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Traveling through food

Food & Travel Blog

Royal Caribbean Food Review: EVERYTHING I ate on a 4-night Independence of the Seas Cruise With pictures

12/29/2025

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Main Dining Room Breakfast on Independence of the Seas

We usually love to order room service for breakfast and have a hot pot of coffee, some pastries, fresh fruit, and yogurt delivered right to our cabin - for free on Royal Caribbean! 
​
But we also like to head down to the main dining room at least one day of the cruise. 
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Fried Eggs with Mushrooms Main Dining Room Breakfast | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas
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Grits with brown sugar, butter, maple syrup - Main Dining Room Breakfast | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas

main Dining Room Breakfast Menu | Independence of the Seas

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Main Dining Room Menu on Independence of the Seas

Lunch on Independence of the Seas

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British-style fish and chips on Independence of the Seas
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Fried chicken tenders at Fish n Ships
Fish & Ships Full Review

Appetizers in the main dining room on Independence of the seas

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Caesar Salad and Butternut Squash Soup | Main Dining Room | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas
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Tomato Soup | Main Dining Room | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas
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Minestrone Soup | Main Dining Room | Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas

Dinner in the Main DIning Room on Independence of the Seas

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Vegetarian pesto pasta on Independence of the Seas
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Steak dinner in the main dining room
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Medium steak on Royal Caribbean
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Baked salmon on Independence of the Seas
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Curry with naan bread on Independence of the Seas

Some of the most flavorful food on any Royal Caribbean cruise we have been on has consistently been the Indian food - it's so, so good!
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Indian chicken curry with rice in the main dining room
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Roast beef with asparagus and mashed potatoes on Independence of the Seas

Desserts in the main dining room on Independence of the seas

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Boston Creme Pie | Main Dining Room Dessert on Independence of the Seas
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Carrot Cake | Main Dining Room Dessert on Independence of the Seas
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Rainbow Fruit Bowl | Main Dining Room Dessert on Independence of the Seas
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Chocolate Mousse Cake | Main Dining Room Dessert on Independence of the Seas
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Peanut butter crisp square | Main Dining Room Dessert on Independence of the Seas
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Chocolate chip cookies | Main Dining Room Dessert on Independence of the Seas

Main Dining Room Wine Menu


Wine in the main dining room can be purchased by the bottle or by the glass. 

Use your Crown & Anchor rewards to enjoy 50% off glasses of wine

Use your Royal Caribbean Beverage Package to order wine in the main dining room .
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Wine by the glass | Main Dining Room on Independence of the Seas
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White Wine, Rose, Sparkling Wine & Champagne Menu | Independence of the Seas Main Dining Room
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Red Wine and 'Adventurous Sparkling Wine' Menu | Independence of the Seas Main Dining Room


Kids Menu in the main dining room on Independence of the Seas
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Even the pickiest of eaters can find something to enjoy in the main dining room. Anyone can order from the kid's menu on Royal Caribbean, not just kids. ;) 
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Kids Menu | Independence of the Seas Main Dining Room
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Le Grand Bistro on Celebrity Ascent: Specialty Dining Review

12/22/2025

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With so many outstanding dining options included in your cruise fare onboard Celebrity, you may be like me and wonder "Are the specialty dining options really worth the extra cost?" 

It's a great question! In this article you will get to see what the dining experience is like at Le Grand Bistro onboard Celebrity's newest ship the Ascent. You'll learn how much it costs, what the ambiance is like, and our favorite dishes that we tried. 

​Allons-y! :) 

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Le Grand Bistro Celebrity Ascent

In this post: 

  • About Le Grand Bistro 
  • Le Grand Bistro Menu Celebrity Ascent 
  • Restaurant Ambiance at Le Grand Bistro
  • Cruise Food Photos - Le Grand Bistro
  • Le Grand Bistro Review 
  • ​Book Your Celebrity Cruise
celebrity cruise food pictures
celebrity cruise food pictures
celebrity cruise food pictures
celebrity cruise food pictures
celebrity cruise food pictures
 

Le Grand Bistro 


If you're dreaming of visiting France but find yourself on a Celebrity cruise to the Caribbean, don't worry! The boulangerie-patisserie Le Grand Bistro on Ascent will definitely do in a pinch! ;) 

And PS you can find plenty of Celebrity Cruises stopping in France ;D 

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Outside Le Grand Bistro at night. The doors close for Le Petite Chef dining experience.

Le Grand Bistro is located on Deck 4, midship, between its upscale French dining neighbor, Le Voyage ​by Daniel Boulud and the buzzing Craft Social Bar where you can enjoy beer flights and bar bites. 
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Fresh Baked Breads on Display at Le Grand Bistro

​Whether you sit down to dine at dinner, enjoy a casual lunch, or prefer a demi baguette and a latte at breakfast  - Le Grand Bistro has something for you to try!
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Le Grand Bistro Menu on Ascent

Le Petit Chef Menu:

You have a few options if you're interested in dining at Le Grand Bistro.

The interactive dining experience Le Petite Chef can be reserved in the evenings for a fixed price. 

The Menu on Ascent was as follows:
  • Magical Soup: Creamy Potato Leek
  • Artificial Intelligence: Citrus Poached Cod Loin
  • Magic Potion: Beef Tenderloin En Croute
  • Candy Land: Chocolate Cremieux

As is the case in all specialty dining restaurants, 20% gratuity is added automatically to your check.

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Le Petit Chef Menu Celebrity Ascent

Le Grand Bistro Main Menu


On the other hand, if you're craving a morning croissant or an afternoon croque monsieur then the a la carte menu is for you! 

In addition to always-available starters, soups, salads, entrees, sandwiches, charcuterie, and pastries you will find "Plats du Jour" (Dish of the day)

If one of these French classic tickles your fancy you will want to time your visit accordingly each special dish is only available on a set day of the week. 
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Le Grand Bistro Menu Celebrity Ascent

Le Grand Bistro Cocktail, wine, and beverage menu

Sip in style with French cocktails and wines or a hand crafted espresso-based beverage. Prices range from $4 for a single espresso to 25 for a glass of Veuve Clicquot, Yellow Label Champagne.

Le Grand Bistro Dessert Menu


​All of the desserts and tarts at Le Grand Bistro cost $5 each and include the following tasty treats:
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  • Crème brûlée 
  • Profiteroles
  • Floating Island
  • Apple Tatin
  • Old Fashion Chocolate Mousse
  • Flan Parisien
  • Apple Tart
  • Normandie Tart
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Dessert Menu at Le Grand Bistro

Le Grand Bistro To go Menu

Early in the day you will be delighted to see a counter full of freshly baked goods available for $2 a piece. The offerings may include:
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  • Croissant
  • Savory Loaf Focaccia
  • Miniature Braids
  • Demi Baguette
  • Sourdough Loaf
  • Madeleines of the Day
  • Fougasse of the Day
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To Go Menu at Le Grand Bistro
 
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Lunch Experience at Le Grand Bistro on Ascent

We decided to visit during lunch as we didn't want to miss dinner with our families in the main dining room. As the bistro was not especially crowded on the day of our visit, we chose to sit beside the window in order to enjoy the ocean views.

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Dining by a huge window at Le Grand Bistro

​The meal started with our choice of bread and butter. In the main dining room you always receive a basket of assorted bread/rolls/etc and admittedly it did feel fancier to have the slices hand delivered at Le Grand Bistro. 
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celebrity cruise food pictures
celebrity cruise food pictures
The bread was really good and I wish the basket came back around during the meal without having to ask. 

French Cocktails - $12 + $17

The sommelier handles all beverage orders.

​Shown here are the Lemonade Provençal and Champs-Élysées. 

Lemonade Provençal - Fresh lemon juice, lavender, sage, thyme, rosemary, Plymouth Gin

Champs-Élysées - Cognac, Green Chartreuse, Fresh Lemon, Angostura
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French Cocktails

Steak Frites - $24

Maître d'Hôtel Butter - a compound butter consisting of butter, salt, lemon, and parsley. 
celebrity cruise food pictures
celebrity cruise food pictures

Lobster Bisque - $10

Lobster Bisque with Tarragon and Puff Pastry - Peeling back the cute little puff pastry beret (lol) to show you the soup inside! 
celebrity cruise food pictures
celebrity cruise food pictures
celebrity cruise food pictures
By the way, have you ever wondered what the difference is between a soup and a bisque? I hadn't until just this very moment! In a nutshell, a bisque is a type of soup that has a thick, rick, creamy base and is traditionally  made with some sort of shellfish. These days non-seafood creamy soups are also called bisques.

Take for example the following food math equation: tomato soup + cream = tomato bisque. Voila!  

The perfect companion for soup is a salad, right?   We did, but didn't, end up with 2 salads. You will understand by the end. 
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Baby Arugula Salad - $8

Big fan of arugula over here as well as the beauty of simple ingredients that are well prepared making the best of bites!

This baby arugula salad had toasted pine nuts, balsamic vinaigrette and 3 deep fried balls of goat cheese more elegantly known as croquettes. 

After procuring this glamour shot we got to wondering where the pork belly was... and the poached egg? 
celebrity cruise food pictures
Baby Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese Croquettes

​Wait.. Was this even the salad we ordered. Oops. No it wasn't. ​Quickly the correct salad arrived. 
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Frisée Lardon Salad - $8

Featuring crispy pork belly, poached egg, pickled shallots and parmesan on curly endive, this salad was a treat. Perfectly poached, if you're team dippy-egg yoke then this picture will no doubt bring you joy. 
celebrity cruise food pictures
Lardon Salad
celebrity cruise food pictures
Perfectly Poached Egg
The whimsical texture and freshness of curly endive played nicely with the salty, fatty pork belly and the bright yellow yoke of the poached egg added a pleasing pop of color and richness. 
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Crème Brûlée - $5

Caramelized vanilla egg custard with fresh berries.

Creme Brûlée is a quintessential French dessert much loved by cruise passengers. You may never order it out back home, but on a cruise you can usually indulge in several of these during your voyage. 

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Creme Brûlée at Le Grand Bistro
We decided to try the creme brûlée at Le Grand Chef because we genuinely wanted to know if it was different than the "free" creme brûlée available in the main dining room.

To complete the experiment we ordered creme brûlée at dinner in the main dining room that night and we can confirm that YES, it is different! 
​When you are paying extra you want to know you are getting a different product, a better quality, an advanced technique, a personal touch.. 
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Make it at home:

While you can use your oven broiler to caramelize the sugar topping, it's way more fun to use a butane torch ;) 


​Chocolate Chip Cookie - $3

I've never been to France and I have no concept of what a French-style chocolate chip cookie should be like. For context, I'm an American who loves a chocolate chip cookie that has that little bit of crunch on the outside, a super chewy inside and the deep toffee notes that only come from the labor of love that is known as browning butter. 

When I ordered a $3 chocolate chip cookie I was envisioning a large bakery style cookie. I didn't expect it to be the cookie of my dreams, but I also didn't expect it to be this little fluffy nugget. lol

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Chocolate Chip Cookie at Le Grand Bistro
This chocolate chip cookie was more on the cake-like side and it honestly wasn't my jam.

I was teetering on whether to order it or not but overhead a lady at the table next to me tell the waiter that they are the best chocolate chip cookies she has ever had and that she had been coming down to order one every day! That locked me in.

The fact that I didn't care for it just goes to show how everyone's tastes are different. There is no right or wrong when it comes to food, it's all preference. So take posts like this with a grain of salt. Read them through the lens of the preferences you know you have already.

​If you know you love cake-like cookies then go for this chocolate chip cookie! If you're not a fan of cake-y cookies then skip it (unless you just want to see for yourself which is also cool) and try a more French-y option like a Madeleine or a cherry danish! 

Mocha - $5

Espresso, fresh steamed milk, cocoa powder
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Mocha on Celebrity Ascent
 
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Le Grand Bistro Ambience 

Le Grand Bistro is very cute "inside" with a decorative piece constructed of French style baking dishes, pots and pans. The walk up counter where you can order pastries and fresh baked bread along with an espresso pulled from the copper espresso machine is a lovely concept along with the seating "outside" mimicking European al fresco dining. 
celebrity cruise bistro pictures
It's important to note that just outside of le Grand Bistro is the Grand Plaza. Shown below is a view of the Martini Bar at night on the lower level of the Grand Plaza (deck 3) 
celebrity cruise pictures
celebrity cruise pictures
Because various activities and music take place in the Grand plaza, during the day time when the doors of Le Grand Bistro are open, you lose a bit of the cute French bistro vibes. Consider checking the daily schedule and booking your reservation strategically.

I was surprised that during our visit there was no French music playing in the bistro. I would have really enjoyed that as well as having some of the shoji doors closed to block out the distracting lights and activity of the plaza and turn up the French charm. ;) 
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LE Grand Bistro Review on Celebrity Ascent 


​Everything we ate at Le Grand Bistro was good, with the exception of the chocolate chip cookie that I found underwhelming based on my chocolate-chip-cookie-girl high standards.

We had steaks in the main dining room that rivaled the Steak Frites in Le Grand Bistro which is testimony to how good the food on Celebrity is. On the other hand, the salads and the lobster bisque were unique items we didn't see elsewhere during our cruise.

​The
 Frisee Lardon Salad was excellent and unique. I would order that again next time I dine at Le Grand Bistro. 
​

More Celebrity Ascent Reviews:

Tap a Celebrity Ascent Review Below: ​
See all of our Celebrity Ascent Reviews here ​

The baby arugula salad was taken away when we noted that we had been given the wrong salad and that was a bummer as we didn't get to try it to share our thoughts with you. I'm sure the waiter would have left it if we asked, but it happened so quickly that he shuttled it away in an effort to please us and bring the lardon salad asap. 

The Lobster Bisque was very tasty. The puff pastry top and fancy bowl are always fun. I just wish there was a touch more bisque and that the lobster meat was more prominent. 

celebrity cruise food pictures
celebrity cruise food pictures
celebrity cruise food pictures
celebrity cruise food pictures
celebrity cruise food pictures
Would you have ordered any of these dishes?
​If you dine at Le Grand Bistro on your next Celebrity Cruise, I'd love to hear your thoughts! 
​
Thanks to Celebrity for hosting this meal. All opinions are my own.
​
 

Ready to Book your next celebrity cruise?

Are you ready to book your next Celebrity Cruise?
Marissa Books Travel is ready to assist! :) 


​
About this cruise:
On this 7 night Labadee & Cayman Cruise on Celebrity Ascent we sailed in an Infinite Veranda cabin. We visited the ports of Nassau, Perfect Day at Coco Cay, and Grand Cayman. Stops at Labadee were paused during this time period and exchanged for a Perfect Day visit. 
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Free Gelato on Celebrity Cruises for Captains Club Members

12/13/2025

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​Being a repeat cruiser on Celebrity Cruises brings you some added benefits and perks as part of their Captains Club loyalty program. 

Free Scoop of Gelato


​Celebrity makes their gelato fresh daily and once you have sailed with the line one time, you can enjoy the free scoop of premium gelato perk from your second cruise on! 

This post is part of the series: Celebrity Apex Cruise Review
Filed Under: Client Travel Photos •  Real Traveler Experiences
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Pistachio Gelato on Celebrity Apex | Client Photos | Celebrity Cruise Reviews

​Simply go to the counter, request the most delicious flavor available, and when you scan your Sea Pass the premium gelato will ring up as $0, as the perk has been loaded on to your card. Yay! 
​

Is there free ice cream and gelato on board?

To be clear, yes there are! You can find free gelato every day in the main dining room, in Oceanview Cafe, and soft serve at Scoops and Mast Grill. 

This free scoop of gelato captain's club perk is for the premium offerings that are normally an extra charge, for instance at Cafe Al Bacio & Gelateria. 
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Celebrity Cruise Review

More from this Celebrity Apex Cruise:
This cruise is heading to: St. Kitts •  San Juan, Puerto Rico •  Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
  • Port Canaveral Pre-Cruise Hotel Review 
  • Celebrity Apex P2 Porthole Veranda Room Tour
  • ​Oceanview Cafe Photo Review - Celebrity Apex 
  • Free Gelato on Celebrity Cruises for Captains Club Members - ​You are here! ​
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Oceanview Cafe Review | Celebrity Apex Cruise Food Review with Photos

12/13/2025

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A photo review of Oceanview Cafe on Celebrity Apex!
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This post is part of the series: Celebrity Apex Cruise Review
Filed Under: Client Travel Photos •  Real Traveler Experiences


​Chocolate Fountain on Celebrity Apex


Embarkation day on Celebrity Apex starts off on a high note with the beloved chocolate fountain!

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​Colorful fruit displays, fluffy marshmallows, and moist cakes - all ready to be skewered and covered in chocolate at your request!

Shrimp Cocktail w/ marie Rose Sauce

By the way, Marie Rose Sauce is cocktail sauce :) 
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A Magnificent Shrimp Tower!

The way food is prepared and displayed on a cruise is truly a work of art and a joy to behold!

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This cruise is heading to: St. Kitts •  San Juan, Puerto Rico •  Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Celebrity Cruise Reviews:

  • More from this Celebrity Apex Cruise:
  • Port Canaveral Pre-Cruise Hotel Review 
  • Celebrity Apex P2 Porthole Veranda Room Tour
  • ​Oceanview Cafe Photo Review - Celebrity Apex - ​You are here! 
0 Comments

Fish & Ships Review: Was It Worth It?

9/1/2025

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Fish & Ships Review | Independence of the Seas


Fish & Ships on Royal Caribbean is a complimentary dining option offering, well.. you guessed it fish and chips!
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Fish & Ships on Embarkation Day ❤︎ Independence of the Seas Review

Is Fish & Ships open on Embarkation Day?


Yes. Fish & Ships was open on embarkation day during our 4-night cruise and I recommend grabbing a bite here on day one if you want to avoid a busy windjammer buffet. 

Fish & Ships Menu | Independence of the Seas


In the past, Fish & Ships was a paid casual dining option, but for the last few years it has been free, aside from an up-charge for a Fried Lobster Tail basket & chips (fries) at $12. 

I'd like to try the fried lobster tail basket next time and let you know if it's worth the splurge ;)

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Fish and Ships menu on Independence of the Seas

What's on the menu at Fish & Ships?


​For free, you can enjoy: 
  • Fish & Chips with tartar sauce
  • Chicken Fingers & Chips with honey mustard
  • Fried Shrimp & Chips with cocktail sauce
  • Crispy Fish Sandwich - lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce 
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Fish & Ships Independence of the Seas Food Pics


We started with one order of fish & chips and chicken fingers without fries (gotta pace yourself on a cruise lol). 
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Fish and Chips + Chicken Fingers on Independence of the Seas ❤︎ Fish & Ships Review


​Chicken Fingers (no chips)


We requested no chips with the chicken fingers. There is a classic, thick batter on these chicken fingers. 

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Chicken Fingers ❤︎ Royal Caribbean Food Pics

Fish & Chips


​The British style fish and chips comes with thick cut chips (french fries) and battered white fish. 
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Fish and Chips ❤︎ Cruise Food Pics

The batter was light and delightfully crunchy after being freshly deep fried - this could be dangerous!

Please note: I saw a review online indicating that the fish is battered in chicken finger batter, which is clearly not British style fish, and I think that must have been an anomaly as we did not experience that at all during our cruise. 

Please try Fish & Ships for yourself, the batter is delicious! :) 

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Poolside dining on Independence of the Seas at Fish & Ships

Royal Caribbean Fish & Ships Review Independence of the Seas - Is it Worth It?

Absolutely, it's worth it! It's free - how could it not be worth it?! ;p

No, but seriously, Fish & Ships is one of my favorite complimentary dining locations on Royal Caribbean cruise ships. 

Of the chicken fingers, fish, and fried shrimp the fried fish is easily our favorite and the best thing on the Fish & Ships menu, in our opinion.

Fried shrimp take second place, followed by chicken fingers, but I bet all the kiddies love those unlimited chicken fingers and while they do, the parents can enjoy something a bit more "grown up" with the fish and shrimp!

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Which Royal Caribbean Ships have Fish & Ships?


Fish & Ships is included in your cruise fare and is located on the pool deck of Independence of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas.

I wish more ships had this casual dining option! 

No need to stop the poolside fun when you're hungry, just send a delegate over to Fish & Ships and have a taste of the UK on your cruise! ;) 
​
Book a Cruise with Fish & Ships

MORE FROM THIS 4 NIGHT CRUISE ON INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS:


  • Everything We Ate on a 4-Night Royal Caribbean Cruise
  • Connecting Balcony Photo Tour and Review | Independence of the Seas Cabin 
  • Entertainment & Activities on Independence of the Seas
  • Perfect Day at CocoCay Review 
    ​

For Fish And Chips Lovers:

  • The Water Dog Pub Fish & Chips Review
  • DIY Air Fryer Fried Fish 


​Royal Caribbean Blog:

  • Last Day of The Cruise - Symphony of the Seas Cruise Blog
  • Visiting Labadee Haiti - Royal Caribbeans Private Resort For Cruise Passengers
  • Do They Still Have Free Lobster Night Cruises? 
  • Exploring Symphony of the Seas on a Port Day

Weekend Cruise • 4 Night Cruise
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Embarkation Day Celebrity Ascent Review | Celebrity Cruise Blog

3/17/2025

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Embarkation Day on Celebrity Ascent | Celebrity Cruise Blog


There's a special thrill when you pull into the port and see your cruise ship in person on embarkation day.

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Celebrity Ascent in Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades

This 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise on Celebrity Ascent departed from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 
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In This Post:

  • Arriving at Port Everglades
  • Celebrity Infinite Veranda Review
  • Oceanview Cafe Lunch
  • Fort Lauderdale Sail Away
  • Cosmopolitan Menu
  • Ascent Main Dining Room Food Pics
  • More from this 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise Blog
  • Book a Celebrity Cruise! Celebrity Travel Agent 
    ​
 

Checking in at Port Everglades | Celebrity cruise Review Blog


We had already checked in for our cruise on the Celebrity App, but as you can imagine from this picture, checking in is an efficient process in this elegant cruise port terminal. 

We were dropped off outside at 1pm, took the following pic at 1:04pm and were inside our room by 1:18pm!
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A classy and efficient check-in process

​When can you check in for a Celebrity Cruise?
​
You can check in for your Celebrity Cruise 45 days before embarkation using the Celebrity Cruises app or website. 

 

Infinite Veranda | Celebrity Ascent Review


We spent the week in an infinite veranda stateroom 8280. This is a balcony cabin on Celebrity Ascent. 

See Also: Celebrity Infinite Veranda Review with Photos | Pros & Cons

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Infinite Veranda 8280 on Celebrity Ascent Cruise Ship
 


​Lunch at Oceanview Cafe | Celebrity Ascent Review


I know cruise lines are trying to steer away from using the word buffet because of the negative connotation, but if you're wondering about the buffet on Celebrity Ascent called Oceanview Cafe, it's exceptional! 
​
This asian stir-fry with chicken, beef, and mixed vegetables was a great start to the cruise! 
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Stir fry from Oceanview Cafe on Celebrity Ascent

See Also: Oceanview Cafe Review | Celebrity Ascent Buffet Food Review
​
 

SAIL AWAY from Port Everglades | Celebrity Cruise Blog


One of the best things about having a balcony on a cruise is being able to enjoy sailing away from each port.
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Escorted out of Port Everglades

We were treated to a lovely sunset and dramatic cloud formations as we sailed out of Fort Lauderdale cruise port. 
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Sailaway from Infinite Veranda on Ascent Cruise Ship

A pastel Fort Lauderdale skyline bid us farewell and it was time to enjoy our first dinner in the Cosmopolitan Restaurant main dining room. 

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See ya in a week, Fort Lauderdale!
 

Cosmopolitan Restaurant Menu | Celebrity Ascent Review

There are a few things to note about the main dining room menus onboard Celebrity Ascent. 

There are 4 main dining rooms - Cosmopolitan, Tuscan, Cyprus and Normandie.
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Cosmopolitan Restaurant Menu | Celebrity Ascent

Each dining room has Exclusive Starters and Entrees as seen on the bottom left as well as featured cocktails. These stay the same every night. 

On the right side of the menu are the Starters and Entrees that are the same in all of the restaurants, but change every night. 

The Celebrity Classics are always available to you. 
​
 

Cosmopolitan Main Dining Room | Celebrity Cruise Blog


​Each of the 4 main dining rooms has their own style of decor and you will always be presented with a basket of freshly baked bread, rolls, and breadsticks along with a trio of butter and spreads for the bread. 


There is always a whipped butter, but to keep things exciting each night you will have different spreads like roasted red pepper or garlic to try. 

Your sommelier will come to your table for any wine or cocktail orders. 
​

Cauliflower Flan | Celebrity Cruise Food Pics

Poached shrimp, iberico ham, green apple, pumpernickel croutons 
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Cauliflower Flan | Celebrity Ascent

This unique starter is available from the Cosmopolitan Exclusives menu on Celebrity Ascent. It was a feast for the eyes and really a delightful journey tasting my way through this work of art. 

Asian Consommé | CELEBRITY CRUISE FOOD PICS


Chicken, Mushrooms, Ginger
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Asian Consommé | Celebrity Ascent

A light and flavorful consommé! 
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Classic "Caesar" Salad | CELEBRITY CRUISE FOOD PICS


Hearts of Romaine, Garlic Croutons, Parmesan Cheese
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Classic Caesar Salad | Celebrity Ascent

I normally love a Caesar salad on a cruise, but found this one a bit heavy on the dressing though others in our party felt it was just right. :) 

Pan Seared Aged Sirloin Steak | CELEBRITY CRUISE FOOD PICS


Roasted Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, Herb Compound Butter
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Pan Seared Aged Sirloin Steak | Celebrity Ascent

​Starting a cruise off with a steak dinner is never a bad move, is it?! =)

GrilLed New York Sirloin Steak | CELEBRITY CRUISE FOOD PICS


Beurre Maitre d'Hotel: Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables
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Grilled New York Sirloin Steak | Celebrity Ascent

This New York Sirloin Steak is available on the Celebrity Classics Menu every night. 
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COSMOPOLITAN Dessert MENU | CELEBRITY ASCENT REVIEW


Celebrity brings your dessert menu separately after your meal much like a traditional restaurant, whereas you'll remember from previous Royal Caribbean Blogs that they have one menu including desserts. 

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Cosmopolitan Dessert Menu | Celebrity Ascent

Carrot Cake Cosmopolitan | CELEBRITY Ascent FOOD PICS


Carrot Cake with Candied Walnut Crunch, Carrot Sauce, Brown Butter Caramel Sauce
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Carrot Cake | Celebrity Ascent

The Carrot Cake is a Cosmopolitan Exclusive dessert on Celebrity Ascent. 
​
New Category: Noteworthy Carrot Cakes
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Carrot Cake | Celebrity Ascent

The carrot cake was beautifully presented and delicious. ​I would love to recreate this carrot cake for Inspired by Travel.  

As you can see the culinary experience on Celebrity is an elevated one and we are off to a strong start! 
​
 

More from this Celebrity Cruise Review Blog:


  • Infinite Veranda Review with Pictures
  • Le Grand Bistro Specialty Dining Review
  • Raw on 5 Menu with Prices
  • Day 1 - Embarkation Day on Celebrity Ascent - you are here!
  • Day 2 - One Day in Nassau on a Cruise
  • Day 3 - Captains Club Welcome Toast on a Sea Day
  • Day 4 -  Sea Day on a Celebrity Cruise
  • Day 5 - Falmouth Jamaica Cruise Port
  • Day 6 - Georgetown Grand Cayman Cruise Port
  • Day 7 - Sea Day on Celebrity Ascent
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Royal Caribbean Review Blog - Last Day Of the Cruise

3/10/2025

1 Comment

 
 

Royal Caribbean Review Blog - Last Day Of The Cruise

You've made it to the final day of our Royal Caribbean Cruise review! 
​

In This Post:

  • Royal Caribbean Brunch Menu - Main Dining Room
  • Macallan Tasting
  • In-Room Laundry
  • Royal Caribbean Bon Voyage Menu - Main Dining Room
  • On Air Karaoke
  • Sorrentos Pizza
  • Disembarkation Tips
  • Disembarkation Times
  • Royal Caribbean Room Service Menus
  • Laundry Prices
  • Book A Cruise

 

Brunch In the Main Dining Room


​After sleeping in, we decided to take advantage of our last chance to eat brunch in the main dining room on Symphony of the Seas. 
​

Royal Caribbean Brunch Menu


The main dining room Brunch Menu had a nice variety of breakfast-y choices and lunch-y choices, besides desserts - this is a cruise after all!
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Royal Caribbean Brunch Menu | Symphony of the Seas Review

Here's what we went for: 
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Baked Potato Soup


Rich and creamy, served with cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream and fresh chives.
​

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Baked Potato Soup | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics

Fried Chicken & Waffles


Tender chicken fried golden brown, warm homemade waffles and a side of Tabasco®. infused honey.

Gotta love hot honey! :D 

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Fried Chicken & Waffles | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics

Eggs Your Way


​Two (or one if you only want one!) farm fresh eggs served any style with (very!) crispy bacon, sausage links (skipped), hash browns and white or wheat toast.


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Eggs Your Way | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics

NY Bagel and Lox


​A plate of smoked Atlantic salmon, sliced cucumber, pickled onions, arugula and cream cheese served with your choice of plain or everything bagel.


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NY Bagel & Lox | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics
This one was a miss for me. I was excited for it, but in the end I didn't get the everything bagel I hoped for and the bagel itself was cold and tough. I felt really bad that I did not finish this. You can't win them all!
​

Key Lime Pie


​Tangy key lime custard in a brown butter graham cracker crust.


Not even a huge key lime pie fan in general, but this made up for the bagel miss. :)
​

Royal Chocolate cake


​Layers of dark chocolate cake and decadent chocolate.

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Royal Chocolate Cake | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics

After Brunch we strolled around the ship some more to see what details we could learn for you to help you on your next Royal Caribbean cruise! 
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Macallan Tasting 


On the Royal Caribbean app there was a Macallan Tasting at 1pm in Vintages. This is a paid activity and you can see the set up at this special table. 
​
While the app indicates that there is a fee for the activity, it does not indicate how much the tasting costs. 
​
See Also: Free Liquor Tasting & History of Whisky Event on a Cruise
​

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Hot Sauce at El Loco Fresh


We carried on to El Loco Fresh to capture a shot of some of the hot sauces they have as mentioned here. 
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Hot Sauce at El Loco Fresh | Symphony of the Seas Review

Then we proceeded to the pool deck for some final runs down the water slides and on the flow rider. 
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Cruise Ship Laundry

The last bit of laundry needed done before we disembark the cruise ship, and in order to help things dry more quickly we implemented a few tips: 
​

We propped the shower door open with the trash can and left the bathroom door open. This allowed more airflow to the clothes as they dried on the line. 
​
See Also: How To Do Laundry On A Cruise
​

​Next thing we knew it was time for our final dinner of this Southern Caribbean Cruise Review!

 
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Royal Caribbean Bon Voyage Menu

The Bon Voyage menu is served on the final night of your Royal Caribbean Cruise. 

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Royal Caribbean Bon Voyage Menu | Symphony of the Seas Review

Here's what we ordered!
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Seafood Cake


Panko breaded and deep-fried until golden brown, served with mango-carrot slaw and a spicy garlic.

Mediterranean Tapas Medley


A spread of hummus, chilled tzatziki, classic Greek salad and soft pita bread.
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Mediterranean Tapas Medley | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics

Vegetable Greek Moussaka


Layers of grilled eggplant, Roma tomatoes and tender potatoes and onions, topped with panko breadcrumbs and served with oregano-tomato salsa.


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Vegetable Moussaka | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics

Grilled Steak with Chimichurri


​Marinated strip steak prepared to order with chimichurri, garlic potato wedges and tender roasted vegetables.


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Grilled Steak with Chimichurri | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics

Black Forest Tart


​Vanilla tart shell wth rich dark chocolate ganache and cherry filling, topped with raspberry whipped cream, lemon zest and a maraschino cherry.

Crema Catalana


​Smooth and rich Spanish-style custard finished with a crackly caramelized sugar topping.
​

Huge shoutout to our incredible dining team - Wiryawan and Bayu - who took care of our group all 8 nights of this Southern Caribbean Cruise!
​
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Best Dining Staff | Symphony of the Seas Review
 
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On Air Karaoke


Karaoke was buzzing on the last day of the cruise in On Air in the Royal Promenade. I've never done karaoke on a cruise ship myself, but it's great fun to watch others have a blast with it. 

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The Night Before Disembarkation


The sad moment has arrived when we start to see all the suitcases lining up in the hallways. If you would like luggage assistance you need to pack your bags the night before and place them in the hallway.

​You can then pick them up after you disembark. 

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Night Before Disembarkation on Symphony of the Seas

In our case, we prefer to keep our luggage with us so we don't have to rush off the ship in the morning. We only have carry-on bags anyways, so it's not too burdensome. 

After packing up our bags we ran up to Sorrento's Pizza one last time. 
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Royal Caribbean Sorrento's Pizza Menu


Nothing fuels you quite like Sorrento's :p 

 
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Royal Caribbean Disembarkation Tips:

The cruise line provides some helpful tips for an easy departure and explains what to do the night before and the morning of departure. These are very helpful tips for first time cruisers and veterans alike. 
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Royal Caribbean Disembarkation Tips

Needless-to-say, I appreciate the bottom right corner outlining the locations and hours food will be available on disembarkation day. :p

 
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Royal Caribbean Disembarkation Times

You may be wondering, "When can I get off the ship? How early can I disembark?"

​On this particular cruise the scheduled departure times were between 7:15am and 9:45am. They often call all luggage tag numbers before the listed time of 9:45. 
​
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Royal Caribbean Disembarkation Times

If you are "Self-assist" meaning you have your own luggage, you can depart at any time. You do not have to depart at 7:15am. 

As we usually don't have a flight scheduled until later in the day we take our time, try to enjoy some breakfast, and make our way off the ship toward the end. :)
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Windjammer on Disembarkation Day


If you can't make it to the main dining room on the day of departure, you can always head to the Windjammer, Park Cafe, or Solarium Bistro for "regular" guests (meaning non-suites).
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View of a Princess Ship in Florida Cruise Port from Windjammer Buffet on Royal Caribbean


​A few more helpful details


As we did a final pass through the room we thought we would share a few documents in the cabin that could be helpful to you.

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Royal Caribbean Show Summary


On embarkation day we received a printout which described the main scheduled entertainment shows onboard during our cruise. On the reverse side it outlined the days and time each would be showing. 
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Royal Caribbean Entertainment Symphony of the Seas

I found this very helpful as you can decide if it's something you are interested in or not and plot out when you want to reserve tickets.

Remember, all the shows are free, but you do need to reserve a space in advance to ensure you'll have a seat! 

You can see all this information on the Royal Caribbean App too, which is great, but something about having it consolidated to one piece of paper and seeing it all at one time was very appealing to me. :) 

 
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Royal Caribbean Laundry PRices

Here's the price list for Laundry Service on our Royal Caribbean Cruise. If you cant DIY your laundry, then here are your options. Please check your Crown and Anchor Loyalty Status perks for any applicable discounts on laundry. :) 
​
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Royal Caribbean Laundry Prices

Prices range from $1.99 to $14.99 per item, but you can usually also send an entire bag for around $35 before discounts so check for that option in a pinch if you have a lot to send in as it may be a savings. 

 
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Royal Caribbean Room Service Menus

Room service on Royal Caribbean is not free. There is a flat fee of $7.95 + 18% gratuity for each delivery. So if you order 1 item from this menu or 10, the charge is the same. 

If you order Lunch and Dinner, you'll pay the charge twice. If you order once a day every day for a 7 night cruise you'll pay it seven times. 
​

Lunch, Dinner, Snacks Room Service Menu

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Royal Caribbean Room Service Menu

Breakfast Room service Menu

Continental Breakfast Room Service Delivery on Royal Caribbean is FREE! 

If you want hot cooked eggs under the American Breakfast Category then the $7.95 + gratuity service fee mentioned above still applies. 
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Royal Caribbean Breakfast Menu

Continental Breakfast Door Hang Tags


There is a strange amount of enjoyment that comes from filling out your order on these breakfast menus and hanging them on your stateroom door at night. 

Feel free to write a little note of appreciation on here too. :) 
​

You can select your preferred delivery time but please know it's hard from them to deliver exactly within that window some days so it could come earlier or later. 

I'll really miss having coffee, juice, fruit, and pastries delivered to my door in the morning. 

​Until next time, Royal Caribbean! 
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I hope you have enjoyed this Symphony of the Seas Review!
​

Up next: Gallery One Double Tree By Hilton Fort Lauderdale Hotel RevieW W/ Photos

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Double Tree Hilton Fort Lauderdale Room Tour and Review

More Royal Caribbean Blogs:

  • Lobster Night On a Cruise
  • One Day in Aruba Cruise Port: DIY Walking Tour Aruba Cruise Port
  • Aruba: A Taste of the Caribbean Dinner
  • Embarkation Day: Symphony of the Seas Embarkation Day
  • Sea Day: Exploring the Ship on a Sea Day 
  • Sea Day: ​A Taste of Italy Dinner
  • Curacao: Missing Curação Cruise Port
  • Breakfast at Johnny Rockets - Free on Oasis Class Ships
  • Symphony of the Seas: Water Slides & Flow Rider
  • El Loco Fresh Review - Mexican Inspired Food
  • The Royal Night - Royal Caribbean Dinner Menu
    ​
You May Also Like: Grocery Store Food Reviews
  • Lidl Reviews
  • Aldi Reviews​​
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Labadee Haiti Royal Caribbean Review

3/10/2025

0 Comments

 
 
Welcome to Labadee! This is Royal Caribbean's 260-acre private resort on Haiti.
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Labadee - Royal Caribbean's Private Resort on Haiti

When you get off the ship in Labadee you have a great photo opportunity, if you're patient, with the Labadee sign and the ship in the background. 
​

In This Post:

  • One Day in Labadee Cruise Port
  • Exploring Labadee
  • Walking Trails on Labadee
  • Souvenirs on Labadee
  • Labadee Beach Bar Menu
  • A Taste of UK Royal Caribbean Dinner Menu
  • Hairspray Broadway Production
  • Labadee, Haiti Royal Caribbean Cruise Port Review
This lovely tropically colored building is a shop "Boutik Logo Store" as well as excursion counter on either side. 

While there are paid activities at Labadee including Kayak Adventure, Sip and Paint, Walking Tour, Aqua Park, Coaser, Flight Zip Line, there is also plenty to do for free, just follow the signs!
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Plenty to do on Labadee - paid and free - just follow the signs!

If you don't feel like walking around the island, you can catch a free tram and hop off at your beach or food establishment of choice. 

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Barefoot Beach Tram Service

There is a special Barefoot Beach Tram Service exclusively for Star, Sky, Pinnacle, and Concierge Suites guests. Guests who have reserved a Barefoot Beach Club Cabana can utilize this particular tram service. 

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Labadee Chair Photo Opportunity

If you decide to wander by foot you will find classic vacation photo ops for your friends and family like this giant Labadee chair. :) 
​

Trails on Labadee, Haiti


There are some nice paths to walk around the lush greenery of the island that lead to some 'secret' look out points where you can take in some nice views and get some nice pictures of your crew.


You can get a view of the Aqua Park (paid activity) from this lookout as well. 
​

Souvenir Shopping on Labadee


For the uninitiated, on Labadee you have the opportunity to venture into this Market section with local vendors. Many cruisers find the selling culture to be a bit aggressive and you should be prepared to haggle if you want to shop in this area. 
​
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Shopping from local Vendors on Labadee

Some love this type of shopping and interaction, but if it's not for you there are other options. 
​

Cost of Souvenirs on Labadee

If you're curious about the prices for souvenirs on Labadee, here are a few from one of the main shopping options. 

The environment in here is calmer and you are able to pay with Visa, so if you don't bring extra cash but want a souvenir this is a good option. They have all the usual things, some manufactured mugs and some more unique options. They have Rhum Punch (Rum Punch) and T shirts which started at $9.95.
​

Larimar Necklaces were listed at $35 and carved Limestone animals were plentiful. The elephant was $15. 
​

Labadee Beach Bar Menu

Here is a menu with prices from Labadee Beach Bar. 

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Labadee Beach Bar Menu with Prices

Cocktail Prices

Beer prices


  • Mai Tai - $14 
  • Bombay Smash - $14
  • Hurricane - $14
  • Bahama Mama - $14
  • Island Sunset - $14
  • Castaway - $14
    ​
  • Corona Extra - $7.99
  • Heineken - $7.99
  • Bud Light - $7.49
  • Budweiser - $7.49
  • Miller Light - $7.49
  • Coors Light - $7.49
  • Red Stripe - $8.25
  • Prestige - $7.49
  • Truly Hard Seltzer - $7.49
  • White Claw Hard Seltzer - $7.49

​An additional service charge will be added to these prices unless you have a Royal Caribbean Beverage Package.
​

You can also order items not on the menu, of course. Like the Labadoozie - basically a frozen rum punch or even a whisky to sip on the beach. 
​

Beach Time on LAbadee


There are plenty of beach areas on Labadee to lounge around or to swim in the ocean. 
​
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Please Leave Nothing But Your Footprints Sign

​Even on an overcast day, the views are beautiful with calm waters nestled between lush mountains, it's exactly what you're hoping for on a Caribbean Cruise.
​
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Private Cabanas on Labadee

If you have cash to splash you can rent one of these private cabanas for the day or do an excursion like kayaking in these tropical waters. 
​

Free Food On Labadee


When you're hungry on Labadee you can enjoy a beach picnic including things like hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled chicken, rice, corn on the cob, fruit, salads, cookies, cakes and the like. The food is included in your cruise fare. 

 

A Taste of UK Royal Caribbean Menu

Enjoy this cruise food photo review! 
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A Taste of UK Royal Caribbean Dinner Menu

​See more cruise restaurant menus here.

Goat Cheese Tart


Seasoned eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes and goat cheese baked in flaky puff pastry.
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Goat Cheese Tart Royal Caribbean Cruise Food

Mozzarella Cheese Sticks


Mozzarella cheese coated with crispy garlic-seasoned panko breading and fried until golden brown, paired with a zesty marinara dipping sauce.
​
Clearly that is not mozzarella cheese.

​ Due to a supply chain issue, the culinary crew had to make a cheese swap out. So it was surprising when you're expecting mozzarella, but hey - when you're talking about breaded and deep fried cheese it's hard to go wrong. :) 

Traditional English Fish and CHips

Tempura-battered Atlantic cod fried until golden with thick-cut potatoes, mushy peas, creamy coleslaw and tartar sauce.
​

Chicken Tikka Masala

Tender chicken in a spicy tomato-yogurt sauce, served with basmati rice, raita, roti and pappadum.

Indian Food on Royal Caribbean is almost always a home run if you're not sure what to order. I've said it before and I'll say it again. :) 

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Warm steamed date pudding with caramel sauce and whipped cream.
​

Hairspray Broadway Production

Good Morning Baltimore! 

After dinner we squeezed in a production show. On Symphony of the Seas you can watch the Broadway production Hairspray. It's one of the longer shows you will see on a cruise. 

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Hairspray on Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas
 


​Labadee, Haiti Royal Caribbean Review


I love Royal Caribbean's offerings of Labadee and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Some argue that these cruise line owned resorts or islands are not an authentic experience of the island, and sure I get that. But I view them as a high value "freebie" day where I don't have to plan or spend any extra cash if I don't want to or don't have it. 

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Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas Docked at Labadee, Haiti

Labadee offers a low pressure day where everything is taken care of for you and close by. You have beach chairs and umbrellas included for free at the various beach locations. You have food included without having to go back to the ship or spend extra cash. You have tram service if you're unable or don't want to walk as much. And the scenery is absolutely beautiful. 

While I do love exploring cruise ports and trying local food and having that "more authentic" experience, I am always happy to see either
Labadee or Perfect Day on a Caribbean Itinerary.


More from this Royal Caribbean Cruise Review:


  • Lobster Night On a Cruise
  • Aruba: DIY Walking Tour Aruba Cruise Port
  • Aruba: A Taste of the Caribbean Dinner
  • Embarkation Day: Symphony of the Seas Embarkation Day
  • Sea Day: Exploring the Ship on a Sea Day 
  • Sea Day: ​A Taste of Italy Dinner
  • Curacao: Missing Curação Cruise Port
  • Breakfast at Johnny Rockets - Free on Oasis Class Ships
  • Symphony of the Seas: Water Slides & Flow Rider
  • El Loco Fresh Review - Mexican Inspired Food
  • The Royal Night - Royal Caribbean Dinner Menu
 
​You May Also Like: Grocery Store Food Reviews
  • Lidl Reviews
  • Aldi Reviews
​
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Lobster Night On A Cruise - SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS REVIEW

3/9/2025

0 Comments

 
 
Day 6 of our  Southern Caribbean Cruise on Symphony of the Seas was a sea day and realizing the cruise was quickly winding down we had a few more spots on the ship to tick off our list before the highly anticipated lobster night on a cruise. 

In This Post:

  • Breakfast at Johnny Rockets
  • Water Slides & Flow Rider
  • El Loco Fresh Mexican
  • The Royal Night Dinner
 


​Breakfast at Johnny Rockets 

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Johnny Rockets on Symphony of the Seas

​Johnny Rockets is a fun old fashioned American Diner styled specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean cruise ships, but not many people realize that on Oasis Class Ships you can eat breakfast for free at Johnny Rockets! 


​Check out the Johnny Rockets menu on Symphony of the Seas here
​

Coffee and Orange Juice


​They really lean into the old school diner vibes with the plastic coffee mugs and the huge glasses of 'orange juice'. I recommend sharing a glass if you order it as it's just a LOT of juice.  :) 

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Coffee and Orange Juice at Johnny Rockets on Symphony of the Seas

Eggs "My Way"


​Served with potatoes, applewood smoked bacon or sausage and sourdough toast.

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Eggs My Way at Johnny Rockets on Symphony of the Seas

buttermilk Pancakes

"Three classic buttermilk pancakes served with your choice of applewood smoked bacon or sausage and maple syrup"
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Buttermilk Pancakes at Johnny Rockets on Symphony of the Seas

"The Works" Breakfast Scrambler

"Scrambled eggs, applewood smoked bacon, grilled bell pepper and onions, mushrooms and chili topped with shredded Wisconsin cheddar, served with potatoes and toast"
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"The Works" Scramble at Johnny Rockets on Symphony of the Seas

Condiments

With our breakfast at Johnny Rockets they served some ketchup for the potatoes, jelly for the toast, and "maple" syrup for the pancakes. 
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Condiments at Johnny Rockets on Symphony of the Seas

Breakfast and a Show


​We were delighted by the show the Johnny Rockets crew put on during our breakfast! Nothing like a surprise break out into song and dance!

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Entertainment at Johnny Rockets on Symphony of the Seas
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Afternoon Water Slides and Flow Rider


The final sea day on a cruise is a last call to cram in all the fun ship activities you haven't done yet, or haven't done enough because it was so fun. So for us we needed to do some serious waterslide time and some flow rider time. 
​

Racing Water Slides

Here is a good view of all the slides (aside from Ultimate Abyss the dry slide) on Symphony of the Seas. You can see the Blue and Yellow slides which you can race your friends on if you want.

And on the right you can see the green/yellow "toilet bowl" water slide. 
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Symphony of the Seas Dueling Water Slides

The toilet bowl slide


​The toilet bowl slide, as it's affectionally called, drops you into a bowl before you finish the slide and depending on your speed you may loop around the bowl multiple times quickly before finishing the ride. 


And as you can see in these pictures, there is actually a "see-through" section on some of the slides so if you keep an eye out you can catch a glimpse of your loved ones as they shoot down the water slides!
​

Above you can see the splashes are pretty great whether you shoot down the yellow/blue slides or the toilet bowl slide. 

Which would you try?!

Rainbow on a Cruise SHip

We were delighted to catch a rainbow at sea just over the pool deck before grabbing a quick bite for late lunch. 
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Rainbow on Symphony of the Seas Southern Caribbean Cruise
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El Loco Fresh Mexican Lunch

El Loco Fresh is a popular Mexican casual dining restaurant on Symphony of the Seas. It's a free restaurant and great for grabbing a quick bite. 


You can grab a quesadilla or premade burrito or you can DIY you own plate with an assortment of rice, meat, beans, taco shells, tortilla chips and so on. 

There is also a bar with lovely fresh toppings including various salsas, pico de Gallo, delicious guacamole, and a huge display of hot sauces. 
​

There is also a section with little desserts like this chocolate cake topped with caramel topped with chocolate mouse that I think would be a great dessert to make for a party in individual cups. A future recreated recipe for Inspired By Travel for sure. 

And they always have plastic cups filled with cut up fruit - watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe. This is one of my favorite features of El Loco Fresh.

Pro Tip: I would often grab a cup of fruit and bring it to the fridge of my stateroom and when I wanted a healthy fresh snack I didn't have to go anywhere! :) 

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The Royal Night Dinner

The Royal Night Menu

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Royal Caribbean's The Royal Night Menu Photo

Avocado and Melon Salad


​Sweet cantaloupe, ripe avocados, orange segments and figs in a maple-lime dressing, topped with toasted pine nuts. 

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Avocado and Melon Salad - The Royal Night Menu

Vidalia Onion Tart


Sweet onion tart baked with smoked bacon and Parmesan cheese, served with sautéed bell peppers and creamed leeks.
​

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Vidalia Onion Tart - The Royal Night Menu

Maine Lobster Tail

Broiled lobster tail with melted butter, saffron rice and sautéed vegetables
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Maine Lobster Tail - The Royal Night Menu

Baked Alaska


Layered Neapolitan ice cream wrapped in sponge cake and torched meringue.


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Baked Alaska - The Royal Night Menu

Red Velvet Cake


Fluffy layered cocoa-infused cake with sweet cream cheese frosting and a drizzle of chocolate.
​

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Red Velvet Cake - The Royal Night Menu
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After Dinner Drinks at Vintages

If ever there is a night to splash out for a drink on a cruise it's formal night!

​We went to Vintages in Central Park where they have a great collection of scotches to try including Travelers Editions you can only buy or taste on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. 

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Macallan on Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship

And what better way is there to end an evening in a park, on a cruise ship, sipping Macallan and playing chess at this adorable mosaic table?
​
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Chess Board in Central Park on Symphony of the Seas


​More from this Southern Caribbean Cruise Review:

  • Aruba: DIY Walking Tour Aruba Cruise Port
  • Aruba: A Taste of the Caribbean Dinner
  • Embarkation Day: Symphony of the Seas Embarkation Day
  • Sea Day: Exploring the Ship on a Sea Day 
  • Sea Day: ​A Taste of Italy Dinner
  • Waving to Curação
Cruise Travel UGC Blogger
0 Comments

Sick on a Cruise - The One Where We Miss A Day In Curação

3/1/2025

0 Comments

 
Unfortunately I woke up in the middle of the night after our day in Aruba cruise port, and was pretty ill.
I'm looking at you, pork chop. -.-

I opted to sleep it off and we decided not to get off on Curacao during this cruise. Fortunately, we had been here before in the past, but it was still really disappointing, needless-to-say. 

Eventually we made it up to the Windjammer buffet for lunch and I snapped this pic of Willemstad through the glass.
​ 
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Willemstad, Curacao Cruise Port

Shockingly, the only food item we took a picture of was this tasty little mini pastry filled with chocolate!
​
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Chocolate Filled Pastry on Royal Caribbean | Windjammer Food Pics

We then took the opportunity to enjoy some of the features of the ship we hadn't yet. We rode the carousel together in the Boardwalk Neighborhood. 

And I screamed more than I needed to going down the Ultimate Abyss slide. 
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Ultimate Abyss Slide on Symphony of the Seas

I came out the other end laughing and I would do it again, for sure. Do it people!
​
Never in my life have I tried rock climbing and I'm not sure how I would do, but I really wanted to try climbing this rock wall on a cruise ship! 
​
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Rock Wall on a Cruise Ship | Royal Caribbean Oasis Class Ship

That's still on my to-do list. I wasn't quite up for it yet. :)
​
But I was up for exploring the staircase art before dinner! 
​

Check out some of the unique stairwell art on the newer ship Utopia of the Seas here!
​

A Taste of Mexico Menu | Royal Caribbean

The dinner theme was a Taste of Mexico and here's a little sample of the menu using the Royal Caribbean App. 
​
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Dinner Menu on Royal Caribbean App

Tbh, I spend way too much time every day on the app checking the menus and plotting out my orders. lol

​Here's what we got!
​

Roasted Poblano Pepper Soup


"Rich and silky, topped with roasted corn, red peppers, fresh cilantro, and sautéed chorizo."
​
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Roasted Poblano Soup | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics

Tortilla Soup


​"Tomato broth with hearty black beans and sweet corn, topped with cilantro, crunchy corn tortillas, and fresh lime"

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Tortilla Soup | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics

Grilled Sweet Corn Cakes


"Served golden brown with grilled vegetables, tomato-avocado salsa, and fresh cilantro."
​
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Grilled Sweet Corn Cakes | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics

Carne Asada


​"Marinated grilled flank steak served with rice, pinto beans, sautéed vegetables and a bright salsa verde"

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Carne Asada | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics

Chili-Lime Crusted Salmon


​"Baked and served over a sweet potato, mushroom, and kale hash topped with tangy mango and bell pepper salsa"

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Chili LimeCrusted Salmon | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics

Caramel Flan


​"rich, sweet dulce de leche custard soaked in caramel with fresh strawberries"

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Caramel Flan | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics

Sorrentos Pizza Menu

Despite a hearty dinner, an evening show tends to work up an appetite. It's almost as if YOU were the one pulling those dance moves or walking the tightrope. Naturally you want a late night slice of pizza.

So we headed over to Sorrento's Pizza in the Royal Promenade.
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Sorrento's Pizza Menu

The menu can vary from day to day and I do believe you can always request a gluten free pizza at Sorrento's on Royal Caribbean. 8)

Primavera Pizza froM Sorrento's 


​"Extra virgin olive oil, garlic, mozzarella, spinach, tomatoes, grilled banana peppers, roasted red peppers, and feta cheese"

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Sorrento's Pizza Primavera | Royal Caribbean Cruise Food Pics

Not bad, Royal Caribbean, not bad. 

With that it was time for a little in-room laundry session and to bed to rest up for a fun filled sea day onboard Symphony of the Seas! 
​

More From This Southern Caribbean Cruise:


  • Aruba: DIY Walking Tour Aruba Cruise Port
  • Aruba: A Taste of the Caribbean Dinner
  • Embarkation Day: Symphony of the Seas Embarkation Day
  • Sea Day: Exploring the Ship on a Sea Day 
  • Sea Day: ​A Taste of Italy Dinner
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