The new trend of luxury travel in 2026; Drop anchor and drink!

Quoted from TravelandTourWorld (travelandtourworld); New reports from the tourism industry in the Mediterranean Sea show that in 2026, the demand for food experiences known as “Dock and Dine” (Dock and Dine) has increased in an unprecedented way, surpassing the traditional models of luxury tourism. In this emerging style, travelers are looking for restaurants that have no land access, and guests have to anchor by boat or cruise ship directly next to the restaurant’s exclusive dock to have a meal. Relying on its island geography, Greece has now become the global hub of this type of tourism and has managed to create a dedicated market for travelers who avoid crowded and repetitive destinations.

Travel market analysts believe that the psychological value of a meal when reaching it requires crossing turquoise waters and mooring at a cozy pier, is far greater than in luxurious city restaurants. The Travel and Tourworld report emphasizes that in areas such as the Saronic Gulf, the Ionian Sea, and the Dodecanese archipelago, small and family-run restaurants that have direct contracts with local fishermen have overtaken Michelin-starred restaurants. In these remote spots, the menu is not based on predetermined menus, but based on the freshness of the catch and fresh produce that arrives from the sea to the kitchen at the moment, an experience that is now known as the “true luxury experience”.

According to the new methodology for ranking marine tourism destinations, restaurants that have a high “geographical isolation” factor are at the top of the popularity list. To be placed in the premium level of this rating, a catering unit must have no connection to the road network and all its customers must enter by water. This new approach, which is a reaction to the phenomenon of “Overtourism” (Overtourism) in large Mediterranean ports, gives travelers the feeling of discovering a hidden place. Experts predict that with the advancement of marine technologies and the use of silent electric boats, access to these invisible ports will be facilitated, but the physical limitation of these spaces will still guarantee the survival of their quality and exclusivity.