Gained a couple pounds? Can’t blame the cruise anymore

Now here are two words you don’t expect to see together…Cruise and Diet?  You’re kidding!  Well, cruise lines are actually taking this concept pretty seriously…enough to offer healthier cuisine.  That’s of course to keep up with the demand from their increasingly health-conscious customers.

We already see fewer midnight buffets.  Recently, trans fats went overboard.  Now we’re being offered healthier choices in the form of spa-cuisine.  Before you turn up your nose, let me relay a quick personal story.                

                                                                                                   

Celebrity Cruises implemented this healthier eating alternative awhile back.  My husband and I were drawn to the lighter fare, set up next to one of the pools aboard Celebrity’s Summit.  They had tacos with vegetarian choices, beautiful salmon filets (cold), tuna, just to name a few choices and we were pleasantly surprised (keeping in mind my husband’s favorite dinner is a thick, rare, gut-busting, platter-hiding steak).  In fact we chose the spa-style cuisine for our main dinner a couple of times.  On the flip side, there’s always the pizza/pasta bar if you’re hungry later.

Royal Caribbean (sister of Celebrity) has introduced its “Vitality” program, which weaves healthier meals and exercise into your cruise.  Carnival Cruises offers lighter fare with nutritional numbers visible on menus.  Whole grains and fresh fruits are playing a bigger role in the buffet line on Crystal Cruise journeys.

The bottom line is, cruise lines are offering healthier choices in an attempt to dispel the idea that cruising is about overeating.  Also, they’re looking to lure health-conscious baby boomers blindsided by visions of huge weight-gains.                                                                    

Oh, the horror of being trapped at sea with an unlimited supply of french fries and sausage links, or a 24-hour pizza bar! 

One other observation, the one thing that’s always struck me about cruise desserts, they’re not that sweet.  You’re not talking Cheesecake Factory richness or Claim Jumper’s 7-layer-cake.  Cruise dessert portions are usually pretty small and very light, easing our guilty conscious as we taste-test six varieties… 

So next time, give the vegetarian taco a try.  Truthfully, after you’ve started to give that fourth button on your formal night jacket a run for its money, your tummy is probably looking forward to some lighter fare.  

                                                                                       

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Cruising Gets Greener

When you think green these days, you most likely think of recycling, cars running on vegetable oil, no more plastic bags at grocery stores, etc.  But when Celebrity Cruises talks grass, they mean lawn.  (Insert your own grass jokes here).   But seriously, lawn on a cruise ship?

Yep, they’re calling it The Lawn Club.  In fact here’s the exact description from Celebrity’s website:

The Lawn Club:

A freshly manicured lawn on the highest deck of Celebrity Solstice.  Enjoy casual outdoor activities in a decidedly Country Club atmosphere and let the grass between your toes take you places no cruise has gone before.

Patio on the Lawn:

Luxury adopts a casual, country club charm at the Patio on the Lawn.  Overlooking the beautiful The Lawn Club, it’s an ideal place to read the morning paper, your current novel, or enjoy a cup of gourmet coffee with friends.

The lawn area is expected to be a focal point of the new ship, which launches in December.  Celebrity’s CEO Dan Hanrahan says the Lawn Club will cover about a half-acre of the ship’s very top deck.  He says they originally considered installing just a putting green but as the idea of natural grass grew, they decided to expand the area.  So now you’ll be able to putt, picnic, play and enjoy the feel of real lawn under your bare feet.

In fact it took quite a bit of testing to figure out what would grow at sea.  Landscape architects, irrigation specialists in addition to soil and turf experts were all involved in the process.

It’s a concept Hanrahan hopes will bring an air of sophistication to Celebrity’s newest cruise ship. 

Solstice’s inaugural cruise is set to debut Dec. 14, 2008.  It’s a seven-night, Eastern Caribbean cruise, roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale.

FYI, my husband and I cruised on the Celebrity Summit a couple of years go.  It’s a beauty.  Food was very good.  We liked the separate dining areas.  We aren’t big on eating in the dining room every night.  Like to explore other options.  We shared an anniversary dinner in the Normandie Restaurant.  We’re still talking about that dinner.  But that’s for another post.   Overall, Celebrity is a luxurious line with large ships.  The cruise deals are off season which means, while the kids are in school.  Happy sailing!      

sl~cooper                                                                      

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