Such a easy factor. However, to me, it exhibits that Superstar Cruises goals to please its passengers and pays consideration to what breakfast eaters need.
Within the Superstar Apex’s buffet restaurant, Oceanview Café, is a well-liked breakfast merchandise with an indication overtop it – Crispy Bacon. Nice thought!
I’ve seen it occur so many instances on cruise ships the place a passenger within the breakfast buffet asks a crew member for crispy bacon. Then the crew member makes use of utensils to go looking via an enormous tray of limply half-cooked bacon to seek out the crispiest.
It was so refreshing to seek out that Apex has a buffet part particularly devoted to well-cooked bacon. Those that like their bacon undercooked can actually discover it in Oceanview, too. However most folk I noticed at my day by day breakfast on the Apex have been heading for the Crispy Bacon possibility.
All in all, the meals on the brand new Celebrity Apex has been wonderful. The ship has so many advantageous eating places that even on my weeklong cruise, I gained’t have time to eat at each one in every of them. I’ll give a brief description of all of the eating places and add a bit extra details about these during which I dined. I already wrote a put up about my fantastic eating expertise at Le Petit Chef so gained’t go into that one once more.
As a substitute of getting one large primary eating room, the Apex has 4 smaller ones for a extra non-public eating expertise – Tuscan, Normandie, Cyprus and Cosmopolitan. Every of the 4 has its personal lovely design and particular dishes.
Then there are the specialty eating places which cost additional. I put a greenback signal $ subsequent to these eating spots. There are additionally two eating places which are unique – Luminae for Retreat stateroom passengers and Blu for AquaClass stateroom passengers. For starters, let’s go to Oceanview Café the place some passengers select to eat virtually all their meals.
Oceanview Café
Looks as if there may be meals being served in Oceanview virtually any time of the day. I’ve eaten each breakfast on my cruise to this point in Oceanview. For one factor, the meals is nice. For one more, the floor-to-ceiling home windows provide superior ocean views. And, like all over the place else on the ship, the service is implausible.
There’s additionally the plus in Oceanview that I don’t have to look at a sure time. No reservations. Simply stroll in once I’m hungry. Meaning passengers can have an early risers’ breakfast beginning at 6:30 a.m. or a late breakfast as much as 11:15 a.m.
For lunch and dinner, Oceanview typically has themed buffets – American, Style of Germany,
Style of France, Style of Caribbean, Style of Mexico, Italian Buffet, Style of Asia and Extravaganza Buffet.
In Oceanview, passengers select what meals they need from the huge buffet, then crew members serve the meals onto diner’s plates. In my view, that ought to be completed all over the place on cruise ships, in buffet eating places and in grocery shops. I don’t purchase something from the grocery store salad bar in my hometown as a result of I’ve seen too many patrons use their fingers to choose up a free chunk or mess with the meals displayed to purchase. Yuck.
Additionally, when strolling into Oceanview, there are lengthy sinks for passengers to clean and dry their arms. Nice thought as a result of even when I washed my arms simply earlier than I left my cabin, I nonetheless have touched handrails and different surfaces on my technique to Oceanview. Hand sanitizer stations are additionally useful throughout the ship.
It took me a day or so to seek out the pizza place. Doesn’t each cruise ship have a pizza stand? It’s at one finish of Oceanview Café on Deck 14. Identical for the ice cream and frozen yogurt place. It’s at one other finish of Oceanview Café on Deck 14. A pleasant plus of the Apex ice cream is that they really make recent waffle cones. Very tasty.
A tip I all the time give first-time cruisers is to stroll your complete buffet earlier than filling a plate. On a cruise one time, a passenger checked out my seafood laden plate and requested the place I obtained that. Appears she had stopped on the first meals stations within the buffet and would slightly have what was on my plate.
Luminae
Luminae is unique for Retreat passengers and it’s my favourite restaurant on Superstar Apex. It’s the place I ate lunch on my first day aboard the ship. After I advised Luminae waiter Sanjeev that I liked the window seat the place he led me, Sanjeev made certain that’s the place I sat each time thereafter.
I’ve mentioned it earlier than however some cruise ships don’t wish to seat a solo cruiser in a well-liked window seat as a result of two individuals may sit there as an alternative of 1. So, any time I’ve a considerate crew member like Sanjeev on Superstar Apex, I actually admire it.
After all, having a window seat is just not sufficient if the restaurant meals isn’t good. However Luminae meals is great. My favourite was the lobster roll for lunch. Actually, I had it twice for lunch. Dinner selections embody grilled filet mignon, Moroccan hen, fettucine with calamari and shrimp, butter poached lobster, seared scallops, grilled barramundi and a lot extra.
Luminae has its personal particular cocktails together with Bourbon & Peaches with Maker’s Mark Bourbon, peaches, easy syrup and lemon; Spicy Ardour with Ketel One Vodka, ardour fruit, lime and jalapeno; Wandering Scotsman with Bulleit Rye, demerara and scotch; and extra. Bourbon & Peaches was my decide and an excellent one.
Positive Minimize Steakhouse $
The menu on this extra-charge restaurant provides a variety of alternative meats and premium seafood. I already knew the steak I needed, bone-in filet mignon. Nevertheless it was the steak sauce that had me stumped. Wouldn’t it be béarnaise sauce, home steak sauce, creamy au poivre sauce, bordelaise sauce, chimichurri sauce, black truffle butter or Maytag blue cheese sauce?
So I requested for recommendation from my waiter Jelid. He certain didn’t steer me incorrect. Since I don’t like sizzling or spicy, Jelid steered the home steak sauce. And it was good.
I additionally requested Jelid concerning the facet dishes and he steered one I wouldn’t have picked however am so glad I did. Selections included smoked bacon mac & cheese, sautéed spinach, gruyere tater tots, grilled asparagus, parmesan truffle fries, roasted mushrooms and creamed spinach.
Jelid steered the parmesan truffle fries. I often don’t order fries however Jelid mentioned if I didn’t like them he would being me one thing else. I positively preferred them. Actually, I cleaned my plate of all of the steak, potatoes and heirloom tomato caprese salad.
“I’d provide you with a hug if I may,” Jelid mentioned when he noticed my empty plate. I had skipped lunch to be prepared for Positive Minimize Steakhouse and it was positively price it.
Uncooked on 5 $
My Dad taught me to understand uncooked oysters once I was a toddler. I’m certain he would have liked Uncooked on 5. This Japanese restaurant provides costs a la carte, reminiscent of steamed mussels ($11), pork stomach skewers ($11), shrimp stir fry ($10), salmon roll ($9) and rather more.
I selected The Lotus with six oysters, three chilled shrimp and three crab claws $28. And the Alaskan California with snow crab, avocado, cucumber and roasted sesame seed ($10). Uncooked on 5 has a pleasant sake listing. For dessert, I loved a Tokyo Rose cocktail made with Pure Snow Sake, vodka, triple sec and cranberry juice.
Café al Bacio
Though it’s not a restaurant, this was one in every of my favourite spots. On deck 4, Café al Bacio is a superb place to have a dessert, cup of espresso or tea or a espresso cocktail. Sitting by a window, sipping a Speyside Latte (Macallan Scotch, Tia Maria Liqueur, espresso, easy syrup, milk and grated hazelnut) and listening to the reside music within the Grand Plaza goes to be one in every of my greatest Apex cruise recollections.
Cyprus Restaurant
That includes a Mediterranean ambiance, the Cyprus menu focuses on seafood.
Cosmopolitan Restaurant
Fare right here is new American with worldwide influences.
Normandie Restaurant
Normandie options up to date French delicacies in a contemporary upscale design.
Tuscan
With a contemporary classical design, Tuscan serves Italian impressed dishes that includes all home made pastas.
Blu
For AquaClass visitors, Blu serves up to date delicacies in a restaurant stuffed with pure mild from massive home windows, plus loads of blue design colours. I took pictures of the attractive restaurant however didn’t dine there as a result of I wasn’t in AquaClass.
Rooftop Backyard Grill $
A hidden gem, Rooftop Backyard Grill is an open-air restaurant behind the ship on deck 15. Tables are surrounded by greenery and windscreens so napkins and salads don’t blow away. This specialty grill provides premium burgers, barbecue, pork ribs, steaks and extra.
Eden $
Sorry I didn’t get to this one however, as I mentioned, no method I can eat in any respect the Apex eating places on my seven-day cruise. I used to be advised by different passengers that Eden is a culinary expertise. I additionally didn’t make it to The Mast Grill, SpaCafe, Le Grand Bistro or The Magic Carpet.
Guess meaning I have to take one other Superstar Apex cruise to see what I missed. Sounds good to me, a to-do listing entry for 2022.
Pictures by Jackie Sheckler Finch
- Blu has pretty blue décor. (cowl photograph)
- Shrimp is prepared for waiters to serve in Oceanview Café.
- Eating at Eden provides fantastic ocean surroundings.
- Heirloom tomato caprese at Positive Minimize Steakhouse.
- Oceanview Café lives as much as its identify with lovely ocean views.
- Strawberry cheesecake has a tasty presentation.
- A espresso cocktail at a Café al Bacio window seat is a favourite deal with.
See sailings right here Superstar Apex Cruises (cruisecompete.com)
Superstar Cruises | Superstar Cruise Traces (cruisecompete.com)
