by Ralph Grizzle

As new ships launch this spring, summer and fall, the trend continues to turn cruise ship food outlets into dining destinations. Spa Dining -- Both Celebrity and Carnival will feature optional 'spa cuisine' on their newest ships. Celebrity will do so in Blu, a 130-seat restaurant where dining is complimentary to guests booked in Solstice's new AquaClass veranda accommodations. Carnival Splendor will offer a wide range of health-conscious dining options, including an extensive salad bar and 24-hour frozen yogurt in the Lido restaurant and gourmet-style selections in the main dining rooms that are lower in calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Las Vegas Meets The Sea -- Celebrity Cruises recently inked a deal with Elizabeth Blau, credited for transforming Las Vegas from all-you-can-eat buffets to the dining mecca it is today. Blau and her team are bringing a whole new taste to Celebrity and indeed to the smaller Azamara Cruises brand, which features open-seating in the main dining room and two alternative dining restaurants (Prime C for beef-lovers and Aqualina for Mediterranean fare) on each of its two ships. Celebrity's new Solstice will feature 10 restaurants. Private Dining -- Crystal Cruises boasts perhaps the most 'extravagant' alternative dining at sea -- the Vintage Room, where meals paired with rare wines have gone for more than $1,000 per person. For considerably less, Princess Cruises' "Chef's Table'" provides both a behind-the-scenes look at the galley during its busiest time (dinner) and a special dining experience for up to 10 passengers per evening. The cost is $75 per person.