Dining Aboard
Celebration Cruise Line's Bahamas Celebration
By Lena Hunt
A smaller cruise ship does not mean you'll have to skimp on meals. After all, it's still a cruise and we all know what that means! Your low-priced cruise ticket includes a surprisingly great selection and quality of cuisines. From your American style restaurant to an amazing buffet of of Brazilian steaks and meats as well as a casual little Italian trattoria. Dining in five courses under crystal chandeliers and amidst the pouring of the bubbly via white-glove service is also included at the elegant Cove Restaurant. In between all of this, you can get great cheeseburgers (and fries and hotdogs and...) in paradise near the pool as well as some old fashioned style ice cream. My favorite ice cold snack was the rum with raisin ice cream.
Onboard Bahamas Celebration
Two-night cruises to the Bahamas
Caribbean Vacation Part Four
By Lena Hunt
Southern Florida Cruise Port Specialist
Tampa - Miami - Port Canaveral - Ft. Lauderdale
August 15, 2010
My first stop was Rio's even before my luggage was brought to the cabin. As I had a rumbling tummy and no clothes to change into, the Brazilian steakhouse buffet was perfect. No need to dress up and a smorgasbord of meat on the thirty-foot buffet is okay with me. Hand carved cuts of meat were served generously. Sandwiches and wraps as well as a great salad and side selection made for an excellent lunch. Rio's is also open for breakfast and dinner with a wide variety of offerings during those meals. The only thing that I might complain about was the feeling of being a bit uncomfortable with the chefs/servers who were cutting and serving the meat. A bit loud and flirty, I tried to avoid having to approach them. I believe that a little more professionalism could have been had in this area. Everything else about Rio's gets a thumbs up.
“O Solo Mia” will be the song you'll sing along with the waiter as he happily assists you at the Trattoria Di Gerry. Small and quaint yet with the most amazing views of the ocean gliding under you as you dine on Italian favorites. (Just reminiscing over the food is making my mouth water right now as I write this.) The lasagne is so “moi” (with a kiss of your fingers) and the pasta entrees could hold up to anything a fine Italian restaurant dishes out.
Although not 100% truly Italian, the pizzas were much better than your everyday pizzas. Extra charges do apply for the special desserts but mama mia! they are worth it!
Open only for dinner and by reservation only, the Crystal Dining Room is elegance upon first impression. Bottles of wines wink at you in the dim chandelier lighting as our Matre 'D escorts you to a beautiful presentation. The silver has been shined, the glasses come in different styles and shapes to hold the beverages and wines which you'll be served. This is one dinner where you'll want to splurge a bit on the drinks.
Do remember that your cruise ticket does not cover beverages and alcoholic beverages but does cover water, coffee, and tea.) Each course is presented cordially and you'll want to savor all the time that they have allotted for you as the selections of beef, seafood, chicken, and vegetarian pasta dishes are well worth the casting away of the time. Save room because dessert is to die for!
These restaurants and the little ice cream place and the pool side snack bar are included in the low price of your cruise. Yet there is one little tucked away upscale restaurant called The Cove that is well worth it's small $25 per person additional charge. This is where chefs pull out the stops and create their signature dishes. To say that there is something even more wonderful than The Crystal Dining Room on this ship is to not put this lightly. Your dining experience is one to truly remember here so if you have a special occasion to celebrate, The Cove is where you'll want to tuck away for the evening.
They say water, water everywhere you're gonna get wet. I say, “Food, food everywhere you're gonna get fed.” Well fed, that is. I'm still trying to work off my extra five pounds! But no worries it was vacation.
Writer's note: In the first article of this series, I reported not getting my ocean view cabin. After receiving my complaint, the marketing company did issue me a $50 cash refund to make up for this inconvenience.
