Cruise Ships Are Innovating New Menus with Celebrity Chef Restaurants

 
 

In the travel and tourism industry, it is important to exceed the guest’s expectations in order to keep them booking new trips and coming back for more exciting adventures.   When it comes to vacationing on a cruise ship, travelers prioritize time in the sun, exciting off-board adventures, fun activities onboard, and of course really delicious food.

But one of the problems that faced the cruise industry, was innovating new experiences for their guests.  Travelers who love to cruise tend to do so frequently, and over time the menus can become somewhat predictable.  The large buffets and dining rooms, the snack shack style fast-food or fast-casual offerings of burgers and fries, the seafood bar.  It had been hard to pleasantly surprise a cruise guest with food, because with few exceptions, the menu offerings were predictable.

And that presented a big problem for the cruise industry, who needed to get creative about one of the most important deliverables in their business model; creating an exceptional food experience.  And what they come up with is nothing short of genius, because they began to partner with internationally recognized celebrity Chef’s to bring excitement and new flavors back to the cruise industry.

Celebrity Chef Restaurants Onboard

What can cruise ships do to expand on the expectation that guests have, regarding the quality of food they will enjoy on their vacation?  Adding authenticity and excitement to the menu means something different than what vacationers have been accustomed to, in terms of a la carte meals, and of course the lavish buffets that cruise ships are famous for.

An interesting new trend we are likely to see more of are celebrity Chefs with established restaurants across America, getting ‘in on the action’ by bringing their name, and their expert culinary talent to cruise ships.  If you thought the buffet was impressive, imagine how excited guests will be to learn that one of their dining options is a celebrity owned restaurant!

Thanks to shows on The Food Network, and Chef’s that have stepped into broadcasting on a variety of different programs, Americans and international travelers know exactly who these talented culinary masters are.  And they want to try their food.  Is it enough to know that booking a cruise means that you can finally try some of the food innovated by your favorite celebrity Chef on television?  Absolutely, and it is a huge draw that the cruise ship industry is capitalizing on, to fill to capacity and get people talking about a cruise vacation.

Right now, there are many celebrity Chefs that have partnered with cruise lines to bring their fan favorite food to vacationers.  We’ve picked a few to demonstrate the kind of variety and menu items that appeal to travelers, and why this marketing strategy is a winning proposition for the Chef, the cruise line and the guests.

Emeril’s Bistro 1396: Carnival Mardi Gras (Florida)

Emeril Lagasse announced that he would be opening a new restaurant on Carnival Cruise Line’s new Mardi Gras cruise ship, which will be setting sail from Florida in early 2020.  Emeril’s Bistro 1396 will be located in a luxurious French Quarter deck that is themed to celebrate the rich Creole culture and history, and feature regional dishes like gumbo and barbecue shrimp, cochon de lait poboys, muffalettas and more.

It is more than just opening a restaurant on a cruise ship, but about enriching the experience that guests can enjoy, tied in with the Mardi Gras theme of the ship.  The Carnival Mardi Gras has the hull number of 1396 (hence the name for the new restaurant) and will launch from Port Canaveral.  The restaurant marks the first opening for the celebrity Chef at sea, and for Carnival Cruises it provides some extra anticipation and a strong draw for guests who want to experience true New Orleans Flavors.

Guy’s Burger Joint and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Barb-B-Que Smokehouse

You can never turn on The Food Network and avoid seeing one of many shows (and game shows) hosted by the flamboyant foodie and celebrity Chef, Guy Fieri.   One of the things that is really different about Chef Fieri is that he travels around the country exploring the rich regional heritage and unique flavors of America for inspiration.  Without a doubt, he’s a Chef that truly loves good food and he specializes in American cuisine.

The first restaurant that Guy Fieri opened was “Guy’s Burger Joint” on the Carnival Cruise Line, and it became an overnight sensation.   His most recent restaurant to open on a Carnival ship features Southern inspired (think Texas or Tennessee) smoked meat, with the “Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse”.  Check out the menu to see why vacationers are raving about the food.

Jamie’s Italian

Who doesn’t know the British celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver?  The master chef and culinary sensation has appeared on many television shows, opened several restaurants, wrote delicious recipe books and has championed healthier school lunch programs.  There’s not much we don’t love about this guy.

Did you know that Jamie Oliver was a talented sous chef (whose reputation preceded him) in London, when the BBC discovered him and offered him the first show “The Naked Chef” in 1999?  In fact, it was Oliver that really opened to the door for other Chefs to step into the public eye and broadcasting, and he opened his first five-star restaurant in Oxford England nine years later, called “Jamie’s Italian”.

Now, if you are a fan of Jamie Oliver and dreamed of tasting his menu, you had one option; travel to Oxford, UK.  But when Royal Caribbean decided to partner with Jamie for onboard restaurants, they added “Jamie’s Italian” to their Anthem, Harmony and Quantum of the Seas cruise ships.  And guests were finally able to try the famous authentic and rustic Italian food, which is Oliver’s passion.

 

Those are just three recognizable Chefs that have taken the leap and expanded into lucrative partnership with the cruise industry, to bring delicious flavors to vacationers.  Expect to see more celebrity Chef’s following suit, or replacement of some restaurants with new and up and coming culinary talents, including Iron Chef’s and other rising stars on The Food Network.