Les Bateaux Belmond operates a fleet of seven luxury floating villas that deliver curated, personalized excursions along France’s most scenic waterways. The company has announced the appointment of Chef Dominique Crenn as its first culinary curator for the 2025 season. A three-Michelin-star chef and a TIME 100 honoree, Crenn is known for culinary innovation, sustainability and advocacy for equality, drawing on her French upbringing as a key source of inspiration.
© Les Bateaux Belmond, France
“I am thrilled to collaborate with Les Bateaux Belmond to curate a one-of-a-kind dining experience that weaves together the beauty of the French countryside with my culinary philosophy,” Crenn said. “The menus I’ve designed celebrate the finest local ingredients and time-honored techniques, honoring the region’s rich heritage. Together with Belmond, I hope to create lasting memories through unforgettable cuisine.”
In her role as culinary curator, Crenn will craft two signature menus for Les Bateaux Belmond vessels operating in Burgundy, Champagne and the South of France. Each menu will present a starter, a main course and a dessert that emphasize seasonal, locally sourced produce and traditional regional methods reinterpreted with modern sensibility.
© Les Bateaux Belmond, France
Beyond the culinary collaboration, Les Bateaux Belmond continues to expand its itineraries. Alouette, one of the fleet’s floating villas, has introduced a new route through Bordeaux’s winemaking waterways. In Burgundy, the new Le Semaine des Grands Crus itinerary aboard Amaryllis and Fleur De Lys offers a week-long exploration that provides exclusive access to all 33 Grand Crus. For those who prefer Champagne, guests may book a five-night voyage aboard Coquelicot to discover the region’s celebrated vineyards and cellars.
With Crenn’s menus and the fleet’s refined itineraries, Les Bateaux Belmond aims to merge exceptional dining with immersive regional experiences—pairing terroir-driven cuisine with the unique perspective of travel by water. The collaboration highlights a growing focus on sustainability, local sourcing and thoughtful storytelling through food, enhancing each voyage with moments designed to linger long after guests disembark.