{"id":1810,"date":"2015-05-15T14:35:34","date_gmt":"2015-05-15T14:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awaywego-origin.carnival.com\/?p=1810"},"modified":"2017-10-05T16:21:31","modified_gmt":"2017-10-05T16:21:31","slug":"5-cruise-dining-experiences-i-didnt-expect-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carnival.com\/awaywego\/cruising-fun\/what-to-expect\/5-cruise-dining-experiences-i-didnt-expect-2","title":{"rendered":"5 Cruise Dining Experiences I Didn\u2019t Expect"},"content":{"rendered":"

What do you think of cruise dining? Do you imagine big buffets, formal dinners, and sharing a large table for eight with strangers? Based on my past cruise experiences, that\u2019s exactly what I expected. Not that that\u2019s bad. I have fond memories of making friends with fellow cruisers and having fun getting dressed up for dinner. It\u2019s just that my palate and food preferences have changed. So, I was pleasantly surprised during my last Carnival cruise to see how many choices are now available. And it wasn\u2019t just new menu options or flexibility in dinner times, but a variety of completely different dining experiences. From a cozy little sushi bar, to an elegant steak house, and even a well curated wine list<\/a>\u2014 we had a different dining experience every night of our seven day cruise, and there was still even more left to try. If I had to sum up current cruise dining in one word, it would definitely be \u2018choices.\u2019 Here are 5 dining experiences I didn\u2019t expect\u00a0to\u00a0have on a cruise.<\/p>\n

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Gourmet Coffee Shops<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gourmet coffee is a simple pleasure, and for me, a necessary daily indulgence. I remembered cruise coffee as something brewed in bulk and essentially available on tap 24 hours a day in the buffet hall. It was typically over-brewed with that bitter burnt flavor that\u2019s typical of hotel conference coffee. Thankfully, it’s changed. And, during our last Carnival cruise, we were in for a sweet surprise as there was a gourmet coffee shop with a real espresso machine and a menu of Italian style coffees from espresso to cappuccino, and even what the Italians call \u201ccafe correcto,\u201d which is essentially coffee with a little kick of spirits. (Cafe correcto translates to \u2018coffee corrected’\u2014 you\u2019ve got to love the Italian sense of humor.)<\/p>\n

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After an hour-long drive from Orlando to Cape Canaveral to board our cruise, coffee was the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. So, instead of going for a pina colada decorated with a paper umbrella, we went for a Caribbean Coffee infused with tia maria and appleton rum, sprinkled with a bit of nutmeg. Yummo!<\/p>\n

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A Variety of Restaurants<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you\u2019re cruising for a week, dining at the same table every night can get a little boring. I like to have the same range of options that I\u2019d have on land, and Carnival now offers that. There was an intimate little sushi bar perfect for sharing a plate of sashimi over quiet conversation, an elegant steak house ideal for celebrating a special occasion, a funky Asian fusion restaurant with an eclectic menu, an Italian restaurant with red and white checkered table clothes and ingredients imported from Italy, and even a fun little pub serving up cold pints of beer along with fish and chips. Some of the dining options<\/a> have an additional fee, but it\u2019s nominal compared to what you\u2019d pay on land for a\u00a0comparable experience.<\/p>\n

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Dietary Options<\/strong><\/p>\n

With all the deliciously indulgent options available for dining, it was a nice surprise to see Carnival cater to different dietary needs including gluten free, dairy free, and lighter meal choices like big leafy green salads and fresh fruit options. During the daytime, we\u2019d opt for more lighter fare in order to save our appetite for dinner. It\u2019s also nice to know that if you\u2019re on a special diet, you don\u2019t have to worry about asking for special meals as you\u2019ll likely find the options you need already on the menu.<\/p>\n

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The\u00a0Taste Bar<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Taste Bar isn\u2019t a restaurant, but instead a sort of \u201ctry it before you buy it\u201d concept. Essentially, you can swing by The Taste Bar for a complimentary appetizer to sample a taste of the meals offered at the different restaurants and see if it\u2019s something you\u2019d like before making a reservation. How brilliant is that? It was perfect for indulging in some small bites before dinner, and one of the mango desserts we tasted compelled us to make reservations at the Asian fusion restaurant for our last night of the cruise \u2014 a delicious experience we would have missed out on otherwise.<\/p>\n

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The\u00a0Chef\u2019s Table<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Chef\u2019s Table Experience is a real treat that includes an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen, a fun cooking lesson, one-on-one interaction with the chefs, and an exquisite multi-course dinner paired with wine. The dishes were like intricate works of art, as appetizing and pleasing to the eye as they were to the taste buds. It\u2019s an amazing VIP experience that\u2019s limited to a small number of guests, so if you\u2019re interested, I highly recommend signing up for it on the first day of your cruise.<\/p>\n

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This post was created for<\/em>\u00a0Away We Go with Carnival<\/a>,\u00a0the destination for getting in the getaway state of mind.<\/em><\/p>\n

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