On Sunday my husband and I boarded the Carnival Vista for a few hours to check out four new beers that will debut exclusively on the brand new
Carnival Horizon in April 2018.
These beers were created by Caranival's Master Brewmaster Colin Presby (who has the coolest job of anyone I've ever met) and will be featured at a new concept restaurant,
Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse|Brewhouse by Food Network Star Guy Fieri.
The Carnival Horizon is Carnival Vista's sister ship and it will set sail in Europe on April 2, 2018. Ironically, I found myself back onboard the Vista exactly a year after I sailed her with my best friend Keri for our
annual girls cruise. I was excited to show Gabe the Vista and it seemed like just yesterday that I was a passenger myself....I seriously did not want to get off that ship on Sunday.
After a quick tour of the Vista, we headed over to Red Frog Pub where the beers would be unveiled in a traditional keg-tapping. When I sailed the Vista last year, the
Red Frog Pub quickly became one of my favorite watering holes on the ship. Aside from being home to the first brewery at sea, this popular pub features popular pub games, table kegs and you can even go on a brewery tour. I laughed knowing if Gabe and I were to ever sail on the Vista, this would be where you would find him at all times.
Time for the beer! First a little about how and why the beers were developed. Colin Presby created these new four beers exclusively for Carnival Horizon’s Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse|Brewhouse. This will be a new dining concept that combines the best of both worlds – an onboard brewery and a full-service restaurant featuring BBQ favorites and sides developed by Food Network star Guy Fieri, who is a member of the American Royal National Barbecue Hall of Fame.
The beers names are a playful take on the line’s popular ThirstyFrog brews that debuted on Carnival Vista – are inspired by the varied barbecue offerings at Smokehouse|Brewhouse. The four new beers on Carnival Horizon include:
ParchedPig Smoked Porter brewed with in-house smoked malt, this robust, full-bodied beer offers big and bold flavors and notes of molasses and hickory smoke, providing the perfect complement to Smokehouse|Brewhouse’s BBQ favorites
ParchedPig Farmhouse Ale this lightly hopped beer is distinguished by its blond color, fruity and complex character with mild spice notes that balance the brew’s dry finish
ParchedPig Toasted Amber Ale highlighted by its rich amber color and notes of toasted caramel and biscuit, this beer is well balanced, smooth and highly drinkable
ParchedPig West Coast IPA the embodiment of a traditional West Coast India Pale Ale, this hoppy, intense beer is loaded with bitterness with a bright flavor profile and distinctive aroma of citrus and pine
“Smokehouse|Brewhouse is a unique culinary concept and we’ve created four fantastic brewed-on-board craft beers that not only showcase different tastes and brewing styles but also serve as the ideal accompaniment to the venue’s delicious array of barbecue offerings,” said Presby.
The brewery takes center stage at Smokehouse|Brewhouse, which, in addition to delicious craft beers and custom cocktails, will offer a rustic, down-home décor as well as a variety of Fieri-designed favorites, all smoked “low and slow” using the chef’s signature rubs and spices. The offerings include smoked-on-board brisket, Memphis-style back ribs, dry-rubbed chicken, pulled pork, and cedar-smoked salmon, along with the chef’s own take on traditional sides and his signature sauces. Dinner menu items are offered on an a la carte basis with a free-of-charge self-service BBQ lunch buffet available on embarkation day and sea days.
A host of other dining venues aboard Carnival Horizon are also available, including the line’s first teppanyaki restaurant
Bonsai Teppanyaki, Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, the Mexican-themed BlueIguana Cantina eatery, the 24-hour Pizzeria del Capitano, and the New England-inspired Seafood Shack.
Other features include the groundbreaking bike-ride-in-the-sky attraction called SkyRide, an IMAX Theatre, and the first Dr. Seuss-themed water park at sea.
A wide range of accommodations – from spa cabins with exclusive privileges at the luxurious Cloud 9 Spa, extra-roomy staterooms in Family Harbor to tropics-inspired Havana staterooms and suites with exclusive daytime access to a Cuban-themed bar and pool – will also be offered.
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| Carnival Horizon Havana Stateroom, photo rights: carnival.com |
Carnival Horizon is scheduled to make its maiden voyage April 2, 2018, with a 13-day Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona – the first of four round-trip departures from that port. Carnival Horizon will reposition to the U.S. with a 14-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to New York May 9-23, 2018.
Following its summer schedule of four-day Bermuda and eight-day Caribbean departures from the Big Apple, Carnival Horizon will shift to Miami and kick off a year-round schedule of six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning Sept. 22, 2018 (which happens to be sailing during our wedding anniversary....hmmmm). Carnival Horizon will also offer a special two-day cruise to Nassau from Miami Sept. 20-22, 2018.
Click here to view the Carnival Horizon sailings.
I personally cannot wait for the Horizon to set sail and check her out personally!
Thanks to Carnival for hosting my husband and I in Miami. As always, all opinions are my own.
My favorite experience while in Key West was the Key West Wind & Wine Sunset Sail by Danger Charters. We did a bit of research on the various Key West sunset sailings that are offered and Danger Charters came out on top due to the fact that they served upscale wines and had amazing reviews.
We tried to find out which wines were served prior to boarding but later found out they frequently switch them up. Our particular sailing offered varietals of Brut, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Cabernet. If you aren't in the mood to do a wine tasting (they give you as much as you want), you can opt to drink your favorite, like I did - Grenache for the entire sailing.
From the moment we boarded the historic Key West Schooner to the time we stepped off, it was an incredible experience. From the wines to the staff, everything was top notch. They serve small bites on the sailing (crudites, caprese, etc) along with 3 reds, 3 whites, 1 sparkling and craft beer. For those who don't drink alcohol, they had soda and water. Although I was there for the wine, I was very impressed by the selections of craft beer offered.
The two hour sunset cruise sails around the harbor waiting for the sun to go down. There is nothing like experiencing a Key West sunset - except for being in the middle of the ocean while experiencing it. We passed yachts, parasailers, cruise ships and even a few dolphins.
If you are prone to getting seasick, don't be too concerned. I usually cannot go on a boat without taking Dramamine or an entire bottle of ginger pills. However, I went on this sailing without being medicated and didn't feel sick once.
I would do this sailing again in a heartbeat. In fact, I made my family book a sailing later that week. It was truly a magical experience. It's no wonder that this sailing has been rated the #1 Thing To Do in Florida on TripAdvisor.com for three years running. It was also named one of the top two Sunset Sails in North America by Coastal Living Magazine
