Anyone who has cruised in recent years will attest to the fact that food is one of the joys of ship board life.
Traditionally ships always had a main dining room, generally with two sittings, 6pm - 8pm where you had to sit on the same table with the same people. Sounds horrible but many many people think that is one of the joys of cruising and this is one granted way to make life time friends. You can normally choose a small or large table.
Now days most cruise lines have introduced some form of freestyle dining where you rock up when ever you want to. Just like a traditional restaurant. The service in the dining room is almost without exception first class, true silver service with crisp linen. You will have ahead waiter, an assistant, a wine waiter and sometimes a cocktail waitress. The advantage of set seating is you get the same wait staff every night and they quickly get to know how you like your steak etc.
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| Princess Cruises - main dining room fare. |
Good cruise lines will provide live music during most meals, which generally are long leisurely affairs of 3- 4 courses every night.
Dinner is normally relaxed and casual, meaning neat attire, no jeans etc. Depending on the length of the cruse and the line there will be one or more formal nights where black tie used to be mandatory. Now days especially within Australia that is not as common.
Vicky TIP: I never thought I'd enjoy the whole black tie thing, but it grows on you in this day and age we so rarely all get dolled up, that it makes a refreshing change.
The dining room will be open for breakfast and lunch, generally be free seating and you will be offered a menu exactly like a restaurant at home.
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| Grand Buffet - Celebrity |
Every ship will also offer a buffet, normally on the upper decks. This will also be open for all meals and no reservations are necessary and it is free seating. Imagine an amazing buffet at a 5 star hotel and that is what to expect. The menu will also change daily. Additionally every ship will offer numerous other food outlets from 24 hour burger and pizza, to coffee shops with french pastries and even healthy option salad bars. These will all be included in the price you pay for your cabin.
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| Qsine - Celebrity |
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Central Park - Oasis of the Seas
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Premium dining options. Most ships will offer one or more specialty restaurants ranging from pizza parlours, to steak houses, or even ones under the direction of celebrity chefs. These are additional to your cruise fare, and range from $3 up to $20 per meal. For example Royal Caribbean offer a Johnny Rockets hamburger diner. You can eat as much as you like off the menu for $3.95.
A typical Main Dining Room dinner menu - this one, Celebrity
Sticky Vicky TIP: If on your cruise you have selected Traditional Dining - One of the very first things you should do after boarding is head to the dining room to check your table to ensure it is the size you requested and the location, (e.g: you don't want to be by the galley). This is about the only time you will be able to change it.
Yes Please tell us about the food
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