Best things to eat on a cruise

24 Best Foods to Eat on Cruises

No doubt, the food is one of the best things about going on a cruise. I’ve been on over 25 cruises, and I always look forward to the food. After all, what’s not to love about the buffet, room service breakfast, poolside lunch, and the 3 course dinners? Here are the best foods that I always look forward to eating on cruises.

Best Foods to Eat on Cruises

Lobster

I always make sure to order lobster whenever it’s on the menu at the cruise’s main dining room. They usually offer it during one of the fancy Gala dinners, and it is served as part of a surf-and-turf meal along with steak. I really enjoy it with the hot melted butter drizzled over the top. 

Cruise Food- Surf and Turf

Steak 

I always get steak when I’m on a cruise. It’s usually always on the main dining room menu and also available on special occasions like Gala Nights and Captain’s Dinner.

Cruise Food- Steak

Prime Rib

I always go for the prime rib when I’m on a cruise. It’s always so good and a real treat. I can’t get enough of it with some horseradish sauce.

Cruise Food- Prime Rib

Risotto

Most cruise ships serve some type of risotto as a vegetarian option. I always make sure to order the risotto whenever I see it on the menu in the main dining room. It’s not something I can easily make at home, so I enjoy it when I’m on a cruise.

Cruise Food- Risotto

Seafood in Puff Pastry

I’m always on the lookout for seafood in puff pastry dishes on cruises. Most cruise ships serve their version of it, and it’s always delicious. If you see it on the menu, definitely give it a try!

Cruise Food- Seafood Puff Pastry

Shrimp Cocktail

My go-to appetizer on a cruise is the shrimp cocktail. It’s usually offered in the main dining room every day, and I always order it in addition to the appetizer special.

Shrimp cocktail

Caesar Salad

Caesar salad is another go-to appetizer. It’s usually offered every day in the main dining room. I always get either the Caesar salad or the shrimp cocktail as an appetizer in the main dining room. Sometimes, I even order both, in addition to the appetizer special. 

Cruise Food- Caesar Salad

French Onion Soup

French Onion soup is also another favorite cruise food.  It’s usually available every day in the main dining area, so whenever I feel like having some soup, I’ll definitely order it.

Cruise Food- French Onion Soup

Caprese Salad

I always order caprese salad whenever it’s on the menu. It’s just so refreshing- fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil lightly drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Cruise Food- Caprese Salad

Baked Alaska

Baked Alaska is one of my favorite desserts on a cruise. I love the fanfare that often comes with it. It’s a highlight of the special dinners at the main dining room, where the waiters parade with the flaming Baked Alaska.

The best part is when they torch the meringue on the Baked Alaska, creating a spectacular flambé! It’s an impressive sight, and the flambé makes it taste delicious!

Baked alaska

Fish and Chips

I love a good fish and chips, so whenever I see it on the cruise main dining room menu, I will order it. I like to have it with mushy peas and malt vinegar!

Cruise Food- Fish and Chips

Private Island BBQ Lunch

I always make sure not to miss the cruise’s private island BBQ lunch. It’s just a simple buffet lunch with ribs, burgers, hotdogs, cold salads, and ice-cold drinks, but I absolutely love it. It makes me feel like I’m on a Caribbean island vacation. The whole vibe just makes me happy – like I’m really on vacation.

BBQ lunch

Omelet

I love having omelets for breakfast when I’m on a cruise. I always go to the buffet and get a made-to-order omelet with all the fixings – veggies, meats, and cheese. It’s such a treat because I never make such loaded omelets at home!

Cruise Food- Omelet

Crispy Bacon

Whenever I’m on a cruise, I can’t resist indulging in bacon. Whether I’m at the buffet or the main dining room, I always make sure to have a side of bacon. 

And let me tell you, at the buffet, I never settle for the bacon on the steam table. I always make sure to ask the cruise staff for crispy bacon, and they always have some stashed behind the steam table!

Bacon

Waffles

I love having waffles for breakfast when I’m on a cruise. I usually head to the buffet to get them. Some cruise buffets even have a waffle bar where you can make your own – it’s the best. You get to have fresh waffles!

Cruise Food- Waffles

Eggs Benedict

When I have breakfast in the main dining room, I always order the eggs benedict. I usually have either the salmon eggs benedict or the ham eggs benedict. They’re always so good, and it’s a real treat for me because I never have eggs benedict at home! 

One thing, though, is that I never get the eggs benedict from the buffet. They’re just not as tasty since they’ve been sitting out for too long. I only eat eggs benedict when I’m having breakfast in the main dining room.

Cruise Food- Eggs Benedict

Hash Brown

I really love hash browns as a side for breakfast. They always taste amazing, no matter which cruise ship I’m on.

Cruise Food- Hash Brown

Souffle

One of my favorite desserts on a cruise is the souffle. If it’s on the menu in the main dining room, I will order it. It’s such a treat.

Cruise Food- Souffle

Cakes

I always make sure to treat myself to some cake whenever I’m on a cruise. Each cruise ship has its specialty – whether it’s chocolate cake, tiramisu, red velvet cake, carrot cake or some other specialty cake. I love trying out different cakes and finding the one that tastes amazing on each cruise ship.

Cruise Food- Cake

Sorbet

Sorbet is like the perfect dessert on a cruise. I love the raspberry and lemon sorbets – they really cleanse your palate. The flavors change every day, but I always order the sorbet of the day, no matter what it is. It’s always delicious!

Cruise Food- Sorbet

Fruit Cup

I always order the fruit cup at the cruise’s main dining room. I know it’s just a bunch of cut-up tropical fruit, but for me, it feels like a special treat to enjoy a fresh fruit cup without having to go through all the hassle of cutting up the fruit myself!

Cruise Food- Fruit Cup

Chips and Guacamole

I can eat chips and guacamole all day long. Whenever I’m at the cruise buffet, I’m always looking for it. As soon as I find it, I load up on chips, guac, and salsa.

Cruise Food- Chips and Guacamole

Room Service Breakfast

I always make sure to get room service breakfast at least once when I’m on a cruise. It’s such a great feeling to have breakfast brought to my stateroom and enjoy it out on the balcony. There’s just something about getting room service that makes me feel like I’m really on vacation.

Cruise Food- Room Service Breakfast

Bread

I always look forward to the bread in the main dining room on the cruise. I just love the warm bread, and I always have it with butter. It’s such a treat that I don’t usually have in my everyday life. 

Just so you know, I never eat the bread at the buffet because I think it’s usually not that great. If I’m going to enjoy bread, I want it to be really good. On a cruise, the good bread is only served in the main dining room, so I skip the bread at the buffet!

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