Cindy Bertram

When Norwegian Cruise Line launched its Freestyle Cruising concept, along with Freestyle Dining, it brought more flexibility than had ever been seen in the cruise industry. Since then we’ve seen the growth of alternative dining venues, less regimentation and more flexibility, and a wider range of restaurants with different cuisines as cruise lines “bring land to sea.”

GRILLING AT SEA

The debut of Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Silhouette this past summer provided the cruise industry’s first interactive grill restaurant. The intimate, open-air Lawn Club Grill lets guests select their meats and have them cooked to order. Another part of the experience is an opportunity to serve as a “grill master” for your table, being paired with a chef and helping prepare the meal over a custom-built, ventilated grill. Grill masters receive a complimentary apron as a memento. Advance reservations are taken and a surcharge of $40 per person applies.