One of the best parts about cruising is the unlimited food. But with that comes the risk of overeating—you just can’t sample everything! As a result, it’s important to be selective about what you eat on a cruise. Stick to the best cruise foods and stay away from the not-so-great cruise food. Below, you’ll find a list of the best and worst cruise foods to help you make the right choices.
Best Foods to Eat on Cruises
Steak
With today’s inflation and the rising cost of steaks at restaurants, steak is a must-eat on cruises—it’s hard to say no to “free” steak! Order steak in the main dining room. It’s usually offered as an everyday item on the menu and also during special occasions like Gala Nights and Captain’s Dinner. Don’t pass up the opportunity!
Lobster
When you see lobster on the menu or at the buffet, make sure you have some! They usually serve it during one of the fancy Gala dinners, and it comes with steak as part of a surf-and-turf meal. The lobster tastes amazing with the hot melted butter poured over it.
Baked Alaska
Baked Alaska is one of the best cruise desserts. Not only does it taste delicious, but it is also served with much fanfare in the main dining room.
During the special dinners, the waiters go all out, parading with the flaming Baked Alaska. And the best part? When they bust out the blowtorch and set fire to the meringue on top, the flambé is quite a show! It’s not just impressive to look at, it makes the dessert taste even better!
Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimp cocktail is one of the best appetizers on a cruise. It’s typically on the menu in the main dining room every day, and it’s a luxurious appetizer that you won’t want to miss during your cruise vacation!
Prime Rib
It’s always so expensive to order Prime Rib at restaurants. That’s why whenever you see it on the menu or at the cruise buffet, you’ve got to indulge! It’s consistently delicious and a real luxury, especially when paired with some horseradish sauce.
Private Island BBQ Lunch
One of the best parts of the cruise line’s private island is the BBQ lunch. The buffet lunch features ribs, burgers, hotdogs, cold salads, and ice-cold drinks. You definitely don’t want to miss out on this- it will make you feel like you’re on a Caribbean island vacation.
Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict is one of the best breakfast foods on a cruise. When you’re in the main dining room for breakfast, be sure to order Eggs Benedict, either the salmon or the ham. They are always delicious, and it’s a real treat because Eggs Benedict are hard to make at home!
Souffle
Souffles are one of the best desserts on a cruise. If it’s on the menu in the main dining room, order it. Similar to Eggs Benedict, it’s one of those desserts that you will never make at home because it’s not easy for the home cook to make.
Room Service Breakfast
Treat yourself to room service breakfast at least once during your cruise. It’s so luxurious to have your breakfast brought to your stateroom and enjoy it in bed. If you have a balcony, it’s even better to have breakfast there. Ordering room service just makes you feel like you’re really on vacation.
Worst Foods to Eat on a Cruise
Buffet Spaghetti
Avoid the buffet spaghetti! It’s one of the worst foods to eat on the cruise. The spaghetti on the buffet line is likely to be soggy since it has been sitting on the steam table.
If you really want spaghetti at the buffet, only have it if they have a Pasta bar where they make fresh to order pasta, so it will be al dente. Otherwise, head to the main dining room for spaghetti, but definitely stay away from soggy spaghetti on the buffet steam table!
Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled eggs are one of the worst things to eat on a cruise. Whether they are served in the buffet or the main dining room, it’s best to avoid them. This is because they are often made from powdered eggs, which is kind of gross. Unless you want to be eating powdered eggs, stay away! Order fried eggs instead!
Squid
Squid is one of the worst things to eat on a cruise. At the cruise buffet, it’s best to avoid the squid in the seafood salad. Unlike the delicious fried calamari squid, the squid in the salad tends to be really rubbery and unappetizing. Even if you usually like squid, it’s best to avoid it when it’s served cold in the buffet salad—you’ll definitely regret it!
Green Beans
Green beans are one of the worst foods to eat on a cruise, especially at the cruise buffet. They become very mushy from sitting too long on the steam table. If you like crunchy green beans, it’s best to avoid the ones at the buffet. Otherwise, you’ll end up eating mushy, overcooked green beans!
Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict can be both the best and worst food to eat on a cruise, depending on where you get it. If you order it from the main dining room, it’s a good choice.
But if you’re getting the eggs benedict at the buffet line and it’s been sitting there on the steam table for a long time, stay away! The eggs will mostly likely be overcooked, and the hollandaise sauce coagulated. Only order the Eggs Benedict if you’re in the main dining room.
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