Top 10 Tips For Dining on a Cruise Ship
Some will say it is the chance visit many destinations on one holiday, some will say it is the relaxing nature of been at sea.
Others will say it is down to been able to travel in style and avoid the stresses of flying whilst some will say it is the overall atmosphere of a cruise holiday that you just cannot get on land that makes it their perfect holiday type.
Once all the main reasons that instantly come to mind are mentioned, the talk will often quickly turn to food and drink and that is because it is a key part of a cruise holiday for many cruisers.
All cruise lines know that as well and many will sell their onboard experience around their food offering, and they also know that it is something people are willing to spend extra on.
That is why there is now an incredibly choice of food available in the included buffet and main dining room options and cuisine from across the globe available in speciality restaurants.
Dependent on the line, there can be more restaurant and cuisine options than you have days onboard your ship and that can make things confusing, especially if you are new to cruising or if you are sailing with a new cruise line.
In this list, we hope to clear up some of that confusion by giving you are top tips for dining on a cruise ship but even if you are an experienced cruiser, our top 10 tips for dining on a cruise ship may give you a great idea for your next getaway.
Our Top 10 Tips For Dining on a Cruise Ship
Check Menus in Main Dining Rooms
There are some cruisers who love to eat only in the MDR and some who will only eat in speciality restaurants or the buffet, but one thing that we always do before a cruise is to check menus in the main dining room onboard our cruise ship.
Many lines will upload the menus around 30 days before your cruise on their app, so you can then have plenty of time to look through them and book a table just for the nights when there is a great option for you to enjoy.
If there is nothing that stands out, you can then either book into a speciality restaurant or simply head to the buffet that night.
If you always book into pay restaurant onboard, its also handy to check the MDR menu’s first so that you don’t pay extra to eat on a night when you could have either gotten your favourite meal for free or a similar one to what you are going to pay extra for.
Book Into Speciality Restaurants on Formal Nights
Formal nights are something that people either love or hate and if you are in the latter camp, you will often choose to eat in the buffet on formal nights.
If you choose to eat in the main restaurants because you don’t like the buffet, why not head to a speciality restaurant instead.
Whilst there will often be a smart casual requirement, it is often less than is expected in the MDR on more traditional lines.
Pace Yourself, It’s a Long Cruise
One problem we, and many cruisers, run into is eating too much on a cruise and that is especially true on the first few days.
With all the excitement of been on a cruise, you just cannot walk past the ice cream machine, the burger bar and the cakes in the buffet.
Even if you are just peckish, you will grab something, just because.
We also tend to eat much more at breakfast than we normally would do, so by the time lunch comes around, we aren’t particularly hungry, but you just must go to eat again as you don’t want to miss out on the chance of finding one of your favourite meals.
The thing that you, and we, need to keep in mind is that the ship won’t run of out of scrummy food, so you don’t need to stuff yourself early on.
Save Money Dining on the First Night
If you would like to eat in a speciality restaurant, or a dining venue with an extra cost, but don’t have the budget to do so, there is often the chance to save 30-40% of the cost and that is by visiting on the first night.
The first night of your cruise is always the quietest night for dining venues and the cruise lines know that, so many will offer huge discounts to those who book in advance.
Book Before You Board
The extra fee restaurants onboard your ship can make for a memorable night and can give you the chance to eat your favourite cuisine with the quality service you expect from a cruise line, but they can quickly get expensive and on the big ships, they can quickly get booked up.
Thankfully, most lines make it easy to pre-book your visit and not only does that guarantee you a table at the time you want to eat but most lines will also give you a discount for booking before you board, saving you money as well.
Avoid the Buffet Rush
We love the variety, relaxed nature and flexibility of eating in the buffet but one thing that is always a problem and that is off putting for many cruisers, is the buffet rush.
On a sea day, you will normally find the buffet is relatively quiet and even a relaxing way to grab a meal but on port days, you will often find the buffet crowded.
That is especially true at breakfast time in the hour before you dock and in the afternoon around the all onboard time.
If you avoid those times, and other busy periods you will soon figure out, you will have a much better experience in the buffet.
Understand the Dress Code
The required dress code in a restaurant is something that varies from one line to another and from one restaurant to another even on the same ship, which can make it confusing for cruisers no matter your level of experience.
At its strictest, turning up to your booking in the wrong outfit could see you refused entry to the restaurant and at best, have your fellow eaters staring and quietly moaning to each other about you.
Make Dietary Requests Known in Advance
If you have any specific dietary needs and/or allergies, make sure you inform the cruise line in advance.
That is normally something that can be done during the booking or checking in process but if it isn’t, simply send the line an email well in advance of your embarkation date.
When you get to your chosen MDR or speciality restaurant, make sure you mention your requirements to the maître d and don’t worry, this is something they will deal with multiple times a day.
To Share or Not to Share
In the main dining room(s), you can often be placed onto a large table for 10-12 people and unless you are sailing as a big group, you will have to share it with strangers.
For some cruisers, that is one of the great things about cruising as you get to make new friends and meet people from around the world but for most passengers, a cruise in a chance to spend quality time with fiends, family or your spouse.
You will then want a table just for your travelling party so make sure you request that in advance, if your line allows you, or if you are on a set dining time, check with the maître d once onboard and ask for a private table if you are not one already.
Take in the Views
One of the best bits of cruising are the views from your ship.
No matter if you are sailing close to shore or in the middle of an ocean, it is well worth choosing a table next to a window in the buffet or to be asked to be seated near a window in the main dining room.
A lot of ships also now offer outdoor seating for speciality restaurants and close to the buffet, so if you are in a warm weather region, why not eat al fresco?
