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» Cruise Talk   » Cruise Lines   » BEST CRUISE LINE FOR FOOD?

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Author Topic: BEST CRUISE LINE FOR FOOD?
marv
Just Boarded
Member # 5810

posted 07-15-2005 07:07 AM      Profile for marv   Author's Homepage   Email marv   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Which line has the best food/restuarants?
marv
alpert@mail.com

Posts: 1 | From: NY | Registered: Jul 2005  |  IP: Logged
Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 07-15-2005 07:08 AM      Profile for Ernst   Author's Homepage   Email Ernst   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I guess the best food is found aboard the Europa of Hapag Lloyd.
Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005  |  IP: Logged
bulbousbow
First Class Passenger
Member # 4440

posted 07-15-2005 07:24 AM      Profile for bulbousbow   Author's Homepage   Email bulbousbow   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Hi marv, welcome aboard. Food is very subjective. I would guess the best should be on the six-star ultra-luxury (deluxe) lines:

- Crystal Cruises
- Radisson Seven Seas Cruises
- Seabourn Cruise Line
- Silverseas Cruises

and also:

- SeaDream Yacht
- Hapag Lloyd

Enjoy your stay on CT.

******

Cheers


Posts: 6866 | From: Adelaide, Australia | Registered: Feb 2004  |  IP: Logged
Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 07-15-2005 07:36 AM      Profile for Ernst   Author's Homepage   Email Ernst   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by bulbousbow:
Hi marv, welcome aboard. Food is very subjective. I would guess the best should be on the six-star ultra-luxury (deluxe) lines:

- Crystal Cruises
- Radisson Seven Seas Cruises
- Seabourn Cruise Line
- Silverseas Cruises

and also:

- SeaDream Yacht
- Hapag Lloyd

Enjoy your stay on CT.

******

Cheers


Per definition it`s a metter of taste

I disagree with Crystal bein in this list - it`s not bad, but not the best. Also Hapag Lloyd has a very inhomgenouse fleet - e.g. there is also the "mid class" Columbus, which has good food for her category, but it can not be compared with the Europa.


Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005  |  IP: Logged
Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 07-15-2005 07:42 AM      Profile for Linerrich   Email Linerrich   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Food is indeed the most subjective component of any cruise. One may say that the EUROPA has the best food, but that is catered towards the European, more specifically German taste.

As good as it may be, I'm sure it would not appeal to many North Americans, simply because of differences in quality, selection, and preparation.

Rich


Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004  |  IP: Logged
Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 07-15-2005 07:46 AM      Profile for Ernst   Author's Homepage   Email Ernst   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Linerrich:
Food is indeed the most subjective component of any cruise. One may say that the EUROPA has the best food, but that is catered towards the European, more specifically German taste.

As good as it may be, I'm sure it would not appeal to many North Americans, simply because of differences in quality, selection, and preparation.

Rich


This is true. Europa has been know for providing "German food", but with the introduction of the present ship food quality has improved a lot.
Sadly, some U.S. oriented lines known for good food are not around anymore.


Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005  |  IP: Logged
sunviking82
First Class Passenger
Member # 4930

posted 07-15-2005 11:10 AM      Profile for sunviking82     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
As far as mass market lines. . Celebrity to me has the best food, service and atmosphere in both their main and buffet style resturants. Princess' Sabatinni's (sp?) is simply the best fee dining experience a float.
Posts: 383 | From: Minneapolis Minnesota , USA | Registered: Aug 2004  |  IP: Logged
dmwnc1
Cruise Director
Member # 3785

posted 07-15-2005 11:18 AM      Profile for dmwnc1   Email dmwnc1   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Most of the Lido buffets are just that, 'buffets'. Most of the times not so impressive. But if we are speaking of the dining experience in the main dining rooms?

I am not as 'seasoned' as some of our prestigious chat-members, but of the dozens of cruises I have been on, and Of the cruise lines I have sailed on:

-Carnival
-Holland America
-Celebrity
-Princess
-Cruise West
-Cunard
-Royal Caribbean
-Costa

....I would give my vote to CELEBRITY.

[ 07-15-2005: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]


Posts: 5650 | From: Clarksburg WV | Registered: Apr 2003  |  IP: Logged
eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 07-15-2005 11:30 AM      Profile for eroller     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Of the mainstream lines I would vote for Celebrity. A close second is actually Carnival which has greatly improved their food quality and presentation over the years.

Best food I've ever had on a ship was Silversea's SILVER CLOUD.

Worst food was probably the QE2.

Ernie


Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000  |  IP: Logged
Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 07-15-2005 06:30 PM      Profile for Ernst   Author's Homepage   Email Ernst   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Celebrity has indeed good food.
Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005  |  IP: Logged
Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 07-15-2005 06:45 PM      Profile for Malcolm @ cruisepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
It is not only subjective, it also depends what nationality ones taste buds are.

As a Brit I found Celebrities food to be pretty average - but of course we like bland/boring food, or so I'm told by my American friends.

American's do seem to like Celebrity. I'm sure some Brits do, too.


Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago!  |  IP: Logged
Jonathan
First Class Passenger
Member # 5201

posted 07-17-2005 12:38 PM      Profile for Jonathan   Author's Homepage   Email Jonathan   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Just cruised with celebrity and found their food to be the best i have had so far.

Jonathan


Posts: 559 | From: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida | Registered: Nov 2004  |  IP: Logged
r.fiebig
First Class Passenger
Member # 5240

posted 07-23-2005 07:23 AM      Profile for r.fiebig   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Hello everybody,

still the best food I've ever enjoyed on a cruise ship was onboard Oceania Cruises' "Regatta" - certainly better than what I experienced e.g. on Silversea. Second I would rate the "old Cunard", i.e. "Vistafjord".

The worst food I've ever had was on Royal Caribbean (dining room food, the alternative restaurants were superb, however) and Seetours (back when they operated the old "Arkona").


Best,

Raoul


Posts: 775 | From: Paderborn, Germany | Registered: Dec 2004  |  IP: Logged
mec1
First Class Passenger
Member # 4287

posted 07-23-2005 07:45 AM      Profile for mec1   Author's Homepage   Email mec1   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Sea Goddess really. The unlimited caviar, the special requests, the food exquisitely cooked to order, the fantastic buffets and impeccable room service - and of course the fact that only 100 people are being cooked for...
Posts: 1675 | From: London, England | Registered: Nov 2003  |  IP: Logged
Ocean Liners
First Class Passenger
Member # 4013

posted 07-23-2005 08:43 AM      Profile for Ocean Liners     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by mec1:
Sea Goddess really. The unlimited caviar, the special requests, the food exquisitely cooked to order, the fantastic buffets and impeccable room service - and of course the fact that only 100 people are being cooked for...

mec1, Any photos on Sea Goddess?

[ 07-23-2005: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]


Posts: 4502 | From: Japan | Registered: Jul 2003  |  IP: Logged
stag
Just Boarded
Member # 5825

posted 07-25-2005 06:31 PM      Profile for stag   Email stag   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Not all ships in the same company serve the same quality food. For example, in our experience, Coral Princess's food was a little better than Sun Princess last year. They have the same menu.

Also, food quality in the same restaurant might differ from table to table. We once cruised on Adventure of the Seas (RCL) with a group of 24 friends occupying 3 8-person tables with the same server. We were on table number 3. Our meals were served last before table 1 and 2. By the time we got our meals, they were just lukewarm. Yet, friends at table 1 said their food was piping hot. One evening, everyone at our table showed up before 1 and 2 and order our food immediately. The server took her time and finished the order with table 1 and 2. Once again, we got our food after table 1 and 2. If I were the first time cruiser, I could rate RCL's food lousy. However, friends at table 1 rated the food very good.


Posts: 1 | From: Canada | Registered: Jul 2005  |  IP: Logged
Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 07-25-2005 07:09 PM      Profile for Malcolm @ cruisepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by stag:
Also, food quality in the same restaurant might differ from table to table.

Good point! The servers certainly vary from table to table, which alters the overall dining experience.

Of course people tastes are very subjective too! One mans meat is another mans poison.

I often pick the wrong dish on the menu - everyone else on the table is pleased with their choices, except me.


Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago!  |  IP: Logged
Dolphins
First Class Passenger
Member # 2043

posted 07-25-2005 08:17 PM      Profile for Dolphins   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Having sailed on many cruise lines, I give the edge to Radisson Seven Seas cruises. As for the main line cruises, I now prefer the newer NCL ships only because they offer a variety of up to ten freestyle restaurants which provides something for almost everyone.
Posts: 324 | From: Commack, New York | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
tg_lindo
First Class Passenger
Member # 806

posted 07-25-2005 08:33 PM      Profile for tg_lindo   Email tg_lindo   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
On my one and only Carnival cruise, I was pleasantly surprised by the food. (Oct 2003) My companion and I have healthy appetites, so we usually ordered an extra entree that we shared and that gave us the perfect serving size (for us).

My one comment about the presentation was that they did little pipings of sauce, etc., into fancy shapes. But, perhaps because of the speed with the kitchen staff must work to plate so many meals, the accents looked a bit haphazard and off balance much of the time. I thought it was cute. But I had to wonder, whether the overall presentation would have looked better without those hurried flourishes.


Posts: 349 | From: San Francisco, CA | Registered: May 99  |  IP: Logged
Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 07-25-2005 08:40 PM      Profile for Grant   Email Grant   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I often hear passengers comparing their cruise experience with others while in the local port. It seems that while those sailing on Holland America, Princess and Celebrity hardly ever mention the food in a poor fashion, those on NCL are constantly complaining, especially if they have had cruise experiences with other lines. This season I have heard N C L as standing for No Crab Left ( they seem to run out on nearly every sailing !) and No Class Left. I have always had good to great food on the many ships I have sailed upon, with Celebrity being near or at the top. My last trip on NCL was about 6 years ago on Norway, and there was no problem then. Guess things have slipped a bit since Star took them over.
Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000  |  IP: Logged
sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 07-25-2005 08:56 PM      Profile for sympatico     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:


I often pick the wrong dish on the menu - everyone else on the table is pleased with their choices, except me.


You sound just like me Malcolm. Thank goodness I'm not the only who often seems to pick the wrong thing. From now on I am going to have what my daughter has as she never complains.


Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99  |  IP: Logged
Globaliser
First Class Passenger
Member # 4153

posted 07-26-2005 05:55 AM      Profile for Globaliser     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
I often pick the wrong dish on the menu - everyone else on the table is pleased with their choices, except me.
Well, one of the things about being on a ship is that there really is little problem in saying you don't like it and asking for something else.

Mind you, it is possible to overdo that. My first real cruise as an adult was a 10-night Caribbean cruise. We shared a table with a young couple. Every night, without fail, she sent her first choice of main course back after tasting it, and asked for something else. It became a standing joke; we sat there in anticipation every night for the moment, and we were never disappointed.


Posts: 1869 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2003  |  IP: Logged
Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 07-26-2005 06:18 PM      Profile for Frosty 4   Email Frosty 4   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Been on RCI, Princess,amd Celebrity. Can't say that any of these really stood out. Never had a bad experience. Keep in mind if you can't make up your mind on a choice between 2 selections ,order both , they don't care. eg. Filet-- Lobster.
Most have alternative dining for a fee $20-25. I personally can't see going to these. Are they worth it??
F4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005  |  IP: Logged

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