communal atmosphere that encourages conversation and a true taste of French country cooking.
Lindblad Expeditions–National Geographic
Lindblad’s expedition ships offer invite-only dinners on select voyages aboard National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution. Invitations are delivered personally to guests, who gather on the ships’ upper-deck dining rooms for a multi-course menu. These seven-course meals emphasize sustainable sourcing and responsible culinary practices, reflecting the brand’s commitment to conservation.
© Sandals Resorts
Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
At Sandals’ new island property, Buccan presents a large-format dining experience rooted in Caribbean cooking traditions. Each evening there are two seatings, with tables of eight sharing a two-hour, family-style meal. Dishes are prepared the traditional way—cooked in clay yabba pots over an open hearth—offering guests authentic flavors and a communal dining rhythm reminiscent of island gatherings.
© Turtle Island
Turtle Island, Fiji
Turtle Island is an intimate Fijian resort that hosts no more than 28 guests at a time. Rather than a conventional restaurant, the property features a communal floating table that relocates each night to a new setting—be it a lagoon, a beach or a private cove. The experience pairs traditional Fijian dishes with a social, shared-meal format that encourages guests to connect while enjoying authentic island fare.
These properties and cruise experiences showcase how hospitality operators are elevating the dinner party concept—combining local ingredients, shared plates and intentionally designed settings to create memorable culinary gatherings. Whether you prefer a historic chateau, an expedition ship, a Caribbean hearth or a secluded island table, these options put communal dining at the center of the guest experience.