By Barbara Beckley
Am I dining in Spain? No, it’s Greece. No, France. Yes, Yes and Yes…
More than an exquisite meal – and it’s that, too – the “360: An Extraordinary Experience” is a magical trip around the world. Once seated, we’re transported to Princess Cruises’ exotic ports of call, immersed in the sights and sounds of beautiful destinations, dining on the delicacies of the region – as if we were right there – carried by film and animation to a fabulous hilltop restaurant or beachfront café or fun-filled cantina. Truly an unforgettable new voyage-within-a-voyage onboard the Discovery Princess – and soon the Enchanted Princess.
Exclusively Yours!
Introduced in November 2022, the 360 Experience is making waves as the cruise industry’s newest ultra-innovative, ultra-gourmet and ultra-exclusive perk – available by invitation only to guests who book suite accommodations on the Discovery Princess and Enchanted Princess. Once you book a suite, you automatically receive an invitation. “So be sure to RSVP,” Rafal Seweryniak, Discovery Princess’ 360 Manager and Master of Ceremonies, said. 360 is also complimentary! Features gourmet cuisine you can’t get elsewhere. And limited to 20 guests per experience. Pretty exclusive, I’d say. An excellent reason to choose a suite (as if you need one).
Wow! The 360 Experience is unique. As an LA-based journalist, I was lucky enough to be invited for a test run onboard the Discovery Princess which is sailing from Los Angeles now through 2024 – making it easy peasy for me and all SoCal residents to hop aboard. 360 is also top secret. And Princess wants to keep it that way. I wasn’t allowed to take photos. Princess graciously provided the photos.
Insider Intel
“360 cocktail?” a server, dressed is a custom 360 logo uniform, asked. “Of course,” I replied, lifting the frothy turquoise concoction – custom crafted with Grey Goose Vodka, blue Curacao, Riesling, cachaca, lemon juice, apple syrup and pear puree – from her tray.
The Experience has begun. With cocktails and comradery at a shipboard location known only to us invitees. Like true VIPs, we posed for photographs in front of an award-show style 360 Experience backdrop. Chatted with 360 Experience Manager Rafal. And enjoyed classical music played by a sequin-clad violinist. Soon it was showtime!
“Follow the violinist!” instructed Rafal. That we did. As she switched her tune to a classical version of the Love Boat theme, leading us through a hidden doorway – marked “employee access only” – to an inner sanctum of fine wine, gourmet cuisine, storytelling, animation, music, aromas and visual film. Designed exclusively for the 360 Experience, I-MAX-worthy LED screens covered the circular walls. In the center, a circular counter-like table was set for 20 diners. Servers escorted us to our designated seats, each facing into the room for uninterrupted views.
Places, People, Food – Oh my!
The lights dimmed. Rafal took center stage as ring master, popping champagne, opening wine bottles, and introducing each segment of our four-country, seven-course journey to Greece, the Amalfi Coast, Spain and France.
With each course, larger-than-life scenes of its country of origin played across the screens in 4K cinematography, transporting us into the destination. I was especially impressed by the way images of doorways and cobblestone streets made the room’s service doorways part of the landscape. Landscapes switched to face-to-face conversations with regional growers, artisans and purveyors, as they explained their choice of ingredients and cooking methods – of the very food we had on our plates! Speaking of plates. And the table top. They’re all part of the show. Tapping my fingers on my plate at the end of the first course – it flew into pieces via animation – in true Greek style. A table-top tap during the Barcelona course produced a cute animated bull.
Truly no stone is left unturned in this 90-minute extravaganza. Including wines. With each dish I enjoyed exquisite wine pairings from the same region as the cuisine. And better yet – most of the wines are exclusive to this dinner only! Not available elsewhere on the ship or even outside the region. Including the Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio (Tears of Christ) vino from Naples poured with (my favorite) the rich, fresh Italian mozzarella and heirloom tomato course from the Amalfi Coast. And unique Spanish grenache that’s aged for six months under the ocean off the Costa Brava. Who knew? Proof were the bits of sea life still stuck to the bottles as Rafal and staff filled our glasses in accompaniment to the Spanish truffle dish, followed by luscious Spanish beef tenderloin.
Even Brook Shields plays a part! “She looks familiar,” I thought to myself, watching a brunette on the LED screens. “It’s Brook Shields,” my tablemate said. Shields narrates the Experience storyline of a woman reliving her Mediterranean adventures and friends made along the way.
A Secret Worth Keeping
Course by delicious course, we sailed the Mediterranean. Beginning in the green hilltops of Santorini and coming face-to-face with the growers on film, who explain that Greece has the world’s oldest olive trees, as we enjoy their luscious, plump olives as part of the charcuterie board and crisp traditional Greek ouzo. Next, we’re on a cliff-top café overlooking the Amalfi Coast – which we learn is famous for lemons. Voila, our entrée is a surprising, delicious lemon pasta. The scents and colors of Provence make a beautiful finale. Plunging into the lavender fields we learn that honey and lavender go hand-in-hand.
As we experience in the unique pudding-like dessert of crumbled honeycomb and lavender, garnished with tiny bees made of honey, i.e. “honey bees.” So exquisite, I brought two home as keepsakes.
What’s France – and this amazing Experience – without French Champagne! Popping champagne bottles left and right, Rafal leads us in a rousing closing toast! A perfect ending to a perfectly unique Experience.
The 360 Experience is currently available in two seatings nightly, for guests in suite accommodations on the MedallionClass Discovery Princess and Royal-class Enchanted Princess. Or guests who are on the Discovery Princess or Enchanted Princess and book a future cruise with suite accommodations on any Princess ship including Princess Premier at non-cancelable rates. Invitation access may also be gained from participation in specific “VIP” casino gaming and retail event sailings. No worries if you have food allergies or preferences. They can easily accommodate. I don’t eat octopus for humane reasons and they happily substituted a delicious Greek veggie dish. See www.princess.com for details.
Courtesy photos provided by Princess Cruises; other photos by Barbara Beckley
