Cruise dining

Cruise dining

Dining is one of the main options, which is strictly controlled by leading sea travel operators. On the modern cruise liners passengers can expect wide choice of cuisine, restaurants, bars and self-service cafes, special gastronomic tours during the shore excursions, wine maps and even special cooking classes. It remains to understand how not to get lost in all this diversity.

Cruise dining: what shift?

Tourists should determine the food shift at the stage of booking a cruise. Before booking a cruise a passenger must choose convenient time for breakfasts. As a rule, on the ship there are two food shifts, each of which has its pluses and minuses. Among obvious disadvantages is getting up early for the first shift and waiting for you turn for the second shift.

Choosing a table

Also at the stage of booking passengers must choose their tables. It is usually chosen according to the cabin class. Luxury cabins on some ships allow ordering food directly into the room. It is worth noting that most companies now offer their passengers the opportunity to change the restaurant table when boarding the ship.

Dining by  cruise companies

Several companies, including Carnival, offer its passengers flexible dining system. In addition to the usual two modes appears the third the so-called flexible. For passengers it means choosing of supper time. It is not fixed, but organized during specified time period.

Some cruise operators have even gone further. Thus, one of the features offered by Norwegian Cruise Lines is the concept of free mode, which means, in particular, absence of mandatory bind to the same table and the opportunity to choose the time of dinners and suppers.

Drinks on a cruise

Almost all companies usually include food in the price. There are, however, some reservations. Every company has its own view of drinks on board. As for the "all inclusive" cruises from such companies as, for example, Crystal passengers can enjoy the free bar with a large selection of quality wines and spirits. Some companies offer special bonuses such as champagne, juices and mineral water in the cabins. But usually alcoholic beverages on board are paid separately. Exceptions may be made only for a glass of wine at dinner or a glass of champagne at the gala evening.

Details about the meals features on cruises, as well as rules of etiquette on cruise ships, cuisine features and choice possibilities will be published in this section.