He’s the Melbourne-born chef who’s made it big overseas. Hot property in the US, Curtis Stone has cooked alongside Oprah and more recently, Ellen Degeneres.
But Curtis is now taking his skills to the seas, serving up his culinary creations at his restaurant SHARE, onboard Princess Cruises‘ ships.
A cruise getaway is a family-favourite holiday style for the father-of-two, and after Curtis reveals the most surprising things you’ll find onboard, it could be your favourite, too.
1. There’ll be something for everyone in the family
With a range of fun onboard activities, a cruise will impress every member of the family – teens included! Kids can boogie down in a dance class or play mini-golf, while their older siblings lounge by the pool with their friends or hang at the youth club. Mums and dads can enjoy some R & R at the spa or work up a sweat in the gym. But the real beauty of a cruise holiday is that it’s a great way to bring the family together.
“For me, it’s all about sharing great experiences with your loved ones at sea,” say Curtis. “There is something to do for everyone onboard and at the end of the day you can come together over a great meal and share stories.”
2. You’ll be spoiled for choice at every meal
Fine-dining will become a way of life when you’re on a Princess Cruise holiday. Curtis Stone’s SHARE restaurant menu pairs fresh produce with the chef’s esteemed expertise to deliver dishes of mouthwatering excellence.
The chef’s favourite? Roasted crab leg. “It is baked with lemongrass and paired with a chicharron powder,” says Curtis. “It’s visually stunning and tastes incredible; the perfect dish to enjoy at sea.”
Other menu highlights include 6-minute butter poached lobster, seared scallops with white bean salad, and 48-hour marinated breast chicken with charred bacon and rustic onion slaw – yum!
3. Cruise logistics
Cruises also cater for the time their guests spend onshore. Thrill seekers can take-on destination activities such as ziplining and river rafting, while there are planned hikes and tours for those seeking a more relaxing approach to their explorations.
He may play masterchef onboard one of the world’s most prestegious cruiselines, but even Curtis Stone was amazed by the amount of forward-thinking that goes into modernday cruising.
“Onboard logistics really impressed me,” Curtis reveals. “There are storage rooms made specifically for a single type of fruit!”
4. You’ll discover entirely new cultures
Going on a cruise gives you the opportunity to explore more than just one destination. Port stops mean you’ll be able to soak in the unique charm of each new city, together as a family.
It’s one of the reasons why Curtis fell in love with cruises. “I love just being on the ocean looking over the water, escaping to visit new destinations, and sharing stories and good times.”
Not only will you discover new places, but cruising is a great way to meet new people, too.
5. Food will be amazingly fresh
Forget long-life foods – those who visit Curtis’ SHARE restaurant will enjoy a huge variety of locally-sourced and deliciously-prepped ingredients.
“We’ve worked hard to create a menu that uses the freshest ingredients prepared with passion and care, and which also reflects the regional variations of the cultures and destinations,” say Curtis. “When we’re updating the menu, we say where is the ship sailing from, what ingredients does that purveyor have? We reach out, we get samples and start there.”
Brought to you by Princess Cruises
