AUSTRALIA’S TOP CHEFS SET SAIL FOR THE ULTIMATE CULINARY SHOWDOWN

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, AT 8.45PM ON CHANNEL 9 AND 9NOW

Australia’s culinary heavyweights will trade their kitchens for a high stakes battle aboard the world’s most iconic cruise line when the new series Chefs Ahoy premieres on Wednesday, September 30, at 8.45pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Hosted by beloved Australian comedian Peter Helliar, this light-hearted yet fierce competition drops two top chefs per episode into a high-seas culinary showdown where up to 4,000 hungry passengers decide the winner at “The Captain’s Dinner”.

Celebrating the luxury and comfort of ocean cruising aboard Princess Cruises, Chefs Ahoy takes viewers on an unforgettable voyage – from the sun-soaked shores of Greece and the bustling streets of Korea to the vibrant food cultures of Japan and Spain.

Part travel adventure and all foodie delight, each episode lifts the rival chefs way out of their comfort zones. After port-hopping to taste local authentic flavours, the chefs dock back on board to face their biggest hurdle: scaling up their signature dishes alongside the ship’s elite crew. With time ticking, unfamiliar galleys and professional reputations on the line, the pressure reaches boiling point as they then serve up their creations to the passengers.

The culinary supremos ready to make waves are:

• Minoli De Silva vs. Courtney Roulston (Greece): Fresh from tasting their way through Crete, Courtney brings her produce-driven style to square off against Sri Lankan-Australian restaurateur Minoli’s bold, modern spice profiles as they battle to win over 4,000 guests aboard Sun Princess.
• Miguel Maestre vs. Dan Hong (Japan): Spanish culinary dynamo Miguel dives into the Japanese hot springs and premium Wagyu to take on Asian-fusion heavyweight Dan Hong aboard Diamond Princess. Dan may have precision, but Miguel brings full-throttle chaos to the galley – so who will sail straight to victory with 3,000 hungry passengers, and who will end up adrift?
• Mark LaBrooy vs. Khanh Ong (Spain): It’s a jamón-packed showdown in Barcelona. Three Blue Ducks co-founder Mark goes deep into Spain’s meat culture, while fan-favourite author Khanh scours the streets for some tapas inspiration. They’ll be anchoring their dishes in bold flavours aboard Sun Princess, but only one can reel in the crown.
• Vincent Yeow Lim vs. Alice Zaslavsky (South Korea): From the buzzing fish markets of Busan to the art of traditional kimchi-making, social media sensation Vincent and best-selling author Alice are hunting down South Korea’s boldest flavours. But when they board Diamond Princess, can the “vegie queen” go full-meat to hook the win, or will Vincent’s lightning-fast stir-fry skills leave her floundering?

Bringing his trademark humour to every triumph, disaster and unexpected twist, Pete Helliar follows the chefs from port to plate to see who can handle the heat. Only one chef in each destination can sail away victorious – making each voyage a deliciously spicy treat.

Chefs Ahoy is an original Rawkus production in association with Princess Cruises for the 9Network.

Friday 18 September, 2026