Tell me about Chef's Table, is it worth it?

[shaycamp21]

We will be on the Breeze in July and are considering doing the Chef's Table. Just wondering what the Chef's Table experience is like on Carnival? We have never cruised Carnival but did Remy on the Disney Fantasy (which was also $75 pp like Chef's Table)and it was fabulous, worth every penny!! Dh and I don't mind paying for good food but want to know if the Chef's Table experience is worth the $75 pp price tag?

Edited May 17, 2014 by shaycamp21

[pyroguy]

We will be on the Breeze in 2 weeks and we are doing the CT. This will be my 4th time. I enjoy cuisine and like the experience. If you aren't a finicky eater, you will enjoy it.

 

Check out my liberty video for some of the CT food. I'll be doing another one from the Breeze in a couple weeks. Just in time for you!

[oregon3373]

YES. Nuff said. :)

[xplnusa]

My wife and I did it on the Splendor back in November 2012 and loved it...

[Jana60]

We will be on the Breeze in July and are considering doing the Chef's Table. Just wondering what the Chef's Table experience is like on Carnival? We have never cruised Carnival but did Remy on the Disney Fantasy (which was also $75 pp like Chef's Table)and it was fabulous, worth every penny!! Dh and I don't mind paying for good food but want to know if the Chef's Table experience is worth the $75 pp price tag?

 

I really enjoyed the chef's table. The pictures are from my cruise last week.

1) The menu

2) They start with champagne.

3) Then comes the tour of the galley.

4) More galley

5) Then come the first 2 appetizers.

6) Then the next 2 appetizers.

7) Then they take you to a room with a beautifully set table and start the actual dinner.

8) They start with the bread.

9) The tomato appetizer.

10) The cervitche

11) The Cornish hen

12) The soup and salad are all one dish.

13) The Salmon

14) The Oseago beef

15) The Chocolate!

16) The chocolate close up!

17) Not pictured is the wine they serve to continuously during the dinner. They offer different wines with a different courses. And keep it flowing throughout the meal.

 

I had a great time but be sure to pace yourself as it is hard to finish all that food and you don't want to get filled up before you get to the last course.

 

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Edited May 17, 2014 by Jana60

[ksy8384]

And I would love to do it but for us it isn't worth it. It's not the cost but my husband had gastric bypass surgery and doesn't eat that much in a week. I could eat his and mine, and no I don't look like it.

[floridabum]

We did the Chefs Table on the Breeze back in December and we loved it. Honestly you need to look at it as a excursion. They greet you in the main lobby bar with champaign and escort you through the main dining room to the galley while everyone in the dining room is looking at your group wondering why are these people be escorted carrying champaign:).

It is a little loud in the galley. Its very informative, the service was beyond any expectations I had and the food was excellent. Another thing to consider is if you are a picky eater the chefs table may not be for you. I guess what makes the experience so great for me is trying foods I would probably never eat again. At the end of the experience you will get a picture handed to you that you took with the chef at the beginning of the tour along with a group picture of you and your table mates.

[darth frosty]

Chefs table is well worth it.

 

Prepare yourself for a culinary marathon!

[jbhcw]

We did the Chefs Table on the Breeze back in December and we loved it. Honestly you need to look at it as a excursion. They greet you in the main lobby bar with champaign and escort you through the main dining room to the galley while everyone in the dining room is looking at your group wondering why are these people be escorted carrying champaign:).

It is a little loud in the galley. Its very informative, the service was beyond any expectations I had and the food was excellent. Another thing to consider is if you are a picky eater the chefs table may not be for you. I guess what makes the experience so great for me is trying foods I would probably never eat again. At the end of the experience you will get a picture handed to you that you took with the chef at the beginning of the tour along with a group picture of you and your table mates.

 

We've done it twice...and just look at it as an excursion too! We would do it again if the menu changes...our first was on the Pride and it was held in the Disco...we also got pics and a cookbook...second was on the Dream in the galley..that was neat..but a little loud:) But I really enjoyed watching the comings and goings all around us!!

[Bigal1017]

Definitely worth the cost. Fabulous food, a fabulous evening. We will definitely do it again someday

 

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[sjn911]

I am excited about doing the Chef's Table and the Ship Tour....whatever ship you are on you can do it..it and the tour can be the special things on Fantasy Class that has less of all the bells and whistles but I like alot on the West Coast sailings with less ports..it really adds alot to the mix and ship tours are cheaper on Fantasy class. One can see the galley twice at different phases if you do both ....that always amazes me. I even loved seeing our school kitchens growing up. We had home made bread around the hotdogs..on the Pigs in a blanket days...LOL...that would be a special Lido food I think..LOL. I loved seeing that production.

 

I have read the those well acclaimed 5 star travel raters say that it ranks high in their regards and really shows what Carnival Chefs can do for a smaller group...

 

I think it is superb that on a budget cruise you can do these two things. Carnival is "high class" budget to me..it offers so much..it is really special when you think of these things and it is nice to have splurge activities for less active stay on the ship folks...a large family can do different "special extras"...Sarah

 

 

PS. Jana60, that was the sweetest picture tour and info. Thanks so much!! So much fun to see the latest one and WOW!!

 

Yes I agree..that for people who can not eat variety or try variety or have the bypass or are on a strong WW or similar diet..maybe not..but if you do not like one thing..you can tell the Chefs when you get the ticket...like I can't do goat cheese and I have read enough that something like that is accommodated. Also they would understand just bites of each course..even Anthony Bordain leaves some on his plate!! (sometimes..LOL)

Edited May 17, 2014 by sjn911

[shaycamp21]

Ok I am sold, going to try it!!!:D How do we go about booking this experience (We are on the Breeze)?

[seeing this world]

h this is how i book it from home

 

go to the page where you can book the steak house, to make a reservation

 

on the drop down where they ask for you particulars

 

on the line they ask for your first name i put my first and last name

 

on the line they ask for your last name i type in chefs dinner reservation

 

on the line where they ask the date for steak house reservation i just put in the first night of the cruise .

 

the other lines i fill in with the information that is asked for booking number etc..

 

i have done it this way 3 times and received confrmations through email before the cruise. I do go to the steak house the first night just to confirm the reservation. They will send a letter to your room on the ship with the date and location when on board.

 

enjoy, I am also waiting for a menu change before i book again. Go hungry, skip lunch .. It is a eating feast .. my eyes are always bigger than my stomach..

Edited May 17, 2014 by seeing this world

[dljones]

I think it is worth it at least once. Toward the end I was so full I couldn't eat another bite. We did it on the Magic and it was held in the galley itself which was very noisy. Couldn't understand anything the chef was saying about each dish. Still, it was fun and interesting all the same.

[cruisenshop]

YES! Did I say YES!!! Did it on the Sunshine last month. Very memorable experience assuming you are not a picky eater. My photos are so similar to op above, that I won't take the space. I loved every bite! The folks we enjoyed the experience with were lovely and fun. Will do it again on our next Breeze cruise!

[KnJTexas]

we have done this on the Conquest 2 times and Victory 1 time each time it was worth it !

[JohnS43]

I'm a bit of a foodie and really wanted to try it but two things kept me from doing so: (1) I don't care for wine, so I think I'd be wasting my money and (2) supposedly they want you to get dressed up, which I do not like to do on vacation.

 

And I took the "Behind the Fun" tour, so I'd already met the chef and toured the galley.

 

That said, I walked past the room where they were serving the "feast" (on this ship it was in the library) and it looked wonderful.

[Lerin]

YES!

I have photos and information in my review in my signature

 

Also: They have unlimited drinks which include wine, champagne, or something else if you are not a drinker. 1 guy drank soda the entire time, and another lady had 1 glass of wine and then switched to some juice.

 

As far as dressing up: Yes, you are supposed to look nice. Most the women were in dresses or nice slack/ blouse combos. They guys all had nice slacks and nice shirts(some button downs, some Polos, a few had jacket and tie)

Edited May 18, 2014 by Lerin

[shaycamp21]

Do you book Chef's Table online or once you get on the cruise? Also which night would be the best night to book this experience (we are doing a 6 day on the Breeze)?

[floridabum]

On the breeze you will actually be in the galley the whole time. Some ships the dinner portion of the meal is served in the library but on the breeze your meal is being prepared right behind the table you are sitting at in the galley. You will get a letter in your cabin telling you when and where to meet and they do not require you to dress up. Anything you wear to the MDR is acceptable with the exception of shorts. Everything will be explained on the invitation you get in the cabin.

 

 

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[jbhcw]

Do you book Chef's Table online or once you get on the cruise? Also which night would be the best night to book this experience (we are doing a 6 day on the Breeze)?

 

We booked both of ours prior to our cruise..and I think they do it on a Tuesday...and if there is a lot of interest they do another on Thursday...not completely sure about that..but know they only do 14 at one dinner....It's is definitely worth the money.

[lady_cruiser]

We did the Chef's Table twice and loved it both time. And, would not hesitate to book it again.

[WayTooCool]

I have taken the Behind The Fun Tour on Fascination and Dream; I think that is a better expenditure for The Little Woman and me since neither of us drink wine/champagne nor can we eat large meals (darn it!). We so enjoy our dining and wait staff that we don't feel we're missing out. At-Sea Brunch is the perfect "treat" for us, and it doesn't cost $$$ . Just my humble opinion . . . . ;)

[lorriv20]

I have taken the Behind The Fun Tour on Fascination and Dream; I think that is a better expenditure for The Little Woman and me since neither of us drink wine/champagne nor can we eat large meals (darn it!). We so enjoy our dining and wait staff that we don't feel we're missing out. At-Sea Brunch is the perfect "treat" for us, and it doesn't cost $$$ . Just my humble opinion . . . . ;)

 

I am so happy that you made this comment. My husband does not drink wine or champagne, and I drink very little. I also have an illness that causes me to have several small meals throughout the day. I think I will look in to Behind the Fun, but I don't know if the Pride has it. Can you tell me what the BTF entails?

[skittl1321]

We did the Chef's table on the Triumph (photos are in my review in the signature, though the menu is an old one) and I don't drink alcohol. It was still well worth the money. They had a large variety of soft drinks for me to choose from. I was impressed with their attention to detail, as when I told them I don't drink alcohol, they also made one dish with a different sauce when it was originally an alcohol reduction. That wasn't necessary for me, but may be important to some who abstain.

 

The food was phenomenal, though there was SO much of it (and drink- probably the water/coke was the problem) between two courses I had to go to the restroom, and being in the library, there really wasn't one nearby so it was quite the treck to find one!