Going on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Learn my experience dining at the Chef’s Table on the Wonder of the Seas.
Each cruise line is known for something. For me, Royal Caribbean is known for having the largest cruise ships and a wide variety of entertainment, but not for their food.
Tucked away from the crowds of the main dining room is one of the fleet’s best-kept secrets, The Chef’s Table. This exclusive, reservation-only experience is a multi-course dinner designed to treat a small group of foodies in a refined setting.
For a planner like me, the information on Royal Caribbean International’s web-site is somewhat sparse on details, which prompted my desire to share my experience.
In this review, I’ll walk you through our Chef’s Table dinner from start to finish: the setting, the courses, the wine pairings, and whether the hefty upcharge is worth it.
Spoiler alert, it just might be!
The Experience
With seating limited for about 8 guests, the Royal Caribbean’s Chef’s Table experience offers an intimidate atmosphere and individual attention from the chef, the server and the sommelier. The menu is prix fix and coursed, with wine pairings to match.
The first, and possibly only downside of our evening was the late start. We were scheduled to begin at 8pm, but were not seated until close to 8:30pm. While typically a minor inconvenience, this misstep resulted in several of my dining companions skipping the final course in order to retrieve their children from the kids club.
When we were seated, we were led to a round table lined with wine glasses. The setting was intimate and felt insulated and special.
The Chef’s Table offers an intimate atmosphere and personalized attention from both the chef and sommelier. The evening typically begins with a champagne toast and introduction, followed by a meticulously paced tasting menu that showcases the culinary team’s creativity and technical skill.
Each course is paired with a sommelier-selected wine, expertly explained and thoughtfully matched to the dish’s flavor profile.
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The Menu
In total, the Royal Caribbean Chef’s table offers 6 courses including dessert for approximately $100 per diner. This charge is above and beyond the price of the cruise.
At the time of writing, the menu has remained unchanged since I dined, and is:
- Course 1: Scallop Carpaccio
- Course 2: Smoked Tomato Soup
- Course 3: Main Lobster Salad
- Course 4: Roasted Branzino
- Course 5: Grilled Filet Mignon
- Course 6: Dessert: The World
The highlights for our group were the branzino and the dessert, although most of us were too full to fully enjoy the last course! Our group agreed that the Smoked Tomato Soup was the weak spot of the courses. Overall, the plating was well executed and thoughtful.
We had two party members with dietary restrictions, and they were accommodated beautifully. Slight changes were made to some courses, and other courses were replaced completely to fit their needs. Be sure to notify the concierge ahead of time if you need special accommodations.
So, is it worth it?
Overall Verdict
While the Chef’s Table on Wonder of the Seas is not something you should bring the whole family to, I believe it offers a truly special fine dining experience that will please most foodies.
We experienced excellent service in the main dining room, and that attentive service is taken up a notch for The Chef’s Table experience. The biggest win for me was having our own dedicated chef, ensuring we received food that was much fresher than what you receive in the MDR. I can be a bit of a snob around the execution of certain menu items, but I truly did not find anything to take major issue with. Royal Caribbean seems to put their best chefs on the Chef’s Table. For me, that is reason enough to book this experience again.
Overall, our food was fresh, perfectly cooked and the experience was something I would recommend for foodies planning to cruise.