Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure
© DISNEY

Bounty on the seas

Catch the latest wave of cruise ship dining

by LOIS ALTER MARK

Cruising can mean different things to different people: adventure, romance or exotic destinations, just to name a few. However, one aspect is consistent for everyone: food. And if you haven’t been on a cruise in a while, you will be amazed—cruise lines have expanded offerings and elevated cuisine to provide true culinary experiences.

Carnival’s Havana Bar & Pool
© Carnival Cruise Line

Notable chefs

From Guy Fieri’s Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival to James Beard Award winner Michael Schwartz’s 150 Central Park on Royal Caribbean, many cruise lines are now boasting big-name chefs and restaurants.

Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud recently introduced his first signature restaurant at sea, Le Voyage, on Celebrity Beyond. With dishes like Tamarind and Peanut-Crusted Prawns and Grilled Rubia Gallega Filet Mignon, cruisers can savor world-class dining at sea.

Exclusive restaurants

You may want to consider upgrading your stateroom so you can eat at restaurants available to suite guests (there are options for non-suite guests; see “Specialty dining”). These restaurants are more intimate and feature exclusive dishes and impeccable service.

On Cunard, suite guests get complimentary access to the Queens Grill or Princess Grill, beautiful fine-dining venues serving dishes like beef Wellington and rack of lamb.

On Celebrity, guests have two options: If you stay in The Retreat, you can enjoy your meals in the comfort of Luminae, featuring signature dishes by chef Boulud. If you’re in Aqua Class, your wellness journey includes dining in Blu, with its spa-inspired menu.

Princess Club Class offers guests their own separate area of the main dining room, with expedited seating, dedicated waitstaff and additional menu items.

And Holland America gives Club Orange guests their own private eatery on select ships.

Carnival’s Cucina Del Capitano restaurant
© Carnival Cruise Line

Unique dining experiences

Going beyond the food itself, cruise ships are turning meals into memorable experiences, thanks to innovations like Disney Crusie Line’s Animator’s Palate restaurant and the Frozen theatrical dinner, both of which offer top-notch entertainment while you eat, and Celebrity Cruises’ Le Petit Chef, a delightful, animated experience that brings the tabletop and your plate to life.

Many cruise lines, including Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Azamara, offer chef’s table experiences that treat a small group of passengers to a multicourse meal created and hosted by the chef, who describes each dish and the wine with which it’s paired. It’s a rare opportunity to feel like a VIP.

Coffee shops and afternoon tea

Cruise ship cafés are where you can pick up a specialty coffee (included in many beverage packages) along with a complimentary pastry or two. Café al Bacio is a popular gathering spot on Celebrity ships; at Holland America’s Grand Dutch Café, the Triple Berry Pannenkoek is an underrated treasure. The International Café on Princess is filled with goodies from doughnuts to quiches to sandwiches—and the food is free all day.

Don’t skip afternoon tea, though—especially on Cunard’s Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth or Queen Victoria, whose three-course version of the British tradition is fit for royalty.

Buffets still rule

A cruise ship standard, buffets are bigger and better than ever, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, and everything from chicken and seafood to Indian dishes, pasta and sushi.

With offerings like these, you may need to add another cruise to your itinerary just to experience them all!

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