Ship with BEST food

[alpha1phi]

I've been on a couple of cruises in the past - and have thought that the food was "decent".

 

Our last vacation - we went to an all-inclusive in Playa del Carmen, MX and the food was so phenomenal - we're afraid of being disappointed on a cruise.

 

Anyone have any suggestions for Ships with the Best food?

 

Thanks

Beth

[NitaBcruising]

Just my opinion, mind you, and I'm not a foodie :D , but we've been on Celebrity Century twice, and both times I felt the food was better than any other ship! We were on another Celebrity ship, Galaxy, and think the food was good, however, not quite as good. I've been on 28 cruises, in the last 9 years, enabling me to have come to a reasonable opinion! :) (so I think! :D )

[BILLP1]

For our tastes it has been Regent.

[Cruisedreamer1]

We have been on the Paul Gauguin and the Mariner of this line and they have outstanding food. But then, you are paying more for it. It is all inclusive and the wine with the meals is so well matched.

[barbarah33]

If you are looking to stay with the main-stream lines then go with Celebrity. If you want an upper-line try Crystal.

[jenphan]

i love seafood and my boyfriend loves meat ... its all princess for us.

[kelmac]

I agree with Barb and Nita -- go with Celebrity. Azamara has great food and Holland America is good too.

 

Good luck!

Kel:)

[peabody99]

Just my opinion, I think cruise food is kind of like wedding banquet food-It can be pretty good to terrible.

Of the ships I have sailed I would rank the food:

 

better:Oceania, Celebrity, Holland America

average: regal Empress (not sure what this line is any more)

Average to below average: carnival

Below average: Norwegian, MSC

 

I understand quality can vary by ship within a cruiseline. If I keep in mind that this is mass produced food that has to last a while on board, it helps temper my expectations.

[fireman845]

I can only rank two and that is Holland and Carnival and without a doubt Holland America is by far much better!

[onceagain]

IMO - Princess, Carnival, Holland America, NCL, RCCL - in that order. RCCL is far below the rest.

[kelmac]

On the ships I have cruised -- I would place them in this order:

 

#1 -- Azamara

#2 -- Celebrity

#3 -- Holland America

#4 -- Princess

#5 -- toss up between NCL and Royal Caribbean

 

Enjoy!

Kel

[denys222]

Which resort who you staying in at playa del .Pretty unusual to get good resort food.

[gotsand]

I have cruised Carnival, RCI and Holland, hands down Holland had the best food.

[bobbiefort]

have been on: HAL Masdaam, Princess (Grand and Dawn), Celebrity Infinity and RCCL Rhapsody.

 

no luxury lines.....yet :)-

 

trying Carnival Conquest in May, just hoping it is at least more edible than Rhapsody. I actually lost weight on that cruise, despite dessert and alcohol consumption!

 

food and service by far was HAL !!!!!!!!

[GillCC]

from best (yummy) to worst (absolutely awful!) - Celebrity Mercury, P+O Oceana, RCCL Splendour of the Seas

[neilrr]

For the Mainstream Cruise Lines:

 

Best: Celebrity - Century & Millennium

 

Very good - Sun Princess (though ship is in fair shape)

 

Average - RCCL - Enchantment and Adventure and Golden Princess (Slightly Above Average)

 

Bottom of the Barrel - Below Average - NCL -Jewel

[ginagirl]

Food quality and preparation changes constantly on all ships in the same cruise line. In the past decades, we have sailed quite a lot and find that more recently cruises lines we've always considered superior in that area are slipping in quality. And then, out of the blue, you sail one which completely restores your faith in that line's superior quality.

 

Overall, we've always loved Celebrity and Holland America but our recent Millennium and Oosterdam sailings in the last year disappointed us terribly. We've always truly loved Princess too, but our sailing on the Island Princess in April was also a disappointment. Yet, we just came off the Grand Princess this month, and the food and the service was the best ever!!!

 

It is so difficult to make recommendations today. There are so many ships in so many different lines, that I am sure the constant changing of personnel on these ships make it hard to predict consistency for any one cruise line and/or ship. Even if you read the most current reviews, things can change prior to YOUR sailing, which happened to us on the Island Princess. On that sailing, we even met a number of couples who said they sailed that ship the year previously, but now couldn't believe how bad the food and service had deteriorated. Similarly, the reviews for the Grand Princess for a while were kind of negative, yet everyone we met on our sailing this month, was raving, including us. I'm beginning to think it is just the luck of the draw. We did a Crystal cruise where the food was no better than any of the mass market cruise lines, paid a fortune, and now wonder what were we thinking. All I can say is Good Luck in your choice!! And just make the best of it, no matter what. Sure wish I could have given you absolutes, but those days are long gone.:)

[deckguy]

HAL is my favorite, then Celebrity, then Princess. Maybe Carnival after those. Just my thoughts. As we can see from the responses, it's a potpouri of preferences among the posters.

[ancientmariner]

Couldn't fault the food on Oceania Nautica last year. Like Ginagirl, found food on Crystal to be bland and underseasoned, although beautifully presented. Nothing wrong with it, but, paying so much more, one's expectations tend to be higher.

[LeSgtsunshine]

I've been on a couple of cruises in the past - and have thought that the food was "decent".

 

Our last vacation - we went to an all-inclusive in Playa del Carmen, MX and the food was so phenomenal - we're afraid of being disappointed on a cruise.

 

Anyone have any suggestions for Ships with the Best food?

 

Thanks

Beth

 

Where did you stay. We are planning a trip to Playa and I would be interested to know which resort has great food.

[Kagehitokiri]

id think all-inclusive resorts/safaris/islands/etc would be a better bet. the most expensive starts around $4K/nt.

 

best cruiselines would probably be >

 

from ~$500/nt per couple

* seadream

* seabourn

 

from ~$1K/nt per couple

* the world

 

from ~$2K/nt per couple

* bora bora cruises

[sleepysnr]

Holland America has awesome food.

[BKFlowerMound]

Just a guess, but I'm betting that the AI in Playa was the Royal Hideaway Playacar. The food and service are fantastic. Adults only. And it ain't cheap! Read about it on Tripadvisor.

[StarTrkGeek]

If you are looking to stay with the main-stream lines then go with Celebrity. If you want an upper-line try Crystal.

I do not agree with Celebrity. The main dining room (on both the Infinity and Galaxy) were just average, very slightly better than Princess and Holland America -- nothing to write home about. However, the Infinity's alternative restaurant (which costs $30 per person) is truly outstanding.

 

In the mainstream/premium market, the best food is on Oceania. I have never been on Crystal, so I cannot compare it.

[kellywhitehills]

Well...having only sailed Carnival and RCCL Carnival wins hands down...Also most of the blogs and food critics I have read seem to think Carnival has the best food..But then food is very subjective and everyone will have their own favorites..:)