Prestigious Dining Award Recognizes RCCL

Jason · July 19, 2004

Royal Caribbean International Earns First American Culinary Federation Award For Shipboard Cuisine

MIAMI, July 15 -- Royal Caribbean International will receive an Achievement of Culinary Excellence Award July 18 from the nation's oldest and largest organization of professional chefs, the American Culinary Federation (ACF), Inc. This year is the first in which a cruise line has been recognized by the federation for superior foodservice.

ACF launched its culinary excellence awards to recognize establishments that exemplify commitment to excellence in foodservice in their respective markets. The 2004 winners were chosen by a committee of culinary experts, including Edward Leonard, CMC, AAC, the federation's president; ACF's four regional vice presidents; the chair of the American Academy of Chefs; two past award recipients; and Robert Benes, senior editor of Chef magazine. This year's awards will be presented during the ACF's annual convention July 16-21 in Orlando, Fla.

"We are delighted to be the first cruise line to receive this prestigious award," said Maria Sastre, vice president, Hotel Operations, for Royal Caribbean. "Because our guests have identified food as a key element to their vacation experience, we work hard to provide a variety of menu items that reflect high-quality ingredients, professional preparation and imaginative presentation."

Royal Caribbean's culinary team is headed by Frank Weber, director, Food & Beverage Operations, and Corporate Chef Josef Jungwirth. The line employs more than 3,200 shipboard chefs and cooks, as well as some 12,000 employees in the food and beverage operation on its 19 ships.

Royal Caribbean offers guests a wide variety of dining choices, ranging from elegant, multi-course meals in spectacular dining rooms to diversified offerings in the casual Windjammer venue. Select ships also feature the intimate specialty restaurants Portofino and Chops Grille, as well as more contemporary and fun experiences in Johnny Rockets, a 1950s-style diner, and the Seaview Cafe, a relaxing indoor/outdoor environment.

"The ACF is pleased to recognize Royal Caribbean International as our first recipient in the Cruise Line Restaurant Operator category for its culinary expertise," Leonard said. "As cruises continue to gain in popularity, we felt it was appropriate to recognize a cruise line that is bringing the very best to its guests' tables."

This year's ACF award categories included: independent fine- and casual- dining establishments; pastry shops and bakeries; full-service restaurants as part of culinary training programs; chain operators and restaurant-concept companies; clubs, hotels and resorts; cruise lines; and noncommercial dining facilities.

The ACF award comes in the wake of Royal Caribbean receiving "Best at Sea" awards for alternate dining and buffet restaurant from CruiseReport.com for 2003 and a "Best Food" award from Recommend magazine in 2002.