Is cruising really all about the food?

My friend and I have been having a discussion. She says the food is the reason people cruise. I disagree. I am just curious what others think . Is food really the " fun" of cruising?

No.

Certainly not for us. We enjoy eating in a restaurant, being surprised by the menu, but we don't have big appetites, so while it is important, it is not the reason to cruise. It is more about going places, and relaxation. EM

Nope. Don;t get me wrong, I love the fact that I dont have to cook for 9 or more nights but food is only a very small part of the overall appeal of cruising.

The food on most cruises is pretty good, and it is very nice to spend a week without having to cook, clean up, or think about paying for eating out. But the food itself is certainly not a reason for cruising (for me); it is more about the relaxation, beautiful views, interesting places, and fun entertainment.

We expect the food to be edible, but that's about it. So, while we wouldn't book a second cruise on a line where we hated the food, it certainly isn't the reason we cruise.

No, for us cruising is about seeing several countries but only having to unpack once.

Okay I shall admit that I enjoy the food. To us however, cruising is all about relaxing!

I would think if it was only about the food, the money would be better spent going to restaurants where you live.

It is more about unpacking only once and visiting various ports, having a choice of activities drinking without worrying about driving and just relaxing.

My friend and I have been having a discussion. She says the food is the reason people cruise. I disagree. I am just curious what others think . Is food really the " fun" of cruising?

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Food is not the reason we cruise.

We choose cruises for their itineraries -- to see and learn about new places.

While I enjoy the food on cruises, I can get a great meal at home.

I can't get the fabulous service at home.

I can't see the spectacular sights at home.

I can'g get the feeling of relaxation at home.

Thanks...so much!!

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As is obvious from the way some cruisers load their plates in the Lido, or have multiple courses in the MDR, for some cruising is certainly about the food. For some others it is obvious that drinking is the core attraction. For most, though, it seems that the blend of everything is the attraction: seeing new places, being free of housework, having entertainment, experiencing the sea, just hanging out.

Your friend is wrong! Cruising is simply about different things for different cruisers. For example, some of us love long lazy sea days when we can "veg out" and do nothing. Some do cruise for the ready availability of food, without having to cook or wash the dishes. Others (including moi) love to cruise for great itineraries. And on some of the shorter cruises you will find groups of folks who cruise to PARTY.

As to "cruising for food" we might have been in that category 35 years ago. But now, there is no way we would "cruise for the food" since even the food in local diners is better then most of the cuisine on the mass market lines.

Hank

As is obvious from the way some cruisers load their plates in the Lido, or have multiple courses in the MDR, for some cruising is certainly about the food. For some others it is obvious that drinking is the core attraction. For most, though, it seems that the blend of everything is the attraction: seeing new places, being free of housework, having entertainment, experiencing the sea, just hanging out.

Your last sentence, I think, hits the mark for most of us; yes, we enjoy the food, and I do look forward to nice meals I don't have to prepare, but it's the total experience that brings us back.

My friend and I have been having a discussion. She says the food is the reason people cruise. I disagree. I am just curious what others think . Is food really the " fun" of cruising?

Not for me. For me it is an inexpensive way to visit multiple foriegn places without having to pack/unpack my bags and with having all my entertainment, food, and lodging included. The bonus is being able to go out and have the ocean available 24/7 to relax me, no phones, no work, no cooking or cleaning. Food is just a small part of all that.

While I have had some memorable meals on cruises, about the same as any vacation. MDR is usually a memorable experience, but rarely memorable food (tho on occasion). We have had some exceptional meals at specialty restaurants--but again, that is similar to any vacation.

Why do we cruise? It is a value vacation--lots for your $. I love that it is warm (have only done Caribbean or MX), lots to do--or I can do nothing at all. I LOVE the service--you really feel like a queen (or king...)

We love the beach, the pool, the casino, dancing, cocktails, good meals, the opportunity to see several countries--cruising fits the bill! (tell your friend that:p)

We look forward to the MDR experience, but it's not the main reason we cruise.

For me, it's the voyage itself and experiencing all that the ship has to offer. Ports are secondary. Give me a sea day and i'm a very happy camper, I mean a very happy cruiser.

No cell phone(it's in the safe), no internet(you couldn't pay me to log on) and no cabin TV(except maybe the bridge cam).............bliss.

The world could end and i wouldn't know it unless someone mentioned it in the elevator.

No. I cruise for the interesting ports, exciting ships, and relaxation! Food has very little impact on whether or not I have a good vacation.

Is food really the " fun" of cruising?

No.

My friend and I have been having a discussion. She says the food is the reason people cruise. I disagree. I am just curious what others think . Is food really the " fun" of cruising?

I think once upon a time cruising was a great deal about the food but very much less so now.

In the days when food was excellent on the ships and dining was an event, the sort of people who cruised made luncheon and dinner their activity for social interaction and entertainment.

Today's cruiser wants to 'grab a burger' at lunch and many are annoyed if they are held longer than 45 minutes in the MDR at dinner.

Some of the change is the result of the change in who is cruising and much of it is the cut back in quality and quantity offered by cruise ships.

Late Night Buffets used to be an event.

Most ships don't even have them anymore.

I remember when we would go just to admire the magnificent presentations and photo ops were mandatory. It was almost impossible to not want to take out a camera and snap a photo or two.

Dinners were 6 or 7 courses and very graciously presented and enjoyed.

Most of us don't eat that way anymore. Society and the times have changed dramatically and cruise ships reflect some of those changes.

We have cruised so much and the food is of so little interest to us now, we just about never gain so much as a pound anymore. We eat to satisfy our hunger not because the food is so tempting....... to us.

Thank you all so much!! It helps me. I was beginning to think I was weird because on a cruise food is not all that I think about. I LOVE the atmosphere and the destinations... And the entertainment or just chilling... I guess just the options!!

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I mainly cruise simply to relax. On a month long cruise I catch up on a years worth or reading and probably two years worth of naps. I love sea days for this reason.

As far as food goes I say partially because I have tried many different foods on board or seen items I normally eat prepared in a different manner than I would have thought to try. I typically eat about 6 different times a day when cruising and I don't gain weight. Been 5'11'' and 150lbs for 40 years and don't see that changing.

I don't expect 5* Michelin Guide dining on any cruise line and a bad meal won't impact on my enjoyment of the cruise in the slightest. I have never seen a menu or buffet on any cruise that I have been on where I was unable to find something prepared to my liking.

I am a destination cruiser. The itinerary is pretty much the sole reason I book a cruise, when traveling alone. When traveling with my son, the ship becomes somewhat more important.

I enjoy good food, but most of the REALLY good food I've had when traveling on a cruise has been ashore, not onboard the ship.

The recent exception is our dinner in Celebrity's specialty restaurant, Murano, on our New Year's cruise. While very good indeed, it still was not the equivalent of a dinner in a special restaurant at home, nor did it reach the heights of a true French bistro in Paris. But for a cruise ship, it was quite good. ;)

The difference so that I have with my friend isnot really about the taste of food more or less how much I eat. The mind thinks it is available we should eat all the time... Me if I am busy and skip a meal it's no biggie.

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