TUI River Cruises Verdastro Gala Dinner Menu
One of the standout dining events on a TUI River Cruise is the gala dinner. On European TUI river cruises, Verdastro is the main restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with menus that change throughout the sailing. TUI currently confirms that cruises of five nights or longer include a special six-course gala dinner once during the cruise.
The real Verdastro gala dinner menu photographed below gives future passengers a useful look at what this evening can include. The menu features Norwegian salmon, pumpkin bisque, grilled calamari, roast beef and chicken, a chef’s dessert trio, cheese and wine recommendations.
Dining at Verdastro
Verdastro is TUI River Cruises’ primary restaurant on several of its European river ships. TUI describes the restaurant as an elegant, waiter-service venue with a changing menu built around seasonal ingredients and locally sourced produce where possible.
On TUI Isla, TUI Maya and TUI Skyla, Verdastro serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lunch and dinner are à la carte, while the exact breakfast setup varies slightly by ship. The restaurant also offers flexible dining rather than requiring passengers to eat at a fixed assigned time.
The gala dinner is different from a standard evening meal. TUI specifically promotes a six-course gala dinner once per cruise on European sailings lasting five nights or more.
Verdastro Gala Dinner Starters
The photographed menu begins with a couvert followed by a choice of starters.
The couvert includes:
Assorted Roll
Butter – Margarine
Tomato Olive Tapenade
Basil Pesto
For the starter, passengers can choose between two dishes.
Variation of Norwegian Salmon combines tartar, rose and mousse with honey mustard dressing.
The vegetarian alternative is Beetroot Carpaccio, accompanied by mango, pomegranate, feta cheese, brioche and truffle lime dressing.
Soup and Intermezzo
The next course is Hokkaido Pumpkin Bisque, prepared with pumpkin soup, pumpkin seeds and coconut milk foam.
The intermezzo then provides another choice.
Grilled Calamari Rings are served with mango avocado tartar and Calypso sauce.
Alternatively, the vegetarian Grilled Oyster Mushroom comes with Champagne risotto and saffron foam.
The progression of smaller courses is one of the main differences between this gala menu and a typical dinner. Rather than simply selecting an appetizer, entrée and dessert, the meal is structured as a longer dining experience.
Verdastro Gala Dinner Main Course
The primary main course shown on the photographed menu is Duo of Roast Beef & Chicken.
It includes whole roasted beef and chicken wrapped in bacon, Béarnaise sauce, green peppercorn sauce, grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes and Yorkshire pudding.
A vegetarian main course is also listed: Roasted Pumpkin & Celery Steak with roasted pumpkin and celery steak and creamy spinach.
The menu additionally tells passengers with vegetarian requirements, other dietary requirements or food allergies to inform their waiter and consult the back page for allergen information.
Always Available From the Grill
In addition to the gala menu’s featured main course, the photographed menu has an “Always Available From the Grill” section.
Passengers can choose:
Chicken Breast
Fresh Salmon
These can be accompanied by baked potato, sour cream and steamed vegetables, with Café de Paris or green peppercorn sauce.
This is a useful option for passengers who prefer a simpler meal rather than one of the evening’s featured gala dishes.
Desserts, Fruit and Cheese
The featured dessert is the Trio of Chef’s Dessert, consisting of profiterole, lemon tart and strawberry meringue.
Freshly sliced seasonal fruits are offered as an alternative.
The menu also lists petit fours and an assorted international cheese board served with crackers, grapes, walnuts and chutney.
Together, these final courses reinforce that the gala dinner is designed as an extended meal rather than a standard three-course dinner.
Wine Recommendations
Three specific wines appear on the photographed gala dinner menu.
Villa Cardini Garganega Trebbiano is the white wine recommendation from Italy, described as crisp and balanced with aromas of pineapple and melon.
Voiturette, a French Cabernet Sauvignon, is the red wine recommendation and is described as medium dry with aromas of black cherry and caramel and balanced acidity.
French Dog is the French dry rosé recommendation, with fresh strawberry and floral notes.
TUI’s European river cruises operate on a Full Board Plus basis as standard. TUI states that this includes tea, coffee and juices with breakfast, plus soft drinks, beer and wine with lunch and dinner. Regional wine is also offered at dinner.
Is the TUI River Cruise Gala Dinner Included?
Yes. TUI currently lists the gala dinner among the inclusions on its river cruises, with the gala dinner offered once per cruise on sailings lasting five nights or longer.
TUI’s European river cruises are Full Board Plus as standard, which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner along with selected drinks during meals.
Do You Have to Dress Up for the Gala Dinner?
Despite the name, the gala dinner does not require formal attire.
TUI describes the general dress code aboard its river cruises as smart casual. Passengers have the opportunity to dress up more for the gala dinner, but TUI specifically states that doing so is optional. Guests can remain in smart-casual clothing if they prefer.
That makes the evening more relaxed than the traditional formal-night concept found on some ocean cruises.
FAQ
What is the Verdastro restaurant on TUI River Cruises?
Verdastro is the main restaurant aboard several TUI European river ships. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and its menus emphasize seasonal dishes and locally sourced ingredients where possible.
Does TUI River Cruises have a gala dinner?
Yes. TUI currently offers a gala dinner once per cruise on sailings of five nights or longer.
How many courses are served at the TUI gala dinner?
TUI describes its European river cruise gala dinner as a six-course dinner.
Is the gala dinner included in the cruise fare?
Yes. The gala dinner is included on qualifying TUI River Cruises itineraries rather than being a separately priced specialty dining experience.
Are vegetarian dishes available at the gala dinner?
Yes. The photographed menu includes several vegetarian selections, including Beetroot Carpaccio, Hokkaido Pumpkin Bisque, Grilled Oyster Mushroom and Roasted Pumpkin & Celery Steak.
Is there a dress code for the gala dinner?
TUI uses a smart-casual dress code aboard its river cruises. Passengers can dress up for the gala dinner if they want to, but formal clothing is not required.
Are drinks included with dinner?
On TUI’s European Full Board Plus river cruises, selected wine, beer and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner.
Will this exact gala dinner menu be served on my cruise?
Not necessarily. TUI states that Verdastro menus change and emphasize seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. The photographed menu should therefore be treated as a real example of a Verdastro gala dinner rather than a guarantee of the exact dishes on a future sailing.
Conclusion
The Verdastro gala dinner is one of the more distinctive dining experiences included on longer TUI European river cruises. TUI currently schedules the six-course event once on sailings of five nights or more, while keeping the atmosphere relatively relaxed with a smart-casual dress code.
The photographed menu shows how extensive the meal can be, moving from Norwegian salmon or beetroot carpaccio through pumpkin bisque and an intermezzo to roast beef and chicken, followed by desserts, petit fours and cheese.
For passengers researching TUI River Cruises dining before their trip, this real Verdastro gala dinner menu provides a useful example of what to expect while also showing how the gala evening differs from a regular dinner onboard.
