The unlimited food is one of the highlights of going on a cruise. In fact, some people go on cruises just for the food. Whether you’re in the mood for a formal sit-down dinner or comfort food, cruise ships have diverse dining options to satisfy your craving.
All-You-Can-Eat Buffet
The cruise buffet is a favorite for most cruise passengers. Available for breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon snacks, and late-night snacks, the buffet is open all day, so you will never go hungry on a cruise. There is always a wide variety of food, from Asian to Mexican, Pasta to Salad Bar to burgers and pizza. There are also themed buffet nights, such as Taco Night, Sushi Night, Oktoberfest, and more. The best part? The buffet is free and included in your cruise fare.
Poolside Snack Bar
Craving a snack by the pool? Fortunately, you don’t have to go far because most cruise ships have a poolside snack bar. These snack bars usually have favorites such as pizza, chicken tenders, hot dogs, soft serve, and burgers. It’s all included in your cruise fare.
Room Service
You can order room service if you’re too lazy to eat out. Most cruise ships have a breakfast and an all-day menu. Due to cost-cutting efforts, most cruise ships now charge a room service fee ranging from $7.00 to $9.50 per order or an ala carte price per item. On most cruises, continental breakfast is free. Getting coffee and pastries delivered to you in the morning is a luxurious way to start your day!
Main Dining Room
Sit-down meals in the main dining room are one of the highlights of going on a cruise vacation. You can go for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is an upscale dining experience where a waiter and an assistant waiter serve you. You can choose between anytime dining or assigned seating times. Either way, you will be treated to many premium dishes such as steak, lobster, souffle, escargot, shrimp cocktail, and so much more. The best part is that it is included in your cruise fare!
Specialty Restaurants
Not to be confused with the main dining room, specialty restaurants are not free. They typically cost around $40-$50 per person. They are mostly upscale restaurants, ranging from steakhouses to fancy Italian to Sushi Bars. You will also need to make reservations to dine at these specialty restaurants.
Private Island Buffet Lunch
For passengers visiting the cruise line’s private island, the buffet lunch on the island is free. It’s a BBQ buffet with pulled pork sandwiches, burgers, salads, and ice-cold lemonade. Don’t miss it; it’s always a great time. You will enjoy the tropical vacation vibe! Check out 10 Cruise Private Island Mistakes You’ll Regret Making
Cafes
Most cruises have cafes serving specialty coffees like espresso, cappuccino, iced lattes, and more. The coffee is not free, but it is similarly priced to Starbucks coffee. Some cruise lines, such as Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruise, have free food in their cafes. These are snack items such as pastries and savory finger sandwiches. Check out 10 Things People Forget to Do Before Disembarking the Cruise Ship
Spa Restaurant
Many cruise ships have a spa cafe or spa restaurant serving healthier fare. For example, Celebrity Cruise has Blu, a restaurant exclusively for guests booked in their AquaClass cabins. There is also a spa cafe serving smoothies. Check out 15 Things I Wished I had Known as a First Time Cruiser
Exclusive Suite Restaurants
Most cruise ships have a separate restaurant exclusively for suite guests. It’s usually a more intimate upscale restaurant with more premium dishes than what’s served in the main dining room. Check out 6 Not So Obvious Cruise Tips You Need to Know About
Casual Dining Restaurants
Aside from the buffet and the main dining room, most cruise ships have at least one casual dining restaurant. These are free restaurants. For example, on Norwegian Cruise, O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill is an Irish pub that serves amazing fish and chips. Alfredo’s on Princess Cruise is another free restaurant that serves amazing pizza. Royal Caribbean has Dog House, a hot dog stand serving hotdogs, sausages, and bratwurst with unlimited toppings. Check out 25 Things People Forget to Pack for a Cruise