worst cruise line food

Poolside burgers are popular on many ships, but leave it to the Fun Ship folks at Carnival to up the ante with Guy Fieri for next-level combinations. Interesting to see the poor rating for Hurtigruten which is unjustified. #8. The waitress replies with: "I would have to go all the way back and find a new table" and then just stands there staring at us, expecting us to take the table. On the two occasions that Ive cruised on MSC Virtuosa, Ive seen that some large venues are only used for one or two hours per day. The food isnt exactly bad it just doesnt necessarily stack up too well against what other cruise lines offer. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions, C858B0A9-6769-424D-B129-59363EDAC023.jpeg, B5073042-BF8A-4EEC-BD19-0938D8732763.jpeg. has revealed the best and worst cruise companies in its annual survey, with the worlds newest line Viking Ocean Cruises coming out top and MSC Cruises taking the bottom slot. Please give an overall rating of the ship MSC Lirica. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit Tumblr Pinterest Vk Email. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Viking River Cruises also includes complimentary Wi-Fi and select shore excursions in its prices, and its Culture Curriculum offers experiential learning through events like regional wine tastings and menus that rotate seasonally. Those sailing on Holland Americas classic older ships dont have to miss out there is a Sel de Mer evening in the specialty dining room, Pinnacle Grill. This was on a mass market line. This year saw the usual number of power failures and propulsion issues which have plagued the industry for years. Cant wait to go on a princess (cheap/undecided) over Feb. Ive cruise on carnival, Norwegian, and celebrity. In particular, the buffets tend to come under fire a little bit, due to not having too much variety or the quality of the food not being the best. #4. Be the first to rate this post. CUstomer reviews are alarming, but thats not the standard the BBB uses to calculate the score. Princess Cruises. But plenty of people do. I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! No one is serving banquet TV dinners. Also - the worst food experienced is the worst food experienced - not necessarily the worst food experienced in the last couple of weeks. ren0312, April 9, 2020 in Ask a Cruise Question. I like MSC , theyre cheap & cheerful. Not the worst food per dollar - just the worst food. I'm surprised to hear all the rave reviews for Carnival. Two new 1,200-passenger ships are on the way for Oceania, set for delivery in 2023 and 2025. Complaints from passengers include such issues as slow wifi on board, a very noisy dining room, little independent exploration time during shore days and food that The intimate expedition vessels and boutique yachts of UnCruise Adventures head to the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Mexicos Sea of Corts, the Galapagos, the Hawaiian Islands and Central America on boats that can accommodate from 22 to 90 passengers. There are no family facilities either, so this cruise line is best for adults who like to spend time exploring ashore. Very average buffet - except for amazing Pizza and pastas. Recommended Reading: Bus From London To Southampton Cruise Terminal. Parent company Viking Cruises has expanded feverishly in recent years, with more than 60 river ships and six ocean vessels in its fleet. So while the on-board facilities are limited, thats by design. Good service. For this article, Ive taken a look through the latest Which? "The food sucks," a former employee for Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America Line said. Each sailing has an expedition team made up of experts in fields like marine biology and photography. Harmony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International. Im sure there is better food on the nicer luxury lines but in my experience carnival was way better than Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, etc. Real easy.". If youre someone who doesnt mind waiting a little longer at the buffet, and you enjoy simple food, then you might have a blast on an MSC cruise. Of course it is possible (in fact, highly probable) that there is always something worse out there than that which has already been experienced in whatever category. Customers that have ridden the modern vessel have complained that the cleanliness and the decorating are lacking, the food is old and cold, the service ishorribleand the entertainment definitely needs improvement. Escape, Norwegian Cruise Line. Sign up for notifications from Insider! They have a Guy's BBQ shop there and that food is really good too! Whether its chana masala vegetable biryani, tempura vegetable tacos or filet mignon with black truffle sauce, culinary discoveries are a keynote of the Azamara experience. A couple of years ago, I wrote a number of articles asking the rhetorical question why cruise lines have an image problem. #6. Its all about the food on Oceania Cruises. The people who are actually complaining about Hurtigrutens facilities are often those who havent understood the type of cruise theyre booking. When Preziosa first launched in 2013, it had some pretty stellar reviews. With a long history of fine dining at sea, Holland America Line is constantly adding new restaurant concepts to their ships. They are not suitable for consumption.". Also in the top five were Hurtigruten, with an 85 percent score, followed by Azamara with 84 percent. A. Have you worked on a cruise ship? Of course you should expect to pay more for significantly better food - this thread is not about higher fares translating into better food it is about the worst food. The Which? British and continental influences are prominent, including a variety of seafood dishes, Romney Marsh lamb, chateaubriand, roast duckling and crepes Suzette (flambed tableside). At breakfast we were repeatedly served food that was actually rotten. Norwegian Cruise Line. We had a different incident as well, where we were trying to get seated with the people with whom we had a reservation. It seems like they were trying hard to accommodate different diets/eating lifestyles (vegetarian, vegan, etc). We have had excellent food on Celebrity, HAL, Princess, RCI, NCL, and Carnival. And because a large proportion of the ship is dedicated only to guests staying in the exclusive MSC Yacht Club, everyone paying the standard fare will feel the squeeze even more. With SHARE by Curtis Stone the chefs first restaurants at sea Stone combines his three loves: travel, food and the ocean. Again, worst doesnt mean bad. Norwegian is the worst IMO. Some have commented that the food is cold, the boarding and debarking times are extremely long, and the ship is intended for Chinesepassengers and those whoaren't from China are treated with little to no consideration. Which? You mightve already guessed from its name, but the Bahama Paradise Cruise Line operates cruises to the Bahamas, sailing two-day itineraries from West Palm Beach, Florida. And as @njhorsemanhas said there can be a remarkable difference between ships. Two former cruise ship employees said they enjoyed both the quality and variety of the food served to crew members. With just six vessels, beloved small ship line Windstar Cruises can focus its attention on food. Worst-Rated Cruise Line Even on a singleship we've seen very noticeable differences in the quality of the final product when an executive chef changed mid cruise. Of the lines I've sailed, the worst food I've had was on NCL. And there are plenty of speciality dining restaurants if you want a specific meal they do incur an extra charge, but theyre usually worth it. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. "Excluding the luxury cruise lines like Crystal, which mass market cruise line. #3 in Best Cruise Lines for Couples. Many had the same comments when it came to this cruise line: the food was boring, the entertainmentwas uninteresting and lacking and the staff was unfriendly. Workers would keep tuna, granola bars, and other snack foods in their rooms or favor simple foods that require little preparation, like fruit, cereal, and sandwiches, she said. Wherever they go, UnCruise Adventures chefs focus on local cuisine, which is especially true in Hawaii, almost everything except the seafood (including their popular Pacific ono and much more) comes from the island of Molokai. Started August 27, 2021, By Recommended Reading: Cruises Leaving From Baltimore Harbor. Luxury line Silversea recently launched a new culinary program called S.A.L.T. We just got off a HAL ship. The specialty dining restaurants were unremarkable. Every Hurtigruten ship does have basic facilities that guests need including restaurants, bars and a laundry room, while most have a gym, but thats often it for the on-board experience. Kellers influence also shines in theme nights at The Colonnade and select dishes during lunch at The Patio. Celebrity Cruises. And its the same with cruise lines. A Lindblad cruise typically prioritizes adventure over luxury. For example, we used to think that Celebrity had the best mdr food among the mass market lines. Its important to note that larger rooms are available and the newer ships have lovely, modern decor. Since many ships employ crew members from around the world, the food served in the crew cafeteria can reflect that variety, making it difficult for some to find food similar to what they would eat at home on a consistent basis. Definitely the best specialty dining of any we've done. The Best Food on Every Major Cruise Line In my experience, this problem is made worse by the poor use of space. There is good reason for that though Hurtigruten ships are not designed for a traditional cruising experience. All three had dishes that I couldn't get enough of and dishes that I wouldn't order again. Related:Services That Vacationers Assume Most Cruises OfferBut They Don't. Previous. As you say it is not a traditional cruise line, more a local transport system and we were very pleased with our experience in the Richard With some years ago. We're considering Carnival for our next vacation. However one of the biggest sacrifices made is in cabin size. This is definitely a cruise line for partiers, extroverts and boisterous families with young children. The new. MSC Cruises is often voted as one of the worst cruise lines, with some people unhappy with the standard of service, the quality of the food and drink, and the cramped feel to some of the larger modern ships. Celebrity chef-helmed onboard restaurants, cooking classes, food-centric shore excursions and themed culinary cruises mean shipshape culinary experiences abound. On another ship of the same cruise line the next year we had none of those problems. Food is anything but an afterthought on Oceania Cruises, a company that has branded itself as providing The Finest Cuisine at Sea. Theyre one of the cruise lines with the lowest fares, but the way MSC keeps cruises so cheap is by having more guests on their ships with less space. Done six celebrity and disagree. All three ships feature separate dining rooms called the Queens Grill and Princess Grill, reserved for those who have booked larger and more luxurious suites. Chefs focus on the season and region where theyre cruising and use local ingredients wherever possible. Celebrity Edge was later joined by its sister ship Celebrity Apex in 2020, with Celebrity Beyond to follow in 2022 . Guests get to enjoy the results and also receive recipe cards. The food on the other areas of the ship were just as bad. They work with local suppliers along the entire coast, meaning passengers can anticipate lamb from Geiranger, king crab from the Barents Sea, fresh Norwegian clipfish, cheese and fresh cod from Lofoten, reindeer from Finnmark and apples from Hardanger. That makes them particularly appealing to families, including multigenerational groups. Which? Others have commented that the juice was watery, the service was horrible, and the staff was rude and unenthused. Holland America Line. Theres no point in having a drink package if it takes over 30 minutes for each drink to be served to you. Share This Story, Choose Your Platform! With regal ships and a previous-passenger list that includes many generations of royals, Cunard knows how to treat passengers like royalty. But that changed shortly after Lisa Lutoff-Perlo took over the company and imposed various cut-backs. Royal Caribbean International Facebook. With an overall rating of 3.6 stars, the reviews on Cruiseline.com are generally favorable for this family favorite. Nowhere near enough seating. What Is The Worst Cruise Line - CruiseInfoClub.com I will say they always seem to have an awesome curry on the buffet though. Late to this thread but I came here to say this! Food not the one issue, as one can dine in speciality offerings. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade has become the on-point go-to destination on four of Royal Caribbean International ships and counting, as they add the popular hotspot to other ships. Carnival has some damn good food options. They also draw customers from a wide range of the income spectrum. Guy's Burgers are a hit. I discussed a number of rather outrageous cases where the cruise lines refuse to refund or credit cruise fares when their customers face a personal catastrophe, like the unexpected death of a loved. #2 in Best Cruise Lines for Couples. Love their ice cream sundaes. Items include tableside Caesar salads, steakhouse favorites like Lobster Thermidor and Kellers legendary coconut cake. From what cruisers have commented, the design is poor, the quarters are cramped, there are staff shortages, the food is bland, and the theater is too small to fit its large guest numbers. "The same people that are cooking for the guests are cooking for the crew. Then you have the luxury linesSeabourn, Regent, Silversea and Crystal are top notch with Regent winning that race by a nose. These were cheaper types fish preparedsimply, but made quite edible based on more careful preparation. It all comes down to what you prioritise on your holiday. Lots of fun international nights. True or false? Cunard First Class is legendary. They are all about the destination. Cant get a table at a Thomas Keller restaurant on land? The MDR was better than I expected. The top-rated cruise ship company in the survey, Viking, carries a maximum of 930 passengers per trip, compared to the largest of MSC ships which carry more than 6000 passengers. We had no hygiene or health issues, though two different groups we'd met through cruise critic reported that their entire party got sick after some fishy smelling seafood in specialty dining. What distinguishes a cruise from the very best cruise? We only did one specialty dining restaurant, the Italian Steakhouse, and it was exceptional. Celebrity Cruises currently sails around the world with a fleet of 14 ships, ranging in size from its petite Xpedition-class vessels, which carry 16 to 100 passengers, to its large 2,800- to 3,100-passenger Solstice class and 2,900-passenger Edge class, which debuted in late 2018 with Celebrity Edge. On Costa, crew members would sometimes eat just rice and watermelon since their other options were unappetizing. Three of the fleets six current ships fall into the large category, while its two adults-only ships, MS Aurora and MS Arcadia, are medium-sized. As others have said, differences between mass market lines are trivial. In fact, the vessels were some of the first river ships in Europe to have cabins designated for solo travelers. But overlaid across many of the lines ships are high-end suites, upscale restaurants and luxury services most notably the suites and amenities in the exclusive, upscale MSC Yacht Club areas found on some vessels . The menus celebrate Yamaguchis Asian- and Hawaiian-leaning passions in dishes like the Surf n Turf Roll (Kobe beef, king crab, asparagus and black sesame oil) and his steamed dumplings with pork, shrimp and crab. Regent Seven Seas I did however, appreciate the fact that they had alternate breakfast meats on the buffet. The food was all fresh and high-quality. We did a cruise on the Carnival Horizon early in 2018, which was one of its first sailings. Cruise travel used to be all about quantity over quality when it came to dining and other culinary experiences, but thats most definitely not the case today when it comes to eating and imbibing at sea and on the worlds rivers. Good service. Jenni. Travel Pulse states that NCL informed travel agents of the so-called nominal adjustment to its daily service charges today. And they brew their own beer (four types!) "'Don't eat that.' And sometimes there are things which arent that great, but in the context of the price of the cruise, or personal preference, its not that bad. Best Carnival Cruise Ships of According to the website, Royal Bahama has refused to respond to ten conflict resolution requests and failed to resolve an eleventh, and that was just for one of their US locations. Again, Hurtigruten cruises are very much destination focussed, so you shouldnt expect to spend too much time in your room. Paired with fresh-cut fries, a tasty toppings bar and Carnivals own beers, the Fieri-curated burgers (including the Pig Patty and a version topped with a huge onion ring) make this a popular joint come lunchtime. Dining on Cruise Ships: What does each line do best/worst - reddit The buffet was good but not amazing. This edgy ship was designed to appeal to a non-cruising clientele with innovations like Eden, a three-story hybrid experiential restaurant, craft cocktail lounge, and performance venue and Le Petit Chef at Le Grand Bistro, a dinner restaurant that features a 4D animation projected on your plate throughout your meal. Waiter grabs my plate and walks away without saying a word. I also like the other cruise lines & when I want more luxury, Im happy to pay for it. The steak and eggs is a delicious meal and I'll eat that every day I can. We did the sushi and steakhouse specialty restaurants as well. The pre-cruise service reviews talk about people giving the wrong information, but a lot of that is during the COVID pandemic around vaccination requirements. Its 1,250-passenger MS Marina and MS Riviera offer restaurants by Jaques Pepin, a six-course Dom Perignon dinner with a pairing of three vintages, a cooking center where passengers of all cooking skill levels can take classes, and culinary-themed excursions, like a visit to the market in Nice with a chef. Right now Oceania is leading that pack. P& O was given a low rating for its social atmosphere, with some saying the pool area was overrun and a nightmare. Never had bad food on any of them. The question is "worst food for the price" and while paying more may equate to better food overall for me personally if I am paying more then my expectations are going to be that much higher and could lead to a disappointing experience. Home / Best Cruise Ships for 5-Star Dining / worst cruise line food. And Norwegian Cruise Line recently built several new ships that have studio-cabin sections outfitted for solo travelers as well as associated lounge areas. Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. We do think that the best food is generally found on the smallest shipsoperated by the luxury lines. Past passengers have commented that the food quality is poor and the options are limited, the service is unfriendly and the cleanliness of the ship is seriously lacking. worst cruise line food - Safe Honest and Reliable Cruise Parking worst cruise line food Home / Best Cruise Ships for 5-Star Dining / worst cruise line food By Every Alaskan Dream Cruises passage includes an evening at a private lodge or beach featuring seafood and more, like King crab legs and flame-grilled salmon, as well as a beachside fire to roast smores and share stories. The 10 Worst Cruise Lines in the World in 2019 - Money Inc Others described food of poor quality, like chicken with a rubber-like texture or sauteed fish heads. By the end of the cruise, we would check the dinner menu BEFORE committing to making a reservation. Now that is the perfect answer I was looking for. Guys Burgers and Blue Iguana are awesome, as is the cook to order pasta and Asian stir fry at lunch. There is so much food available on any ship that I will be just fine. We know folks who specifically book Seabourn because they like things like their caviar, which is available in unlimited amounts at any of the bars. Love their risotto. Known for an all-things-Italian focus, Costa Cruises features more than 500 Italian dishes from 18 of the countrys regions, along with partnerships with popular Italian food and beverage brands, including Barilla pasta, Illy coffee, Aperol, Ferrari Trento sparkling wine, Agrimontana ice cream and many more. While theyre closed, more people are crammed into the venues that are open. The Hurtigruten ships can go to places others cannot access including fjord transits. Only the buffet was open for lunch and it seemed pretty par to me as far as buffets go. , founded in Italy and the worlds largest privately owned cruise company with a fleet of 15 ships and two more launching this year, scored 54 percent, the lowest of all the lines surveyed. Carnival Cruise Line. There are a number of cruises that scored two stars for onboard facilities, but two seem to crop up as those for being the most limited Fred. Since most mass market cruise lines are all relatively comparable in price and offer similar options with dining venues IMO it is not a valid measure to begin with to compare food quality to fare paid as they would all be more similar than different in that regard. Powered by Invision Community. KFC Brings Back Its Mind-Boggling Bunless Chicken Sandwich, The Double Down, The Key Food Moments You May Have Missed in The Last of Us, Peeps-Flavored Pepsi Makes Its Adorable Return. #7. Second-bottom of the table was Holland America. they were bombarded with sales promotions while onboard and the drinks packages on offer were confusing. Whenever youre trying to find the best in something, it means you automatically have to rank something as the worst at the same time. worst cruise line food , the well-known river line that launched its first ocean ship in 2015 now has a six-strong fleet of 930-passenger ships. DOES MSC HAVE THE WORST CRUISE FOOD? Waves Restaurant Related:These Cruises Stop At The Safest Ports In The Caribbean. Seven Seas Explorer also offers Gourmet Explorer Tours, and Seven Seas Splendor will add even more of these tours when the liner launches in 2020. #6. Also several port calls a day! I've been meaning to create a thread like this for a while, in hopes that it could be helpful for people looking for this information in the future as well. But one would have to factor in paying $600+ per passenger day on those ships vs $100 per passenger day on some other lines. The portions were very small, which is kind of a good thing since you sometimes want to order two things. While Carnival caters more to families, Princess 17 ships target more adult travelers, especially on longer voyages. Royal caribbean, Norwegian, Cruise and Maritime and Holland America were also among the bottom of the heap. There have been a lot of rumors Spreading over the years that Cleanest (and Dirtiest) Cruise Ships, According to the CDC survey has revealed the best and worst cruise lines for the year, with Viking Ocean Cruises taking out the top spot. Costa even serves their own ship-made mozzarella di Bufala onboard (using curds from Sele) for the fleets Mozzarella Gourmet Bar and classic PummidOro pizzerias, including dough based on natural yeast in collaboration with the University of Gastronomy Sciences in Pollenzo.