Celebrating a Special Birthday at Cagney's Steakhouse

 

click images to enlarge

          Craving a Steak Dinner?

Norwegian Cruise line's signature Cagney's Steakhouse proudly serves certified Angus Beef® brand steaks. How do you like yours done? You decide from Rare to Well Done, although I'd suggest something in the middle.

We were first exposed to Norwegian Cruise Lines's Freestyle Dining in 2001, when we sailed the inaugural voyage on Norwegian Sun. It was the first ship they build specifically to take advantage of their new dining options.

Much has changed since then, when we had to wait in long lines to enter a restaurant to today, where you can pre-reserve your dining options, or check onboard to see what venue has a short wait.  To enjoy specialty dining venues, select  al a carte pricing onboard the ship or purchase a dining package in advance of your voyage.

While we still like "traditional dining" where you have an assigned dining time and specific table assignment, freestyle dining is a welcome change, especially when you have a set schedule to adhere to, like we do during our conference cruise.  You decide when and where and with whom you want to dine each evening during your cruise.

Celebrate a Special Occasion  

Cagney's Steakhouse was the scene of a special birthday dinner for one of our fellow agent friends during our Norwegian Bliss sailing.















Pictured here is the 20 oz. Potterhouse Steak, Cheese & Vegetable Marmite Soup, Onion Rings, and Au-Gratin Potatoes.  See the menu above for additional choices and al a carte pricing.  We finished the meal with a chocolate layer Birthday Cake provided by Norwegian Cruise Line.

Inspire Conference  - Click for More Stories & Pictures

Norwegian Bliss
October 20-27, 2018
7 days R/T Port of Los Angeles (Long Beach)

Additional photos can be found on our Norwegian Bliss Shutterfly page

Cagney's Steakhouse album

View Our Other Shutterfly Share Pages

Follow Us On

        

Sign-up for Exclusive Email Offers


Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat

Escape to Garden Cafe

Norwegian Escape

Casual Dining

Norwegian Escape complimentary dining options include three main dining rooms, a help-yourself buffet and a variety of casual cafés, grills and on-the-go choices. Plus, the Main Dining Rooms offer a menu that changes daily.

We selected the Garden Cafe for our welcome aboard lunch.  There were other dining options open, but since we had our first general session meeting about an hour after boarding, we wanted something quick.

Garden Cafe is located on Deck 16 aft.   There are many different stations from which you can choose your favorites or try something new. 

Breakfast  Buffet

Most mornings you'd find us in the Garden Cafe before our first general session.   Selections in the ready-made category included eggs, waffles, pancakes, cereal, bacon and sausage.  You could have an omelet made to order if you liked.  Check out our photo album for some more pictures.  Escape - Garden Cafe

Help Yourself

You don't have to wait for someone to server you coffee, juice, ice tea, or water unless you wanted to wait.  Central to each group of tables were silverware wrapped in napkins along with some condiments.   There was a selection of condiments on the buffet station as well, including my favorite HP Sauce.

We always love the baked bread and Norwegian Escape's Bakery didn't disappoint with a nice selection at each meal.   You could also grab a piece of fruit or two for your meal or later in the day.

Walk Around the Buffet

Some common phrases heard in the Garden Cafe:   "Where did you get that?"  "I didn't see that." 

There is a tendency to grab a plate and start filling it up at the first buffet station you see.  I see that behavior on all cruises, and am guilty of it as well at times.   My suggestion to you is before digging into the selections, walk around and get an idea of your options.   Then go back and start filling up your plate.

The picture above is a good example for why you might want to do that.   Near the entrances of the buffet you'll find a soft-serve ice cream machine.   You might be tempted to have that for dessert and if that is something you like, you won't be disappointed.  But, if you walk a little further, you'll find one of the crew serving dishes of ice cream from the selections of the day.    It's like going to your favorite ice cream parlor back home.  You can make your own sundae if you like as well.

Review of Garden Cafe

There was a decent selection of food at each meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).   We were a little disappointed with some of the items, however.   The scrambled eggs weren't cooked to our liking, perhaps because they needed to stay under the lights for extended period of time.  We like crispy bacon, which wasn't always available.  Overall, we were happy with the variety and quality of the food.  Food is so subjective, but we think most people would find something they would like to eat.

The dining room itself is a bit hard to navigate at times - especially in prime times.   There are some wooden barriers that in our opinion should be removed.   They block the natural flow of traffic.  On the positive side there are a number of different seating arrangements, ranging from handicap accessible tables, to high-top tables, which could accommodate any size group.

Norwegian Cruise Line is well known for Freestyle Dining.  

Click (here) or Image to the left for more stories and photos from our conference cruise on Norwegian Escape.   Check out this brand new ship from Norwegian Cruise Line.

If you have specific questions about the ship, the itinerary, or cruising in general, we'd love to hear from you.

Follow us on Twitter: @ChrisPappinMCC  Pinterest: CruiseWithChris Pappin and Facebook: CruiseWithChris Pappin Cruises Inc
 

Food Republic a Fun Dining Experience

Norwegian Escape Dining Innovations 

When Norwegian Cruise Line planned the Escape's dining venues, they teamed up with some of the local Florida talent. Food Republic introduces the concept of "Global Fusion" to the Norwegian Freestyle Dining choices. It is the creation of Pubbelly Boys, the culinary team who have reinvented the South Beach dining scene.

The menu consists of small portions which you can share with others dining with you.   That way, you can taste food from all over the globe or just pick your favorites.   You order from the a la carte menu which is presented on a tablet.   Once you have your "shopping cart" of food selections, you complete your order by charging to your cabin.  Food is delivered as it is prepared.  

 

Here are the favorites we selected on one visit (we liked the food so much we went back another time).   Pictured from left to right and top to bottom are Pork Belly & Scallions with Spicy su-shoyu dipping sauce; Pub Sliders with Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and 1000 island sauce; and Chicken Teriyaki with Ginger, sesame seeds, and scallions.

We sat at one of the counters where were able to watch the chefs prepare some of the sushi dishes. Service was prompt, the food was some of the best on the cruise, and well worth the service charge.

We highly recommend trying Food Republic during your Norwegian Escape cruise.  We are certain this will become one of the passengers' favorites and will find its way onto more ships in the fleet.  Norwegian Cruise line has hit a home run with this dining option.  Food Republic (photo album)

Norwegian Escape

View Itineraries          Click to Learn More about Norwegian Escape

Click (here) or Image to the left for more stories and photos from our conference cruise on Norwegian Escape.   Check out this brand new ship from Norwegian Cruise Line.

If you have specific questions about the ship, the itinerary, or cruising in general, we'd love to hear from you.

Follow us on Twitter: @ChrisPappinMCC  Pinterest: CruiseWithChris Pappin and Facebook: CruiseWithChris Pappin Cruises Inc
 

Norwegian Escape Two Icons

 Guy Harvey & Jimmy Buffet

When Norwegian Cruise Line announced the new ship build, Norwegian Escape, they also announced new business relationships with two icons who are well known in their respective fields.

While some ships have plain hulls, Norwegian's ships start with a blank canvas and come to life thanks to the creative artists that are selected.  Guy Harvey, well known marine artist and conservationist was selected to create the hull art.

In the following article, published earlier this year, Guy Harvey tells about what it was like to see his artwork come to life in the shipbuilders yard.

Norwegian Escape's Hull Art - Guy Harvey

Another First at Sea

Norwegian Cruise Line is well known for their innovation with things like Freestyle Dining and Freestyle Cruising.  When announcing the Norwegian Escape, they revealed another partnership, with Jimmy Buffet. 

Norwegian Escape's Freestyle Dining venues include the first ever Margaritaville at Sea.  There's also a 5 O'clock Somewhere Bar onboard to complete the entire tropical atmosphere well known among Jimmy Buffet fans.

If you've been to one of Jimmy Buffet's restaurants on land, you'll recognize the menu - complete with the signature hamburgers & key lime pie.   Watch for more posts ....


Photo Albums:   Norwegian Escape Hull       Margaritaville at Sea

Click (here) or Image to the left for more stories and photos from our conference cruise on Norwegian Escape.   Check out this brand new ship from Norwegian Cruise Line.

If you have specific questions about the ship, the itinerary, or cruising in general, we'd love to hear from you.

Follow us on Twitter: @ChrisPappinMCC  Pinterest: CruiseWithChris Pappin and Facebook: CruiseWithChris Pappin Cruises Inc