While luxury cruise lines have menus crafted by Michelin-star chefs, they're not the most affordable vacation option on the market. Sailing on a mainstream line doesn't mean you have to sacrifice a high-quality dining experience, though. From nightly meals in the Main Dining Room to fast-casual bites by the pool, the food is one of the most highly-anticipated aspects of any cruise.
However, it's crucial to understand each line's dining approach before settling on one. Disney Cruise Line, for instance, operates on a rotational dining schedule. Each night of the voyage, your travel party will dine in one of the ship's themed dining rooms at the same pre-determined time. You'll also have the same wait staff, ensuring you get personalized service throughout your cruise.
In comparison, Virgin Voyages doesn't believe in the traditional cruise dining approach. Instead of offering massive buffets, main dining rooms, and extra-charge restaurants, 20+ venues onboard are included. Plus, there aren't any set dining times, so you can choose which restaurant to dine in based on what cuisine you're in the mood for.
Many mainstream cruise lines have developed partnerships with celebrity chefs, too. Carnival, for instance, has restaurants in collaboration with Guy Fieri, Emeril Lagasse, and Rudi Sodamin. Similarly, Celebrity Cruises worked with world-renowned chef Daniel Boulud to create Le Voyage and an exclusive Chef's Table menu.
Here are the mainstream cruise lines with the best food that won't break the bank.
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Virgin Voyages
With cruises to the Caribbean starting as low as $718 per person, you can enjoy everything an adult-only cruise on Virgin Voyages offers. Aside from banning children onboard, one of the defining aspects of the Virgin experience is its dining.
In place of large buffets and main dining rooms with assigned dining times, guests can enjoy stand-alone restaurants, each offering a unique culinary journey. Virgin also worked with celebrity chefs to curate their menus. Brad Farmerie (of PUBLIC in NYC) and Sohui Kim (of Gate & Tollner and Insa in NYC) are a few examples.
From Korean BBQ to the innovative Test Kitchen, Italian, Mexican, a 1960s-inspired steakhouse, grab-and-go pizza, and more, the culinary options on Virgin are unmatched. Plus, unlike other cruise lines, you don't have to worry about upcharges—most restaurants are included in your cruise fare.
Whereas the upscale steakhouse on cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival costs at least $49 per person, a visit to The Wake on one of Virgin's ships won't cost anything extra.
There's not a buffet onboard, either. Instead, guests can enjoy The Galley, a food hall-style with different stalls, each offering a tantalizing array of culinary delights, from all-day breakfast at Diner & Dash to bento boxes from Bento Baby.
Celebrity Cruises
From Tuscan Grille, which puts a spin on rustic Italian favorites, to Le Petit Chef, an immersive dining experience that combines video animation projection and culinary artistry, Celebrity Cruises has been recognized for its innovative cuisine and upscale dining experiences.
The included Main Dining Room won't disappoint, either. Unlike sister brand Royal Caribbean, Celebrity has kept its "Classics" section on the menu. Though most selections rotate daily, several options are constant, including the Chilled Shrimp Cocktail, Boiled Salmon, Grilled Chicken Breast, and Chocolate Cake.
Passengers sailing onboard an Edge Class ship can enjoy four complimentary dining rooms, while those on Millennium and Solstice Class ships will dine at the ship's single two-story dining room. Each dining room on Edge Class ships features exclusive options, such as the Roasted Pumpkin Salad, Eggplant Caponata Burrata, Slow-Roasted Herbed Pork Chop, and Pappardelle alla Veneziana at Tuscan.
Read more: What the Food Was Like on Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Reflection
Even if your adventures take you on an older ship, you'll find menu options like Barolo Braised Beef Short Ribs, Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli, Organic Roasted Red Beets, Oven-Roasted Jerk Spiced Chicken, and more.
The buffet is impressive, too. Keep your eyes peeled for shrimp ceviche, freshly carved meats, made-to-order pasta, chocolate fountains, and more throughout your sailing. Also, don't forget to check out the Spa Café and Mast Grill for lighter bites and casual poolside fare!
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line takes Disney magic out to sea. Fans of Disney's theme parks and classic tales will enjoy the character meet-and-greets, themed deck parties, and magical touches throughout the ship, all while sailing to new and exciting ports of call.
Disney's rotational dining program ensures all guests enjoy the three dining rooms onboard, each with distinct atmospheres and menus. One evening, you may dine with Marvel characters followed by a night in the golden age of Hollywood. Menu items vary based on which restaurant you're dining at; however, they may include Smoked Salmon Tartar, Chicken and Walnut Salad, French Onion Soup, Ginger-Teriyaki Dusted Angus Beef Tenderloin, Crispy Roasted Duck Breast, and Grilled Marinated Tofu.
You won't find any family-friendly specialty restaurants on a Disney cruise. Instead, the upscale experiences are reserved for adults. At Remy onboard Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream, for example, adults order from a menu created by world-class chefs in a child-free environment.
Read more: The $135 dinner on Disney Cruise Line isn't cheap, but the fancy food sold me on it being worth it
Being a family-friendly cruise line, there's no shortage of fast-casual eateries, from Duck-In Diner onboard Disney Magic to Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods on the Disney Wish. One thing to take note of is that Disney's buffet typically isn't open for dinner. Instead of being open as a grab-and-go venue, it usually functions as a sit-down restaurant with a four-course meal.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Though you'll still find main dining rooms aboard Norwegian's ships, they strayed from the traditional cruise ship dining model in that they don't have set dining times. Instead, passengers have the freedom and flexibility to dine whenever and wherever they'd like.
The dining rooms offer an array of dishes to please various cravings, from Creamy Spinach Soup to Creamy Mashed Potato Croquettes, Seafood Gumbo, Grilled Pineapple Chicken, Hungarian Beef Goulash, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Lemon-Pepper Shrimp, and Pork Spare Ribs.
Commonly called the "Garden Café," the buffet is a popular venue on all Norwegian ships. However, NCL Prima Class ships also have a new food hall-style venue called Indulge Food Hall, where you can order from various stalls for no extra charge. Additionally, most NCL ships have a pub called "O'Sheehans" or "The Local," where you will find classic bar fare such as Buffalo Wings, Burgers, Pretzel Bites, and more.
Aside from NCL's complimentary offerings, if you are craving a classic American steakhouse, make a reservation for Cagney's Steakhouse. Those wanting exotic cuisine should venture to Food Republic, where you'll find hearty Thai noodles, sushi rolls, and Mexican street food. Le Bistro is Norweigan's staple French restaurant, dishing up delectables like escargots, Côtes de Porc, and Homard (Lobster) Thermidor.
Read more: Guide to flexible dining vs traditional dining on a cruise ship
Royal Caribbean
Heading on a Royal Caribbean ship soon? You're in for a treat! From the infamous Kummelweck sandwich to late-night pizza from Sorrento's, indulgent meals in the Main Dining Room, and fast-casual Mexican bites from El Loco Fresh, there's plenty of complimentary dining onboard newer vessels.
In early 2023, the cruise line launched brand-new Main Dining Room menus. Now, each night highlights a specific cuisine or cooking style, from Italian night to Mexican, Mediterranean, and British. Plus, unlike NCL, you can choose from a set or flexible dining time. Those who select the latter can make reservations in advance or show up to the dining room whenever hunger strikes.
Moreover, Royal Caribbean has begun launching unique specialty experiences, such as the immersive train car restaurant on Utopia of the Seas and Icon of the Seas' Empire Supper Club. Specialty restaurants vary based on the ship; however, all feature Royal Caribbean's classic steakhouse, Chops Grille.
Aside from the Main Dining Room and upcharge restaurants, all ships have a buffet, where you will find various options during breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. Typically, the dinner menu mirrors the dining room's theme.
The newest Icon Class ships are the first in the fleet to have a food hall, with dedicated stalls serving mac & cheese, sandwiches, salads, crêpes, and more. As the largest cruise ship in the world, you can imagine there's no shortage of dining options onboard Icon of the Seas.
That, however, doesn't mean you'll be displeased with older vessels. Even Vision Class ships have been outfitted to feature newer venues. Vision of the Seas, for example, has Park Café, Izumi, and Giovanni's Table onboard.
Carnival Cruise Line
While some cruise lines have started to place an emphasis on their specialty dining, one area Carnival Cruise Line excels compared to other mainstream lines is its fast-casual offerings.
From Guy's Burger Joint to BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Pig and Anchor BBQ Smokehouse, Carnival Deli, and an all-you-can-eat pizzeria, you'll find plenty of quick eats included in your case fare. Newer ships have even more options, such as Big Chicken and Street Eats, with the Excel Class ships allowing guests to dine at ChiBang and Cucina del Capitano for no extra charge (on their first visit only).
All ships feature their new dining room menus designed in consultation with Emeril Lagasse, Carnival's "Chef Culinary Officer," to help provide guests with an enhanced Main Dining Room experience. Instead of reducing the number of options, they added dozens of new dishes, ranging from Cornish Game Hen to Pappardelle with Braised Lamb, an Asian Chopped Salad with Chicken, Dutch Double Chocolate Pave, and the Crab and Shrimp Cake.
Read more: Carnival menus 2024
Moreover, the Lido Marketplace, Carnival's buffet, is available on every ship in the fleet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you have the chance, however, skip the buffet and go to the SeaDay Brunch, where guests can enjoy a leisurely breakfast consisting of 12-hour French Toast, Skillet Cakes, and more. It's a popular affair, so be prepared to wake up early or have a bit of a wait!
Of course, you'll also find plenty of upcharge restaurants, from the onboard steakhouse to Teppanyaki, Emeril's Bistro on Excel ships, and Bonsai Sushi. Excel Class ships also have Rudi's Seagrill, the brainchild of Rudi Sodamin.
Holland America Line
More upscale than Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian, Holland America Line focuses on providing a refined cruise experience. With that, you can expect more sophisticated dining, though they still have casual venues.
During the day, refuel on bites from Dive-In, dishing up juicy burgers at sea, grilled chicken breasts, hot dogs, and french fries. There's also New York Pizza (or New York Deli & Pizza on select ships), serving hot pizza and fresh Italian salads steps from the pool. Seeking more variety? Head to the Lido Market, HAL's onboard buffet.
Each ship also has an elegant dining room, where you can choose from dishes like Green Peas Soup, Salmon with Mango Sauce, Yellowfin Sole Filet, Garlic-Herb Roasted Chicken, and Beef Tenderloin Oscar.
Those seeking an even more cultivated experience should consider splurging on one of Holland America's specialty restaurants. Pinnacle Grill, for example, features a refined menu with 28-day wet-aged USDA steaks, as well as other classic steakhouse dishes.
Feeling Italian? Be transported to the charming streets of Rome with a visit to Canaletto and enjoy housemade pasta and, of course, tiramisù! Other specialty restaurants include Tamarind, Nami Sushi, and Rudi's Sel Del Mar, created by chef mastermind Rudi Sodamin.
Plus, did you know that if you go on a HAL cruise to Alaska, you can enjoy regionally inspired cuisine with curated menus and locally bought ingredients? They also have special cocktails featuring real glacial ice!
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is another upscale cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation, with the other being Holland America Line. Like the latter, the dining options onboard tend to be more upscale than those found on Carnival ships.
Between the multi-story Main Dining Room to the inspiring World Fresh Marketplace and quick-service International Café, you can enjoy numerous options at no extra cost. Speaking of the Main Dining Room, did you know you can have a fancy-ish breakfast for dinner? That's right! On Sun Princess, guests can head to the Main Dining Room after spending a long day ashore for breakfast favorites like Buttermilk Pancakes and a Three-egg Omelette.
Recently, Princess revolutionized their dining program. Now, Anytime (flexible) Dining will be split into two rooms based on whether you have a reservation or are a walk-in. Traditional dining is the same.
Don't forget to research the specialty restaurants on your ship. Crown Grill is Princess Cruises' signature steakhouse, while Sabatini’s focuses on classic Italian comfort food. Love By Britto is a brand-new restaurant found exclusively on Sun Princess that was created in partnership with Romero Britto, the world-renowned artist known for his colorful art.
Umai Teppanyaki is also a new specialty venue exclusive to Sun Princess; it's the cruise line's first Teppanyaki restaurant. And, like the other two Carnival brands, Rudi Sodamin has yet another restaurant found on Princess ships: The Catch by Rudi.
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.
