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Luxury cruise lines continue to spice up menus on the high seas, knowing that exceptional food can translate into bookings. Some are giving their dining scenes big flavor boosts by partnering with Michelin-starred chefs and cooking-show champions. Others are debuting various mouthwatering dining concepts, and one is teaming up with a renowned restaurant brand-new to cruising. Here, we highlight what’s new and exciting in ship kitchens.
Seabourn has introduced a new Mediterranean-inspired fine-dining concept called Solis. The inclusive, dinner-only restaurant has been rolled out on Seabourn Quest, Seabourn Ovation and Seabourn Sojourn and is scheduled to debut on Seabourn Encore in late April. Developed by two longtime Seabourn partners — master chef Anton Egger and corporate chef Franck Salein — Solis replaces chef Thomas Keller’s eponymous restaurant on Seabourn ships, ending the company’s eight-year partnership with the Michelin three-star culinary heavyweight. That news raised eyebrows since Egger and Salein don’t share Keller’s celebrity-chef status. Dismissing skeptics, Seabourn says its guests ranked Mediterranean cuisine as their top culinary choice, plus the two chefs have a winning track record with the cruise line: They were the masterminds behind its most popular dining concepts, Earth & Ocean and Sushi.
Crystal is partnering with Beefbar, the acclaimed Monte Carlo-based company that has more than 20 outlets around the world, including in St. Barths, Paris, Dubai and New York. Crystal originally announced a summer debut for the partnership — a first for Beefbar with a cruise line — but now says it will happen “this year.” The Beefbar franchise is known for its exemplary selection of prime cuts and over-the-top trophy dishes like spaghettini carbonara with caviar, wagyu quesadillas and chicken fried in Kobe beef tallow. Its restaurants will replace the Tastes Kitchen & Bar venues on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony and serve lunch and dinner for no extra fee. Menu details are not yet available.