Recap: How Did Allure’s Top Chef Do on ‘Top Chef?’

No doubt about it: Bravo’s “Top Chef” competition is chef eat chef. So we were glued to our TV last night to see how Molly Brandt, the chef de cuisine at Allure of the Seas‘ posh 150 Central Park, would do. Last week, she didn’t make the initial cut and was placed “on the bubble” [...]

Happy Hour Special: Celebrity’s Elderflower Blush

In true cruise spirit, every evening this week, we’ll be offering up special happy hour recipes for you to imbibe at your leisure. For our third installment, we’re raising the swank level with Celebrity Cruises‘ Elderflower Blush, which is served up in the Molecular Bar onboard the line’s Solstice-class ships. Molecular Bar is all about [...]

5 Cruise Lines That Let You BYOB

And another thing … when it comes to bringing liquor onboard, most cruise line alcohol policies are cut and dry. With the exception of wine, you cannot bring your own bottle. Caught by security with a liter of Grey Goose? You’ll be embarrassed in front of your peers — and lose the booze until the [...]

Is Allure’s Top Chef Good Enough for ‘Top Chef?’

We’ll admit it: We’re junkies for reality TV. But not just any ol’ dog-and-pony show. Throw in a cruise angle and we can’t take our eyes off the screen. So we’re happy to report that we have a new fascination with Bravo’s “Top Chef.” The Texas edition, which premiered this week, features no other than [...]

‘Mystery Meat’ No More: We Name That Cruise Food

When we posted this alarming “mystery meat” photo taken by a Cruise Critic member (she never said what ship, alas), we knew it would draw some attention. Still, we didn’t expect the 200-plus guesses we received. Let’s say what it isn’t first. It’s not turducken (chicken stuffed into duck stuffed into turkey) or any kind [...]

Name That Cruise Food — and Win Swag

This contest is now closed. Please check here for the winner — and the name of the mystery meat pictured above. Most of the time, perusing cruise food photos incites lots of mouthwatering and tummy grumbling, but every once in a while we come across a photo that leaves us a little green in the [...]

Burgers at Sea: Which Cruise Line Reigns Supreme?

After a having a outstanding fee-free burger on my recent cruise aboard Norwegian Dawn (juicy, hot beef and crisp, fresh veggies … mmm) and coming home to the news of Food Network star and restaurateur Guy Fieri teaming up with Carnival to offer gourmet burgers at sea, I’ve been wondering if the mainstream cruise lines [...]