With unlimited food included in the dining room and buffet, many cruisers steer clear of extra-cost specialty restaurants. However, they are one of my favorite parts about a cruise vacation.
Specialty restaurants offer a more intimate dining experience compared to the large dining room. The quality of the food is also better, often prepared with premium ingredients.
Recently, I embarked on a weeklong voyage aboard Celebrity Eclipse from the Netherlands to Norway. While onboard, my partner and I dined at two extra-cost restaurants: Tuscan Grille and Murano.
We had previously eaten at Tuscan Grille while sailing on Celebrity Reflection and were impressed by the aft views, perfectly cooked steaks, and hearty Italian fare. Although the experience was just as memorable the second time around, the real highlight on Celebrity Eclipse was Murano, which is only found on five ships in Celebrity's fleet.
The upscale French-inspired restaurant is easily one of the most elegant at sea, and I'd argue that it's hard for any real foodie to not enjoy the meal.
When we walked inside, we were greeted and guided to a quiet table tucked into the corner. As we settled in, the maître d' lit the candle on our table, which immediately elevated the experience compared to the faux candles in the dining room.
Kristine, our server who also acted as our tableside chef, was helpful when explaining the different menu options. We decided to bypass the pricier tasting menu and stick with our pre-booked à la carte option.
However, had we booked the meal earlier in the week, we likely would have considered upgrading. By this point, though, we had food fatigue from our week of indulging in craft cocktails, three-course meals, and Norwegian pastries.
Still, Murano managed to stand out, as it was unlike any other dining experience I've had on a cruise ship. Every element, from the tableside preparation to the service, was thoughtful without being overly formal.
For appetizers, we ordered the goat cheese soufflé and lobster bisque — both were unbelievable
Our meal technically began with an amuse-bouche, a small, complimentary bite meant to cleanse the palate. I was on the fence about the tilapia cake, as I typically don't enjoy fish, but I was pleasantly surprised by its texture and flavor. It wasn't too fishy, and the accompanying sauce complemented it well.
That said, I enjoyed my appetizer far more. The goat cheese soufflé was fluffy and rich, and each bite's pillowy texture practically melted in my mouth. Although on the more decadent side of the available appetizers, it wasn't necessarily heavy.
However, if you aren't a ride-or-die fan of goat cheese, the flavor might be too strong; the tangy, creamy texture of the warm goat cheese is the star of the dish.
My partner's lobster bisque was just as impressive. The velvety smooth broth was poured tableside, and it balanced the buttery lobster flavor with the right amount of creaminess.
The real star of the show was the tableside lobster
Although we were excited for the other courses of the meal, we primarily reserved Murano because of its famous tableside lobster — and it did not disappoint.
After we finished our appetizers, Kristine wheeled over a cart with fresh lobster and the ingredients necessary to prepare it in front of us! However, because neither of us likes mushrooms, we asked for them to be left out.
In total, it took less than 10 minutes for her to expertly flambe the four cold water lobster tails in Cognac and finish them in a creamy Dijon sauce.
The mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables had been prepared in the galley and were already plated, but Kristine placed the lobster tails on top and presented the final dish beneath a silver dome.
The lobster was tender and paired well with the Dijon sauce. However, I thought the silky mashed potatoes were just as good as the lobster tails! Plus, they helped soak up the extra sauce on the plate. The vegetables were cooked well, too.
We savored every bite but had to leave room for dessert
Even when I don't think I can stomach another bite of food, I always seem to make room for dessert. At Murano, we opted to skip the cheese course because we would have rather indulged in a sweet treat — and this was the right decision.
I ordered the crêpe ballon rouge, not knowing it was the only dessert on the menu prepared tableside. It was a surprise to see Kristine coming around the corner with the cart again!
She added a scoop of vanilla ice cream inside the crêpe while she sautéed the fresh berries in a Chambertin wine sauce.
The crêpe was soft, and the berries were sweet with a hint of tanginess thanks to the balsamic added while being cooked. Of course, the vanilla ice cream brought it all together!
Comparatively, my partner kept her order simple and opted for the mango and strawberry sorbet. Between the two, she preferred the strawberry but said none were as good as the dining room's exotic fruit sorbet!
The service, attention to detail, and quality of the food made it well worth the $90 upcharge
We prebooked our meal through Celebrity Cruises' Cruise Planner roughly four months before our sailing. Due to an ongoing promotion, we received a great discount and only paid around $93 for both of us, including the mandatory 20% service charge.
Considering that the meal included multiple courses with tableside preparation and attentive service (we'd get fresh napkins whenever we returned from the restroom!), we thought we got our money's worth and would happily return on future voyages.
Initally, I was worried that Celebrity Cruises was planning to remove Murano from its Solstice Class ships to make way for the new dining options revealed as part of the cruise line's $250 million revitalization project. Thankfully, Celebrity doesn't have any plans to retire the Solstice-exclusive specialty restaurant.
Read more: I upgraded to a balcony cabin on a Celebrity cruise, and it was worth the $4,000 price tag
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
