{"id":3146,"date":"2015-12-02T18:55:06","date_gmt":"2015-12-02T18:55:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awaywego.carnival.com\/?p=3146"},"modified":"2017-10-05T16:21:57","modified_gmt":"2017-10-05T16:21:57","slug":"5-delicious-dishes-from-our-first-caribbean-cruise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carnival.com\/awaywego\/cruising-fun\/what-to-expect\/5-delicious-dishes-from-our-first-caribbean-cruise","title":{"rendered":"5 Delicious Dishes From Our First Caribbean Cruise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Traveling and eating go together like chips and salsa. You have to eat while you\u2019re on vacation, so you may as well enjoy it, right? I\u2019ll be honest, I get bummed when I have a bad meal while traveling. Actually, let me rephrase that. It\u2019s not the bad meal that bums me out, it\u2019s the fact that I settled for a bad meal. And by that, I mean not doing a little bit of research to ensure that I was getting (or at least trying to get) the best meal for my budget.<\/p>\n

One of the things I like about taking a cruise is that it takes the guess work out of finding a good meal. Like America itself, cruise ships are a melting pot of cuisines\u2014you\u2019ve got everything from fine dining to Indian fusion, depending on the cruise line. And best of all, most of the dining on the ship is all inclusive\u2014every last mouthwatering morsel.\u00a0Throw another shrimp on the Barbie, my good man. Actually, make it 10. What I like most, though, is that the cuisine on a cruise isn\u2019t just limited to the ship. Each day can bring a new country, and with it new foods to try. Here are five of my favorite dishes from our Carnival\u00a0We<\/a>stern Caribbean cruise.<\/a><\/p>\n

Jerk Chicken \u2013Jamaica<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Jerk Chicken is to Jamaica what hamburgers are to the States. Jerk is a cooking style indigenous to Jamaica in which the meat, usually chicken or pork, is dry-rubbed or wet marinated with a hot spice mixture and then slow smoked over pimento wood. Montego Bay is full of jerk chicken stands\u2014even the ATV tour site<\/a> had one. On our way back to the port, we discovered we no longer had time to explore the Hip Strip, Montego Bay\u2019s main shopping area, where I had planned to try the Jamaican staple.<\/p>\n

Since we arrived at the port with a couple of hours to spare, we grabbed a taxi with a couple of other cruisers and went to the Pork Pit, which is about 30 minutes from the port (traffic can be heavy in this region). Pulling into the lot reminded me of the summer barbecue chicken stands in western Pennsylvania, except it was larger and had more offerings in terms of sides. Tapping the driver for her recommendations, we ordered and then waited, watching patiently as our introduction to the world of jerk unfolded in front of us. When the smoke cleared, our plate was ready and did not disappoint.<\/p>\n

Salad Bar \u2013 Carnival Dream<\/strong><\/p>\n

A long held misconception about cruise ships<\/a> is there\u2019s no fresh food available. But, the truth is, the biggest issue isn\u2019t the lack of fresh food\u2014there is plenty of that\u2014it\u2019s choosing fresh options when all you really want is another helping of mac and cheese. We were pleasantly surprised about all the fresh fruits and vegetables available for each meal on our cruise. Personally, I hate chopping vegetables, so it was nice to be able to put together a healthy plate, pretty much anytime I felt like it.<\/p>\n

\"BNB_Post14_IMG2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Steakhouse \u2013 Carnival Dream<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being in a relationship with a vegetarian has its challenges. The biggest being that if there\u2019s two meat related items on the menu I want to try, we can\u2019t share it. Ironically, because I am pretty open to different types of food this works to Beth\u2019s advantage (and my overall health), because we\u2019ll often share vegetarian dishes. That being said, she\u2019s great about taking one for the team so I can try out a steakhouse or barbecue joint. And for her it\u2019s a real sacrifice, since she doesn\u2019t like Portobello mushrooms, which meat-centric eateries love to swap in for meat.<\/p>\n

The Steakhouse<\/a> on the Carnival Dream feels like the kind of place you\u2019d find in Manhattan. The menu blends steakhouse classics like Broiled Prime New York Strip Loin Steak as well as a nice selection of seafood entrees. I went with the Surf and Turf\u2014Main Lobster Tail and Grilled Filet Mignon\u2014and a Manhattan to wash it all down with. I loved every minute of my time at the Steakhouse. Since it is a premium dining option\u2014a theme that is becoming more and more popular on cruise lines\u2014there was an additional charge of $35 per person for the four-course meal. If you have a little extra money to spend, I\u2019d definitely recommend doing one of your dinners at the Steakhouse. It was delicious and a nice change from the larger dining room.<\/p>\n

\"BNB_Post14_IMG1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Brunch \u2013 Carnival Dream<\/strong><\/p>\n

When it comes to the best brunch cities in the States, Denver, Colorado, is number one, in my opinion, with New Orleans coming in a close second. Denver brunches, which usually feature some sort of bottomless adult beverage, are the thing of legend. Well, I\u2019m here to tell you, the SeaDay Brunch<\/a> we had on our Carnival cruise was right up there with the one I experienced in Denver. The big difference being Denver brunches have bottomless mimosas, while the cruise ship has bottomless eats. I did a true brunch\u2014breakfast and lunch\u2014and it was huge and oh so glorious.<\/p>\n

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Taco Plate \u2013 Mexico<\/strong><\/p>\n

When it comes to my favorite cuisine, Mexican food tops the list. So, after a day of swimming in a freshwater cenote (say-NOTE-ay) in Riviera Maya, Mexico, and then snorkeling at Akumal Bay with sea turtles, I couldn\u2019t think of a better way to cap off our shore excursion<\/a> than with a buffet full of traditional Mexican fare and bottomless margaritas. Oh wait, I can. Put the buffet on the beach next to the Riviera Maya\u2019s famous turquoise water. Yeah, that\u2019ll do it. From the hot sauce to the carne asada and guacamole and beans, everything was freaking delicious. It\u2019s hard to find authentic Mexican food in Massachusetts, so this was a real treat.<\/p>\n

\"BNB_Post14_IMG5\"<\/a><\/p>\n

So, as you can can see, taking a cruise really gives you a chance to sample lots of different cuisines without having to spend a lot of money. When it comes to dining on and off the cruise ship, I say mix it up and step out of your comfort zone. There is a whole world of cuisine just outside your cabin door.<\/p>\n

\n

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


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