Regent Seven Seas launches fleetwide Pastry Academy with Butter Book

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has launched a new fleetwide pastry training programme in partnership with culinary education platform The Butter Book.

The move is the latest by the ultra-luxury cruise line as it continues to invest in the development of its onboard culinary teams.

Known as the Floating Pastry Academy, the three-year initiative is designed to provide structured pastry and baking education for chefs across Regent’s fleet, combining digital learning with practical assessments and professional mentoring.

The programme forms part of Regent’s wider strategy to strengthen the consistency and quality of its culinary offering while supporting long-term career development for onboard hospitality professionals.

“Our guests trust Regent to deliver excellence in every moment of their journey, and this partnership extends that promise down to the smallest detail on their plate,” said Wesley D’Silva, President, Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

“Long-term thinking such as this keeps us at the forefront of ultra-luxury travel,” he added. “Behind every exceptional dining experience is a team of talented professionals whose passion and skill bring our culinary vision to life, and the Floating Pastry Academy is an investment in both their future and the guest experience they help create.”

Developed with The Butter Book, the curriculum covers a broad range of pastry disciplines, including artisanal fermentation, classical pâtisserie, chocolate artistry, and plated desserts.

The programme combines online instruction with practical evaluations and mentorship, creating a structured pathway for pastry chefs to develop their technical skills while maintaining consistent standards across the fleet.

“We are extremely excited about the opportunity to give our pastry chefs access to high-quality training and new techniques,” said Bernhard Klotz, Vice President of Food & Beverage, Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

“Long before a guest’s first bite of a pastry on board, the artistry behind it has already taken years to master,” he said. “This partnership formalises that craftsmanship into a structured pathway for the chefs who bring it to life and reflects our commitment to supporting their professional growth.”

Chef Sébastian Canonne, Founder of The Butter Book, said the programme would help preserve culinary standards while providing clear opportunities for professional advancement.

Pastry has long been a central feature of the Regent dining experience, from the line’s traditional afternoon tea service to the selection of petit fours served in the French speciality restaurant Chartreuse and pastries available at Coffee Connection.

The new academy will also support future dining concepts, including Azure, a new restaurant scheduled to debut aboard Seven Seas Prestige when the ship enters service.

The launch reflects a broader trend across the luxury hospitality sector, where cruise lines are increasingly investing in structured training programmes to enhance service consistency and retain skilled culinary professionals as guest expectations continue to evolve.

Floating Pastry Academy

• 3-year fleetwide pastry and baking training programme
• Developed in partnership with The Butter Book
• Digital learning combined with practical assessments and mentorship
• Covers pâtisserie, chocolate artistry, fermentation, and plated desserts
• Available to pastry chefs across Regent fleet
• Supports new culinary concepts, including Azure aboard Seven Seas Prestige