The Top Specialty Restaurants At Sea
The finest restaurants of their kind can be found on cruise ships
Food is something that unites us all, and it’s also something that cruise vacations do exceptionally well. I consider myself to be a bit of a foodie, and I find that cruise ships offer a wide variety of cuisine that is available at all times of the day and night. Cruise lines often include a formal dining experience, a buffet, and a variety of other casual eating options, such as cafes, as part of the basic fee for passengers. These are wonderful, and you could easily spend a whole vacation eating here and be perfectly content, but there are times when you want to broaden your horizons and try something new.
After all, having a varied diet keeps life interesting. Additionally, speciality eateries are available on the majority of cruise companies. These are the ones that will cost you an additional fee, though on some cruise lines you may be able to get them included in the price of the cruise as a whole.
Take a look at some of what I think are some of the most enjoyable and unique speciality experiences that can be had at sea. Let’s begin with the meal, shall we?
Treats for lunch and the afternoon
Even though just a few are available throughout the day, the majority of specialty eateries open their doors in the evening (and a few are open for breakfast). In general, these provide a setting that is far more informal, but with some of them, you may be able to save quite an amount of money while still obtaining the experience you want.
Some type of a grill is available during lunch at most lines, with items like burgers, hot dogs, and other standard fare. However, some lines take this concept to the next level by providing mouthwatering specialty alternatives. The dish that I believe to be the best of them can be found at The Salty Dog Gastropub and Grill, which is located on board Princess Cruises. Expect classic burgers, hot dogs, and street tacos at this relatively new location. Street tacos are one of my personal favorites. In addition to that, Cruise Critic named it the best burger they’ve ever had at sea.
Some of the most well-known restaurants that specialize in particular cuisines are open for business throughout the lunch hour in case you’re interested in eating something more substantial (though only on some days). My personal favorite is Jamie’s Italian, which can be found aboard Royal Caribbean ships of the Oasis Class and the Quantum Class. The antipasti plank, which is heaped high with cured meats, pickled vegetables, and tantalizing cheeses, comes highly recommended from me personally. Or, it’s possible that you’re seeking for something that’s a bit less heavy. During lunch hours, a good number of the lines serve sushi. On certain days, lines such as Celebrity will provide sushi at the Sushi on Five restaurant.
And it doesn’t end when lunch is through with. If having high tea is your thing, keep an eye out on board because many lines provide high tea in some form. Indulge in delectable cakes and sandwiches while sipping tea and champagne if high tea is something that interests you. My experience with Viking Cruises was by far the highlight of my travels. A string quartet will play while tiered cakes and sandwiches are brought to your table in this gorgeous Scandinavian Wintergarden setting. Choose from among an extensive selection of teas, then kick back, unwind, and take in the scenery. There are many lines that provide afternoon teas, and I highly recommend taking advantage of this perk if you have the opportunity to do so.
Evening
When the sun goes down, cruise ships transform into a veritable paradise of delectable eateries, and it is very difficult for me to choose my favorites. However, some shine brighter than others. The following is a handpicked selection of some of the very best.
Viking Cruises hosts a chef’s table.
A tasting menu is one of my guilty pleasures, and unfortunately, it’s not something that’s offered on cruise ships very frequently. Therefore, if I come across one, I make it a point to try it. The Chef’s Table experience that Viking Cruises provides is, without a doubt, the most memorable one I’ve ever experienced while aboard a ship.
This is an alternate dining location, and the cost of dining here is already included in the cruise fee. You have the option to include wine matching, which is something that I highly recommend doing! Even better, the menu shifts throughout the trip, taking cues from various regional and national cuisines from different parts of the world. You might be interested in a meal that is influenced by Norwegian food, a menu that is a fusion of Asian cuisines, or, my personal favorite, a menu that takes you on a tour through the numerous spices that can be found all over the world. Therefore, each time you return, you will have a new experience to appreciate.
Celebrity Cruises’ Le Petit Chef Can Be Found at Qsine
Qsine is a type of cuisine that can be found on board celebrity ships, and I’ve always been a fan of it. The beginning of this entertaining and engaging event is the handing over of an iPad to you as your menu. You can anticipate creative reinterpretations of old favorites, unique flavor combinations, theatrical and varied presentation, and more. You may look forward to dishes such as Sushi Lollipops, Disco Shrimp, and Popcorn Fish ‘N’ Chips, among others.
The game of Qsine is currently being elevated to the next level. Le Petit Chef is a new service that Celebrity Cruises offers that utilizes technology to bring your table to life. Before each meal is brought to your table, an animated character appears alongside your plate in three-dimensional space and “prepares” the food.
Aboard the Disney Cruise Line, Remy
Although I have not tried Remy (yet! ), based on everything I’ve read and heard about it, it seems to have a lot of positive qualities that make it stand out from other products. It is widely regarded as being among the best restaurants with a French influence that can be found at sea. Additionally, many consider it to be among the top restaurants available at sea. That makes a great deal of sense to me.
The menu for Remy, which is a truly decadent affair, was designed by Chef Arnaud Lallement of l’Assiette Champenoise, which is a Michelin three-star restaurant located just outside of Reims, France, and Chef Scott Hunnel of the award-winning Victoria & Albert’s at Walt Disney World Resort. Chef Arnaud Lallement is responsible for the creation of the menu for Remy. The dinner consists of a number of sampling dishes, which is totally up my alley! These meals celebrate “freshness,” as well as the sea and the land. It has a heavenly ring to it!
Crystal Cruises’ Silk Road and The Sushi Bar, both onboard
If sushi is more your style, Silk Road and its sushi bar on Crystal Cruises are great options for you to consider. These restaurants, which work in collaboration with chef Nobuyuki, provide dishes that are based on traditional Japanese cuisine but also feature clear Peruvian and European influences. In my opinion, it is a resounding success.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Food Republic, Food Republic
Food Republic at sea is an experience that is unique to Norwegian Cruise Line and features menus that are uniquely tailored to reflect the cultural and gastronomic diversity of the world around us. The Pubbelly Restaurant Group is responsible for reimagining the South Beach dining scene, and each exquisite meal on the menu is a blend of cuisines and cultures. These dishes have been particularly crafted by the group’s culinary experts. It brings together elements from a variety of cuisines, including a sushi bar, a tapas bar, rice, and noodle dishes, as well as a grill. The idea is fantastic, and the cuisine is of such high quality.
The Pinnacle Grill, located on the Holland America Line
The Pinnacle Grille is a steakhouse that takes inspiration from the Pacific Northwest. Caviar, Alaskan king crab, fresh lobster, and steak from the Pacific Northwest are just few of the items that are included. Make sure you save space for dessert since some of the house specialties are simply irresistible. People have a lot of positive things to say about the atmosphere and the food at the Pinnacle Grille, just like they do about many of the other restaurants on our list.
Sindhu, P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises guests unanimously agree that Sindhu is their favorite show onboard. Atul Kochhar, who has a Michelin star, is the mastermind of Sindhu, a restaurant that highlights genuine Indian food by combining strong, bold flavors and spices with high-quality ingredients sourced from the United Kingdom and Europe.
Sabatini’s and Princess Cruises are two examples.
Sabatini’s has has to be among the top Italian restaurants out on the water. This hallmark restaurant has garnered a lot of accolades for its authentic Italian cuisine and pastas made from scratch, which are served alongside some of the most delectable Italian wines. This is an absolute necessity if you’re going to be sailing with Princess!
Royal Caribbean International’s Wonderland is called “Wonderland.”
My time spent eating at Wonderland is among the most enjoyable times I’ve had while at sea. It tosses off the rule book for how a restaurant should operate and instead takes you on a journey of gastronomic discovery, and it can be found on a number of the ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet.
When you go inside the restaurant, you are immediately transported to a fantastical and surreal world, in which the dishes are arranged according to the elements, rather than the courses that they belong to. As an illustration, seafood can be discovered in the section devoted to the sea. It is an expedition in molecular gastronomy, and the sheer excellence of the cuisine is on par with the theatricality of the experience. Even while I really appreciate meals of this kind, I have to admit that I’ve never had anything exactly like Wonderland before, whether I was on land or at sea.
Seabourn Cruise Line’s The Grill by Thomas Keller is a world-renowned dining venue.
The Grill specializes in contemporary interpretations of classic dishes typically seen in American steakhouses. If all of that weren’t impressive enough, there are also more than 90 different wines from all over the world to choose from on the delectable wine list that has been specially selected to go with each course of this feast!
