Life on Board – Cruise Ship Dining

Usually most meals are included in the price of the cruise. This often includes poolside snack bars, making for the unusual experience of walking up to the counter, ordering a burger and walking off without any form of payment. (It is not “free”, of course; you paid for it when you bought your ticket.) On mass market cruise lines there is typically a buffet on one of the upper decks, available during all meal times and sometimes even around the clock. Room service is usually available at all times at no extra charge (a $1-$2 gratuity is traditional).

There is also “sit down” dining with full waiter service available, usually with a multi-course menu featuring fancy dishes. Traditional dining room service is at a pre-set time (usually either an early and late seating) and at the same table every day, as a way to make most efficient use of limited dining room space. Exceptions might be made when the ship is in port and many passengers are eating ashore.

In this arrangement, couples typically share a table with one or more other couples. Dinner might also be treated as a semi-formal affair, and even fully formal one or two nights during the cruise, with different menus each night. One benefit (or drawback, as the case may be) of this approach is getting acquainted with the other guests dining with you, and the restaurant staff assigned to your table.

In recent years, seeking to respond to many guests’ dislike for scheduled dining, some cruise lines have introduced “freestyle” or “choice” options which allow dining at any time (with the understanding that you may have to wait for a table, like in a busy city), and perhaps in various restaurants. Or they may rotate scheduled dining between different restaurants, to provide more variety.

To appeal to younger and middle-class travelers, dining is also more likely to be “smart casual” dress or semi-formal, with true formal dining offered as a by-reservation option. Note that some of these options (especially alternative dining locations) may feature additional fees.

Food Quality

Everything you’ve heard about cruise ship dining is true. You’ll find a varied selection of entrees (appetizers, salads, soups, vegetables, and desserts, too) every time you sit down. And there’s virtually no limit on what or how much you can order.

Just because your cruise ship offers plenty of delicious food doesn’t mean you’ll come home out of shape. You can choose low-cal, spa, or fitness menu selections that are just as tempting as the regular menu. You can also jog, do aerobics, work out in the gym, swim, golf, play tennis, and much more.

Burning calories was never so much fun! Best of all, the one thing you’ll never see on a cruise ship menu is a price!

Special Diets

Most ships can accommodate salt-free, low-carbohydrate, Kosher, or other diet preferences. However, this request must be made in advance, so be sure to advise us of this requirement when you book your cruise.