Not all of the cruise ship employees Business Insider spoke to disliked the food in the crew cafeteria. and will either be self-serve or have crew ready to portion out food from large serving dishes for you. Then having experienced the worst possible package, one does not book again. But its not just families that flock to MSC Cruises. I even woke up early to catch breakfast there. They also draw customers from a wide range of the income spectrum. Could you please tell me how I can improve it? By far the best dining. If you haven't cruised on a particular cruise ship (and Imean ship, not line)within the last few months your opinion is worthless. Currently situated on three Princess ships (Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess and Sun Princess), the specialty restaurant features a six-course menu, including Stones favorite preparation for prawns, and a wine list curated by Stones personal sommelier. Another small-ship line, Noble Caledonia, took third place with an overall score of 86 percent, and was the only company to gain top marks in the category for shore excursions. Its often possible to book MSC cruises for under $50 or 40 per person, per night. I will say they always seem to have an awesome curry on the buffet though. We also had the worst lobster we've ever eaten on the same ship in the same specialty restaurant that served the lousy prime steak. Being vegan, I requested a slice of pizza with no cheese and instead of a slice, I was delivered a huge 16-slice pizza! (That's speaking from my combined experience of 15 years in America eating Italian American food and 22 years in Europe with at least 3-4 weeks in Italy each year. Of the lines Ive sailed, I thought Carnival had the best food overall. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By Royal caribbean, Norwegian, Cruise and Maritime and Holland America were also among the bottom of the heap. Passengers onboard MSC complained about congestion and having to wait in queues for restaurants and entertainment. This was on a mass market line. Others book and praise Oceania, which does charge somewhat higher prices, but offers upscale food in their dining room. This is a very subjective topic. Viking Ocean Cruises. Easily search 70,000+ cruise itineraries to compare and find the best deal. The main dining room was 'blah' at best though and the service was worse than I've seen on any ship. We've been on one cruise, and it was a Celebrity cruise. The one thing I will say is that the buffet was definitely the best of all cruise lines. Generally featured on every sailing of five to 22 days, their classic Surf & Turf features roasted tenderloin of beef, Maine lobster claws, pan-seared scallops and grilled asparagus. The menu reflects traditional Norwegian home-cooked seasonal fare, including Norwegian cheeses, smoked meats, fresh fish, hearty soups and Scandinavian pastries. Norwegian is still my preferred cruise line due to the freestyle concept, the lack of dress code, the entertainment, and the specialty restaurant variety and food quality. I didnt miss a meal there for sure! "The food for the crew is really bad," Viana said. Best Cruise Lines for the Money#1. Carnival has some damn good food options. "Sometimes, you cannot eat it.". But often, the ships are described as uncomfortable ferries rather than relaxing cruise ships. 16 / 24 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. The new rates for standard cabins will increase from $13.99 to $14.50 per passenger per day. There is good reason for that though Hurtigruten ships are not designed for a traditional cruising experience. You forgot to mention the Indian vegetarian in the MDR on Carnival. Well-known for their popular river cruises in Europe and beyond, Viking also offers ocean cruises across the seven seas. MSC Cruises. Providing its clients with even more options, Vantage also charters ships around the world for a variety of itineraries. When it comes to Royal Caribbean ships, the Allure of the Seas ranks number one with a 5-star review. Olsen Cruise Lines and Hurtigruten. But bringing up the rear at the very bottom of the league was MSC Cruises, with a customer rating of just 57 per cent. And House of Houdini. aerial cirque performances, this brand new spectacle is. ren0312, April 9, 2020 in Ask a Cruise Question. Norwegian is the worst IMO. What distinguishes a cruise from the very best cruise? In addition, the new S.A.L.T. #8. Survey revealed MSC had been given two-star ratings for most categories. I mean, I don't think they knew how to cook badly," said David Weber, a former musician for Celebrity Cruises. Luxury line Seabourn awaits, with fare from the culinary legend behind The French Laundry, Per Se and Bouchon at The Grill by Thomas Keller. Our ratings are driven by thousands of cruise line guests rating their experience of the facilities onboard, the cabin, food and drink and customer service so you can avoid finding yourself queuing for the restaurant every morning or being ripped off over tips. Where there may be some discussion is with the specialty restaurants, but we've only eaten in one. A. No wonder customers think its cruises are great value. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Excluding the luxury cruise lines like Crystal, which mass market cruise line has the worst food for the price? Its important to note that larger rooms are available and the newer ships have lovely, modern decor. There is so much food available on any ship that I will be just fine. We went with the Aqua class upgrade because we read that Bleu was the place to be. ), the most fun, young cruises have the worst food (Carnival, Norwegian, RCL). Second in the annual ranking was Saga Ocean Cruises, followed by Azamara in third. The food isnt exactly bad it just doesnt necessarily stack up too well against what other cruise lines offer. Bacon cheese fries and grilled cheese sandwiches! That makes them particularly appealing to families, including multigenerational groups. 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. 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. For the Fascinosa, one person who had the bad fortune to ride the vessel, left a review on CruiseCritic that they noticed some of the dinner desserts were used for breakfast the next morning. With an expanding fleet of 11 ships sailing North Americas waterways, American Cruise Lines is the largest cruise line in the United States, offering 35 itineraries in more than 25 states for 100 to 200 passengers. The food at all of the various speciality restaurants (and on s class there are many) is tremendous. Fantastic service, all of the food was perfectly prepared. Love their risotto. Customers who have traveled on the old vessel have commented that the food and service are horrible, two qualities that dont do well with a business, and the entertainment is amateurish. The most fun cruise ships on the high seas, Recommended Reading: Cruises To Maui From California. Balance. Azamara. I don't need 5 star dining at a 5 star price every night to tell everyone how refined my pallet is and that I have exquisite taste. #2 in Best Cruise Lines for Couples. Theres no doubt that the crew members work very hard, but sometimes there just arent enough of them to prevent huge queues from forming at the bars, or for dinner to be served within a reasonable time. Home / Best Cruise Ships for 5-Star Dining / worst cruise line food. Broadway shows, concerts, celebrity appearances, gigantic water parks, 5-star cuisine, luxurious accommodations, and so much more keep the party going on the water. The food was very tasty, both in the MDR and the buffet. But travel during peak season and you should expect to feel a little more crowded than you would with some other cruise lines, and you might have a challenge on your hands to get a good spot by the pool for those sea days. See the full results below to find out which cruise lines give you room and which ones pack holidaymakers onboard. break!! Windstar is the Official Cruise Line of the James Beard Foundation (JBF), hosting several JBF Culinary Cruise Collection cruises each year, as well as offering cooking demonstrations and classes, and serving chef-driven dishes on the menu every night. The program features more than 20 different cooking classes, with themes like Bounty of the Sea, Fiesta on the High Seas, From the Healthy Comfort Kitchen, A Taste of Spain and many more. Hi, I'm Jenni. In my experience, the MDR food (and service) on NCL ships is uniformly less enjoyable than that on other lines. Families are a big part of MSC Cruises business. Carnival specializes in budget-friendly fun, offering frequent sales and early booking deals on already low prices. Great banana creme brulee desserts. Those searching for a wide range of food- and wine-focused cruises need look no further than Food & Wine Trails. The Worst Cruise Line 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 P& O Cruises Facebook. Ive not seen any reviews saying that anyone didnt enjoy a meal they had paid for in these venues. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 2023 Warner Bros. Royal Caribbean International Facebook. Basically which cruise line has the worst food considering how muchyou pay for the cruise? Just one guys opinion. **Edit: Hypothesis - The most boring cruises with a lot of older travelers have the best food (HAL? The food sucks, a former employee for Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America Line said. Next:Here's What Norwegian Cruises Don't Actually Include In The Cost. Not sure I did any of the specialty dining on this one. Interesting to see the poor rating for Hurtigruten which is unjustified. In my experience, the MDR food (and service) on NCL ships is uniformly less enjoyable than that on other lines. NCL pushes their alternative dining The research looked at 20 cruise companies, asking thousands of passengers to rate them across 11 categories. Regent Seven Seas guide but if Im honest, Im surprised Hurtigruten scored even that highly. Having been on 16 cruise lines we suspect the worst food is on a line we have not experienced. Ahhh, now that is a different question which many of us have addressed over the years. Unfortunately, not every cruise line can get it right. WebAfter Sailing on Multiple Cruise Ships for Multiple Cruise Lines I decided to take a Cruise on board the MSC Meraviglia. Again, Hurtigruten cruises are very much destination focussed, so you shouldnt expect to spend too much time in your room. As a result, the line draws a good number of luxury-seeking travelers. And a lot of the people who leave bad reviews are experienced cruisers. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. The ultra-luxe Crystal Endeavor, which sails to remote locations like the Arctic and the Antarctic, as well as urban ports around the world, launched in 2021, and can carry up to 200 passengers. Seabourn Cruise Line. Really cool cooking workshops organized by America's Test Kitchen. 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. Definitely the best specialty dining of any we've done. Theyre lively and fun. That was the Italian restaurant on NCL (pre-Del Rio) and while it was okay we had the same dish in the MDR on our next Carnival cruise and it was noticeably better. Unfortunately, not every cruise line gets customer service right, with ten taking the title of "worst.". #6. For this article, Ive taken a look through the latest Which? Plus, Carnival Cruise Line will kick it up another notch on their new ship, Mardi Gras, in 2020, with Emeril Lagasses New Orleans-inspired concept, Emerils Bistro 1396. It all comes down to what you prioritise on your holiday. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. Not on all of the ships some of the latest ships have cabins that are on par with other cruise lines. Not the worst food per dollar - just the worst food. Meanwhile, the port complaints tend to be around long wait times, or poor communication and signage which isnt always the fault of the cruise line but could be the port authority. Breakfast was always fantastic. In my experience, this problem is made worse by the poor use of space. 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. I don't have comparisons, but I would agree with what you've said. We do think that the best food is generally found on the smallest shipsoperated by the luxury lines. We have had very mediocre food on Celebrity, HAL, Princess, RCI, NCL, and Carnival. The specialty dining restaurants were unremarkable. Food not the one issue, as one can dine in speciality offerings. Many passengers opt to extend their experience with a multi-night stay in the Bahamas, which the cruise line organizes for its guests. 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. Royal Caribbean International. Both of them scored the same low grade. When it comes to cruising, you really do get what you pay for. 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. Of those 3, I found the least enjoyable MDR food on Norwegian. Recommended Reading: Bus From London To Southampton Cruise Terminal. Crystal Cruises. Seabourn Cruise Line. When it comes to Royal Caribbeans Ovation of the Seas, there are a lot of passengers that were very disappointed. The workshops were easy to view physically and not so packed that you couldn't see anything. 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. A new Which? Norovirus, an extremely common and highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis, has become a significant concern for cruisers over the past decade because of the nature of the illness, which spreads rapidly when persons occupy close quarters, exactly what occurs aboard a cruise ship. They also have an inordinate amount of teen- and tween-friendly attractions everything from some of the largest waterslides at sea to sprawling amusement areas with race car simulators, flight simulators and XD cinemas . #2 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money. (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line) The other standard included option is the buffet, typically located near the pool.The buffet will offer multiple themed stations (salad bar, carvery, deli, pasta station, dessert bar, etc.) Its all about the food on Oceania Cruises. It was all very strange, and while ordinarily I probably wouldn't really care, since I grew up in Europe where poor service is common, it just stood out as unusual compared to the exceptional service we've had on every other cruise line. Ownership, menus and chefs in restaurants change more frequently than some people change their underwear, and yesterday's star can be today's dudor vice versa . WWL- TV and the New Orleans Advocate in Louisiana report that NCL passenger Brant Aymond was injured during a paddle board accident while the Pearl stopped in Roatan. Try a taste at Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisas only restaurants at sea. Fortunately the "char" turned out to be a pretty tasty salmon-like fish. MSC Cruises was rated the worst for customer service, with two stars out of five from Which. Guys Burgers and Blue Iguana are awesome, as is the cook to order pasta and Asian stir fry at lunch. Along with lodging and dining, fares cover activities like cooking lessons and history lectures. One of the biggest concerns often lies around speciality diets they struggle to offer a good gluten-free range, and some waiting staff need the vegan diet to be explained to them. 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. A few cruise ships have a few cabins designed for singles. Love their ice cream sundaes. For example, the Christmas eve ("gala") main dishes were: Roased goose (I guess for Xmas, but who eats that anymore?). It seems like they were trying hard to accommodate different diets/eating lifestyles (vegetarian, vegan, etc). Discover 50+ million cruise opinions. The free food at the main dining room is generally good also, as is the buffet. Focusing on adventurous coastal Norway destinations, the line and its chefs are dedicated to procuring and preparing locally produced, raised and caught ingredients. They are not suitable for consumption.". Made-to-order, small pies, exactly as you want themand with true FRESH mozzarella! Lots of fun international nights. 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. they were bombarded with sales promotions while onboard and the drinks packages on offer were confusing. 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. Good service. Delfin, the first Relais & Chateaux cruise line, makes the journey incredibly comfortable, offering boutique hotellike accommodations aboard its three rustic-luxe ships. For example, we used to think that Celebrity had the best mdr food among the mass market lines. Outstanding service everywhere. Items include tableside Caesar salads, steakhouse favorites like Lobster Thermidor and Kellers legendary coconut cake. But, back on topic: did you not find anypersonal preference among those 16 lines you DIDexperience? Where else can you get so much for such a low price? 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. The food was all fresh and high-quality. Again, worst doesnt mean bad. MSC is 3* Dont expect to pay 3* prices and get 5* service and food. I'm surprised to hear all the rave reviews for Carnival. #1 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money. The demonstration kitchen is part of the experience, where guests watch the chefs prepare the meal, which is paired perfectly with unlimited hand-selected regional wines. When Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Edge debuted in 2018, it marked an overhaul for the line from bow to stern, including cuisine changes for the long-time food-focused line.