Please welcome Marc Schwartz as he shares his review of 150 Central Park restaurant on Oasis of the Seas.

Background

My wife, Dianna, and I have been cruising since our honeymoon in 1981 and to date we have been on 9 cruises total, 5 on Royal Caribbean.

We have also more recently come to enjoy specialty dining, which is at an extra cost over the main dining room on the ships, but provides for a superior experience, both in food and service. On Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class ships, there are multiple options to choose from and I offer my thoughts on one of them here.

150 Central Park

150 Central Park (150), located on the Central Park area of the ships on Deck 8, is arguably the premiere specialty restaurant on the Oasis and the Allure and perhaps all of Royal Caribbean’s ships. The service charge for dinner at 150, as of this writing, is $40 per person (includes gratuities). There is an optional, 6-course dinner with wine pairing, for an additional $75 per person ($115 total per person, including gratuities).

The atmosphere is upscale and dress is recommended to be semi-formal to formal. I would also strongly urge that you make pre-cruise reservations unless you are doing a specialty dining package, where you may have to wait until you are onboard the ship to make some of the reservations.

On our Oasis and Allure cruises, we did the wine pairing both times and are not sorry that we did. The entire meal, from beginning to end was a wonderful experience with a selection of food and wines that was phenomenal. I would recommend planning at least two and a half to three hours for dinner, especially if you do the wine pairing, to give yourself sufficient time. Consider this if you have other after dinner plans, such as one of the ship’s shows, as you do not want to be rushed. During our first experience at 150 on the Oasis, we had planned to see the main theater show after dinner and only gave ourselves about two hours for dinner. Our server, Mladen, who is from Serbia, indicated that he could “speed things up for us”, but gently urged us to take our time to relax and enjoy the evening. I am glad that we elected to take his advice and see the show another day. We did not make the same scheduling mistake on the Allure.

Dinner

The dining experience starts with an optional, extra cost, Cucumber Martini. This is the signature drink at 150 and is only available there. I was hesitant at first, but had heard of the drink from friends before we sailed. It is a wonderful and refreshing pre-dinner palate cleanser, as the alcohol (Grey Goose Vodka) is very light. It would be too easy to have several of them, but save yourself for the wine. We liked them so much that we got the recipe from Mladen and now make them at home frequently.

Dinner then proceeds with a selection of breads, fresh butter and a wonderful assortment of flavored salts. Your server will introduce you to each salt, its country of origin and of course the flavor. Butter your piece of bread and sprinkle one of the salts over the butter to experience the unique flavors and textures. You may find that you like some and not others.

As dinner proceeded, each pour of wine was served just prior to the course it was to be paired with, as our server described the wine to us. Each bottle of wine was served using the Il Decantino decanting flask. We ended up buying one of the Royal Caribbean logoed Il Decantino units to take home with us and use it all the time with newly opened bottles of wine.

From that point on, we slowly enjoyed each course and the paired wine. The presentations were very fresh and colorful, appealing to your visual senses, as much as they would ultimately take over your nose, tongue and taste buds, all of which are of course, biologically intertwined. The size of each course is very typical for today’s internationally influenced, fine dining experiences. Sufficient to provide you with a enjoyable experience of each, while not being so large that you would find yourself filled before reaching the end of the meal.

Pumpkin Bread Gnocchi

Cheese Selection

Citrus-Chipotle Crab Salad

While enough time has now passed that I cannot comment in detail on each course, I will say that each was wonderful and I have no recollection of any particular course that I did not care for. They were each quite unique and provide an opportunity to expand your culinary horizons.

Our servers were not overbearing in their presence during the evening, but were exceptionally attentive and engaging.

Berkshire Pork two ways

Broiled Sablefish with dijon mustard

When time came for dessert, we took our time, enjoyed some coffee, an after dinner drink and of course, the dessert.

150 Central Park Candy Bar

Conclusion

If you have not already guessed, we would go to 150 Central Park again, without hesitation, on future cruises. Is it expensive? Of course, but it is a fine dining experience at sea that would compete with any similar land based experience. We paid $230 (at current pricing) for the two of us and some extra for an additional tip, for superior service. However, consider that a similar, land based, fine dining experience, with a wine pairing, would easily be over $400 for two, before a tip.

If you are taking a future cruise on the Oasis or the Allure and are considering experiencing specialty dining, I would urge you to include 150 in your plans. It’s that good.

The Fiji Health Ministry is reporting Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas has been the site of 51 cases of norovirus, which prompted health officials to quarantine the cruise ship as it was docked at Suva Wharf.

The ship, which has 2300 passengers and 870 crew, took measures immediately to combat the virus as soon as the crew received reports of cases.

Affected passengers have been isolated and no one is allowed to enter the quarantined area on the ship except the medical response team.

According to Doctor Joe Koroivueta, Rhapsody of the Seas will leave for Noumea, New Caledonia tonight.

Norovirus causes symptoms such as symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain.  It's spread from person to person, through contaminated food or water, and by touching contaminated surfaces.  It's important for every cruise passenger on every cruise ship to take steps to avoid getting norovirus.

Royal Caribbean is starting to take a look at the damage Hurricane Sandy has done to its private island of CocoCay in the Bahamas.

"The impact to the island of CocoCay from Hurricane Sandy was not severe, but requires a significant cleanup effort ahead of guest arrival. Guests will be able to enjoy most of the island, however due to significant beach erosion in one area of the island, that area will unfortunately not be accessible to guests. The majority of our shore excursions will be available."

The good news is the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism says things are nearly back to normal in Nassau and Freeport, where minimal damage was sustained.  

Royal Caribbean has contracted Circle Agency to design and manage a new experiential marketing campaign that aims to promote the cruise line's onboard partnership with DreamWorks Animation.

The new campaign kicks off at the Shrek the Musical theater in Dury Lane, London and offers theater goers the opportunity to have an exclusive photo taken that drops them into a scene onboard a Royal Caribbean ship.

In addition, representatives from Circle Agency will be on hand to encourage customers to share their image via Facebook, or email it to themselves.  People that participate in the campaign will also be entered to win a free Royal Caribbean Mediterranean cruise for four aboard Liberty of the Seas.

The marketing campaignis scheduled to run during every matinee and evening performance until November 3rd.

Royal Caribbean Launches & Events Senior Executive Hannah Simpson commented on the new promotion, "The Dreamworks partnership is now going into its third year and continues to add to our already extensive family offering onboard our ships. We wanted to highlight the various experiences available for families onboard.

The activity we have created alongside Shrek the Musical highlights why a Royal Caribbean cruise is an ideal holiday choice for families and starting a dialogue with this highly targeted audience is extremely valuable.”

Royal Caribbean has made more changes to its cruise ship itineraries due to Hurricane Sandy. 

Brilliance of the Seas has canceled its planned stop at Bar Harbor, Maine for Tuesday, October 30. Instead, Brilliance of the Seas will call on Saint John, New Brunswick today (as scheduled) and then remain in port until Tuesday.  Staying in port will provide Brilliance of the Seas shelter from the weather.

As we reported earlier, Jewel of the Seas did not depart Boston, Massachusetts as originally planned yesterday.  Instead she will remain in Boston until October 30th. Once Jewel of the Seas can safely depart Boston, she will sail a revised itinerary.

Monarch of the Seas will call to CocoCay, Bahamas, on Thursday, November 1, instead of on Tuesday, October 30, as originally scheduled.

Royal Caribbean will continue to closely monitor weather conditions and will update this information again tomorrow, October 30, at 10:00 a.m. E.S.T.

Hurricane Sandy is keeping Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas in port instead of departing on schedule.  

Jewel of the Seas was supposed to depart yesterday on a two-week repositioning cruise to Tampa, Florida but instead will remain docked in Boston until at least tomorrow according to the Massachusetts Port Authority.

Royal Caribbean was concerned about Hurricane Sandy's path and opted to keep the ship in port.  Due to the delayed departure from Boston, Jewel of the Seas will sail a revised itinerary.

Royal Caribbean has issued a new update in regards to how Hurricane Sandy is affecting cruises and there are more changes to be aware of.

Enchantment of the Seas will not be able to call on Kings Wharf, Bermuda, as originally scheduled. Instead, the ship will sail out to sea in an effort to try to find the calmest seas possible.

In addition, due to high winds Monarch of the Seas' departure from Port Canaveral, Florida, today has been delayed. Consequently, the delayed departure and the time and speed needed now will mean Monarch of the Seas will not be able to call on Nassau, Bahamas.  Instead, Monarch of the Seas will stop at Freeport, Bahamas.  However, calling on Freeport will depend on the time the ship is able to depart Port Canaveral, as well as the most recent weather forecast. Royal Caribbean had previously announced that Monarch of the Seas would skip CocoCay.

Royal Caribbean is monitoring the situation with Hurricane Sandy which could affect guests sailing on Oasis of the Seas tomorrow, Saturday, October 27, and Explorer of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas on Sunday, October 28.

Royal Caribbean will continue to closely monitor weather conditions and will update this information again tomorrow, October 27, at 10:00 a.m. E.S.T.

Since Royal Caribbean announced yesterday that it was considering building a third Oasis class ship, one of the early question is where would it be built?

Many believe that the STX Finland's Torku shipyards are the front runner, including experienced shipbuilder Martin Saarikangas, who believes that STX Turku is in a strong position to take the order.

There are basically four options for Royal Caribbean to build the ship: Meyer Werft in Germany, Fincantieri in Italy, as well as the STX French or Finnish shipyards.

Saarikangas believes Meyer Werft is too busy, given the fact they have their hands full with existing order for a number of years to come, including the two new Sunshine Class ships Royal Caribbean has on order with them currently.

Fincantieri shipyards is a viable option but the problem with them is Royal Caribbean has never had a ship built at Fincantieri.  Royal Caribbean's chief competitor, Carnival Cruise Line, usually has their ships built at Fincantieri.

STX France had built ships for Royal Caribbean in the 1980s through 1990s, but there hasn't been an order placed with STX France in quite a long time since.

So that leaves STX Turku, which has recent experience building ships for Royal Caribbean, including the previous two Oasis class ships: Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.  Saarikangas says the design time would be shortened by a year because this would be a sister ship.  Time is of great importance since Royal Caribbean wants the new ship in 2016.

Saarikangas believes it will come down to financing.  Cruise ship building requires massive loans, and in turn guarantors.  We've heard rumors that state-owned Finnvera has already offered to back the loans for Royal Caribbean. Saarikangas says that the Turku shipyard will most likely resolve any funding problem and get the proper guarantees for the order.

Hurricane Sandy has forced Royal Caribbean to change the itinerary of two more cruise ships.  

Given the location and direction of Hurricane Sandy, both Majesty of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas will not call on CocoCay this weekend.  CocoCay is Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.  Instead, both ships will spend a day at sea.

Royal Caribbean is still watching Hurricane Sandy and is considering itinerary changes for the Oasis of the Seas cruise leaving on October 27 as well as Explorer of the Seas leaving on October 28.

These changes are in addition to Allure of the Seas having skipped Falmouth, Jamaica earlier this week.

Royal Caribbean will continue to closely monitor weather conditions and will update this information again today, October 26, at 6:00 p.m. E.S.T.