For those on the fence about taking a cruise, our food columnist shares the best ways to make the most of cruise dining.
Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or new to ocean transport, understanding a ship’s food service is a must to make the most of your time between ports. Below is my best advice for enjoying various meals on-board. And don’t wait for summertime or a special occasion to travel; simply pack according to your destination’s and weather forecast.
Vacation by cruise liner is something many people don’t experience. Five years ago I would’ve laughed if you told me I would spend my time off on a ship. Recently I returned from a 12-day voyage (plus two nights in London beforehand) on Princess Cruises. It was my fourth overseas adventure in five years and I am finally getting the hang of navigating a cruise’s culinary program.
Formal Dining Room Versus The Buffet
If you’re in a rush to make a concert, trivia game or similar, avoid the formal dining room. The kitchen and servers work at a pace that matches cruisers wanting to relax and stay longer. However if you insist on a full-service dinner, I recommend scheduling your meal right when seating begins. In addition, informing your servers (there are typically two assigned per table) that you’re on a time constraint should provide a sense of urgency, but still may not guarantee an efficient meal.
As an alternative, find the AYCE (all you can eat) cafeteria-esque line of the buffet. Available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, I’ve been advised by other guests that the best time of day to show up to dine is shortly before the end of breakfast service to eat some of the lunch offerings that the kitchen begins to set out without having to leave and come back.
Try to use both dining opportunities to experiment with foods you wouldn’t normally order since seconds (and thirds) don’t incur an additional cost in these locations. During my very first sail from Rome to Dubai, there was an additional menu in the formal room every night featuring Indian food and I took advantage of this to educate myself on flavors and textures of that cuisine.
Breakfast Without Missing Sleep
In two words: room service. Some cruise lines offer breakfast delivery free of charge. However, you may pay fees if an attendant dropped off lunch or dinner. It is normally a continental breakfast, meaning no eggs or other hot items except coffee or tea. Expect your choice of fruit, pastry, bread and non-alcoholic beverage(s); sometimes cereal and milk options are also included.
The best way to go about requesting breakfast in your cabin is to fill out the card available in your stateroom and hang it on your door handle before midnight. Cruise lines may have different guidelines regarding this service, so phone guest services or read over guidelines before choosing this method of dining. If it works out, you get to dine in bed!
If the question of paying gratuities has crossed your mind, I’m here to tell you that a daily charge on your cruise account is specifically for tipping crew members – from room attendants to servers and guest services. You’re welcome to give more money for those that go above and beyond expectations; I prefer to do it near the end of the cruise and with American dollars or the local currency of your final stop.
Specialty Dining Restaurants
For a nominal fee per person and reservation made in advance, guests can indulge in one particular cuisine or style such as seafood, barbecue, Italian or steakhouse. Specialty dining has fewer menu options, but if your server is feeling especially generous, he or she may offer additional servings on certain dishes.
Note: This is not the same as the chef’s table (sometimes referred to as captain’s table) which accommodates fewer guests and may require dressy attire. If you’d rather save money for shopping or dining while at one of the ports then stick to the buffet.
Keeping Hydrated
While half of my vacation was spent surrounded by rain, mist or drizzle, the crew was offering water and coffee stations before we disembarked for the day to kickstart our time at port. After a long morning or afternoon, hot chocolate stations (with whipped cream) were exactly what we needed to defrost.
No matter where you go, it’s always best to keep hydrated by packing a reusable bottle such as a Hydroflask. I remember reading that by the time you are thirsty you are already getting dehydrated. Liquids, specifically water, are helpful if you have stains on your clothes or need to rinse your hands and aren’t near a bathroom.
Read the Newsletter
A daily newsletter is dropped off every evening while guests are at dinner with a schedule of events and retail/dining operating hours for the following day for all dining outlets, which shift based on whether the cruise ship is at port or sea. Generally, daytime food service is at a minimum when docked. The main reason I peruse a newsletter is for special themed meals like the bougie lobster night, or in my case, my first afternoon tea service at sea.
I suggest adding a pen and highlighter to your packing list to mark items of interest to you; trust me, it saves time when you’re mapping out your day. For example, if you get back to the ship and it’s too late for buffet and formal dining, quick service food outlets offer pizza slices, burgers, hot dogs and the ever popular unlimited soft serve machine. Look up the closing hours before heading over.
There is often one outlet that closes super-late or operates 24 hours. On this cruise it was the coffee bar. While specialty coffee/tea beverages were not covered in our cruise payment, all the mini-sandwiches, desserts and snacks were absolutely free and unlimited; coffee bar eats were replenished throughout the day and evening as needed.
Bonus: Gambling and Club Access
After spending time with my mom in the casino (She won a slots tournament!), I gave in and worked the one-armed bandit adjacent to her. Mom’s player status was high enough by day seven of our voyage that she was entitled to 15 drinks per day; this includes wine, beer, cocktails, soda and even bottled water – every day. My mom would rather have coffee, tea or water, though. Hydrating was no longer a concern for any of us if we were with Mom.
My parents also cruise enough on Princess (Note: Mom and Dad rotate between a few cruise lines) that they reached a level which includes a secluded lounge featuring self-serve appetizers and bar service all day. That was a treat because we not only had free reign over the platters of fruit, meats, desserts and even soup, the daytime view from the highest point of the Caribbean Princess was relaxing.
My husband and I didn’t want to wait until retirement to enjoy luxuries like cruising. We use our down time to dine with my family and clear our heads from work responsibilities. Different cruise lines offer promotions for both new as well as frequent travelers, and you can plan over a year in advance or even before you disembark your current ship.
A travel agent can assist with researching airfares, different cruise lines and other major expenses. AAA and Costco offer travel planning services. Locally, Expedia Cruises out of Laguna Hills is independently owned and operated – and offers affordable packages – for those who do not have time to research.
