Bars at Sea

By Phyllis Steinberg

Royal Caribbean
The largest cruise ship in the Royal Caribbean line, the Oasis of the Seas, is also the largest cruise  ship in the world, with a passenger capacity of 6,296. It’s also twice as wide as the Voyager and Freedom-class ships. The ship entered service in 2009.

There is no shortage of bars on the Oasis of the Seas. For wine lovers, there is Vintage, a wine bar with tapas selections. The Globe and Atlas Pub, a 128-seat haven for beer lovers, and the 66-seat Champagne Bar offers many sparkling varieties. Most popular is Rising Tide, a floating bar on the Royal Promenade, which rises and descends above a stream of colored fountains

Norwegian Cruise Line
Drink and chill at the same time! The Norwegian Epic has Svedka Ice Bar, inspired by the original ice bars and ice hotels in Scandinavia. It is the cruise industry’s first true ice bar at sea. Walls, tables, stools, glasses and life-size sculptures are all made from ice This frozen chamber of iced vodka is set in changing hues of blue, green and purple LED lighting that simulates the Northern Lights and creates a distinctive arctic atmosphere. Guests are given coats, gloves and hats, since the room’s temperature will not rise above 17 degrees Fahrenheit. It is located on deck 7, mid-ship, and accommodates 25. The cost is $20 per person and includes two signature cocktails and 45 minutes in the bar

The 4,100 passenger Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Epic entered service in July, 2010, and is based at the Port of Miami. The Epic is the new flagship of NCL and the most innovative in the line. It is also the biggest ship to date launched by NCL.

Celebrity
The Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Solstice have Martini Bars. The ships entered service in 2008 and 2009. The center of the Martini bar is filled with ice and caviar. There is no charge to enter the bar, but martinis are not on the house! The ship’s 2,850 passengers have plenty of activities and also ample room to drink at bars throughout the ship. New in the Solstice Class are Aqua Class rooms, where guests have their own specialty restaurant, Blu, and numerous other perks.

The “Celebrity Vineyards” wine enrichment program, developed in partnership with the U. S. Sommelier Association, will feature a host of immersive wine events providing guests the opportunity to expand their understanding and appreciation of the world of wine. Among the activities are the comparative wine workshops Celebrity introduced in 2007.

Celebrity’s “Signature Spirits” events will help unleash guests’ inner mixologist as they explore the modern world of spirits and cocktails during exclusive Mixology 101 workshops developed in partnership with Bacardi. The Signature Spirits events also will offer the opportunity to experience the industry’s first Molecular Mixology workshop developed by, Master Mixologist Junior Merino, the Liquid Chef.

Phyllis Steinberg is a travel and food writer based in South Florida.

Photos by Arvin Steinberg.

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