My eyes were bigger than my stomach....or maybe not!?!

Although there are additional venues serving snacks, ice cream, breakfast and lunch, if you are unfamiliar with the evening dining options offered on a cruise, I'll do my best to give you a short precise explanation of exactly what was available on this particular ship:

Main Dining Room -- included in cruise fare
Oceanview Cafe -- included in cruise fare
Room service -- included in cruise fare
Blu -- restaurant only available to those who are booked into an Aqua Class cabin (included in cruise fare)
Bistro on Five -- flat fee based dining room $5.00pp
Tuscan Grill -- flat fee based dining room $30.00
Murano -- flat fee based dining room $35.00pp
Qsine -- flat fee based dining room $30.00pp

We chose the later option for our farewell dinner on board, and what an eating experience it turned out to be. The two previous evenings, we shared a couple wonderful meals in the main dining room. Eclipse is the third S class ship following the launch of Solstice in 2008, Equinox in 2009 and although they are all considered "sister" ships and are almost identical, with each new rollout, they will tweak a few things here and there to add something of interest. The newest addition to the fleet, also launched the first taste of Qsine, a dining extravaganza the likes of which I had never seen. We had been prepared by the reviews of the restaurant from previous passengers, to eat very sparingly during the course of our day. We soon found out that the stories we had heard, of a never-ending parade of dishes coming out of the kitchen, were not an exaggeration by any stretch of the imagination.

On such a short cruise, it was very wise to book in advance of embarkation. Through the services of the Captains Club, we were able to reserve over the phone, a date and time for our first taste of Qsine. When we visited the restaurant on the afternoon of the 17th, to confirm our reservation, we learned that every specialty restaurant (fee based) on the entire ship, with the exception of Bistro on Five which is a creperie, was fully booked for dinners. Our dinner was scheduled for 8:30 on the 19th, and we ended up being the last folks leaving the restaurant well after midnight. Needless to say, it's an experience I will not soon forget. Upon being seated, we were handed IPads, which were the actual menu for the restaurant...pretty darn cool.

There is an interactive drink menu that allows you to build a drink by moving your finger across the screen, adding various ingredients into a cocktail shaker, then you shake the IPad in the air and voilà a picture of your drink appears on the screen. Everyone at the table "slides" through the "pages" of the menu on the screen, adding favorites along the way to eventually compile a list of items to taste. Between the four of us, we had chosen enough food to feed everyone in the entire dining room, but then again so had everyone else seated in the restaurant. The idea was to have a small sampling of many of the creations offered by this unique and interesting dining venue. Let the eating begin!

As each item came out of the kitchen, our eyes were drawn to those tables surrounding us, whose diners were well into their 3rd, 4th and 5th courses. As they clutched their tummies and began to moan, we could only drool. None of us could wait for our first taste and by 9 o'clock, we were all starving. We ended up indulging in ONLY 10 courses...and then dessert came out. I paced myself throughout the evening and was able to order two desserts while one of my dining companions, gave up and called out "uncle." I took one for the team and enjoyed every bite of my two luscious sweet endings. We jokingly imagined that there was a tally board in the kitchen that kept track of each servers patrons...I suggested that an imaginary contest was taking place behind the scenes, on just how many dishes they could persuade their tables to consume. They rarely would take no for an answer when they'd "surprise" us with just one more dish. I'm not a big fan of wasting food, and prefer not to order what I have no intention of eating. However, that feeling of "waste not-want not" was left behind the minute we crossed the threshold into Qsine. Did I mention that we'd been told right from the outset that if we liked any particular item, they would bring us more of the same....are you kidding....seconds on a 10 course meal????

Here is a sampling of quite of few of the 100+ items that come out of that kitchen every evening. I've starred the ones we tasted that last night on board. When I actually remembered to take out my camera before digging in, there will be an accompanying picture. And, just to make things a bit more interesting...none of the food is served on a traditional plate, except one particular item.

Vegetables
Vegetable du "Jatour"
Carrot-Cardamom, Broccoli-Cheddar, Sweet Potato-Raisin, Spinach-Garlic Cauliflower-Apple, Parsnip-Shallot, Potato-Truffle, Green Pea- Mint Eggplant-Tomato & Olive, Creamed Corn & Chive,

Meats
Meatball Trilogy
Kobe with Cheddar & Marinara Sauce
Veal with Mushrooms & Marsala Sauce
Turkey with Cranberry & Sage Gravy

Sushi**
Sushi Lollipops
Nigiri Sushi, Soy Center, Wasabi Mayo & Pickled Ginger-Radish Salad


Very tasty...could have eaten these all night

Spring Rolls**
Baby Back Spring Rolls & Chipotle Coleslaw White Truffle BBQ Sauce
~ or ~
Vegetable Melange, Cilantro, Chipotle Coleslaw Sweet & Sour Sauce


Not one of my choices, I tried to avoid anything fried and skipped a taste of these

Tiger Shrimp & Bay Scallops - lemon juice, tequila, cilantro, tomato & jalapeno oil Salmon, yuzu citrus, cucumber, vodka & basil Sea Bass – lime, red onion, choclo, avocado & exvoo

Crunchy Munchies
Gaufrettes
French Fries – Sweet Potato Strings Vegetable Chips – Potato Croquettes, Spicy Parsnip Crisps "Squeezable Sauces"

Lobster Escargot**
Lobster & Escargot Fritters
Parsley-Garlic Butter sauce


Now these little morsels were outstanding--served with brioche for dipping into the leftover garlic-butter sauce

Soup & Souffle
Chilled Soup
Yellow Corn – Tomato Basil – Celery & Green Pea Hot Souffle - Crab & asparagus – Lobster & hollandaise – Cheddar cheese

Chinese x Martini = CHINTINI'S
CHITINI'S
Orange Chicken – Kung Pao Shrimp – Beef & Pepper in Black Bean Sauce – Stir-Fry Vegetable – Sweet & Sour Pork, Sticky Rice, Dipping Sauces

Slider Party**
Grilled Kobe
beef patties, aged Wisconsin cheddar, "Qsine slider sauce" Brioche buns and garnishes…..


Again, not my choice, but very delicious--I skipped the brioche roll, indulged in a few of the truffle fries and took a bit or two of the Kobe burger

Taco Royale**
Black Angus Sirloin Steak
home made Tacos Caramelized Onion-Poblano, Cilantro & Mortar Pestle Guacamole


Still not a choice of mine, I tasted a few pieces of the sirloin steak--it's a make your own guacamole set up

Painters Mignon**
Filet Mignon
with palatable pleasing accompaniments………


The truffle mashed potatoes were off the charts, the mushrooms and spinach were yummy and the filet just melted in my mouth

Salmon Cataplana
Salmon Cataplana "Style"
with Saffron Broth, Tomato Ravioli Chorizo Sausage, Garlic Confit, Fennel & Leeks

Lava Crab
Alaskan King Crab
Sweet yellow corn & scallions Kataifi with Old-bay lobster sauce

Disco Shrimp**
Poached Tiger Shrimp
Avocado, Tomato & Celery Dressed in a Cocktail Aioli…Crunchy toppings
NO PICTURE--we inhaled it!

M's Favorites**
Share for two or more Patlican Salata
Mixed Olives – Tzatziki – Eggplant Imambiyaldi Tabbouleh – Hummus – Chicken Kofta – Zathaar Lamb Chops – Kibbeh Mediterranean Chili – Falafel – Goat Cheese Cigars


This was the first group of items we were served...it was difficult to not eat every single bite because we were so hungry. My favorites...the lamb chop (I had now officially eaten lamb 3 days in a row), the tzaziki, the goat cheese cigars, the tabbouleh and hummus...served with a mini pita bread the size of a half dollar coin

Taj Mahal
Share for two or more Chicken Tikka Masala
Rogan josh – palak paneer – malai kofte – chole, veggie samousa – shrimp vindaloo

Persian Kebob**
Skewered Chicken breast
Garlic and spices with Vegetables, Saffron Rice-Pilaf & Tooni Sauce


Our server "forgot" she had not brought this out to us..the chicken was tender and tasty...I think I had two bites with a spoonful of the rice.

Greens
Fresh Market Salad
With Arugula, Radicchio Frisee, Watercress, Spinach, Pomegranate Emulsion Crispy Goat Cheese Crumble

"Popcorn" Fish-N-Chips**
Fish~N~Chips
Boddingtons battered Codfish & Chips, Malt Vinegar or Aioli


A few items were brought to the table together...again not my choice, so I refrained from the fried choices...the ladies said they were delicious..I concentrated on the lobster escargot


This was crab and a crunchy topping that we all again inhaled...she cut it into servings and we each had a taste

Dessert
"The Cupcake Affair"**
Red Velvet & Vanilla Cupcakes with playful garnishes


All the goodies necessary to decorate your cupcake


The whole thing was very cleverly presented in a stacked lunchbox sort of configuration...I chose something already constructed, thank you very much

"Chocolate Tombstone"**
Layered Ganache, Nutella, Rice Crispies & More Chocolate


Very light and a great way to end my meal...umm except for the surprise and of course my second choice of dessert

Beignets - Doughnuts - Fritters

"Silver Bullet"**
Gelato - Berries - Chocolate


Not one of mine, but appeared to be enjoyed by my table mate

"Cheesecake Tini"**
Graham Crakcer Cookies & Berries


Again, very light and I cleaned my dish :)

"Qsine Surprise"**
Sorry, it's a surprise!


Strawberry Fields--white and dark chocolate covered strawberries with small eggshells filled with a berry mousse

Not sure how I did it, but I survived this incredible meal and will return again with Roger to test out a few more items when we are sailing next year. If anyone knows how to make food fun, it's the chefs on Celebrity...kudos to them for allowing my stomach to stay on par with the culinary visions set before my eyes!