Carnival Adds "Chef's Table" Dining Option
When one thinks of a cruise vacation thoughts will invariably turn to food. Whether one has special dietary restrictions, or prefers a “spa” menu of lower calories and carbs, chances are good that you will find something you like. It used to be that dining on an ocean going vessel consisted of two sittings, one earlier in the evening and the other later.
Over the last few years there have been many changes in the industry that allow guests a great deal of flexibility to dine at different times and locations throughout a ship and with whomever they like. Norwegian Cruise Line has offered this type of product for many years and calls their brand of cruising "Freestyle Cruising." With the success NCL had, other lines quickly followed and offered their own take.
Carnival Cruise LIne line which offers both the traditional dining and a flexible dining option called “Your Time” has recently announced another choice for guests called “Chef’s Table”
Chef’s Table, lets passengers tour the galley and dine with a ship chef. The culinary experience includes a multi-course dinner hosted by one of the line's master chefs along with a private cocktail reception and a tour of the galley. The Chef's Table was launched last year as a pilot program aboard the CARNIVAL DREAM and CARNIVAL ECSTASY and currently is being rolled out to six other ships. With The Chef's Table, a group of 12 guests have cocktails and hors d'ouevres with the ship's chef de cuisine. The chef then takes the group on a tour to see the galley in operation. The evening concludes with a full-service dinner with appetizers, entrees and desserts. Depending on the vessel, the meal takes place in non-traditional dining venues throughout the ship, such as the galley, library, conference center, etc. The Chef's Table program is being rolled out to the following ships over the next several weeks: CARNIVAL LIBERTY,CARNIVAL SENSATION, CARNIVAL IMAGINATION, CARNIVAL INSPIRATION, CARNIVAL PRIDE and CARNIVAL FASCINATION. The program can be booked on board through the ships' guest information desk. The cost is $75 per person.