The 15 Best vs 15 Worst Cruise lines For Food in 2026
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Mike and I are those people who plan the dinner reservation before we book the excursion.
I have eaten my way through basically every included and specialty dining option on Princess, Carnival, and Virgin Voyages (sometimes more than once on the same sailing), and if you’ve ever talked travel with me, you know I have a lot of feelings about this topic.
Cruise lines vary a lot in how much they invest in food, and that difference is worth knowing before you book.
You can find something decent on almost any ship if you know where to look. But there is a real gap between lines that treat food as part of the experience and lines that treat it as an afterthought, and if food matters to you, this is for you.
One quick note before we get into it.. these rankings are based on community consensus from the cruise travel world, not all my personal experience.
THE 15 BEST CRUISES FOR FOOD
Counted down from #15 to #1, where #1 is the best food at sea by community consensus.
#15 Best: Princess Cruises
This is where I’ll start because it’s where I started. I’ve done Star Princess and Majestic Princess, worked my way through every specialty restaurant more than once, and came away genuinely impressed for a mass-market line.
Crown Grill is legitimately good.
Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria is also solid. The main dining rooms run above average for the price point, which matters in the cruising world.
Princess won’t blow your mind the way the luxury lines further up this list will. But after some of the lines on the worst half of this post, “above average” is really high praise.
#14 Best: Cunard
I haven’t sailed Cunard and I’m not going to pretend otherwise. But the foodies in my travel community who have, rave about it.
The cabin class system means that Queen’s Grill guests get their own exclusive restaurant, completely separate from everyone else on the ship. From what I’ve heard it lives up to that.
The Britannia Restaurant (main dining room) is formal and classic in the best sense.
For a certain type of traveler who appreciates that kind of experience done right, Cunard sounds genuinely amazing.
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#13 Best: Viking River Cruises
Quick thing before I say anything: this is Viking RIVER, not Viking Ocean. They are completely different products with completely different food philosophies.
Viking Ocean has its own entry on the worst half of this list, and I’ll explain why there.
What makes Viking River worth talking about is that the kitchen staff actually leave the ship at ports to buy local ingredients. The menu changes based on what’s fresh at each stop.
You’re eating food that reflects where you are on the river; neat right?
A food-focused cruiser in my community called it “what I want all cruising to be.” I’m sold, are you?
#12 Best: Azamara
Azamara flies under the radar in the cruise food conversation and I honestly don’t understand why.
The whole concept is built around staying longer in port and eating food that connects to where you are. The menus rotate based on regional ingredients from the itinerary (similar to Viking River Cruises above).
Mediterranean flavors on a Mediterranean cruise, not the same salmon you’d get on any other ship. That sounds obvious but almost nobody does it.
The people in my community who’ve done both Azamara and other luxury lines tend to say that Azamara at half the price is kind of a ridiculous deal (in the best way).
#11 Best: Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys is MSC’s luxury brand, launched in 2023, and it is worth separating completely from standard MSC, which shows up much later on this list for very different reasons.
The concept is genuinely different: no main dining room, no buffet, 18 restaurants and bars across the ship, all included, all open seating.
You eat what you want, when you want, nothing extra.
Cruisers I know report that their dining experiences on Explora are really thoughtful and unique. It’s newer so the full picture isn’t there yet, but definitely above average.
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#10 Best: Virgin Voyages
Okay, I have a LOT of experience here, which has taught me both what they get incredibly right and exactly where the limits are.
No buffet. Zero crowded cafeteria situation. Every restaurant is included. All things I love.
On Scarlet Lady there are more than 20 options (proper Mexican, Korean barbecue, ramen, Italian), and for the first two sailings the variety is noticeable.
By the third sailing in a row, you start to feel the edges of the rotation.
But for a normal 7-night cruise, Virgin’s dining setup is one of the most guest-friendly models I’ve experienced at sea.
Read Next: 25 Things The Cruise Stewards Aren’t Telling You About Your Cruise Cabin
#9 Best: Holland America
Holland America keeps getting overlooked in the food conversation. So it’s time to set the record straight.
Tamarind, their pan-Asian specialty restaurant, is one of the most-raved-about venues in the travel world. I’ve heard from multiple people that they could eat there every single day of a sailing and never get tired of it.
The menu pulls from Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, and Indonesian cuisines and does them all well.
The main dining rooms run consistently above average across the fleet. Holland America cares about food at every level, not just in the specialty spots, which is much appreciated to the average passenger.
#8 Best: Paul Gauguin Cruises
This is the one most people haven’t heard of. If you’re serious about food and you’re planning a French Polynesia trip, get this on your radar.
Paul Gauguin Cruises runs a single ship on a permanent loop through the Society Islands and Marquesas, carrying around 330 guests. At that scale, the kitchen is cooking for a manageable number of people, and it shows.
Le Gauguin, the main restaurant, changes its menu daily using local French Polynesian ingredients in a way you can’t replicate anywhere else.
I haven’t sailed it yet (it’s very much on the list because I love cruising and French Polynesia), but the cruisers I’ve talked to about it are evangelical.
#7 Best: Silversea
Silversea is polarizing in the cruise food conversation.
There are cruisers who say the food doesn’t live up to the price tag. But the foodies I know who’ve sailed Silversea multiple times keep saying the opposite.
The S.A.L.T. program features menus built around the destinations on the itinerary, local ingredients, regional culinary traditions baked into the voyage. From what I can tell from the people I trust, it delivers, but always open to other opinions and reasoning.
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#6 Best: Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity is consistently the strongest food option in the premium segment.
The main dining room menus were developed with Daniel Boulud, a Michelin-starred French chef, and you can taste the difference from competitors at the same price point.
Luminae (exclusive to Retreat suite guests) gets consistent standout marks. Blu, for Aqua class guests, is solid, too.
Murano, their French specialty restaurant, produced what one cruiser I know called “one of the finest meals of my life, on land or at sea.” This is someone who has sailed more than a dozen lines.
For people who want serious food without jumping to full luxury pricing, Celebrity is my honest first recommendation.
#5 Best: Seabourn
Seabourn is built on the idea that every meal should be a reason to stay on the ship rather than go ashore.
Their signature fine dining restaurant just goes by “The Restaurant,” which is either very confident or very understated depending on how you look at it.
What Seabourn does well is give the chef creative space while cooking for a small ship, typically around 600 guests. At that scale you can do things that just aren’t possible when you’re feeding 5,000.
The quality shows.
#4 Best: Crystal Cruises
Crystal had a rough 2022, bankruptcy, full shutdown, ships sitting dark. It came back in 2023 under new ownership, and the cruise community is thrilled.
As of now Crystal sits at the top of the ultra-luxury category by passenger ratings, ahead of Regent, Silversea, and Seabourn. The relaunched ships are earning those marks mostly because of the food.
Umi Uma by Nobu is still on board. The miso black cod is a specialty dining option that will make you want to rebook immediately.
Serious cruise reviewers call Waterside, the main dining room, the best at sea.
A 75-cruise veteran in my community said nothing on earth comes close to Crystal.. Given the reviews since the relaunch, I’m starting to think they might still be right.
Read Next: 21 Cruise Mistakes Families Make On Their First Trip (And How To Skip Them)
#3 Best: Hurtigruten
Okay, I know this one is going to raise some eyebrows, but stay with me..
Hurtigruten is a Norwegian coastal expedition line. It runs the Bergen-to-Kirkenes route, stopping at small fishing villages and fjord towns along the way.
In 2024 they spent the equivalent of about five million dollars sourcing from local Norwegian suppliers (roughly 70 farms, bakeries, and fisheries along the coast). More than 60 percent of the beverages on board are made locally.
The menus change based on what’s fresh at each port.
Skrei cod in season, local salmon, cloudberries, sámi-inspired dishes with reindeer and Arctic ingredients. You eat like you’re in Norway, because you are!
#2 Best: Regent Seven Seas
Regent’s whole philosophy is simple (and the best philosophy ever): everything is included. Every specialty restaurant, every bottle of wine at dinner, every course in every venue.
Chartreuse, Prime 7, Pacific Rim, Compass Rose.. all operate at a level most premium lines save only for paid specialty dining.
They have foie gras on the menu, lobster, etc. And it’s all included.
The foodies I know who’ve done both Regent and Oceania tend to land on the same conclusion: Regent wins on the individual restaurant experience, Oceania wins on the overall food philosophy.
Quick Tip: Grab some motion sickness patches here, and throw in some Dramamine, too.
#1 Best: Oceania Cruises
If I could pick any cruise line right now based purely on food, it would be this one.
Marina and Riviera each have ten included restaurants. TEN.
Red Ginger, their pan-Asian specialty restaurant, is apparently the most-requested venue of any ship my community has sailed. The miso-glazed sea bass alone has converted people into repeat Oceania bookers.
Jacques, their French bistro, was designed with chef Jacques Pépin and is expanding to their newest ships because demand is that high.
And my favorite part is that there’s a culinary center where guests take hands-on cooking classes at sea.
The people I know with 40-plus cruises under their belts call it the best food afloat, pretty much without argument. And I agree.
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THE 15 WORST CRUISES FOR FOOD
Being on this list doesn’t mean a cruise line is bad at everything. Many of these are fine for certain travelers, certain itineraries, certain budgets. They are just not where you go if food is a real priority.
Counted down from #15 (least bad) to #1 (the one that will make you want to eat in port every single night).
🛑 Important Note
You can find decent food on almost any cruise ship if you know where to look. These rankings are based on community consensus from the cruise travel world, not necessarily my personal experience on every line.
Your mileage may vary, and plenty of people have had great meals on lines that show up on the worst half of this list.
#15 Worst: Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Ocean is on this list because the food doesn’t match what you’re paying. Simple.
The ships are gorgeous, the marketing is beautiful, but the food is only okay.
But “only okay” at Viking Ocean prices (which sit well above most lines in this tier) is a real problem if food is part of why you’re booking.
If you’re expecting a food-forward experience, you’ll likely be underwhelmed.
But let me be clear.. the food won’t disappoint you. It just won’t live up to what you paid for it. For a food-motivated traveler, that matters.
Read Next: 11 Cruise Lines Ranked Best to Worst for Families
#14 Worst: TUI Cruises
TUI is the budget European cruise option, and the food feels that way pretty much from the first meal. If you are booking it for the price, the dining expectations should adjust accordingly.
You will not go hungry. But the food is hotel banquet catering.
Not the kind of meal you are going to tell anyone about.
If food is low on your priority list, TUI can make sense for a European summer itinerary. Just know what you are signing up for before you board.
#14 Worst: American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines runs small ships through US inland waterways, the Mississippi, the Columbia, the New England coast, and for a lot of American travelers it’s the first river cruise option that comes up.
The food is bland, institutional, and wildly overpriced for what it is. The ships charge luxury-level fares and deliver hotel banquet catering.
The gap between the price tag and what ends up on your plate is… noticeable (to put it kindly).
There’s not a lot of competition in the US river cruise space, which probably explains how they get away with it. But if food matters to you, it’s worth knowing what you’re signing up for.
#12 Worst: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen has a loyal following, mostly older British travelers who love the fleet’s character and history. I get the appeal.
The food, though, hasn’t kept pace with where the rest of the industry has gone. Traditional British ship catering is the most accurate description, and that’s a warning for food-focused travelers.
It’s not dated in a charming way, it’s just dated.
If you’re on Fred. Olsen for the itinerary, plan to eat in port as much as you can.
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#11 Worst: Celestyal Cruises
Celestyal runs Greek island itineraries, which sounds like it should be a food highlight. I mean.. it’s GREECE. There’s fresh seafood everywhere, there are port markets at every stop..
And then you get back on the ship and eat generic buffet food.
The mismatch is real and honestly kind of maddening. You’re anchored off Santorini and the kitchen is serving the same volume catering you’d get on any budget line.
My advice if you’re on Celestyal: eat in port every single chance you get. You’ll make up for it within the first two hours!
#10 Worst: AIDA Cruises
AIDA is built around the experience of being on the ship, not the experience of eating on it. It’s a German cruise line with a club-ship vibe. You’ll find a younger crowd and lots of activity.
The kitchen is not the priority, and it shows.
Food is fuel here. The buffet dominates, there’s variety in the sense that a lot of items exist, but nothing is worth talking about.
The cruisers in my European travel groups describe the food as the one consistent weak spot across every AIDA sailing they’ve done.
#9 Worst: P&O Cruises
P&O has a long history, a loyal British following, and a well-earned reputation among food-focused travelers for producing some of the most reliably uninspiring meals at sea.
Traditional British catering sensibility runs through the whole program, which works fine for their core market. Their core market is clearly not foodies.
The food is inoffensive, consistently average, and completely unmemorable.
“Fine” is about the nicest thing I’ve heard from the food-focused travelers I know who’ve sailed it.
On a 10-night sailing, “fine” adds up to a real bummer.
#8 Worst: Costa Cruises
Costa is an Italian line. Italy has arguably the greatest food culture in the world. The fact that the food on board doesn’t reflect that in any meaningful way is something I genuinely cannot explain.
The Italian branding is there (some pasta, Italian presentation), but the execution is generic European catering at volume.
Multiple people in my community have flagged the same disconnect: they booked an Italian line expecting Italian standards and got something that could have come from any budget European ship.
#7 Worst: MSC Cruises
MSC is one of the largest cruise lines in the world, and the food reflects the challenge of feeding that many people at that scale consistently.
The baseline is generic European catering and it varies a lot by ship and route, which is almost worse than being consistently bad. At least consistently bad is predictable.
The foodies I know who’ve sailed MSC tend to shrug. Not terrible, just not good.
Worth noting: MSC’s luxury brand Explora Journeys is at #11 on the best half of this post. The parent company clearly knows how to do food when it commits to it. Standard MSC is a different level of commitment entirely.
#6 Worst: Disney Cruise Line
Disney cruises are magical for families with young kids. I completely understand why people book them.
But if you’re booking primarily because you care about food, you’re going to be disappointed, at a price premium that’s really hard to justify.
The themed restaurants prioritize the spectacle over the food. Character dining is charming but not amazing.
Everything on Disney costs more than on comparable lines, including specialty dining, and the quality doesn’t track with the price difference.
For the right family it’s a wonderful trip. Just don’t book it for the food.
#5 Worst: Windstar Cruises
This one is genuinely sad to write, and I mean that.
Windstar used to be on the best half of this list. Their intimate sailing ships with small passenger counts and quality-focused kitchens were a legitimate foodie pick for years, the kind of line that surprised people.
Long-time Windstar guests still talk about what the experience used to be..
Recent reports from people in my travel community tell a very different story. The consistent description is a line in significant decline, with food quality that has dropped to the point where one person compared a recent sailing to the free breakfast at a Hampton Inn.. Yikes.
That is a painful comparison for a line with Windstar’s history. But I keep hearing it.
#4 Worst: Margaritaville at Sea
Margaritaville at Sea runs two-night sailings out of Palm Beach to Freeport, Bahamas, and the entire product is built around the beach club destination.
That is genuinely just the reality of what you’re buying. The food on board is basic American buffet fare, the kind you eat because you need to eat between activities.
Basically, if you go in expecting a really good meal, you’ll be let down. Go in knowing you’re there for two nights on a beach with a margarita and you’ll have a blast.
Just don’t sail Margaritaville at Sea because you’re hungry.
#3 Worst: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival is complicated, and I want to be precise about it because I’ve sailed it multiple times.
The specialty restaurants are decent. The steakhouse is fine. JiJi Asian Kitchen has a crispy duck that does earns its reputation. Guy’s Burgers has a cult following for good reason.
You can eat well on a Carnival cruise if you know where to go.
The problem is the main dining room, and the main dining room is where most guests eat most nights. The MDR on Carnival consistently falls below acceptable for a food-focused traveler.
Shoutout to the lava cake because it’s legendary. But, the rest of the dinner menu is really not.
My honest advice.. budget for specialty dining every single night if food is a priority. Otherwise, brace yourself.
#2 Worst: Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s mega-ships are engineering marvels. The Wonder of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas are floating cities with ice rinks, surf simulators, and 6,000 passengers.
Those 6,000 passengers are the reason the food struggles. Feeding that many people per meal, three times a day, is a logistics operation that cannot produce consistently good food.
The Windjammer Café buffet on the Oasis-class ships is the most consistently criticized buffet among food-focused travelers I know, and the main dining room doesn’t close that gap.
The specialty restaurants (Chops Grille, Jamie’s Italian, others depending on the ship) are actually decent. But you pay extra for all of them, on top of an already significant cruise fare.
Standard cabin dining on a Royal Caribbean mega-ship is industrial catering.
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#1 Worst: Norwegian Cruise Line
The community data on this one is consistent, and it is not good.
Norwegian’s Freestyle model gives you scheduling flexibility and a lot of venue options. What it doesn’t give you is food worth eating, not without paying extra for it at every single meal.
The included main dining rooms on Norwegian are rated the weakest in mainstream cruising by a wide margin among the food-focused travelers in our community.
One person called the MDR “quality we wouldn’t even accept at a Denny’s.” Another said “budget Golden Corral.”
These are people that had basic expectations and got let down.
Cagney’s Steakhouse is good, the specialty restaurants are fine, but “decent specialty restaurants that cost extra” describes basically every cruise line.
What sets Norwegian apart is how low the floor is on the included experience. On a 7-night sailing where you’re technically paying for meals as part of your fare, finding out on Day 1 that every decent meal costs extra is an awful surprise.
The Wrap-Up
The biggest thing I have learned from researching this post and talking to cruisers in my community is that the food gap between the best and worst lines is larger than most people expect when they are shopping for a cruise.
It is worth thinking about where food falls in your priorities before you book.
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