'We have guests who have booked suites because of this experience'
360: An Extraordinary Experience is a new dining experience made available to passengers on Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess. Our writer was among the first to sample the immersive culinary adventure
My dinner plate and the entire table top is running alive with hundreds of bees swarming across the surface that, in the blink of an eye, has morphed into honeycomb.
It’s enough to make anyone run for cover, but there’s no need to panic. I’m not even worried about getting stung as this is simply the latest slice of technical wizardry in Princess Cruises’ new immersive dining spectacle.
Appropriately named 360: An Extraordinary Experience, it is a novel take on how to bring an authentic taste of the Mediterranean’s classic culinary flavours to life by presenting dishes as part of a multi-sensory feast that draws in sounds, visuals and even aromas.
The seven-course gourmet journey is available on just two Princess ships, Enchanted Princess, where it debuted last November, and Discovery Princess, though there are no plans to add this to the line’s newest ship Sun Princess when it launches next year.
A suite perk
Until now, 360 has been exclusively offered to suite guests by invitation-only on a complimentary basis, but from this month it is being rolled out to all passengers for a supplement of $149pp, though suite guests will continue to enjoy it free of charge.
Senior vice-president of communications Vicki Johnson said 360 marked a new style of immersive entertainment for Princess that would be followed by similar experiences, though there is scope to develop the 360 concept further.
“The world is our oyster,” she said. “This is the first and we have endless opportunities to explore other regions like the Caribbean, Alaska and Asia.”
But she confirmed there were no immediate plans as Princess wanted to give this first journey time to settle before adding others.
It’s a journey that has been well received by guests, according to Enchanted Princess food and beverage director Carlos Justina who said some diners were moved to tears.
He added: “360 has elevated Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess to the top level. It is a signature experience and we have guests who have booked suites on these ships because of this.”
So does 360 live up to the hype? It certainly has all the ingredients for a stand-out occasion and the cuisine is exquisite.
This is a show-stopper from the start, as serenading violinists lead us past a welcoming staff guard of honour into the purpose-built circular restaurant which takes 20 guests.
A culinary tour of the Med
After taking a seat at the semi-circular tables on either side, we watch as our ebullient host Magdalena kicks off proceedings with a flourish.
The giant LED walls burst into life of sparkling animations and films, with special effect projections transforming our tables, reminding me of Celebrity Cruises’ Le Petit Chef experience involving similar technology.
Our journey is introduced by a Princess “passenger” US movie star Brooke Shields, on the all-surround screen as she brings her Mediterranean travels to life through her personal journal.
She takes us across the Continent, describing local specialities and introducing us to the places and artisans, farmers and producers who also feature.
In Greece, the sound and sight of smashing plates precedes a focus on olive oil producer Tassos – before we are served with flat breads, dips and, yes you’ve guessed it, olive oil.
We move to Italy’s Neapolitan Riviera with talk of lemons as a subtle citrus scent fills the air and our waiter appears with a delicious lemon pasta. Spain conjures up the spirit of Barcelona with Spanish charcuterie, while France finishes our 90-minute culinary discovery in style as we finish in Champagne and bottles of bubbly dance across the screens to vibrant French can-can music and waiters appear with glasses of fizz for a final toast, ensuring that this dining experiences leaves us on a high.
Book it: Princess Cruises offers an 11-day Grand Western Mediterranean voyage on Enchanted Princess from £799, departing 12 November, 2023, from Barcelona to Rome (Civitavecchia); princess.com
Onboard restaurant news: In addition to 360, Enchanted Princess now features new dining options The Catch by Rudi and O’Malley’s Irish Pub installed earlier this year.
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