Celebrity Cruises Dining Reviews & Food: Main Dining Room, Complimentary Restaurants, Bars & Lounges, Specialty Dining, The Retreat at Luminae
All your questions answered about Celebrity Cruises dining! Dining is one of the reasons cruising on Celebrity Cruises is an amazing experience. Everything is presented beautifully and always tastes as good as it looks. It's consistently been rated the best food at sea by various publications. See below for information and photos of available dining venues onboard Celebrity Cruises.
We are a "foodie" family and enjoy trying new tastes and combinations. However, our youngest member has always been a picky eater. This is never a problem on a cruise since we can all get exactly what we want. He may order chicken fingers or plain pasta from the kid's menu, as well as mix it up with trying something off of the main dining menu. Want three appetizers or two entrees for dinner? They are happy to bring it. But keep in mind, if you are sharing a table with other guests, they may not be as forgiving to having each course extended.
We usually like to try something new, but if you just want to stick to basics, you can always order something off of the "Everyday" side of the menu. For example, they always have French Onion Soup, Caesar Salad, New York Strip, Grilled Chicken and Hot Apple Pie. Just because they are "Everyday", don't miss these - they are delicious!
Virtual Tip: Cruising is a fantastic vacation option if you have food allergies or restrictions. Celebrity Cruises does an amazing job of catering to your needs. Make sure to tell your agent when you book your cruise and they will easily (and deliciously!) accommodate your diet once on board.
Staying in a Suite?
Where do you dine if staying in a suite? If you are in a suite, you'll be automatically assigned to the suite dining room, Luminae. This is a fantastic experience and rivals any five-star restaurant you'll find on land. See review, menus, and photos from various Celebrity Cruises The Retreat at Luminae experience. Click the link below to virtually explore The Retreat at Luminae.
Staying in AquaClass?
Bars And Lounges
HEAD OVER TO THE MANY LOUNGES ANY TIME OF DAY!
Serving creative drinks and often various small bites, click the link below to virtually explore the unique bars and lounges aboard Celebrity Cruises. They often offer live music while you socialize, as well as drink specials nightly. Consider purchasing a beverage package! You'll find all of your drink package questions answered here.
Serving creative drinks and often various small bites, click the link below to virtually explore the unique bars and lounges aboard Celebrity Cruises. They often offer live music while you socialize, as well as drink specials nightly. Consider purchasing a beverage package! You'll find all of your drink package questions answered here.
Try the Specialty Restaurants!
Take a break from the main dining room on occasion and try out a new dining experience. From fine French food to a prime steakhouse or Asian inspired cuisine, click the link below to virtually explore specialty dining restaurants onboard Celebrity Cruises. There is a nominal charge, and reservations are needed, but once you've experienced the fine cuisine and personalized service, you'll want to try them all.
Virtual Hint for Dining: You can choose from Select Dining or reserve your dinner seating at the same time you book your cabin. Get creative with your dining! You may choose to eat in specialty restaurants for the entire cruise. Another option is select dining, where you can either show up or make a reservation in advance. However, if you are a main dining room traditionalist, make sure to reserve the early or late seating upon booking. Depending on the destination, your desired time may fill up quickly. Choose early seating if you have younger kids that have an early bedtime, or if you enjoy seeing the main show or other nightlife after dinner. Also keep in mind, if you eat fairly early at home, don't think that just because you are on vacation you need to change this. If you typically eat late dinners, enjoy long and strenuous shore excursions during your port visits, or like to have a drink and visit a lounge before dinner, than late seating is perfect for you. Make sure to click on the QuickTips link for more dining hints and suggestions.
Celebrity Cruises Complimentary Dining
Explore photos and descriptions below of restaurants that are open to all guests, specifically onboard Millennium and Solstice class ships:
Main Dining Rooms
Celebrity Cruises Main Dining Room Menus
Click the Menus button below to view delicious Celebrity Cruises full menus from various cruises as a sampling to what might be in store for your upcoming cruise in the main dining room (MDR)...you will be impressed! Scroll down to find photos and descriptions of my recommended main dining room picks.
See photos below of the Silhouette Dining Room on Celebrity Equinox. The dining rooms on Celebrity's Solstice Class ships are all designed with similar beautiful decor.
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Holiday Brunch Buffet on Celebrity Reflection in December 2012. Each cruise does not always do a formal buffet and if they do, it might be in the Oceanview Cafe. No matter where it is, don't miss the ice sculptures and of course, the chocolate fountain.
Main Dining Dinner and Dessert Selections
Just a few of Celebrity Cruises favorite main dining room items. The starters are always my favorite!
Scallops in Bearnaise sauce. We ordered a few more of these after just the first taste.
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Celebrity is famous for Double Baked Blue Cheese Souffle. It's a must try.
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French Onion Soup is on the Everyday Menu.
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Shrimp Cocktail has the most amazing cocktail sauce served separately.
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Thai Beef Eggrolls
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Chicken Liver Terraine
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Mediterranean Hummus
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Prosciutto and Melon
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Virtual Hint: If you consistently dine in the MDR, the waiters will get to know your preferences and may even have your favorite drinks ready when you arrive.
The main courses are always amazing and the best part is that if you can't decide, just ask for one of each!
Prime Rib is always served on the first night of the cruise. We always look forward to this!
Beef Wellington is a family favorite on Evening Chic night.
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Caribbean Lobster on Evening Chic night.
They will even serve an adult sized hamburger in the main dining room anytime.
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Encrusted lamb chops
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Seared Duck
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Seafood Gumbo
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Gnocchi
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Stay healthy with salmon and steamed vegetables
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Smothered Steak
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And I ALWAYS have dessert!
Virtual Hint: If your family is full or anxious to move on to the next activity, ask your wait staff about options to have your gourmet dessert later in the evening. We've done everything from having them plate it up and then take it "to go", hold it in the kitchen until you stop back to pick up, or they may even offer to send it to your cabin at a designated time by room service.
Panna Cotta with Mango Compote. This is perfect for a light dessert.
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Creme Brulee (Hint: This is also on the room service menu!)
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Hot Apple Pie from the everyday dining menu always found on the MDR menu.
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The BEST Baked Alaska. I look forward to this on Evening Chic nights.
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Fresh fruit pastry
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Just ask and a simple bowl of ice cream with sprinkles will magically happen.
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Oceanview Cafe
Available on all Celebrity Cruise ships, you can visit the Oceanview Cafe almost any time you get hungry. You won't believe the variety! I love that they always have fresh charcuterie selections at every meal, the pizza is one of the best at sea, and don't miss trying a different fresh made ice cream flavor every day (my personal recommendation is the Peanut Butter.) Here are a few pictures to see the layout.
Look for the descriptions on the food servers. There are often many types of International foods that sound delicious. I always love trying something new!
Besides self-service, they often have already serving sized food plated in dishes to grab and go.
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Enjoy your meal looking out at the beautiful ocean. HINT: Look for the tables near the windows and you may just find a glass floor to look down into the ocean below.
Who can resist all kinds of delicious pastries on a buffet?
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The "New York Deli" area is a big hit. Don't forget to grab a black-and-white cookie for dessert.
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The Oceanview Cafe is always plentiful and spacious.
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The outside deck of the Oceanview Cafe is the perfect spot to enjoy a meal with a view.
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They even have table service outside.
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Mast Grill
When lounging by the pool, a great spot to enjoy an easy and delicious lunch is the Mast Grill. They grill fresh hamburgers and veggie burgers (they are amazing!) and offer amazing French fries and traditional burger toppings. This is also a perfect time to grab a canned or bottled soda or beer using your drink package.
Photo Credit Celebrity Cruises
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Photo Credit Celebrity Cruises
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