In what might be the ultimate assignment for any food lover, Sunrise reporter Katie Brown has completed an epic culinary challenge aboard one of the world's newest luxury cruise liners.
A Gastronomic Marathon at Sea
Brown sampled dishes from every single dining venue on the brand-new, billion-dollar Celebrity Xcel ship. This meant tasting food from all 32 restaurants, lounges, and bars on board the massive vessel. During her adventure, she spoke with the ship's Director of Culinary Operations, Chef Sidney Semedo, who revealed the staggering scale of the kitchen's output.
"Anywhere between 25,000 to 30,000 meals in a day," Semedo explained, highlighting the incredible logistics behind feeding thousands of passengers and crew. Brown joked that after her multi-day eating spree, she felt she had personally consumed "about 1,000 of those."
Menus That Travel The World
The dining experience on the Celebrity Xcel is designed to be as dynamic as the journey itself. The ship offers everything from vast, lavish buffets to intimate, high-end fine dining restaurants. Most uniquely, the menus are not static.
According to Chef Semedo, the food is crafted to reflect the ship's location. "The food speaks to the location, the flavours, the atmosphere, everything about it, you feel like you're in the Caribbean," he said. This immersive approach means the entire culinary offering transforms when the ship sails to different regions.
"And the best part is that when this ship makes it to the Mediterranean, it all changes. It all becomes part of the med," Semedo added, promising a completely new gastronomic adventure for passengers on different itineraries.
From Eating to Cooking: A Hands-On Lesson
After days of dedicated consumption, Brown swapped her plate for an apron. She was invited into the ship's galley for a hands-on cooking lesson, where chefs taught her how to make traditional Spanish empanadas.
While carefully crafting the pastry dish, Brown laughed, "Mum and Dad would be so proud of me right now." The segment showcased the accessible, interactive side of modern luxury cruise dining, which goes beyond simply serving food to creating memorable experiences.
The launch of the Celebrity Xcel represents the cutting edge of at-sea hospitality, directly catering to the strong Australian market's passion for cruise holidays and exceptional onboard cuisine. With its location-inspired menus and vast array of venues, it sets a new benchmark for what passengers can expect from their culinary journey while sailing the high seas.
