Cruises are a paradise for food lovers, with countless restaurants, buffets, fast‑food outlets, and dishes from every corner of the globe. However, as often happens with such an abundance of choice, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
A few wrong moves could cause you to miss out on the good stuff, so before you rush to the restaurant or the buffet once you step onboard, here are some dining mistakes that you definitely want to avoid.
Assuming All Food Is Included in Your Cruise Fare
The main dining room is usually everyone’s go-to during the first one or two days on a cruise.
What you don’t know is that not all food on the menu is included in your fare. Lately, many cruise lines have rolled out special or “premium” dishes that come with an extra charge. For example, I’ve seen pricier cuts of meat or fresh fish that carry a small surcharge.
On top of that, some lines have even started charging for extra helpings. If you want an additional steak or lobster tail, you could be asked to pay around $10.
If you’re unsure, it’s a good idea to ask before assuming everything on the menu is complimentary.
Missing Free Room Service Breakfast
The morning buffet is a fun experience no one wants to miss, full of delicious things to try, but are you in the mood for a buffet breakfast every day?
Probably not. That’s why most cruise ships offer complimentary room service breakfast at no additional fee. The most you’ll pay is a service charge that won’t exceed $5 or something like that.
It’d be wise to benefit from this option every once in a while. Once again, this could change based on your cruise line, so always verify before ordering.
Not Reserving in Advance
On many ships, you’ll need to reserve for dining in the main room, or if you want to try out a specialty restaurant.
These restaurants may be fully booked during peak dining times, so you’ll want to plan in advance and choose your dining place wisely.
If you can, take a look from home at the restaurants you’ll find on your ship and pick which ones you’d like to try. That way, you can book them in advance or as soon as you board.
Sticking to the Menu
While sticking to the menu is the obvious thing to do while dining on a ship, you may want to get friendly with the staff and find out about specialty options.
Cruise ships expect guests from all nationalities, so the crew often accommodates special dining requirements.
Try asking for something even if it’s not listed on the menu. You may be surprised!
CRUISE PRO: Some cruise ships have secret menu items you can only get if you ask your waiter, but let’s pretend I didn’t tell you that!
Not Doing Enough Research
Like I said before, modern cruise ships (especially the big ones), can have more than 20 restaurants, so there’s no way you’ll taste them all on one cruise.
That’s why it pays to do a little foodie homework in advance: figure out which spots really spark your appetite, book the ones that catch your eye, and dodge any menus that don’t thrill you.
It could come in really handy, especially if you’ll be cruising on one of these brand‑new ships about to launch soon!
Ignoring Peak Times
If you intend to eat at the open buffet for most of your days on the cruise ship, you’ll want to be mindful of the peak times.
For example, buffets are often the most crowded during guest embarkation. Right after boarding, hungry passengers all head there for a quick bite.
Buffets are usually busier at lunchtime and a bit quieter at dinner. Either way, always remember to avoid doing these 10 things at cruise ship buffets.
Overloading the Plate
Overloading the plate is a mistake nearly everyone makes at the buffet. While you’re hungry, that extra piece of meat seems like something you’d easily devour, but there’s a high chance it’ll end up uneaten.
To avoid wasting food or eating too much until you’re overstuffed, only take enough amounts to get you full, and you can always get more food if you need to.
I know it’s tempting to overload the plate to get your full money’s worth, but you don’t want to be overstuffed on cruise ship food. Otherwise, you will be super sleepy right afterwards.
Not Exploring All Options
Eating at the buffet is the obvious choice for most people because it’s convenient, offers a huge variety of foods, and you don’t have to wait much. However, most cruises will offer free dining options that might be worth a try.
You may want to explore the restaurants on board. You’ll probably pay extra fees, but at least you’ll try something new. Some of them are definitely part of the 7 extras that are really worth the money on a cruise.
Missing the Special Offers Mid-Cruise
If some restaurants onboard aren’t driving enough guests, they’ll often start running promotions and special offers, like all-you-can-eat nights or 2×1.
If you’re lucky, you can catch one of those offers while you’re onboard, so make sure to get daily updates about any dining promotions.
These deals are usually advertised in the daily planner and on the cruise line app, but for this kind of stuff, I recommend checking out the article where I explained how to save money while you’re on a cruise.
Repeating Food
While on vacation, a lot of people stick to their comfort food. If they find something they like during their first buffet, they’ll probably keep eating it for the following days.
While that’s not a bad idea and you’re free to eat whatever you want, you should let yourself enjoy everything the cruise offers. It wouldn’t hurt to go out of your comfort zone for a while and try something new.
Opt for cuisines that you don’t usually eat, like Greek, Japanese, or Middle Eastern. Cruises mostly offer a variety of cuisines to serve all nationalities on board.
If you’re not sure what to try, I recommend taking a look at the article with the tricks to eat the best food on a cruise (without paying extra).
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