Celebrity Cruises adds dining enhancements

Celebrity Cruises is shining its spotlight on a series of enhancements for dining that include:

• Its culinary program now includes more than 200 new menu offerings.

• The casual dining areas have been significantly upgraded.

• There is an entirely new brunch offering.

“Our objective is to set the trend, not follow it,” said Jacques Van Staden, Celebrity’s Vice President of Food & Beverage. He added:

“That’s what makes a great dining experience. You have to shake things up now and then, and regularly introduce new and different offerings, along with the items our guests tell us they can’t live without.”

Celebrity’s new evening menus are so widely varied that guests on even 14-night itineraries will never be presented with the same menu twice. Each menu contains expanded selections in all categories, from appetizers to desserts.

One of the most innovative aesthetic enhancements in the lido/casual dining area is the replacement of ice with chilled river rocks throughout the buffet area. Resting on the rocks are literally hundreds of new menu items, new service ware and presentation styles, new action stations and made-to-order areas, and more destination-influenced and ethnic cuisine, including Asian, Italian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and English.

Celebrity also has upgraded its complimentary coffee to the European brand, “Seventh,” a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans, which guests can sip from new, full-sized coffee mugs.

Celebrity has replaced its former once-per-cruise midnight gala buffet with a sumptuous brunch – complete with the line’s lauded ice, fruit and vegetable carvings – in the main dining room.

“Our guests loved viewing the elaborate creations we presented at the midnight gala buffet, but very few wanted to actually eat that late,” said Mr Van Staden. “Now, we still proudly present our culinary team’s great artistry, but at a time when our guests can thoroughly enjoy it.”

Once per cruise, guests can indulge in a lavish brunch with an enormous selection of fresh fruits; made-to-order smoothies; gourmet cheeses; cold cuts; a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, meats and seafood; pizzas, paninis and wraps; sushi and stir-fry selections; eggs of nearly every style, and delectable desserts ranging from individual, bite-sized selections to sorbet and ice cream.

For guests interested in late-night desserts, sandwiches, specialty coffees or other libations, Celebrity has introduced an “after-theater” menu in its Cova Cafe venues, to replace the former “Gourmet Bites” served throughout the ships on alternating evenings.

“Our guests enjoyed the service and presentation of ‘Gourmet Bites,’ but very few actually indulged in them,” said Mr Van Staden. “The new options in Cova Cafe allow guests who are interested in late-night dining a light, varied menu, featuring sandwiches, savories, tartlets, hot brochettes, canapes, artisan cheeses, fresh fruit, crackers, petit fours and napoleons.”

Report by David Wilkening