Dining on-board an ultra-luxury cruise ship is certainly an experience in itself. One of the many highlights of a luxury cruise holiday, dining on-board offers a culinary journey from start to finish. Boasting Celebrity chefs like Charlie Palmer, the restaurants on board often rival some of the finest found on land.

So, I’ve looked into five ultra-luxury liners. Here’s what they bring to the table:

Seabourn

Award winning, Seabourn’s delectable cuisine is created using only the finest, freshest ingredients. A proud member of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, one of the world’s most prestigious gastronomic societies, Seabourn offers a gastronomic experience that’s, quite simply, out of this world.

As you’d expect, each of Seabourn’s ships offer a selection of world class dining venues. Ensuring there’s something for every taste, most of the dining venues are open-seating – so you can dine as and when you wish.

Places to dine include The Restaurant, which features a wide variety of delectable choices prepared by talented chefs; Restaurant 2, an alternative dining venue where tasting menus can be enjoyed; and for a more casual choice there’s the Veranda Café. A popular option for lavish buffet-style breakfasts and lunches, the Veranda Café is available on the Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend.

Meet the chef

The gourmet culinary indulgences are the masterpieces of celebrity chef; Charlie Palmer. The winner of many awards, Charlie Palmer boasts a portfolio of fine restaurants, a number of cookbooks and regularly appears on television too.

A taster of what to expect on the menu

Appetiser: Double Chicken Consomme (melted leeks, truffle and chicken salad)

Main Course: Pan Sautéed Sea Scallops, Corn & Scallion Risotto

Silversea

You can expect gastronomic excellence on-board, thanks to Silversea’s partnership with the prestigious Relais & Châteaux. The prime place to dine is in The Restaurant. With menus featuring signature dishes created exclusively for Silversea by Relais & Châteaux, cuisine from across the globe can be discovered here. Another dining spot is La Terraza – which is a casual eatery during the day and a sophisticated a la carte Italian Restaurant come evening. Silversea is home to a small speciality venue too – the only wine restaurant by Relais and Chateaux at sea. Fine wines are complemented by a set tasting menu of regionally inspired dishes here. A unique venue, it’s called Le Champagne on Shadow, Whisper and Spirit and Saletta on Silversea Cloud and Silverwind.

Meet Silversea’s Chef

Executive chef, David Bilsland, joined Silversea in 2007. Bisland is currently running Silversea’s new L’Ecole des Chefs programme – the only Relais & Chateaux cooking school at sea. It is here you can enjoy a whole host of interactive culinary activities.

A taster of what to expect on the menu

Appetiser: Cauliflower Vichyssoise topped with Caviar

Main Course: Chilean Seabass Fillet Topped with Hazelnut and Rosemary Crust, Crushed Potatoes and Zucchini

Regent Seven Seas

Regent Seven Seas are all about giving their guests a top-notch dining experience. Exquisite cuisine can be enjoyed in a number of venues. There’s Prime 7, which serves up delicious steakhouse fare; Compass Rose, the ship’s flagship restaurant which features an exceptional variety of European-inspired Continental cuisine; and the buffet style La Veranda. The specialities served in La Veranda often reflect the cuisine of the countries the cruise calls on – so you can get a real taste of each destination you visit. Signatures Restaurant – found on Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner – is the place to go for authentic French cuisine.

Inspired by

Signatures Restaurant, found on Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner, is inspired by Le Corden Bleu of Paris – considered by many to be the world’s premier culinary arts institute.

A taster of what to expect on the menu

Appetiser: Crabmeat Stuffed Shrimp

Main Course: Crêpes Florentina (crêpes filled with spinach and ricotta cheese, topped with béchamel and tomato sauce)

Oceania Cruises

Oceania cruises serve the finest cuisine in four of their open-seating restaurants, including the Grand Dining Room and Toscana.

The Grand Dining Room oozes a warm ambience. Tables are beautifully set with Versace bone china, sparkling crystal, gleaming silver and the finest cotton linens… It’s the epitome of luxury. An impeccable service, guests can look forward to an outstanding variety of French-inspired Continental dishes here.

In Tuscan-inspired Toscana a wide selection of authentic Tuscan dishes can be enjoyed. Served on elegant, Versace china, each dish is a masterpiece that you will want to savour every single moment of…

Meet the Chef

Jacques Pepin has been Oceania Cruises’ Master Chef since the cruise line launched.  Overseeing the dining options on Oceania’s four ships, Pepin has hosted many cooking shows – and has written over 20 cookbooks. Pepin also used to be the personal chef to French President Charles de Gaulle.

A taster of what to expect on the menu

Appetiser: Marinated Artichoke with Mushroom Medley and Parmesan Shavings

Main Course: Tagliatelle Verde with Marinated Salmon tossed in Tomato Vodka Sauce and Chilli Flakes

Crystal Cruises

‘The Crystal Dining Room’ offers the finest international cuisine in a highly elegant setting. And, offered exclusively in the Crystal Dining Room, is Perfect Choice Dining. A unique concept, it allows you to choose from three different dining options – Classic Main and Classic Late seatings and the new Open Dining by Reservation. Of course, there are other places to dine too, including The Italian ‘Prego’ restaurant; ‘Silk Road’ which specialises in Asian cuisine and a ‘Sushi Bar’.

Meet the Chef

The menus in ‘Silk Road’ and the ‘Sushi Bar’ have been overseen by famous Japanese chef, Nobu Matsuhisa. Known to the world simply as “Nobu”, the acclaimed chef is the owner of Nobu and Matsuhisa restaurants – which are located across five continents.

A taster of what to expect on the menu

Appetiser: Tower of Buffalo Mozzarella with Sun Ripened Tomato and Seasonal Greens

Main Course: Homemade Linguine “Seafood Marinara” (Linguine Tossed in a Lightly Spiced

Tomato Sauce, Scallops, Jumbo Shrimp, Calamari and Rock Lobster)

By Ian Lewis
Google