North Palm Beach Life
  • Home
    • Weather >
      • Hurricane Readiness
  • Cruise News
    • Cruise Reviews and Stories
    • Cruise Compete
    • Nieuw Statendam
  • Gigi in the 561
    • Gigi in the 561 Interviews
    • Cora
    • My Father's Tales >
      • My Father's Tales - Photo Album
  • Blogs
    • Gerry Pronounced Gary
    • Rock and Roll Rewind
    • Susan Goldfein -- Blog >
      • Susan Goldfein
  • Video
  • Travel
    • Snaps >
      • Snaps - Page 2
    • Island Destinations
    • October Odyssey >
      • Cartagena, Columbia
      • Panama Canal
      • Antigua, Guatemala
      • Cabo San Lucas
      • Birds and Bees Speakeasy in Los Angeles
      • We Love LA
      • Coast Starlight
      • Napa Wine Tour
      • California Zephyr
      • California Zephyr Part Two
      • Chicago
      • Amtrak Capitol Limited
      • Washington DC
    • Pam - Traveling in Style
    • Road Trip! >
      • Road Trip! -- Tucumcari, New Mexico
      • Road Trip! -- The Painted Desert
      • Road Trip! - Sedona, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - Sedona Wineries
      • Road Trip! Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
      • Road Trip! - Mogollon Rim
      • Road Trip! - Verde Canyon Railroad
      • Road Trip! - Jerome, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - California
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Celebrity Tour
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
      • Road Trip! - Festival in Palm Springs
      • Road Trip! - Willcox, Arizona and Apple Annie's Orchard
      • Road Trip! Willcox Wineries
      • Road Trip! Chiricahua National Monument
      • Road Trip! Tombstone, Arizona
      • Tombstone, Part Two
      • Road Trip! - Epilogue
    • Traveling With Joe >
      • Beartooth Highway
      • North Cascades National Park
      • A Visit to the Philippines
      • Grand Canyon National Park
      • Glacier National Park
      • Yellowstone National Park
      • Hiking in Bear Country
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
      • The Kerrville Folk Festival
      • Building Hope in the Rio Grande Valley
    • Unknown Yellowstone >
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Heart Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Summit Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Shoshone Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Grizzly Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Riddle Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Pelican Cone
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Mt. Washburn
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Specimen Ridge
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Avalanche Peak
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Divide Creek
  • Contact
    • Pamela Barker - Author
    • The Story of StarText
  • Search

360 princess dining experience



Immerse Youself in a Food Tour of Europe Like No Other

Also available on Splash Magazines Worldwide and All Things Cruise
Picture
By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life
March 10, 2023

Photos/Video by Gerry Barker


In the late Eighties, there was a famous commercial for bath products that coined the line, "Calgon, take me away."

That could easily apply to what Princess Cruises has achieved in creating "360," an immersive and interactive dining experience like no other, where a select group of guests are virtually transported to a tour of European food meccas.

Launched last November on Discovery Princess, it debuted on Enchanted Princess in January, and this week, invited media got their first look, and taste, of what 360 is all about. As we entered Sabatini's, the specialty Italian restaurant where 360 is located, we were treated to a unique cocktail, with "360" embedded in the foamy top, and our photo taken against a red-carpet worthy backdrop. We were off to a good start.

Soon, 360 manager and our host, Johannes, gave us each a number. Afterwards, accompanied by the manager and two talented violinists, we were led into a darkened room with two, semi-circular tables and assigned a spot based on the number we were given. After being seated, we had our first surprise: A personal welcome message appeared in front of us on the tabletop. Nice touch.

Then the walls came alive with images as Johannes magically opened a travel diary to start our gastronomic journey, narrated by actress Brooke Shields. And just like that, we were off to Greece. Over the length of our multi-course experience, we would also travel to Spain, Italy and France.

PictureLemon-flavored pasta
​While the visuals were stunning, they were also educational, as we were introduced to the locals who produce the food  with love and passion, from processing olive oil and harvesting lemons, to aging wine underwater, tending lavender fields and hunting for truffles. It really gives you an extra appreciation for the courses we enjoyed, and was similar to taking an immersive shore excursion without leaving the ship.

And about the food: Remarkable, both in taste and presentation. After appetizers of marinated olives and grilled octopus, we sampled delicious buffalo cheese, followed by an incredible lemon-flavored pasta. Then came a charcuterie sampler and an entre of steak and roasted vegetables. Dessert was a heavenly, lavender-inspired work of culinary artistry.

Each course was paired with a cocktail or wine, including wine from Elixsea, an underwater winery located in Spain, where their wines are aged in the Mediterranean Sea. Guests also get to participate in the magic, as we "broke" our plates, were covered with buzzing bees and waved our hands to make lemons swirl around. 

Throughout the meal, you have a personal server. Ours was George, from Turkey, who took good care of us. At the meal's grand finale, we gave all the servers and chefs a well-deserved round of applause as champagne bottles danced on the walls and fireworks exploded.
​

For an encore, there was one last surprise to go with our glass of champagne: The photos they took of us were framed and presented all over the walls of the room. They really do think of everything to make for an unforgettable meal.

As noted, 360 is only available for guests booked in suites on Discovery Princess and Enchanted Princess, including guests that book a suite on a future cruise aboard those ships. There are two seatings scheduled daily.

While the current programming is repeated for each meal, it's easy to imagine future presentations that might spotlight foods of the Caribbean or other regions of the world. It really is the next best thing to actually being there.


Slide Show: Join Our 360 Experience

Video

Post Script

Picture
Hey look -- that's us on the wall!

NORTH PALM BEACH LIFE

Contact us: northpalmlife@gmail.com

Picture
© COPYRIGHT  2023  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
    • Weather >
      • Hurricane Readiness
  • Cruise News
    • Cruise Reviews and Stories
    • Cruise Compete
    • Nieuw Statendam
  • Gigi in the 561
    • Gigi in the 561 Interviews
    • Cora
    • My Father's Tales >
      • My Father's Tales - Photo Album
  • Blogs
    • Gerry Pronounced Gary
    • Rock and Roll Rewind
    • Susan Goldfein -- Blog >
      • Susan Goldfein
  • Video
  • Travel
    • Snaps >
      • Snaps - Page 2
    • Island Destinations
    • October Odyssey >
      • Cartagena, Columbia
      • Panama Canal
      • Antigua, Guatemala
      • Cabo San Lucas
      • Birds and Bees Speakeasy in Los Angeles
      • We Love LA
      • Coast Starlight
      • Napa Wine Tour
      • California Zephyr
      • California Zephyr Part Two
      • Chicago
      • Amtrak Capitol Limited
      • Washington DC
    • Pam - Traveling in Style
    • Road Trip! >
      • Road Trip! -- Tucumcari, New Mexico
      • Road Trip! -- The Painted Desert
      • Road Trip! - Sedona, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - Sedona Wineries
      • Road Trip! Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
      • Road Trip! - Mogollon Rim
      • Road Trip! - Verde Canyon Railroad
      • Road Trip! - Jerome, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - California
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Celebrity Tour
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
      • Road Trip! - Festival in Palm Springs
      • Road Trip! - Willcox, Arizona and Apple Annie's Orchard
      • Road Trip! Willcox Wineries
      • Road Trip! Chiricahua National Monument
      • Road Trip! Tombstone, Arizona
      • Tombstone, Part Two
      • Road Trip! - Epilogue
    • Traveling With Joe >
      • Beartooth Highway
      • North Cascades National Park
      • A Visit to the Philippines
      • Grand Canyon National Park
      • Glacier National Park
      • Yellowstone National Park
      • Hiking in Bear Country
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
      • The Kerrville Folk Festival
      • Building Hope in the Rio Grande Valley
    • Unknown Yellowstone >
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Heart Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Summit Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Shoshone Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Grizzly Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Riddle Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Pelican Cone
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Mt. Washburn
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Specimen Ridge
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Avalanche Peak
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Divide Creek
  • Contact
    • Pamela Barker - Author
    • The Story of StarText
  • Search