Cruise ships are floating food paradises, offering endless buffets and multiple dining venues. But not all cruise food is equal!
Some options will leave you wishing you'd chosen differently, while others are worth every calorie. Before you set sail on your next ocean adventure, check out this guide to navigating the highs and lows of cruise ship cuisine.
1. Skip The Buffet Scrambled Eggs
Mass-produced scrambled eggs sitting in warming trays are notoriously disappointing on cruise ships. Often made from powdered egg mix rather than fresh eggs, they develop a rubbery texture and bland taste after hours under heat lamps.
For a proper breakfast, head to the main dining room where eggs are cooked to order. Your taste buds will thank you!
2. Avoid Pre-Made Sandwiches
Those triangular sandwiches wrapped in plastic and displayed in refrigerated cases? Hard pass! They're typically made hours (or even a day) in advance, resulting in soggy bread and dried-out fillings.
The mayo turns watery, lettuce wilts, and cheese becomes oddly rubbery. You deserve better than a sad sandwich on your holiday at sea.
3. Pass On The Pizza Buffet
Unless you're on a ship famous for its pizza (like some Italian cruise lines), buffet pizza is usually a letdown. The crust often becomes chewy or soggy under heat lamps, and toppings are sparse.
The sauce lacks flavor, and cheese congeals quickly. Many cruise lines now offer dedicated pizzerias where fresh pies are made to order – seek these out instead!
4. Say No To Buffet Sushi
Raw fish sitting out for hours? Not a brilliant idea! Cruise ship buffet sushi often uses lower-quality fish that's been frozen and thawed multiple times, resulting in mushy texture and fishy flavors.
The rice is frequently too cold and clumpy. For safety and quality, only eat sushi from dedicated sushi restaurants onboard where chefs prepare it fresh.
5. Bypass The Bread Basket
Those tempting bread baskets that appear at dinner aren't worth the stomach space. While freshly baked on embarkation day, bread quality typically declines as the cruise progresses.
By mid-cruise, rolls are often stale or reheated. Save your appetite for the meal's real stars. If you must indulge, specialty restaurants usually offer superior bread options worth the calories.
6. Avoid Room Service Breakfast
The continental breakfast that arrives at your cabin door often disappoints. Cold coffee, soggy pastries, and fruit that's seen better days are standard fare. Plus, many cruise lines now charge fees for this once-free perk!
The timing is also notoriously unreliable. You'll have a much better experience getting dressed and heading to a proper breakfast venue.
7. Skip The Frozen Burger Patties
Many cruise ships serve disappointing poolside burgers made from frozen patties that are thin, overcooked, and lacking flavor. They're often topped with wilted lettuce and unripe tomatoes, then served on stale buns.
Look for ships with specialty burger venues like Guy's Burger Joint on Carnival, where fresh patties are hand-formed and grilled to order.
8. Beware The Midnight Buffet
Late-night buffets feature food that's been sitting out for hours or quickly reheated leftovers from dinner. Quality suffers dramatically, and selection is limited to items that hold up under warming lamps.
You'll often find dried-out pasta, congealed sauces, and mystery meats. If midnight munchies strike, look for freshly made pizza or room service instead.
9. Avoid Buffet Seafood
Seafood is tricky to keep fresh, especially in mass quantities. Buffet shrimp is often waterlogged and flavorless, while fish fillets turn dry and rubbery under heat lamps.
Crab legs are typically pre-split but cold by the time you crack them open. Save your seafood cravings for specialty restaurants where it's prepared to order and properly handled.
10. Indulge In Specialty Restaurant Steaks
Specialty steakhouses are worth every penny of their cover charge! The quality of beef is significantly better than what's served in main dining rooms, often featuring prime cuts aged to perfection.
Expect proper cooking temperatures, attentive service, and sides that aren't mass-produced. Even budget cruise lines usually nail their steakhouse experiences, making this a reliable splurge.
11. Try The Chef's Table Experience
This exclusive dining option offers a peek behind the culinary curtain with multiple courses prepared by the executive chef. You'll enjoy creative dishes not available elsewhere on the ship, often with wine pairings included.
The intimate setting (usually 10-14 guests) means personalized attention and explanation of each dish. Book early – these experiences sell out quickly!
12. Feast On Fresh Seafood
Specialty seafood restaurants onboard showcase the freshest catches available. From perfectly seared scallops to buttery lobster tails, these venues know how to handle delicate seafood properly.
Many ships source local seafood in ports, meaning you might enjoy Caribbean spiny lobster or Alaskan king crab depending on your itinerary. The premium prices reflect the quality – worth every penny!
13. Sample International Specialties
Modern cruise ships excel at authentic international cuisine in dedicated venues. From hand-rolled sushi to made-to-order pasta, these restaurants employ chefs specialized in specific cuisines.
The ingredients and preparation methods are vastly superior to buffet versions. Whether it's a teppanyaki grill or French bistro, these dining experiences transport you globally while at sea.
14. Enjoy Made-to-Order Breakfast
Skip the buffet and head to the main dining room for breakfast at least once. The difference is remarkable! Eggs Benedict with properly poached eggs and hollandaise made fresh that morning.
French toast prepared from quality bread, not mass-produced slices. The service is unhurried, and everything arrives hot and fresh – a civilized start to your day at sea.
15. Savor Fresh-Baked Desserts
Cruise ship pastry kitchens operate 24/7, creating magnificent desserts from scratch. The difference between mass-produced buffet sweets and freshly made pastries is night and day.
Look for chocolate melting cakes, soufflés, and tableside flambés in the main dining room. Specialty restaurants often feature showstopping desserts prepared with theatrical flair – perfect for celebration nights!
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