Cruise Food - Princess, Carnival and Royal Caribbean

I would love to get the opinion of experienced cruisers here.

I have personally been only on Princess, Carnival and Royal Caribbean.

For me the food ranks in the following order.

1. Princess - been a while since my last cruise on princess. But it was definitely the best so far. I will be on on this March.

2. Carnival - A close second to Princess, but way better than Royal Caribbean.

3. Royal Caribbean - A distant third.

I understand food is a very subjective item but would love to get others rankings, views and opinions on this subject.

I agree with your ranking

Depends on the specific food item...but none are great nowadays, unfortunately!

Sometimes it comes down to what you order and where you eat.

I too would rate Princess first of three but there are some other lines where you can get better food.

Keith

Yes. Agree it does depend on what and where u eat as well.

THere has been a downward trend in the food in the general at least on the lines i have been perhaps due to cost constraints.

I have heard the food is better on celebrity and HAL compared to these 3 lines, but i have not been on these yet.

I would agree with your assessment however, I would perhaps rank Celebrity and Cunard a little above. And as other have said any line can put out a poor meal at times.

We definitely like the food LOTS better on Princess than on RCCL or Carnival.

I would agree that Princess is the best of the three. The food on my most recent princess cruise was terrific. The roast pheasant was to die for. Also their pizza is terrific. International Cafe has great desserts. However I think Carnival is the worst of the lot. The food on our Carnival cruise last year was disappointing, to say the least.

It's hard to say.

What I love you might hate.

But we love the food on Princess.

A rare night there's not something in the MDR that makes me say YUMMY.

If there is there's always the buffet or the grill o the Pizza, or a specialty restaurant.

I have been on RCL, NCL and Carnival....One line really doesn't stand out of the others. My opinion, the food on board is GOOD food. I tell people who have never cruised, if you are looking for a 5 star dining experience as far as taste, you wont find it on a cruise ship. Again, its not really a knock. The steaks are GOOD. The Italian food is GOOD. The seafood is GOOD. Is it anywhere close to the best steak I ever had, no. I do disagree with the people who compare it to a HS cafeteria as far as taste, its better than that. Its better than fast food. On all 3 lines, I have to admit I eat most of the time at the buffets. Its convenient and a very GOOD meal

I say its like good wedding food.

I say its like good wedding food.

Very banquet hall-inspired. Princess is the best of this lot, but Celebrity beats them all, in my opinion.

Of lines I have cruised:

#1 Oceania -- excellent food all venues

#2 Azamara -- close to Oceania

#3 Celebrity -- best of the main stream lines

#4 Cunard -- excellent MDR cuisine, but avoid their so so buffet

#5 NCL -- if, and only if, you have the full UDP (ultimate dining package); eat breakfast/lunch in the MDR; avoid the buffet

#6 Holland America -- pretty good food all over the ship

#7 Some Royal Caribbean ships -- need to mix it up between alternative restaurants and the MDR. Some of their ships a weak in the food department

#8 Princess -- I don't get it -- their food is ok, but nothing special. Never liked any of their alternative restaurants; buffet is crowded

Enjoy!

Kel:)

I think they are all basically the same. Someone mentioned like wedding food. And there will always be a standout item on each different line. The pizza is definitely NOT like the pizzerias I have at home.i sailed Royal, Princess, Celebrety, Carnival & NCL.

It's a different experience each time but basically the same.

My favorite was when I went with NCL Star. They had a bbq poolside every day.

Nothing beats a burger right off the grill.