π½οΈ Japan Cruise Day 1: Dinner at the Metropolitan Restaurant on the Celebrity Millennium
Siva McAteer • July 30, 2025
Let’s talk about the real reason we all love cruising: the food. π
Hi, I’m Siva McAteer, your travel blogger BFF and certified travel agent, and I’m taking you behind the scenes of our first night aboard the Celebrity Millennium on our amazing 12-day Japan to South Korea cruise. And what better way to kick off our journey than with a full-on feast at the Metropolitan Restaurant, the ship’s elegant main dining room?
β¨ First Impressions: No Reservation? No Problem!
We didn’t have a reservation for the Metropolitan Restaurant on our first night, but that was no issue at all. They added us to the waitlist and handed us a pager. While we waited, we grabbed drinks at one of the nearby bars (because why not start with a toast to adventure? π₯). The wait was short, and soon enough, we were seated in the beautifully designed dining room.
Pro tip: This restaurant follows a "Smart Casual" dress code, so it’s the perfect excuse to dress up just a little and feel fancy at sea.
π₯ Appetizers That Set the Bar High
Now let’s get into the good stuff: the food. The Metropolitan Restaurant menu changes daily, but there are classic favorites you can almost always count on.
We started with:
Fresh Bread - Assorted spreads
Caprese Salad - Balsamic glaze
Cream of Wild Forest Mushroom Soup - Mushroom Truffle Fricassée
And yes—we went there—Escargots à la Bourguignonne, served with melted garlic and herb butter. (Deliciously rich and very French.)
π½οΈ Main Course: Cruise Cuisine at Its Best
Feeling bold? You should be—dinner here is all you can eat! Don’t be shy about ordering more than one entrée if you can’t decide.
Popular entrée options include:
- Slow Braised Lamb Wrapped in Phyllo Potato Puree, Roasted Root Vegetables
- Rigatoni Boscaiola Prosciutto, Button Mushrooms, Peas, Arugula; Pinot Grigio Cream Sauce, Pecorino Cheese
- Seared Branzino Parsnip Purée, Lentils, Spinach, Pomegranate
π° Save Room for Dessert!
Here's what we ordered (you’ve got to see the video for the full food tour!), dessert on a Celebrity Cruise is non-negotiable. It’s worth saving room for.ο»Ώ
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Strawberry Angel Food Cake
- Tiramisu Cake
π Why This Dinner Was Extra Special
This dinner was even more memorable because I had my daughter on board—she works for Celebrity Cruises and knows all the insider secrets. From food tips to hidden gems, she made sure we never missed out.
If you’re cruising soon, don’t skip the Metropolitan Restaurant on your first night. It’s the perfect way to relax, indulge, and ease into vacation mode.
π Quick Facts for Fellow Cruisers:
π Ship: Celebrity Millennium
π Dining Location: Metropolitan Restaurant (Main Dining Room)
π Experience Date: Day 1 of our 12-Day Japan Cruise
πΊοΈ Departure Port: Yokohama, Japan
π Dress Code: Smart Casual
π‘ Reservations: Not required; walk-ins welcome with waitlist
Want help booking your next cruise or knowing where to eat on board? I’m your girl. Follow along as I share more from our 12-day Japan & South Korea cruise, including tours, travel tips, and all the tasty things we tried along the way.
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