A GUIDE TO CRUISE FOOD

One of my favourite things about cruising is the food. It’s not just that I don’t have to worry about cooking or planning what to eat, it’s also that cruise food is absolutely mouth-wateringly scrumptious! From breakfasts, lunch and dinners, afternoon teas, midnight buffets, 24hour room service, and some cafes or buffets open round-the-clock, you will certainly not go hungry on a cruise!

 All the cruise food photos on this page were taken on the table just before they were eaten!

If you are not a seasoned cruiser, you may perhaps feel a bit bewildered by terms such as ‘ first or second sitting’, ‘freedom dining’, or wonder whether or not you have to dress up for every evening meal. A lot has changed within the cruise industry – particularly in the last decade – with cruising becoming ever more popular… we have seen increased numbers of celebrity chefs and speciality restaurants, and a wider range of options than traditional cruise dining. However, what has remained constant is cruise lins’ commitment to delivering the finest cuisine available.

Traditionally, dinner would be served in two sittings in the Main Dining Room:

You would have your assigned table during your sitting, so this would mean that you would have the same waiters serving you for each dinner. These waiters would be very quick to become adept at knowing your likes and dislikes. With tables generally seating between 2 people and 10 people, it could be quite common for you to be sat at a table with other passengers; a great way to make friends with like-minded travellers. Of course, if – for whatever reason – you did not get on so well with the other guests at your table, it is always possible to ask the Maitre D’ to change tables.

Some cruise lines still operate traditional dining, although it is usually most likely to be found in the Main Dining Room. Nowadays, cruise ships will offer a wide range of dining venues – on a modern cruise ship (particularly a larger ship), you may be likely to find many of the following dining venues:

So if you didn’t fancy the traditional main dining option, there’s plenty more choice for you! It is worth noting that traditional dining only really applies to dinner, as breakfast and lunch are served open seating during a set time period, allowing people to come and go as they feel.

Choice is king for passengers, and cruise lines are not just giving guests greater choice as to when they can choose to eat, but also where. As already noted, the modern cruise ship will offer a wide range of dining venues.

Over the last 10 years or so, both ocean and river cruise operators have added alternative restaurants to provide guests with fabulous alternative gastronomic experiences, usually in a smaller, more specialised restaurants.

A ship such as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas has 26 different options for cruise food, from doughnut shops to pizza parlours. Another popular trend is partnering with celebrity chefs to create menus – from Marco Pierre White, Nobu and Jacques Pepin to Jamie Oliver, Curtis Stone and Guy Fieri.

However, some cruise lines provide another dining option, usually called  ‘Anytime Dining’  or  ‘Open Seating’  (although some cruise lines may use their own terms). This allows more flexible dining options, with guests able to arrive for dinner anytime that the restaurant(s) is open for dinner (or between set times, such as 6.30 to 8.30). Guests will not be seated at the same table each time, but will instead be placed at the next available table. This option may not be so advantageous for groups, who must wait until their whole group is present before they can be seated, but it certainly gives passengers greater freedom, allowing them to perhaps spend a little longer ashore, or eating earlier if they had an early start the next day.

The more casual dining option has been embraced by cruise lines, for example

Norwegian Cruise Line

Princess Cruises

Holland America Line

And all of the ultra-luxury cruise lines such as:

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Silversea

Seabourn

However others – such as  Cunard ,  Royal Caribbean   and   Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines  – still favour traditional dining, although it is clear that the trend is away from Traditional Dining to give guests more choice.

There are also some cruise lines which strike a happy medium, offering both traditional and flexible dining options (in which case, a section of the Main Dining Room will be reserved for those guests opting for the flexible dining).

Dress code for dinner will also vary between cruise lines. Those lines which still provide traditional dining are more likely to have one or two formal nights per cruise (usually depending upon the length of the cruise), where a formal dress code will be in place. However, for most other nights, an informal or smart-casual dress code will be in place.

Other lines may simply require ‘country club casual’ or ‘smart casual’ throughout the cruise.

Whilst on land it may be exceptionally tough to get a booking for a top celebrity chef’s restaurant, guests onboard a cruise ship will be able to experience culinary delights without having to travel to exclusive locations in Paris, New York or London! Furthermore, whichever cuisine you choose, cruise lines concentrate much of their efforts on ensuring top quality cuisine and cruise food, with many putting great emphasis on using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Dining rooms onboard ships – no matter what type of dining venue they may be – will boast dramatic ocean views, and will be well appointed. Increasingly, new and larger ships will have dining rooms spanning over two, or maybe even three, decks. Some restaurants may even offer al fresco dining – with the sea breeze and gorgeous ocean views, this is an extra special dining experience!

The exceptionally busy galley crew (galley being the ship-version of a kitchen) prepare high volumes of food for consumption onboard, but it is still possible for the food to be extremely personalised for those with special dietary needs. It is always advisable to ensure that requests are sent in advance prior to embarkation, but can often be accommodated on board.

It is best to confirm any arrangements with the Maitre D’ (Restaurant Manager) on the day of boarding. Most special dietary and food requests are best catered for in the Main Restaurant only, but this can differ between cruise lines.

Cruise Lines are well adept at catering for vegetarian/vegan eaters, as well those who keep Kosher, or require no-sugar-added desserts or gluten-free food, are lactose-intolerant or have any other food allergies, or other diets such as low-fat, low-sodium and low-cholesterol. Even baby food can be provided onboard!

For foodies, cruises are ideal, with many cruise lines offering cooking classes, wine rooms and appreciation classes facilitated by top sommeliers, or offering food & wine theme cruises, often featuring top culinary experts onboard, or developing new tours in various ports to understand the produce and local cuisines. Plus, the elaborate buffets put on are often staggeringly impressive, with fruit, bread or ice carving sculptures proudly on display (watch out for any food/ice carving demonstrations onboard, they’re always fun!).

To wash down your delicious cruise food, it is worth noting that most cruise lines – except the luxury brands, such as Silversea, Regent Seven Seas or Seabourn etc – do not include alcohol drinks, speciality coffees or even sodas in the price.

However over the past decade, cruise lines have begun to offer Beverage Packages, which enable guests to purchase a set bundled amount of drinks at a discounted price, and can be exceptionally great value for money!

With some cruise lines, a variety of beverage packages will be on offer, to suit guests’ differing needs and budgets, and will often include:

Premium and Classic Beverage Packages which can include spirits will vary on prices. For example, Celebrity’s Classic Alcohol Package will cover non-alcoholic drinks as well as beers up to $6, wines up to $9 per glass and spirits and cocktails up to $8 per glass, and offer 15% discounts on all wines by the bottle, even their prized Reserve Wine List and Rare Wine List, whilst the Premium Alcohol Package will cover beers, glasses of wine, spirits and cocktails up to $13, and 20% discounts on all bottles of wine, including the prized Reserve Wine List and Rare Wine List)

If you are between 18 and 21 (or have children cruising with you of that age), it is worth making sure that you are aware of the different cruise line policies. Many will have a strict alcohol policy preventing anyone under the age of 21 from drinking alcohol. Some cruise lines may require parents of 18-20 year-olds to sign a waiver to allow them to drink alcohol – and sometimes it will depend upon where the ship is sailing! If this seems confusing, here’s a quick breakdown of some cruise lines’ alcohol policies:

Cruise lines where passengers must be 21 or older wherever the ship is sailing:

Carnival Cruise Lines

Costa Cruises

Disney Cruises Line

Holland America Line

Princess Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Silversea Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Celebrity Cruises have an age requirement of 21 or above, except for Europe, South America or Australia cruises, which requires parents cruising with their children to sign a waiver allowing their 18- to 20-year olds to consume alcohol.

Norwegian Cruise Line allows passengers aged 18 to 20 to purchase beer or wine for their own consumption provided that

a) their parents/guardian has provided written consent

b) the ship is sailing in international waters

There is another exception to this rule: if the ship is in Alaska or Hawaii, then passengers must be 21 years to consume or purchase alcohol of any kind.

Royal Caribbean requires passengers to be at least 21 years old to drink alcohol, with the exception of Europe and South America cruises, provided that parents cruising with their children sign a waiver allowing their 18- to 20-year olds to consume alcohol.

Fred. Olsen allows passengers to consume or purchase alcohol, provided they are at least 18 years of age.

P & O Cruises also follows UK law, and allows 18 year olds to purchase alcohol for their own consumption (although the age restriction is increased to 21 in American waters), and passengers may be asked to verify their age. It is possible for 16- and 17-year olds to consume beer, wine or cider with a meal if accompanied by their parents or guardians.

Of course, cruise lines policies can change so please check with us for the latest updates.

Food onboard a cruise ship is transformed into something more than just eating a meal; it’s not just a gastronomic experience, it’s much more than that! With the dining room, the personable and attentive service of the waiters, dining onboard is sociable, extravagant, perhaps even a chance to dress-up (or even dress-down), whilst making new friends and meeting like-minded guests, experiencing new tastes whilst reflecting on the day gone by, and the day ahead.

Once you’ve tasted cruise food, it’s like a little taste of heaven! The onboard dining experience will inevitably be one of the main highlights – and certainly one of the most unique – for cruise passengers.

If you are interested in booking a cruise (and trying some fabulous cruise cuisine for yourself!), contact one of our dedicated cruise specialists today on  01234 326 758