Family-Friendly Fare, Ahoy!
My favorite part of dining at Royal Caribbean restaurants is that they go beyond formal to bring you have crowd-pleasing, casual options the whole fam will love. Show me a kid who doesn't devour pizza. Sorrento's Pizza offers a variety of NYC style 'za by the slice. Bonus: They're open late, so you can grab a slice when the craving strikes.
Another family-favorite spot is Johnny Rockets. This restaurant brings their best burger game onboard along with their famous waffle fries and frosty milkshakes in a retro setting. At Dog House, hot dogs and sausages get dressed up with a variety of tasty toppings. And El Loco Fresh offers insanely delicious Mexican staples featuring nachos, burritos and quesadillas that you can grab and dig into poolside. Cruise ship dining is great because you can take away your meal and dine anywhere onboard. Dinner with a view? Order your favorite meal and post up on the deck at sunset for a perfect end to the day.
Picky eaters will find plenty to choose from. Enjoy meals at the cruise ship dining room where waiter-served dishes are available from the daily menu, which you can review ahead of time. For even more options, head over to the Windjammer Buffet, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner for some of the tastiest food at sea., During breakfast this cruise ship mainstay offers a custom egg ordering station, so you can get your omelet or sunny-side-up eggs just the way you like. And a tea and coffee station provides you with your best start to the day. For lunch, enjoy a fresh soup and salad bar, plus delicious international food stations, and countless mouthwatering desserts.
Lunch and dinner options at the buffet include American fare but it's the theme menus that are the biggest hits. You might eat at a Mongolian grill one night, have a Mexican feast the next or indulge in dishes made to order from a pasta station. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices are also available, and your head waiter can help if you have other dietary needs.
The Most Romantic Cruise Ship Dining
Cruises can be so romantic, and the specialty dining options speak to that. If you're traveling with your children, they'll have fun at the ship's award-winning Adventure Ocean® Youth Program while you savor dinner and drinks with your sweetheart. Make it special and take your VIP seats at the Chef's Table, where a freshly prepared, six-course meal is expertly paired with wines to match. Or, head to the elegantly appointed 150 Central Park, where locally sourced ingredients are the star of each plate. For steak lovers, Chops Grille is a popular cruise ship restaurant featuring perfectly grilled prime beef, Maine lobsters and grilled branzino alongside perfectly paired wine offerings. If you're celebrating an anniversary or other special moment, let the restaurant know when you make reservations — you may be in for a fun surprise!
Or, if getting dressed up for a night out isn't on the menu, stay in and order room service, where your meal for two is delivered to your stateroom. This is also the ideal option for those who like to dine later or have a midnight snack attack, since room service is available 24/7.
Dining on a cruise vacation is a great opportunity to try something new. Make dinner for two a sensory experience at the interactive Izumi Hibachi and Sushi experience. This Japanese restaurant offers traditional teppanyaki with trained chefs that will slice, dice and julienne over a hot griddle right in front of your eyes. Your entrée comes with a side of pyrotechnical, tasty showmanship.
I recommend making reservations at one of my favorites, the Samba Grill, where an all-you-can-eat Brazilian rodizio restaurant puts you in the driver's seat regarding how much you'd like and when. Push culinary boundaries at Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine, where molecular gastronomy dazzles with a feast for the senses. This is one of the best cruise ship restaurants at sea — here, you can enjoy crispy crab cones topped with an airy avocado mousse, for example, and dreamy, show-stopping desserts are always photo-worthy!
For those who adore Italian fare, Royal Caribbean restaurants include Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, the newest addition, followed by Giovanni's Table and Jamie's Italian by celeb chef Jamie Oliver. Think: eggplant or chicken Parmigiana, pasta carbonara, Chianti-braised short ribs. There's a lot of amore to share in these plates for two or the whole family!
Can You Bring Food on a Cruise?
One of the most commonly asked questions is: Can you bring snacks on a cruise? Yes, you can bring non-perishable, pre-packaged food in limited quantities onboard. As for snacks, things like chips, sodas and candies are permissible, while fresh fruit, vegetables, homemade treats and meat are not. This comes in handy especially when traveling with babies and young children who may have a favorite snack. Keep in mind that the quick-service, casual eateries onboard — including Sorrento's, Wipe Out Café, Johnny Rocket's and El Loco Fresh — are all included in your cruise fare and offer treats to make your cruising experience as easy and enjoyable as possible.
