One of my New Year’s resolutions is to do a better job celebrating our successes and doing even more to recognize our amazing employees for special achievements. The recent Bacardi Cruise Bartender and Chef Competition has given us more good reasons to celebrate. I must warn you that this blog will make you both hungry and thirsty!

For the past five years, Royal Caribbean has not only taken part, but has had winners in each and every year in the Bacardi Cruise Bartender and Chef Competition. This competition is designed to recognize creativity aboard the world’s leading cruise and ferry lines, where bartenders and chefs create recipes incorporating Bacardi products and the grand prize winners receive cash scholarships.

This year Bacardi received over 926 entries from all over the world!

This competition is a perfect demonstration of the talent which Royal Caribbean has across our fleet of 21 ships. This year was no exception and we wanted to congratulate our winners. We had 3 overall winners.

In the French Culinary Category, the winner was Thanduzolo Noxeke, Sous Chef, Freedom of the Seas. He created a Raspberry Rum Bacardi Poached Cray Fish with Cucumber Cheese Roulade that was inspired by Bacardi Razz and Limon.

Alexius Del Rosario, a cook on Brilliance of the Seas, was the category winner in the Chinese Culinary category. Alexius created a recipe for Yellow Fin Tuna with Grey Goose Soy Dressing which was inspired by Grey Goose Vodka.

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