When it involves onboard eating places and eating, cruise ships usually get a foul rap. There’s a storyline on the market that cruises are little greater than gorge fests, prioritizing amount over high quality.
After writing about cruising for practically 30 years, I can let you know that is removed from the reality. Quality eating has at all times been a giant a part of the cruising expertise, and cruise ship restaurant choices solely have improved through the years.
You’ll now discover stand-alone eating places on high-end cruise ships created and overseen by among the world’s most well-known cooks, together with Nobuyuki (Nobu) Matsuhisa, Alain Ducasse and Jacques Pépin.
But even on the biggest mass-market cruise ships, the meals is getting ever extra elaborate and numerous. Norwegian Cruise Line brags that its largest vessel, Norwegian Encore, has greater than 20 totally different meals venues — the whole lot from an off-the-cuff barbecue restaurant (with reside nation music) to a high-end Italian spot from the creators of New York City’s Scarpetta.
Some mainstream strains, similar to Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises, have even referred to as in cooks from Michelin-starred eating places to assist design total culinary applications.
Over the years, as a part of testing and reviewing practically 200 vessels operated by 41 totally different strains, I’ve eaten at just about each cruise ship restaurant.
Just like at resorts on land, there’s unbelievable variety on the market. Some are nice. Some aren’t. Some are too dear for what they’re. Others are bargains.
But the underside line is that there are quite a lot of great eating places on cruise ships. Below are my picks for the perfect cruise ship eating places at sea. As you may anticipate, lots of my favorites are on higher-end ships, however a number of of the highest eating places may be discovered on the larger, extra inexpensive cruise ships.
Manfredi’s
Where you may discover it: All Viking ocean and expedition ships
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily e-newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
Manfredi’s on Viking Star. ANTHONY WELLER/VIKING
Found on each Viking ocean and expedition ship, Manfredi’s is our hands-down choose for the perfect Italian restaurant at sea. It serves up genuine and hearty Tuscan and Northern Italian specialties, similar to bistecca fiorentina and osso buco alla Milanese. Appetizers vary from hand-cut beef tartare to — our favourite — a calming asparagus and polenta dish that is served with a wonderfully poached egg, Parmigiano-Reggiano and truffle dressing.
Here’s a little bit of trivia: Manfredi’s was named after Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, who as soon as owned one in all Viking’s rivals, Silversea Cruises, and now owns the not too long ago relaunched luxurious line Crystal. Viking chairman Torstein Hagen and Lefebvre are buddies. If you are a cruising aficionado, remember to hunt among the many photographs on the wall for the photographs of Lefebvre and Hagen experimenting with recipes throughout the restaurant’s creation. The Italy-born Lefebvre supposedly shared a few of his favourite childhood recipes for the venue.
Cost: There’s no further cost to dine at Manfredi’s, however reservations are required. Passengers are entitled to at least one go to per voyage (these staying in increased cabin classes obtain as much as 4 precedence reservations).
Related: The final information to cruise ship meals and eating
Umi Uma by Nobu Matsuhisa Restaurant and Sushi Bar
Where you may discover it: Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony
Umi Uma on Crystal Serenity. CRYSTAL
When it involves sushi at sea, the gold commonplace for years has been Umi Uma by Nobu Matsuhisa Restaurant and Sushi Bar. Found on each of Crystal’s ships, the venue is the creation of famed Japanese chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa — sure, that Nobuyuki Matsuhisa — and presents sushi in addition to Matsuhisa’s trademark Japanese-Peruvian fusion delicacies. We’re speaking dishes like Nobu-style lobster with truffle-yuzu sauce and miso-glazed black cod.
If you have been to Matsuhisa’s Nobu eating places in New York, Las Vegas or different cities, you understand what we’re speaking about. This is Japanese delicacies remodeled into excessive artwork. On the 2 Crystal ships, it is also top-of-the-line offers on sushi anyplace.
While it is simple to rack up a $150 per individual invoice at a Nobu on land (a single piece of toro sushi prices $17 at Nobu New York Fifty Seven), an evening at Umi Uma on a Crystal ship is included within the fare. That fare, in fact, is not insignificant. Crystal voyages can run as a lot as $1,000 per individual, per day.
Cost: There is not any further cost to dine at Umi Uma. Passengers are entitled to at least one go to per voyage, with reservations required. Additional reservations could also be requested on a space-available foundation for a $50 per individual reservation price.
Related: Best cruise meals: These are the 6 cruise strains with the perfect meals at sea
Red Ginger
Where you may discover it: Oceania Cruises’ Marina, Riviera, Sirena, Vista and Allura (coming in 2025)
The Red Ginger restaurant on the Oceania Cruises ship Sirena. OCEANIA CRUISES
Red Ginger may be probably the most attractive restaurant you may ever see on a cruise ship. With a nod to feng shui, it radiates concord and tranquility with ebony woods, a soothing waterfall wall and hanging, fashionable Asian artworks. But it is not only a fairly place: It’s a den of yumminess, too.
Found on 4 Oceania Cruises ships — Marina, Riviera, Sirena and Vista — Red Ginger presents traditional Asian dishes with a recent twist, all dreamed up by Oceania’s well-regarded, in-house culinary workforce with enter from famed chef Jacques Pépin. We’re speaking about miso-glazed sea bass wrapped in a hoba leaf, and sole tempura with an orange ponzu sauce and spicy daikon. For dessert, do not miss the lemongrass creme brulee.
Red Ginger will debut on a fifth Oceania ship, Vista, when it begins crusing in 2025.
Cost: There is not any further cost to dine at Red Ginger, however reservations are required. Passengers are entitled to at least one go to per voyage (these staying in prime suites can go twice).
Fahrenheit 555
Where you may discover it: Carnival’s Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Jubilee and Carnival Firenze
The inside of a steakhouse on Carnival Firenze. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
One of the good paradoxes of the cruise world is that one of many lowest-cost operators — Carnival Cruise Line — has top-of-the-line steakhouses at sea. At a hard and fast value of $49 per individual, Fahrenheit 555 can also be a relative cut price in comparison with comparable steakhouses on land.
Found on Carnival’s six most not too long ago constructed ships, plus a couple of others, Fahrenheit 555 presents all of the steakhouse staples, from a 14-ounce New York strip to a 9-ounce filet mignon (each USDA Prime, aged 28 days). Other entrees embody an appropriately marbled hunk of Australian wagyu beef, grilled lamb chops and Dover sole. Starters embody Heritage Berkshire pork stomach, bone marrow, hand-cut beef tartare and — in fact — jumbo shrimp cocktail.
Carnival has a protracted custom of providing high-end steakhouses on its ships. The line started rolling out steakhouses in 2001 with the debut of its Spirit Class ships (the place, in one of many nice quirks of cruise ship design, the steakhouses are positioned in crimson domes that type the ahead parts of the ships’ funnels).
There now are steakhouses on 25 of Carnival’s 27 vessels, with various names and decor (solely Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise lack one). When it involves culinary choices, they’re all much like Fahrenheit 555.
Cost: $49 per individual
Related: 7 causes it is best to splurge on a cruise ship specialty restaurant
Nuna
Where you may discover it: Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot
Nuna on Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
The latest temple to gastronomy at sea is Nuna on Ponant’s epic new icebreaking expedition ship, Le Commandant Charcot. Elegant and refined, it is a high-end French restaurant that serves dishes designed by Alain Ducasse, the famed French chef.
You’ll discover the whole lot from French-style beef fillet served with a pepper sauce to veal tenderloin with a vegetable matignon and potato cake to monkfish medallions on the menu, with some worldwide dishes combined in with the traditional French delicacies. Dessert choices embody a number of French cheeses that quantity into the handfuls — maybe probably the most spectacular cheese choice discovered on any cruise vessel.
The setting itself is beautiful, behind the vessel overlooking the wake and that includes furnishings from iconic French furnishings design home Ligne Roset, Bernardaud French china and glassware by Elne.
Cost: There is not any cost to dine at Nuna.
La Dame
Where you may discover it: All Silversea ships besides Silver Origin
The La Dame restaurant on Silver Ray. SILVERSEA CRUISES
The premier restaurant on Silversea Cruises ships is a temple to high-end French delicacies. Named after La Dame de Paris, aka the Eiffel Tower, it serves such traditional dishes as filet of Limousin beef, grilled rack of lamb and pan-fried Dover sole. The menu consists of two totally different kinds of foie gras, in addition to caviar.
As you may anticipate from a flowery French venue, the service is all white-glove class in a refined however up to date setting. However, as you may not anticipate from an upscale all-inclusive cruise line, the restaurant does have a hefty cowl cost.
Cost: $60 per individual for all ships, excluding the brand new Silver Nova and Silver Ray. The cowl cost for La Dame on Silver Nova and Silver Ray, the place the expertise consists of an unique number of French wines and digestives, is $160 per individual.
Pacific Rim
Where you may discover it: Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Grandeur
Pacific Rim serves Asian delicacies in a classy setting. REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
Another one in all my favourite cruise ship eating places is Pacific Rim, discovered on the three largest Regent Seven Seas Cruises vessels. Serving pan-Asian delicacies, it is elegant and upscale — as you’d anticipate from one of many world’s main luxurious strains — and has a mouthwatering menu.
Signature dishes embody grilled Korean barbecue lamb chops (served with wok-fried Brussels sprouts and gochujang sauce) and a miso black cod wrapped in a hoba leaf. Signature appetizers embody a crispy soft-shell crab served with a kizami wasabi mayo.
For dessert, do not miss the Chinese five-spice chocolate mousse. True to its identify, it is infused with chile and splendidly spicy. For one thing extra impartial, my choose is the inexperienced tea panna cotta, served with mango and a lychee ragout.
Cost: There’s no further cost to dine at Pacific Rim, however reservations are required.
Related: A have a look at the over-the-top luxurious of Regent’s Seven Seas Splendor
Eden Restaurant
Where you may discover it: Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent
The Eden Restaurant on Celebrity Edge. STEVE DUNLOP PHOTOGRAPHY/CELEBRITY CRUISES
Celebrity Cruises has created a temple to gastronomy with Eden Restaurant, discovered on its new Edge Class ships. Located behind every vessel in a whimsical glass-walled and plant-filled eating and leisure house referred to as Eden, it presents a fixed-price menu with a variety of decisions for appetizers, entrees and desserts.
In a pointy departure from Eden Restaurant’s authentic idea of mesmerizingly imaginative dishes with fanciful names, the menu now focuses on destination-inspired dishes ready with the highest-quality produce in entrance of diners by a workforce of cooks in an open kitchen.
Menu highlights embody sheep’s milk ricotta gnocchi with smoked pecorino cheese; filet mignon; a miniature brief rib Wellington with mashed potatoes, greens, mushrooms and bordelaise sauce; and slow-cooked corvina — all cooked completely.
In addition to the common menu, Eden presents two seven-course tasting menus — one with some dishes derived from animals and one that’s utterly vegan.
Cost: $85 for the essential menu; the tasting menus price $120, plus company have the choice so as to add a wine pairing for $100.
Remy
Where you may discover it: Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy
The high-end Remy restaurant is discovered on Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream. MATT SHOSHANE/DISNEY CRUISE LINE
For probably the most half, the meals on Disney Cruise Line ships is simply so-so (in my view, a minimum of). It’s a line you e book for its nice household leisure, not delicacies. But Remy is the exception — a eating expertise that’s among the many best at sea.
Created by two famend cooks (Arnaud Lallement of France’s three-Michelin-starred L’Assiette Champenoise and Scott Hunnel of Disney World’s high-end Victoria & Albert’s), it presents exquisitely introduced, French-inspired delicacies of the best high quality in a chic setting at one of many highest costs of any cruise ship eatery.
Like just about all venues on Disney ships, Remy has some whimsical Disney touches. Named after the rat hero within the Disney animated movie “Ratatouille,” it has his stylized likeness labored into the artwork nouveau design.
But there’s nothing Mickey Mouse in regards to the restaurant’s refined decor and finishings, which embody high-end Frette linens, Riedel glassware, Christofle silverware and gold-cushioned stools to carry women’ purses. This is a fantastic eating institution the place you put on a jacket or cocktail gown to dinner whereas savoring mouthwatering small plates of turbot, quail, wagyu beef, king crab and the like.
Cost: $135 per individual for dinner, not together with wine. A brunch service can also be obtainable for $80 per individual, and a dessert providing is $65 per individual.
Steakhouse at The Verandah
Where you may discover it: All Cunard ships besides Queen Anne
Steakhouse at The Verandah. CUNARD
Steakhouse lovers will discover one other nice possibility in Steakhouse at The Verandah, positioned on all Cunard vessels besides the brand new Queen Anne (the latter has a unique steakhouse referred to as Sir Samuel’s). It’s a shrine to probably the most indulgent, marbled and mouthwatering cuts of beef, from 35-day dry-aged Scotch grass-fed black Angus to Australian grass-fed wagyu beef (the latter for a $30 upcharge). It additionally serves seafood choices similar to grilled complete Dover sole and Maine lobster. Appetizers embody clam chowder and lobster cocktail.
At a value of $65, if booked on board (with a couple of supplemental costs for premium gadgets), it is not fairly the worth it was a yr in the past when it price simply $50. But it’s going to nonetheless most likely price you lower than a go to to a fantastic steakhouse on land.
Cost: $58.50 per individual if booked prematurely of crusing; $65 per individual if booked on board. A couple of premium dinner gadgets include further costs. The steakhouse can also be open for lunch for $31.50 per individual if booked prematurely and $35 per individual if booked on board.
Bottom line
Good meals is plentiful on cruise ships, the place you can see a couple of actually world-class eating places. Some of the identical cooks behind the best-known eating places on land have turned their consideration to eating places at sea lately, making it simpler than ever to have a knockout meal throughout your cruise.
Planning a cruise? Start with these tales: