Listed below are best cruise lines for foodies that offer a wide variety of dining options to satisfy your taste buds.
Savor a delicious experience while taking a dream vacation destination by sea. Tempt your taste buds with continental cuisines, dishes made by some of the best chefs. Most cruise lines offer multi restaurants on ships, with one option for everybody. Onboard, savor fine wine and taste the world's best flavors.
Salivate yet? Well, a lovely line-up of cruise lines with wonderful cruise experiences awaits those who crave a great dining experience while on-the-go.
Most cruise lines talk of their megaships that carry 2,500-5,000 people onboard - pretty much the range for typical cruise itineraries that espouse cheap fares in conjunction with exciting features and all kinds of entertainment and food. Most cruises target families, budget-conscious cruisers, large groups, or young cruisers. These ships are floating cities with poolside grills and 24-hour buffets plus high-end specialty restaurants. True, major cruises have the best value - but foodies should realize that specialty dining and alcoholic beverages are generally at an extra cost and can add up quickly. Pre-booking the drinks or dining package is a clever way to save from post-cruise sticker shock. Now, let us really dive into the rankings and save the best for last!
Value-for-money sailing has both its merit and demerits, given the never-ending Disney-esque fantasies tied to a cruise vacation. But apart from those two contexts, even within sea travel, Carnival would have to be one of the even best-hidden gems for foodies who seek adventuring under budgets. With some great value fares, stunning destinations, and, of course, the Chef's Table program, which is even more grand in scale on Carnival Vista, it offers comfort and culinary delight. Savor the burgers at Guy's Burger Joint, fish tacos at Blue Iguana, or indulge in upscale dining at Fahrenheit 555: high design and flavor.
A Disney cruise takes family entertainment to an entirely different level, from becoming part of larger-than-life experiences to exclusive access to all-time favorite characters such as those from Star Wars and Marvel. From the grand main dining room extravaganzas to the scarcely obvious Disney touches in adult venues, magic is created for all ages in the cruise line. What about foodies? Try modernizing menus at all of the specialty restaurants but be reminded of the extra fee that comes with it. Remy, inspired by Ratatouille, offers exquisite French fine dining with a seven-course meal and wine pairings; not to forget Palo with its excellent Italian dishes, such as the amazing lobster ravioli.
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Among all these, Princess Cruises stands out for its gastronomical diversity and excellence. For instance, one has a choice of set mealtimes at Symphony or flexible dining at Allegro and Concerto on Regal Princess. A visit to Alfredo's, which serves fresh toppings on truly Neapolitan pizzas, is a must, and it's free. The Horizon Bistro impresses with its made-to-order omelets and sandwiches, along with locavore dinners-all included in the cost. For that special occasion, splurge on some fine wines combined with Norman Love chocolates, as even standard options offer great experience for foodies.
Norwegian Cruise Line extends its 'freestyle cruising' concept to dining - several complimentary and specialty restaurants are offered without rigid mealtimes and dress codes. Highlights are Geoffrey Zakarian's upscale Ocean Blue for seafood aficionados and Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville at Sea for chill vibe. Provided Puerto Rico modern Mex cuisine, Iron Chef Jose Garces got his Bayamo and Pincho Tapas Bar. Foodies should book specialty spots like Ocean Blue and Cagney's Steakhouse to savor all that Norwegian has to offer in terms of their culinary experiences in an unforgettable surf-and-turf fashion.
Royal Caribbean is a wonderland for those who love to eat; it literally has too much of most excellent dining options. With the much talked about Symphony of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, it gives a beautiful twist to several places, including Bionic Bar, where cocktails are mixed by robots, and Wonderland, where the cuisine is experimental. For cupcakes and lollipops, Sweet tooths will be busy at the Cupcake Cupboard and busy licking up the ice cream delights at Ben & Jerry's. For authentic flavors in a setting to-die-for, Michael's Genuine Pub and Jamie's Italian - created by chefs Michael Schwartz and Jamie Oliver - are must-see favorites.
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Premium Foodie cruises are those that lend themselves well to this combination of mainstream and luxury travel - smaller ships, intimate service and top entertainment, as well as fine dining. In most cases, the cruise may include such perks as specialty meals or tailor-made excursions-and therefore is a good cruise option for the discerning traveler. While bottled water is included for most tours, for the more ardent foodie and beverage enthusiast, it would be well worth purchasing a beverage package to satisfy the trip. Below are the two finest among the premium foodie cruise lines and their finest restaurants on board.
Masted Windstar ships promise an unforgettable experience of timeless romance blended with edifying adventure and mouth-watering culinary voyages. Each sailing offers at least one chef-led market hike, with guests sampling the fresh flavors and witnessing the excitement of the vendors as they fill hefty orders. It is this strategy of locally-sourced cuisine not just for the precious lives they bring to the dishes, but also in supporting local economies. And best of all, these tours are free. Spend a romantic evening under the stars in Candles - the open-air restaurant with just the right wine pairings - and don’t forget that fabulous deck barbecue, provided on every sailing.
Oceania, owing to its association with the great French chef Jacques Pépin, and with an all-inclusive fare for dining, rightly earns its place at the top. Other distinguishing features of Oceania Marina include open seating and anytime dining; a variety of specialty restaurants; and partnership with Bon Appetit Magazine. Foodies can indulge in cooking classes and enjoy exclusive suites with 24-hour complimentary room service, not to mention a fine dining experience included in the fare. Of course, one of the highlights of the cruise experience is Jacques, a sumptuous French specialty restaurant at sea, where passengers can taste exclusive French cuisine right on board.
What we have saved for the last is the best: Luxury foodie cruises that redefine indulgence. Smaller ships, higher crewing ratios, and ultra-inclusive fares - often including airfare and pre-cruise hotels - provide unparalleled access to such destinations, elegant suite accommodations, six-star service, and dining curated by Michelin-star chefs. This is one of the most expensive options, but the exceptional onboard experience makes them worth every penny, and once you upgrade, it is hard to go back. Here are our top picks for the most luxurious foodie cruise experiences.
The most all-inclusive cruise line in the very industry is Regent Seven Seas, particularly for the experience of dining. Seven Seas Explorer has it all with its modern Culinary Arts Kitchen for hands-on courses, complemented by a bevy of complimentary restaurants that have so much to offer. La Veranda changes its colors to an upscale Italian restaurant come nightfall, Chartreuse has fine French cuisine, and there is Compass Rose for all eclectic tastes. Prime 7 is meant for steak lovers, with its ambiance and the showpiece 36-ounce porterhouse.
Always unique with small ship size and exclusive shopping with the chef tours that only select ports offer will have an exceptional service experience for passengers. It includes a market visit to the local marketplace and perhaps also takes some tasted recipes back home. In tandem with Michelin chef Thomas Keller, Seabourn has even brought American food into the upscale environment of "The Grill on Seabourn Ovation," while keeping its pretty fine dining at Restaurant 2 with such specialties as foie gras crème brûlée, lobster ravioli, and duck confit.
Silversea is offering Relais & Châteaux L'Ecole des Chefs cooking cruises—these cruise trips are perhaps the most special one could expect. They include onsite lessons from grand chefs on techniques such as knife skills, baking, and sauces, as well as market tours and 6-course onboard meals paired with wine. Silversea ensures a dining experience for its guests, even onboard its most intimate ships: some six to eight specialty restaurants are included in the fare. However, if you would prefer to stay in, there is also room service, which butler-serve. With chic French fare and a white-glove serving, Le Champagne turns out to be an experience not to be missed for the Francophile foodie.
Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity are indeed the best ships for food lovers and offer the broadest menu offerings. Onboard beer programs, world-class sommeliers, and even celebrity chefs like Piero Selvaggio and Nobu Matsuhisa have collaborated to present an exceptional gastronomic experience. In fact, the Crystal Dining Room dining hall has its own masterpiece-mealtime experience with elegant interiors and dynamic menu options. Then try the Silk Road and Sushi Bar by Nobu Matsuhisa, which promises the ultimate in sushi at sea, pork and Wagyu beef dishes, for an unforgettable meal.
Whether a foodie or not, everything from sweet to savory will appeal to your taste buds throughout your voyage on these cruise lines.
More sun-kissed days at sea cruising through the Caribbean, traveling better with entertainment better speciality dining, along with beautiful ship designs and great innovative technologies of Royal Caribbean cruise lines. Almost all outdoor restaurants within Carnivals are better, and the other facts are way more developed with homeports. Thus, it is quite interesting for travelers.
Food is pretty unlimited as far as buffets or less formal dining venues go since, in specialty restaurants, you can only order one entree per person. You can order all appetizers and desserts but not the main courses.
Food is typically brought into your stateroom on a cruise from the buffet and other informal eateries. Bring a little cooler bag or some insulated container with you if you want to take some food.
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