Food is one of the most important aspects of any cruise vacation. Even on the smallest ships at sea, you have plenty of options to keep you satisfied throughout your voyage, from indulgent three-course meals in the main dining room to the all-you-can-eat buffet.
The ship's buffet is the more casual of the two eateries. Even on formal night, you'll find people showing up in basic t-shirts and shorts, rather than sporting their finest attire. If you want the more traditional cruise ship dining experience, however, you will want to visit the main dining room.
Whether you've cruised numerous times before or don't mind straying from cruise ship norms, here are 8 reasons to avoid the main dining room on a cruise ship.
You don't want a chunk of your evening to be taken up by dinner
While nobody is stopping you from ordering just an entree in the main dining room, you're likely going to want to treat yourself to at least two courses.
Because the main dining room is a multi-course experience, it tends to take much longer than if you were to waltz into the buffet and grab your own food.
After a long day ashore, you might not want to sit through an hour-and-a-half-long meal. Instead, the idea of a quick dinner might be more appealing (literally). Those with young children may find them getting antsy when having to sit through a longer meal, especially if they, too, are worn out from the day's adventure.
Plus, ships are a lively hub of entertainment at night. A quick dinner at the buffet could mean that you have time to attend a few different events, whether an evening show, trivia, etc., before feeling like you have to retire to get a good night's rest.
Read more: Why you should eat dinner in the buffet
Similarly, the main dining room should be avoided if you want a quick bite to eat in the morning
Even though the main dining room is open for breakfast, you may not be in the mood for a heavy start to the morning, especially as your cruise vacation progresses. The thought of a large breakfast, lunch, and heavy three-course dinner is not appealing to all passengers, especially those who are watching what they eat.
Moreover, those in a rush to get off the ship for an early excursion will want to bypass the main dining room and grab a quick bite to eat in the buffet, as you won't have to worry about checking your watch every so often and looking over your shoulder to see if your waiter is bringing your food.
I've found that even on ships where there isn't a ton of breakfast variety, there is still plenty to choose from. Onboard Carnival Vista, for instance, I was a bit disappointed by the lack of options; however, there were still a couple different flavors of yogurt, eggs, pancakes, breakfast potatoes, eggs benedict, pastries, and fruit. These lighter breakfasts on port days balanced well with the heavy sea day brunches!
Read more: 5 foods not to eat on a cruise
The set dining times did not appeal to you
If you choose to dine in the main dining room, you will have two different options for set dining times. Referred to as the early and late seatings, the first tends to be around 5:30-6:00pm, whereas the late seating can commence as late as 8:00pm.
Of course, cruise lines have flexible dining, too, which allows you to either make reservations in advance or simply show up to the dining room within a specific timeframe. If you don't plan ahead, though, you may find long wait times to be seated.
5:30pm might be too early for you, whereas 8:00pm may be too late, especially if you have younger children or want to refrain from going to bed on a full stomach.
When it comes to the ship's buffet, you can grab dinner whenever hunger strikes. You can select a time that's in between both set dining options without having to worry about reservations or a long wait.
The ship's buffet will have more options
Typically, the most variety of food on any given cruise ship can be found at the buffet, especially for lunch and dinner. Instead of focusing on a singular cuisine or cooking method, you can often find anything from Asian dishes to typical American favorites, like burgers and chicken fingers. Additionally, the options tend to rotate for lunch and dinner daily, meaning you always have a chance to try something new!
While the main dining menu changes, too, there are fewer options compared to what's available at the buffet. To try and provide a more elevated dining experience compared to the buffet, cruise lines don't offer extensive menus– I'm talking Cheesecake Factory-long menus that are seemingly endless!
I have found that the average number of options for each course in the main dining rooms is around six. While that's still a great deal of variety, it is nothing compared to the buffet.
Plus, many of the dishes in the buffet are the same as what's being served in the main dining room
Oftentimes, the offerings in the ship's buffet will be the same as the food in the main dining room. While you'll always find more in the buffet, you should not be surprised if you see chilled shrimp cocktails, roasted tomato soup, spaghetti, etc.
When Royal Caribbean launched their new menus, for instance, each night in the main dining room became centered around a specific theme, such as Mexican night, French night, Asian night, etc. Several dishes offered on the nightly menus have been found in the Windjammer buffet.
If you choose to forego the main dining room, you won't miss out on the entire experience, as some food may be available in the buffet.
You can eat as much as you want
While there's nothing stopping you from ordering two appetizers, entrees, and desserts while dining in the main dining room, since you do not know the actual portion sizes, it can be hard to estimate how much you will actually eat. It is easier than you think to over and under-order.
When eating in the ship's buffet, you can easily load up your first plate and return for seconds (or thirds) depending on how hungry you are.
Since you are only grabbing what you are planning on eating, this helps eliminate waste. Plus, you won't have to wait to order another dish if you find yourself hungry for more.
Specialty restaurants have higher-quality dishes
The buffet and main dining room are not the only two options your cruise ship will have. While not included in the cost of your cruise fare, specialty restaurants are perfect for those who don't care for the large main dining experience and would prefer to dine in a more intimate setting.
The options will vary based on what ship you are sailing on; however, most have at least a steakhouse onboard. If you choose to stay in the main dining room, you can typically pay to order a premium steak that comes from the steakhouse; however, you'll get more for your money if you spend the extra for the multi-course meal, as you'll also get upgraded appetizer and dessert options.
Plus, some ships have specialty restaurants that are more immersive. On Celebrity Cruises, for instance, you can choose to dine at Le Petit Chef, which is a dining experience that centers around the “tiniest chef in the world” with visual projections directly onto your plate and table. Other ships may have teppanyaki restaurants or even themed dining that transports you to the whimsical world of Alice and Wonderland.
Read more: 16 hidden cruise ship extra charges you should know about (2024)
Newer cruise ships tend to have more complimentary fast-casual dining options
When I boarded my first-ever Carnival cruise, I was surprised by just how many complimentary dining options were onboard. In fact, I did not eat in the buffet once because I found venues like Big Chicken, BlueIguana Cantina, and Guy's Burger Joint more appealing.
Even Carnival's oldest ships are outfitted with more complimentary dining options, meaning you don't have to leave the lido deck to grab a bite to eat in the buffet for lunch. Most are open for breakfast, too! I had a delicious breakfast burrito on disembarkation morning from BlueIguana Cantina and found the service to be quicker than the buffet, and the burrito was made-to-order!
Onboard select Royal Caribbean ships, you'll find El Loco Fresh, Boardwalk Dog House, Sorrento's Pizza, and more. Therefore, don't limit yourself to the buffet. Check out your cruise line's app or daily schedule to see what options are available on your ship! In addition to simply listing all the venues, the schedule will inform you of their operating hours, too.
Read more: Your really dumb cruise ship dining questions answered
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
