Sushi Bar on Carnival Liberty

Posted by Jan Ross on May 23, 2011

Tuna sandwich. Fried shrimp. Grilled salmon. Tilapia with a lovely lemon butter sauce. These are all seafood items I would gladly pile on my plate.

But sushi?

Not so much.

The whole idea of consuming raw fish could not have been less appealing.

Until I sailed with the Carnival Cruise Line for the first time a few years ago. Carnival has a free sushi bar on every one of their ships and it’s a very popular place to stop in and try some of this culinary delicacy. My husband is a big fan of the sushi experience and insisted that this was the perfect opportunity for me to experience this slimy and gross fish delicious culinary experience.

It was free, it was the freshest sushi possible (they actually make it right in front of you), and I could try as many different kinds as my heart desired, although it was not my heart I was concerned about. It was my stomach which was rebelling at the thought of raw fish.

But then we got to the sushi bar and he chose these delicate, lovely little items to tenderly place on my plate and exclaim over the goodness – I would LOVE this! – and then, surprisingly, each one was delectable. Delectable, I tell you!

So when I cruised on the Carnival Liberty recently, I was looking forward to the sushi bar. And it it did not disappoint. Located near the action-packed midship area close to the casino, the tables and chairs scattered by the big windows were full of fellow sushi lovers.

Fresh sushi on display as they prepare more.

With four different selections on my plate, I balanced my peach daiquiri (possibly not the best choice to accompany sushi, but definitely the best choice after a long day in the sun) and my little plate and found a vacant seat by the window. As we cruised along, navy blue water trimmed with white lace whitecaps skimmed by the window and I relished my little pre-dinner treat.

There are also various condiments you can add to your sushi and I’m sure these would enhance the experience. I was a little intimidated by all the selections and not sure what to do with them, so I abstained. I’m sure they would have made suggestions if I had asked.

Items to add if you are more knowledgeable than I.

Instead, I just ate bare naked sushi. And it was delicious.

Quite, quite delicious.

Full disclosure: Carnival provided me with some lovely gifts and some free Internet time, but did not pay for my cruise. As always, I will share my honest opinion about any travel experiences I have.