When you watch reality TV, do you not so secretly think of your favorite persona, “If we met, we would become best friends! I just know it!”? Well, that’s just creepy. Contain yourself. But, if you’re a regular watcher of popular (and grounded) reality programs like Bravo’s Top Chef, consider sidling up to past fan favorites from the show while on a vacation. A cruise vacation. Launched this month, Celebrity Cruises is offering four different itineraries called “Top Chef at Sea” featuring the culinary contenders.
Of particular interest for Bay Area denizens is a November 15 trip on board the Celebrity Reflection, when Casey Thompson (Season 3, now of recently opened Aveline in Union Square) sets sail for a weeklong cruise through the Eastern Caribbean departing from Miami with stops in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, St. Maarten. Thompson, along with fellow show alums will be holding cooking demos, quickfire challenges (with audience participation!), and her recipes will be served in the luxury liner's main resto.
Inside cabins start from $599 per person, but for a luxurious experience, you really should upgrade to an Aqua Class suite starting from $1,249pp or go for broke with Celebrity’s well-appointed suites starting from $1,749pp. (Fair warning: These are base prices, and don’t include taxes or security fees). Highlights of the ship include the Canyon Ranch SpaClub and the Lawn Club—an actual living manicured lawn for those travelers whose bare feet miss terra firma.
Launched late 2012, the Reflection is the newest ship in the line’s Solstice Class, vessels that are consistently voted as favorites by Cruise Critic and Conde Nast Traveler. For booking, visit celebritycruises.com/sf or call 888-456-7887.
