Best cruises for food lovers

Cruise lines are always trying to out-perform each other with their culinary offerings. Whether it’s who can create the most eccentric dish at sea or who can whip up the finest afternoon tea, cruise lines know how important an ingredient food is to the overall experience. For some cruisers, the on board menu is the deal-sealer. 

If you're a food lover and this is a massive factor for yourself when booking a cruise, we’ve rounded-up some of the best choices at sea. Let us know who your favourite is in the comments!

Celebrity Cruises

Have you ever visited a restaurant where you can order creative delicacies such as sushi lollipops, Lobster Escargot, Lava Crab and Disco Shrimp from an iPad? This is exactly what the quirky Qsine found on board Celebrity Cruises is known for. You can book this speciality restaurant four days in advance and we highly recommend that any passenger gives this innovative restaurant a try.

Royal Caribbean

Fall down the rabbit hole into this dreamlike foodie adventure with a menu sectioned by style rather than course. Indulge in adventurous and post-modern dishes such as Liquid Lobster, Buffalo Chicken Eggs, Crispy Crab Cones, Vanishing Noodles, and Baked Alaska featuring vanilla-cinnamon-chili foam. Like all the speciality restaurants, Wonderland can be reserved using the Cruise Planner online before you board.

P&O Cruises

P&O are experts in delivering cruises that are quintessentially British, and their food options are no exception. They’ve hired some of the biggest names in the British culinary industry to become Food Heroes and ensure passengers are treated to top-quality foods. James Martin, Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar, Eric Lanlard or Olly Smith will be on board to offer masterclasses, book signings, Q&As and even private dining with exclusive hosted dinners. There will also be the option to join the chefs on a foodie adventure in port.

Holland America

If you’re a fan of cookery programmes then the Culinary Arts Centre is for you. Discover theatre-style venues and state-of-the-art demonstration kitchens where passengers can watch how to prepare their favourite dishes – either in a live audience or through a live-stream in their cabin. Also within the centre are hands cooking-classes, regionally inspired workshops, food and wine pairings, and workshops for kids.

Certain cruises will also have special guest chefs on board such as Jacques Torres, Max McCalman and Susan Sokol Blosser. The ms Koningsdam will also have an immersive dinner experience where guests will see their food prepared in front of them, using fresh ingredients grown in a visible glass-enclosed area.

Princess Cruises

We can never pick a favourite restaurant from the award-winning selection on board Princess Cruises; especially since acclaimed chefs Curtis Stone and Ernesto Uchimura and their delectable menus have been welcomed on board. In the main dining room you will be treated to dishes developed by Stone, as well as the speciality restaurant SHARE. The Salty Dog Gastropub however is the brain-child of Ernesto Uchimura, and boasts a menu brimming with excited twists on traditional pubfood including an award-winning burger!

Oceania

Oceania is continuously winning awards for their culinary talents. Much of this can be attributed to the appointment of Master Chef Jacques Pépin as Executive Culinary Director, and the cruise lines open-dining policy where passengers can dine when and where they want with no surcharge. 

Take your choice between authentic Italian dishes at Toscana, premier stakes at Polo Grill’s steakhouse, comforting American favourites at the Terrace Café and everyday continental favourites in the Grand Dining Room. Between meals guests can enjoy illy® specialty coffees at Baristas.

Silversea

The word Silversea is symonous with luxury so it’s no surprise that their dining is considered some of the finest at sea. Their main dining room is open-seating and offers continental and regional specialities. Also on board, passengers can discover exquisite flavours at the Asian-accented Indochine, the traditionally Italian La Terrazza, the elaborately Japanese Kabuki, the relaxed pizzeria Regina Margherita, tapas-style Silver Note and the health-conscious Hot Rocks (where food is cooked on heated lava stones fresh on the table).