One of the highlights of going on a cruise vacation is the unlimited food. From the cruise buffet to the main dining room and specialty restaurants, you’ll never go hungry. Savvy cruisers have picked up a few tricks to enhance their cruise dining experience. Whether you’re a first time cruiser or a seasoned cruiser, you’ll find these cruise dining hacks useful.
Ask for Crispy Bacon at the Buffet
Seasoned cruisers know not to settle for the soggy bacon that’s been sitting on the buffet steam table. Always ask the cruise staff for crispy bacon. They will go to the back to get you extra crispy bacon.
DIY Cook to Order at the Buffet
Buffets have cook-to-order stations, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with just the ingredients at that particular station. For example, if you’re in the mood for mushrooms in your pasta, go to the salad bar and grab a bowl of fresh mushrooms. The cook will happily sauté the mushrooms and add them to your pasta dish.
Free Room Service
Most cruise lines now charge a room service fee ranging from $8 to $10 per delivery. However, a clever way to avoid this charge is to order continental breakfast items for room service. Most cruises don’t charge a fee for continental breakfasts, which include croissants, muffins, Danishes, yogurt, fruit plate, cereal, coffee, tea, and juices.
Coffee Delivered to Your Cabin
If you are a coffee addict and need coffee as soon as you wake up, do what many seasoned cruisers do and order coffee through room service every day. Imagine a steaming pot of freshly brewed coffee delivered right to your cabin. You can luxuriously enjoy on your private balcony or while getting ready for the day. The best part is it’s free to get coffee delivered to your room!
Order Multiple Dishes in the Main Dining Room
Many first-time cruisers don’t realize you can order multiple dishes in the main dining room without any additional charge! The dining experience there is almost like a buffet, allowing you to sample all the appetizers and desserts that catch your eye. However, it’s worth noting that some cruise lines have caught on to this and now charge a small fee if you order more than one entrée. Fortunately, you can still enjoy as many appetizers and desserts as you’d like without any extra cost.
Check the Menu in Advance
Many first time cruisers don’t know that you can check the menu for the main dining room ahead of time. This allows you to decide whether to dine there or explore other options. Typically, the cruise app will display the menu for the entire cruise, or you can simply ask the dining room staff for the menu. This is especially useful for those who like to plan ahead, to make sure you don’t miss out on special nights like lobster and steak night while also identifying evenings when you might prefer a specialty restaurant or buffet instead.
Freshly Grilled Burgers and Hotdogs
When you’re on a cruise, don’t settle for the burgers or hotdogs that have been sitting out on the buffet steam table. Instead, make your way to the grill, typically located near the pool. Order a freshly grilled burger or hotdog—it’s far superior to the burger or hotdog that’s been sitting out too long at the buffet. You’ll definitely enjoy a better meal!
DIY Meals
If you’re a foodie who loves creating your own meals, the cruise buffet is the perfect place. Have fun mixing items from the various sections to create your own unique dishes. For example, you could whip up a delicious Mexican rice bowl by combining rice from the Asian section, grilled chicken, fresh vegetables from the salad bar, and some salsa, guacamole, and chips. Check out 9 Cruise Main Dining Room Mistakes You’ll Regret Making
Specialty Dining Discounts
There’s no need to rush when it comes to buying specialty dining packages. Cruise lines are often desperate to fill their specialty restaurants. It’s common to see cruise staff stopping at tables at the buffet, promoting specialty dining packages. Don’t be afraid to negotiate, you might get a deeper discount. Check out 7 Reasons Why You are Worse Off with Anytime Dining on Cruise Ships
Buffet after Dinner
On a cruise, dining isn’t limited to just the main dining room or the buffet; you can enjoy both! Many foodie cruisers start their evenings with a light, early dinner in the main dining room. After their meal, they catch a show before heading to the buffet for a late-night snack and dessert. This allows you to sample all the food on the cruise. Here is a photo of the dinner buffet when we visited Germany; if we hadn’t stopped by the buffet after dinner, we would have missed this Oktoberfest feast! Check out 8 Reasons Why Cruise Ship Beverage Packages are a Waste of Money
Off-Menu Items
You can request special meals from the cruise staff, and the chef is more than happy to cook up dishes not listed on the standard menu. For example, if you ask in advance, they can prepare a Filipino breakfast. Just make sure to put in your request ahead of time, and they’ll let you know when it will be served. Here is a photo of a traditional Filipino breakfast that we ordered off the menu at Celebrity Cruise. Check out Is Celebrity Cruise Really More Upscale? Honest Review
You Don’t Need to Buy the Beverage Package
If you’re not a heavy drinker, the complimentary beverages on the cruise may be more than enough for you. Most cruise ships have free coffee, tea, hot cocoa, lemonade, iced tea and some juices. You can get creative. For example, make your own refreshing iced coffee by adding ice cubes to the hot coffee. If you’re in the mood for a little bubbly, just attend the art auction, they always give out complimentary champagne. Here is a photo of free champagne that were given out during one of the Captain’s Welcome events on MSC Cruise. Check out 12 Free Things on MSC Cruises that You Need to Know About
Loyalty Perks
Many cruise lines give loyal passengers perks, such as discounts on dining, invitations to cocktail parties, and even complimentary alcoholic drinks. It’s important to know the perks available to you. If you’re invited to the free cocktail party, be sure to attend! It’s usually an elegant party with passed appetizers, desserts, and a complimentary open bar. Make the most of the open bar by ordering an extra round of wine to take with you to dinner. Remember, cruise ships don’t have open bottle restrictions. You can walk around the ship with your wine glass! Check out How to Earn Cruise Loyalty Points Fast?
Crowded Buffet
Many first time cruisers are often surprised by how crowded cruise buffets can get. It can be so packed that finding a table becomes nearly impossible. To avoid this frustrating experience, skip the buffet during peak times. Head to the main dining room for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on sea days. You’ll enjoy the full service dining experience so much better than battling the crowds at the buffet. If you still have your heart set on eating at the buffet, try going for a late lunch or an early breakfast when it’s much less crowded. Check out What Happens When Your Cruise is Overbooked?
Embarkation Day Lunch
Try to avoid the buffet on embarkation day. It will be extremely crowded and a zoo during lunchtime. You will have a hard time getting a table, and you’ll likely face long lines. It’s best to eat in the main dining room if it’s open or at another eatery. Check out 16 Cruise Ship Embarkation Hacks (How to Board the Ship Faster)