As a further return to normality and providing guests with unique and unforgettable onboard experiences, Carnival Cruise Line is resuming the behind-the-scenes gallery tour that is part of the kitchen table dining experience on its ships. Tour resumption is effective immediately and includes dining in the gallery or designated Chef’s Table dining locations, where available.
Return of the Gallery Tour
of The Chef’s Table Experience is a very popular, exclusive dining event on board every cruise ship. The event includes a once-in-a-lifetime menu that is prepared while guests watch, but the even more enjoyable parts of the event are the insider insights provided by the master chef and chef’s assistants who host the event.
Some of the insights include the behind-the-scenes gallery tour, where guests have the opportunity to see where thousands of cruise ship meals are prepared each day.
Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald announced on his popular Facebook page on September 7, 2022, that the gallery tour will now return to every kitchen table experience.
“I am very pleased to announce that Chef’s Table events will now include the return of the pre-meal gallery tour.” Heald said. “For those ships that have tables inside the galley or special ‘Chef’s Table’ dining rooms, these will also reopen.”
The gallery tour gives participants a look at a part of the cruise ship not open to the public, as well as see equipment, storage facilities and other areas related to food preparation, even as the ship’s staff are working hard to prepare the next meal, decadent desserts and other culinary creations.
The tour was initially suspended when cruise travel resumed following industry shutdowns to better maintain sanitation protocols, promote social distancing and protect crew members and guests from accidental transmission.
Moreover, the whole kitchen table experience was temporarily suspended in mid-May due to crew shortages that made it impractical to offer such an exclusive, personalized experience with multiple crew members, which affected dining services in other areas of each ship.
The popular dining option was finally resumed from June 30, 2022on board all Carnival ships, and always sells out quickly and is well received by guests.
Another behind-the-scenes option yet to return
The reintroduction of the kitchen table tour is one more step toward a full return to all of Carnival’s most popular cruise experiences, but one very popular option is still missing.
The cruise line has not yet relaunched the Ultimate “Behind the Fun” Tour, which includes visits to a variety of areas vital to a ship’s daily operations. While the tour varies on each ship and may be affected by general operations, guests typically visit the ship’s bridge, engine control room, staff dining areas, laundry and other spaces.
A glimpse of the main gallery is also often included in the Behind the Fun tour itinerary, but without the detail, insight and lavish menu available through the Chef’s Table experience.
These tours are only offered once per cruise on the last sea day of the cruise and space is only available for 16 interested guests.
According to Carnival’s website, the “Behind the Fun” tour remains suspended at this time.
“Given our focus on returning to service and implementing our health and safety protocols, we will not be able to offer this tour until further notice.” says the website.
Heald has indicated that this exclusive tour will return, however, although no exact date has been announced for its resumption.
