Specialty Dining Aboard Celebrity Eclipse

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know that Leonard and I usually vacation aboard all-inclusive luxury cruise ships. Celebrity Cruises, however, is a premium line and that means we'll be paying extra for drinks (soda and alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, and other spirits). It also means that some of the best dining spots on the ship are "specialty" restaurants that carry a per person surcharge.

I thought I'd tell you a bit about these restaurants. (We'll be dining at Qsine this evening.)

Tuscan Grille
$30 per person surcharge
Most cruise ships have an Italian steakhouse similar to Tuscan Grille. The menu includes the obligatory antipasti and prosciutto with Parmiggiano reggiano and shaved cantaloupe as well as Caesar salad made right at your table.

Hearty soups and salads are a favorite as is the spaghetti Bolognese and linguini Alfredo. There's even Pappardelle alla Toscana with Kobe-style meatballs baked in an herb tomato ragout with mozzarella.

On the entree side, there's both veal and eggplant parmiggiana, grilled sea bass, pan seared salmon, and a grilled Colorado lamb chop. Steak lovers can choose between Angus ribeye, filet mignon, or New York strip.

Delectable desserts range from a selection of Italian gelato and sorbet as well as creme brulee.

Murano
$35 per person surcharge
I think Murano is the most beautiful restaurant on Eclipse. We'll post some photos later during the cruise. In the meantime, here are a few of the items on the menu, which presents continental cuisine:

Appetizers
Tian of Peekytoe Crab, Gravalax Salmon & Avacado Mousse
Escargots Tortellini with Smoked Applewood Bacon and Fricassee of Morels & Roasted Garlic
Diver Scallop Wellington-Style with Black Truffle Emulsion & Spinach Fondue
Warm Goat Cheese Souffle with Smoked Tomato Coulis

Soups & Salads
Creamy Maine Lobster Bisque
Wild Mushroom Cappuccino with Porcini Gelato
Heirloom Tomato Salad, Buffalo Mozzarella, Apple & Cantaloupe

Entrees
Dover Sole Veronique
Lobster Tail "Your Way"
Pan Seared Filet Mignon
Sauteed French Turbot

Qsine
$35 per person surcharge
Celebrity says Qsine is a "uniquely unordinary" approach to dining and the words you'll hear guests use to describe their meal include "modern," "playful," and "artful." Menu items are meant to be shared and are served as soon as they are ready...so forget about the usual format of salad course, soup course, etc.

This place is popular so make reservations early and come hungry! Here's the Qsine menu (pdf) and the Qsine wine list (pdf).

Blu Restaurant
Blu is the fourth specialty restaurant aboard Eclipse, but only AquaClass guests are able to make reservations here.

Complimentary Dining
Other restaurants are available to those who do not wish to pay a surcharge for the specialty restaurants. The complimentary dining spots include the two-level Moonlight Sonata Restaurant (main dining room), Oceanview Cafe and Bar (buffet), and Mast Grill and Bar (above the pool).


Note: Suite passengers receive one complimentary specialty restaurant reservation per seven-night cruise and two comp reservations for cruises of eight nights or longer.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

---

We're bringing clean water to a village in 2011.
Learn more about our clean water project.