9 Cruise Lines With Best Food: A Gastronomer's Sea Adventure!

Table Of Content

• Cheapest destinations for a holiday cottage this Easter
• Oceania Cruises
• All-Inclusive vs. A La Carte Options
• Celebrity Cruises
• What is specialty dining on a cruise?
• Cruise destinations for food

Yet a modern-day cruise ship is more akin to your local downtown, with multiple restaurant choices and a range of cuisines on offer. You can find healthy or vegetarian food, ethnic options and everything from fast-food burgers to upscale molecular gastronomy dishes. The new buffet champion is a place that feels more like an upscale food hall than a crowded cluster of mediocre choices.

Cheapest destinations for a holiday cottage this Easter

Whether you value dining variety and tasty meals or you truly are a food snob, Oceania will surely come through with a win. How could it not with Jacques Pepin and Giada De Laurentiis contributing to the menus? Even better, all but the fanciest wine-paired special meals are included in the fares.

Oceania Cruises

Next, Princess Cruises also boasts one of the best pizzerias at sea, Alfredo’s, which serves up authentic, hand-tossed Neapolitan-style pizzas loaded with fresh and funky toppings. On Portugal’s River of Gold, visit Lisbon and other historic towns like Coimbra while cruising the Douro River Valley. Witness the time-honored tradition of baking bread in an oven fired by grapevines and wood during an excursion to the charming village of Favaios, or discover the fine art of blending port with an expert-led workshop.

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All-Inclusive vs. A La Carte Options

There are many incredible cruise destinations for food all around the world and thankfully there are many great cruise lines that are able to take you there. For those food lovers who are looking for the best culinary experience, you aren’t going to be short of options. If you prefer a more flexible dining experience, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) offers an excellent option. Unlike some other cruise lines, NCL follows a freestyle approach, meaning there are no set dining times – you eat when it suits you.

Celebrity Cruises

If you have any special dietary requirements, Princess Cruises has a range of food for everyone. As with many cruise lines, some have noted that the choices can be repetitive, however, in the main dining room, the chefs are more than happy to meet your needs. And that’s not all, Celebrity offers an innovative dining experience at ‘Le Petit Chef’, merging technology with gastronomy. Imagine your dinner table transforming into an immersive experience where a mini chef prepares your meal – a 3D animation show on your table whilst your food is being prepared. Celebrity Reflection also offers an expansive Lawn Club, where guests can sear their own steaks on a perfectly manicured open-air green.

Our onboard restaurants present a diverse array of culinary styles, including global flavors, comforting home-style dishes, and gourmet meals infused with carefully curated tastes. Your cruise fare covers a wide range of dining choices, including the themed main dining room and the relaxed Cabanas buffet. For those seeking something special, the specialty restaurants, such as Remy and Palo, provide authentic French and Italian cuisine experiences. The elegant main dining room and specialty restaurants offer menus crafted by award-winning chefs, featuring dishes like succulent lobster or perfectly aged steaks.

Yes, cruise ships offer room service, and that's another 24/7 dining option for hungry travelers. Copious amounts of seafood are bolstered by a fine French ambiance and the name of Holland America's culinary director, chef Rudi Sodamin. Appetizer choices here include a literal seafood tower (with lump crab, North Sea shrimp and octopus), escargot bourguignonne, foie gras torchon and Marseille bouillabaisse. Entree options included broiled Maine lobster, whole Dover sole meuniere or salt-crusted branzino. When it comes to food and wine, there aren’t many more famous countries in the world than France, as it excels in them both. French cuisine is notorious in its excellence with many michelin star, fine dining restaurants to enjoy.

What is specialty dining on a cruise?

For a bit extra, the speciality restaurants offer options from Tuscan Grille’s Italian classics to Sushi on Five’s Japanese delights. Guests have reported the delicious food, served in beautiful settings with flawless service. Others have expressed that their partnership with American chef Thomas Keller also sets Seabourn apart, which brings a unique “wow” factor to their dining.

Cruise destinations for food

Guests are encouraged to participate in cooking classes at the Bon Appetit Culinary Center. Featuring 24 well-stocked stations, this state of the art enrichment area offers lessons in everything from handmade pasta to ganache-filled desserts. Guests can also channel their inner enologist at La Reserve, which offers wine tastings and impeccable wine-paired seven-course meals.

Virgin Voyages also scored the maximum five stars for its culinary offerings, even though its mid-sized ships don’t have the traditional dining room or self-service buffet. Big cruise liners have a tempting array of restaurants, but the best food at sea is found on small ships, according to Which? Through its “destination-focused dining”, Viking Cruises offers its passengers yet another chance to immerse themselves in the local culture of their destinations—one of its signature features. On a Princess Cruise, there’s lack of neither high-end cuisine nor dining options. Everything from hand-tossed pizzas to world-class chocolates to multi-course gourmet dinners is available.

An impressive array of complimentary restaurants can also be found on this cruise ship, which is the largest in the fleet. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Miami-based Norwegian Getaway earns high marks for its variety of dining options, as well as its for-fee restaurant Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian. Ocean Blue features a carefully curated menu of locally-sourced cuisine, including Florida grouper and lobster risotto.

Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that Carnival's sister brand Holland America is also tops when it comes to offering some of the best cruise dining. The line largely shies away from the flashy bells and whistles of other cruise lines. (You won't find zip lines or roller coasters on board.) Instead, its focus is on providing solid core amenities like a wide variety of truly talented musicians and, of course, food that stands out. Whether your palate is completely unsophisticated, or you're searching for a highbrow epicurean experience, this list rounds up the best cruise lines for food. As I sit here and recap all the lines I think are worthy of inclusion under the title of "best cruise line food," it's apparent how much cruise ship meals have evolved.

7 Best Cruise Lines for Foodies

Table Of Content

• Crystal Cruises
• Windstar Cruises
• Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours
• Viking

Unfortunately, a lot of the time it doesn’t actually bear much resemblance to the original dishes. It is always the best idea to sample the original meal in its country of origin. When it comes to Caribbean food, it’s hard to pick out any one country as the best. It’s a great idea to immerse yourself in the region and sample different food in every port that you visit.

Crystal Cruises

Soft drinks are included but barista coffee, fresh juices and alcohol cost extra. Expect to pay around $6 (£5) for a bottle of beer and $9 (£7) for a glass of wine. Explore one of the most stunning parts of the world aboard Into the Midnight Sun. During the summer in the Arctic Circle, the midnight sun doesn’t set — resulting in 24 continuous hours of golden skies. Immerse yourself in activities unique to the area, such as catching king crabs from a deep-sea raft in Sarnesfjorden’s pristine waters with King Crab Safari. Reserve Make Your Own Crai Gin to learn how to distill and bottle your own gin creation under the guidance of one of Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin’s master distillers.

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Windstar Cruises

There’s usually just one dining room and the option to dine on deck in warmer climes. On top of that, Viking’s vessels sport a minimalist, pared-back design, so natural light bathes all the spaces, from the guest cabins to the restaurants, in a warm glow. Your fare covers everything you look forward to while cruising, even excursions.

Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours

The pioneer of ultra-luxury cruises on small ships, Seabourn Cruise Line takes vacationers all over the world. The all-inclusive cruises give the feel of a floating resort, where relaxation is the name of the game. Scenic Luxury Cruises are, well, luxurious, as you could have probably guessed.

Here we’ll explore some of the best cruise destinations for food by cruise region, as well as which cruise line to take to delight your palate. When it comes to planning the ultimate foodie cruise, the world is truly your oyster. You will never have to don a gown or tuxedo to eat dinner on a modern-day cruise ship.

Among venues, Prime 7’s juicy steaks, Chartreuse’s French plates, and Pacific Rim’s pan-Asian dishes particularly dazzle. Beyond dining, the hands-on cooking school and Regent’s chef-led Epicurean Explorer Tours are part of the draw. Passengers may market-shop for a paella cooking class and feast on the famed rice-based dish at a seaside eatery in Valencia, Spain.

The Best Cruise Destinations for Foodies: Regional Breakdown

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In keeping with its brand, Carnival keeps this tour open to kids 12 and up, making it a great option for foodie families. Boasting an industry-leading six fine dining restaurants onboard the 540-passenger Silver Spirit, Silversea Cruises is one of the cruise lines with the best food. Passengers won’t want for variety either, as each restaurant caters to different themes and tastes. These dining venues are included in the cost of the cruise yet may require reservations for dinner. In addition to our main dining room, we provide several specialty restaurants, all of which are available to you at no extra cost.

Best Cruise Destinations for Food in Asia

When it comes to takeout meals while you are at home, Chinese food is often the go-to option, but tasting authentic dishes is a whole new experience. The Chinese love their food and that is reflected in the taste of their dishes, which are exceptional. While Stockholm in Sweden and Oslo in Norway are also great cruise destinations, in the market halls of Copenhagen you will be able to sample Denmark’s tasty cheeses and cold meat cuts, along with sumptuous chocolate too. Copenhagen is an incredible cruise port and everyone should visit Scandinavia at some point in their lives. It has beautiful landscapes and the architecture of the buildings is unique and charming. One of the best places in the US to visit is New Orleans with its famous French Quarter and great restaurants such as Galatoire’s.

A team of six world-class chefs — Rudi Sodamin, Ethan Stowell, David Burke, Jacques Torres, Jonnie Boer, and Andy Matsuda — form the Culinary Council that advises the culinary direction of Holland America’s ships. It’s also worth noting that Holland America is the only cruise line with Alaska seafood certified sustainable by the Responsible Fisheries Management. Luxury brand Seabourn Cruise Line serves outstanding food in all of its venues, including The Restaurant main dining room and The Colonnade buffet, both of which switch up their menus each day. Even the cafe found at the central hub of Seabourn Square — part lounge, part customer service area — is excellent, as are nightly casual menu options, served outdoors on most ships. Upscale cruise line Oceania packs a ton of restaurants onto its small ships, but you won't find a bad option in the bunch.

Among the highlights are Manfredi’s, a posh Italian restaurant serving up bistecca alla Fiorentina, octopus carpaccio, and gnocchi alla romana, and Mamsen’s. Lovingly dedicated to "Mamsen" Ragnhild Hagen, the mother of Viking's founder, the cheerful cafe serves up casual Scandinavian-inspired fare (think waffles, split pea soup, and open-faced sandwiches). Whether you’re gliding down the Nile River or navigating the Arctic’s uncharted waters, below are some exceptional experiences you can savor aboard Viking’s river, ocean, and expedition cruises. Is drifting down the Danube River your style, or would you rather roam the icy waters of Antarctica? But one thing that’s historically been an afterthought rather than a priority, however, is food. For Disney enthusiasts, they do offer Mickey-shaped food and princess-themed afternoon teas.

Dive even deeper into the country’s storied port tradition by booking Graham’s Port Dinner. The four-hour session at Graham’s 1890 Lodge commences with cellar tours and concludes with a traditional port-paired supper at the acclaimed Vinum Restaurant and Wine Bar.

This is particularly good if you have dietary requirements, as the staff will be ready to accommodate your needs. However, if you’re looking for vegetarian or vegan options, NCL can still be a good choice. Most of the menu options are not vegan, but a generous selection of vegan-compatible dishes is readily available. You’ll find opportunities at every mealtime and a special vegan lunch and dinner buffet.

Visit one of the many bácari, bite-sized bars serving up snackable morsels called cicchetti, best enjoyed with wine or prosecco. The best way to see the city is on a food excursion, particularly a culinary tour through Vieux Port. The old town boasts an impressive fish market and specialties center on seafood. The best bouillabaisse can be found a 25-minute taxi ride from the cruise port, at upscale Chez Fonfon. However, there’s really no need to go so far afield or spend a premium for good food, as delectable delights can be found by the sea. Head to Le Refuge in the Le Panier district for more affordable plates crafted from everything from sea bass to octopus.

Their award-winning cuisine has won them the nickname “the cruise line for foodies” in some circles, which is not surprising. Given their venues’ relaxed elegance and gourmet menu options, there’s so much to love. Holland America caters to older adults who appreciate high-quality service and are willing to pay for it. As such, their dining options are exquisite and more refined than some of the cruises that primarily cater to families with children. Celebrity doesn’t stand up to Carnival as far as the number of options goes, with only two dozen restaurants in total, and up to a dozen per ship.