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Cruise
ship cuisine has seen a major upgrade in recent years – esteemed chefs craft
select menus three months in advance, buffets offer options like fresh seafood
and homemade ice cream, and there is even waiter service at buffets on some
ships. As career foodies and Instagram hashtags become more the norm, cruise
ships are revealing fancy dining rooms and more all-you-can-eat options than
ever before.
As cruise ships try to cater to customers who don’t want to keep signing bills
once on board, all-inclusive buffets are on the rise. Don’t forget, though, that
there are unofficial rules for cruise ship buffet etiquette – like stay in line,
don’t mess up the traffic flow, and use a new plate each time.
In order to assemble our list, we built a short-list from existing rankings,
considering oceanic cruises only, and then judged them according to food
selection, décor, and hours of operation. When you’re considering your next trip
with a seaward view, take these smorgasbords into account.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises modeled their Oceanview Café after an international
marketplace, complete with a variety of cuisine options inspired by the world’s
countries. The buffet is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late at night,
and options include pizza, sushi, stir-fry, and made-to-order pasta.
Azamara Club Cruises
Azamara’s answer for snacks and casual cuisine, the Windows Café is part of an
all-inclusive dining experience on board select ships. The buffet’s choices
change daily, but some examples are fresh sushi, fish, pastas, desserts, and a
carving station. The Café also offers Indian, Spanish, Italian, Mexican, and
other global cuisine.
Oceania Cruises
The Terrace Café serves three meals a day complete with indoor and outdoor
dining. Lunch options with international inspiration include bouillabaisse and
homemade vegetarian spring rolls. The dinner menu offers choices like fresh
hand-cut sushi and made-to-order lobster tails and lamb chops.
Norwegian Cruise Line
The Garden Café is the buffet on board most Norwegian Cruise Line ships, and it
serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner alongside floor-to-ceiling windows. Popular
choices include a pasta station, a carving station, and made-to-order omelet's
and waffles.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises' La Veranda offers a breakfast and lunch buffet.
La Veranda is a breakfast and lunch buffet on board select ships, offering
global cuisine. Dine indoors or with an ocean view or out on the shaded veranda.
The buffet includes a pizzeria. (La Veranda transforms into an upscale Italian
restaurant for dinner.)
Seabourn Cruise Line
Seabourn Cruise Line's buffet option is called the Colonnade.
This luxury cruise line’s buffet option for select ships is called the
Colonnade, offering ocean views, indoor and outdoor seating, and buffets for
breakfast and lunch. For dinner, the restaurant serves regionally-themed
table-service dinners with menu options like pan-seared grouper and caramelized
guava cheesecake. |
