The dining rooms aboard all ships are non-smoking areas. There are two seatings for dinner (open seating for breakfast and lunch). Table settings are excellent, with fine quality linen, china and glassware. Tables for two are available (there are far more than most of the other Big 7). What sets Celebrity apart from any other Big 7 cruise line is the superior training and supervision of dining room waiters, and the service.
The food represents a wide range of culinary influences; it is based on classical French cuisine, modified to appeal to North Americans and European alike. Menus are standardized across the fleet, and were completely refreshed in 2004. The menu variety in the main dining rooms is good (overseen by consultant chef Michel Roux); the food has taste, and it is very attractively presented and served in a well orchestrated operation that displays fine European traditions and training.
Full service in-cabin dining is also available for all meals (including dinner).
The food is made fresh from high quality ingredients – no pre-made sauces, soups, or croissants here, thank you very much. Take croissants, for example. Those found aboard Celebrity ships are made fresh each morning, while aboard most other ships in the Big 7 they are purchased from ashore. There is a big difference in their taste and consistency, depending on what kind of dough, and butter, are used.
Celebrity Cruises also has real sommeliers and wine waiters – they also know their wines. The four largest ships (Constellation, Infinity, Millennium, Summit) have special wine rooms in their “alternative” restaurants that you can actually have dinner in, and fine wines that cost anything up to (and even beyond) $10,000 per bottle (but also wines that start at about $20 per bottle).
Casual Eateries: Casual self-serve buffets are found aboard all Celebrity Cruises’ ships. Most are laid-out in continuous lines, which does mean that lines form at peak times (when morning shore excursions return, for example, by lunchtime). However, Celebrity is trying to be more creative with these buffets, and, like other cruise lines, has stations for pasta, sushi, salads, grilled and rotisserie items, and hot food items. When you have chosen your food, a waiter will take your tray to a table for you. A bar trolley service for drinks and wines is provided at lunchtime, and wine waiters are always on hand to discuss and take wine orders for dinner. All the ships make great martinis (best of the Big 7).
The Coffee/Tea Factor: Regular Coffee: Weak and poor. Score: 2 out of 10. Espresso/Cappuccino coffees: Score: 3 out of 10. Note that if you order espresso/cappuccino coffees in the dining room, there is a charge (treated like a bar item).
Cova Café: All ships feature a Cova Café. a seagoing version of the original Café di Milano that was located next to La Scala Opera House in Milan. The shipboard cafés are in prominent locations, and several display cases show off the extensive range of Cova coffee, chocolates and alcoholic digestives, available for purchase. Cova Cafés provide an agreeable setting for those who appreciate fine Italian coffees (espresso, espresso macchiato, cappuccino, and latte), pastries and superb cakes. Breakfast pastries are to die for (favorites include the Italian pane con cioccolata – chocolate pastry, and superb almond croissants). Cova coffee is presented in a proper china cup, with a Cova chocolate on the side (and tablecloths on tables). It costs extra, but it’s worth it, and Cova Cafés are real (civilized) coffee houses, staffed by servers in Cova Café uniforms.
Gratuities: $10 per person per day is added to your onboard account. You can have this amount adjusted if you visit the guest relations desk before the end of the cruise. Additionally, 15 percent is added for all bar, wine purchases; 10 percent for spa treatments. The onboard currency is the US dollar.
Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2010
