Cruise Dining News

Onboard dining is a fun and delicious aspect of any cruise, and cruise line culinary programs are always striving to reach new heights of innovation and excellence. Here are some of the tasty developments we’ve heard about in cruise ship dining.

 Fans of Crystal Cruises will be thrilled to know the brand is relaunching this summer with two refurbished, ocean-going ships and the return of a favorite onboard restaurant, UMI UMA. Created by Michelin-starred chef Nobu Matsuhisa, this specialty restaurant features his unique fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavors. Menu highlights include the chef’s signature black cod in miso as well as dishes that feature Wagyu beef and Chilean sea bass.

 To accommodate guests who follow vegan diets, Windstar Cruises will introduce a new whole-food, plant-based menu this summer on all its ships. These dishes will be minimally processed and prepared without added salt, oil, or sugar. Tempting choices include baked cauliflower croquettes with salsa verde, penne pasta with espelette pepper sauce, and tahini brownies with strawberries. Windstar ships will continue to serve dishes for vegetarians and omnivores as well.

 Oceania’s newest ship, the Vista, has a dozen dining options, and the culinary staff gives just as much attention to the onboard beverage menu. A new molecular mixology program uses naturally sourced ingredients to make reductions and syrups that add aromatic flavor to cocktails and other drinks. Specialty beverage carts like the Bubbly Bar (serving Champagne cocktails) and the Ultimate Bloody Mary Bar roam the decks. You can also make a reservation for a three-course Champagne experience that pairs bubbly from Moët & Chandon with tastes like sea bass tartare, duck foie gras terrine, and cured beef tenderloin.

 Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas won’t launch until 2024, but the cruise line has already announced that the ship will have more than 20 different dining experiences. These include Royal Caribbean’s first food hall, the Aqua Dome Market. Casual bites will include sweet and savory crepes at Crème de la Crepe; macaroni and cheese with a variety of toppings from Mac’s; pitas and bowls from Feta Mediterranean; favorites like Korean beef and broccoli at GNGR; and fresh sandwiches and salads from Toast and Garden. For an elegant dinner, visit the Empire Supper Club, where an eight-course menu will begin with caviar and proceed through expertly prepared Wagyu beef and other dishes.

 Talk with Anita, your professional travel advisor, about experiencing these and other mouthwatering options at sea.

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Great Onboard Workouts

Most cruise ships have fitness centers where you can maintain your regular workout; many have such an excellent range of equipment and classes that you might discover a new favorite way to stay in shape. Here are a few onboard workout opportunities that may “wow” you.

Zumba classes on Celebrity Cruises use upbeat rhythms and simple choreography to deliver a total body workout. If you haven’t done Zumba before, attend the scheduled Zumba Fitness Party to learn some basic steps. Some Celebrity ships also offer Aqua Zumba for a water-supported workout in the ship’s pool, Zumbatomic classes for kids, or Zumba Gold classes for older adults.

If you like punching bag workouts, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Fight Klub incorporates punching bag work with sets of kicks for an energizing cardio session. Virgin Voyages ships have punching bags too, as well as actual boxing rings where you can spar.

Virgin offers bungee fitness classes, too. The stretchy bungee cords attached to the ceiling defy gravity, so you’ll need to engage a variety of muscle groups just to touch the floor.

Cruise ships also offer plenty of fun activities outside the walls of their fitness centers. For example, if you love water sports, check out the water sports platforms on the ships of luxury lines like Windstar and Seabourn. These onboard marinas are your launching point for paddleboarding, kayaking, wakeboarding, and more.

Several Royal Caribbean ships are equipped with a surfing simulator called the FlowRider. If you haven’t tried surfing before, you may be surprised by how much strength and balance it requires. Sign up for a group lesson to be sure you get the most from your FlowRider experience, which will be a workout for your core, legs, and upper body.

Lots of ships feature a spacious sport court on an upper deck, usually equipped with facilities for basketball, volleyball, soccer, and more. Most ships also have a track or promenade where you can stroll, jog or run as much as you like. Larger ships, like those from Disney Cruise Line, have tracks that are four-tenths of a mile or longer, meaning you can complete a 5k run in less than eight laps.

Some of these and other onboard fitness activities will be included in your cruise fare, but some may carry an extra fee. For details about all of the fitness options available on your next cruise, talk with Anita,  your professional travel advisor.

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Join us on an Exceptional Trip

As we all know, cruising is an outstanding way to travel and see the world.   Did you realize there are ways that you can maximize your experience?  What if I told you, it is EASY and FREE.  The secret is to book with a Travel Leaders Network travel advisor and have them book you on a Distinctive Voyage sailing!   A Distinctive Voyage cruise costs no extra money and includes some wonderful amenities.

1.        Welcome reception:

a.       A chance to meet your Distinctive Voyage host.

b.       Gives you a chance to meet other Distinctive Voyage guests and develop friendships.

c.       Learn about other amenities offered on the cruise.     

2.       Distinctive Voyage host holds office hours each sea day where Distinctive Voyage guests can:

a.       Ask questions.

b.       Learn about upcoming ports.

c.       Just visit with the host.

3.        Free shore excursion:

a.       At one of the ports on the cruise.

b.       This is an exclusive high-quality excursion only for the DV guests.  We hosted a DV cruise around the British Isles in 2023.  Our tour was “The Beatles and Liverpool”.  It was an outstanding tour!  Several of the guests said it was the best tour they had taken and even guests that had no interest in The Beatles left talking about the exceptional tour.

These free amenities are offered because you booked your cruise with a Travel Leaders Network advisor.  So next time you book a cruise, book with a Travel Leaders Network Advisor and ask for a Distinctive Voyage Cruise.  It will take an outstanding vacation to the next level!

Join us on one of our Distinctive Voyage tours:

1.       March 26, 2024 – Celebrity Cruise Line – Eclipse (Ship) - 12 nights Buenos Aires, Argentina to Valparaiso, Chile

https://attheta.com/dv-eclipse-26mar24.aspx

2.       November 20, 2024 – Holland America Cruise Line – Zaandam (Ship) – 17 nights Hawaii round trip from San Diego, Ca

https://attheta.com/dv-hal-20nov24.aspx

 

We look forward to meeting you,

Rick and Linda Poole

Cruise Planning with the Kids

A cruise is a terrific choice for a family vacation; ships from family-oriented lines like Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and others are well-equipped for family fun.

If you have school-age children, let them be involved in the excitement of planning a cruise. Guiding them through the process of choosing a destination and ship, deciding what to do on board and on shore, and keeping within a vacation budget can be a great learning experience. Just let the kids know that while their ideas and opinions are important, you get to make the final decisions.

Start by talking about where to sail. With a world of destinations to choose from, you may want to pick two or three options to discuss with the kids. For example, talk with them about the possibilities of sunning on the beaches of the Caribbean versus viewing glaciers on the coast of Alaska or visiting museums around the Mediterranean. You may learn something new about what interests your kids.

After you pick a destination, select a cruise line and ship. Do the kids want lots of onboard activities? Some of today’s larger ships have amazing features like water coasters and go-kart tracks, but your kids may be perfectly happy on a smaller ship with a nice pool. If they like to spend time with other kids, look at cruise lines that have youth programs staffed by experienced counselors. These programs group kids by age and/or interest, with a full agenda of activities and fun.

Then, talk about what everyone would like to see and do on shore. Your ship will offer a variety of shore excursions in every port. If the kids have different opinions about how to spend shore time – say, one wants to tour and shop but another wants to slide down a zipline – look for excursions that combine several activities.

You should also talk about cabin selection, with special consideration to sleeping arrangements. Will everyone be comfortable in one cabin? Do you need two or more adjacent cabins to ensure everyone can sleep well? Perhaps a family suite with a little more space (and a balcony) will be worth a little extra money.

As you talk with the kids about your upcoming cruise, keep in touch with Anita,  your professional travel advisor. If you need to resolve a difference of opinion, travel professionals are great at coming up with ideas for making everyone happy.

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