Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. The food was all fresh and high-quality. If you ever manage to get served, that is! Once I have identified a cruise line with significantly worse food than any other, I am not inclined to keep going back to refresh my bad experience. A newlywed couple from Baton Rouge, Louisiana experienced what is described as a medical nightmare aboard the Norwegian Pearl during a recent cruise to the Caribbean. The MDR was better than I expected. The people who are actually complaining about Hurtigrutens facilities are often those who havent understood the type of cruise theyre booking. Just squeaking into the Best category by .1 of a star, Carnival Cruise Lines are definitely known as the fun ships. Love their risotto. Ive cruised with MSC Cruises three times and in my own experience, the service hasnt been great. As for the drinks, I think theyre pretty good. However many people still love their time on the lines ships. If you want italian food, try an MSC cruise. Agreed. Looking online at the reviews, it seems to be a mix of people complaining about the service when trying to book or amend their cruise, or at the port, with some complaints about communication on the ship. We have had excellent food on Celebrity, HAL, Princess, RCI, NCL, and Carnival. survey has revealed the best and worst cruise lines for the year, Check Engine Light And Cruise Control Flashing Subaru, What Cruise Lines Leave From Mobile Alabama, How Much Is Laundry Service On Celebrity Cruises. And, as part of the Relais & Chateaux family, the cuisine is spectacular, incorporating regional dishes made with local ingredients. WebCruise-line workers reveal one of the worst parts of living on a cruise ship. The Seaside is one of MSCs best vessels. Data, collected over the last five years from CruiseJunkie.com reveals which cruise lines have had the highest number of Norovirus/gastrointestinal outbreaks. 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. Even on a singleship we've seen very noticeable differences in the quality of the final product when an executive chef changed mid cruise. How the dish is prepared is part of the equation, certainly, but the underlying quality of the food should be fairly consistent ship to ship on the same cruise line. Food is too subjective for such a question to have a legitimate answer . Any cruise line can not exist if it was considered by most to be the worse Costa is cheaper than its competitors, and boasts particularly affordable Mediterranean itineraries. Find the lowest cruise price. Delfin, the first Relais & Chateaux cruise line, makes the journey incredibly comfortable, offering boutique hotellike accommodations aboard its three rustic-luxe ships. Celebrity Cruises. That can be a major advantage to some workers, particularly those whose positions give them access to passenger dining areas. British and continental influences are prominent, including a variety of seafood dishes, Romney Marsh lamb, chateaubriand, roast duckling and crepes Suzette (flambed tableside). Situated on Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Splendor, the Culinary Arts Kitchen features 18 workstations with top-of-the-line induction cooktops, stainless steel sinks and a comprehensive collection of cooking essentials, all with an ocean view. Second-bottom of the table was Holland America. Right now Oceania is leading that pack. The average size of an inside cabin on some of the other cruise lines with low scores tends to be between 120 and 150 square feet. Second in the annual ranking was Saga Ocean Cruises, followed by Azamara in third. Again, Hurtigruten cruises are very much destination focussed, so you shouldnt expect to spend too much time in your room. Cunard First Class is legendary. Their signature Chefs Table restaurant in Europe provides a perfect example of their culinary offerings, with an intimate setting and a multi-course menu highlighting local and regional flavors on the plate (like the caviar-topped grilled prawns) as well as in the wine glass. #4. And a lot of the people who leave bad reviews are experienced cruisers. and you can get it there. Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Carnival Cruise Line, and the Cruise Lines International Association a trade association for the cruise industry did not respond to requests for comment. Princess also offers a special Crafted by Curtis menu designed by Stone, which is available in the main dining room of all other Princess ships. "The food sucks," a former employee for Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America Line said. Previous. #7. Viking Ocean Cruises. MSC Cruises is increasingly known for big, bustling megaships thatll appeal to people who like a megaresort experience. Find first-hand insights from our cruise experts and read reviews from real cruisers. Viking received five star ratings for all categories which included customer service, passenger-to-space ratio, onboard facilities, cabins, food and drink, port excursions, social atmosphere and value for money. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 20 cruises. 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. All Viking Ocean Cruises ships feature a dining concept called Mamsens, which is named for company chairman Torstein Hagens mother. Cruisers were asked to grade their experience out of five across 11 categories including customer service, passenger-to-space ratio, cabins, food and drink, port excursions and value for money. Dinner was also always good. WebDisney Cruise Line is renowned for its family-friendly options, but when parents or doting grandparents need an evening off, all four ships in the fleet feature adults-only Palo Celebrities specialty dining is wonderful, blue for aqua class is amazing, and main dining room is definitely above royal Caribbean there sister line. As the last few days of 2016 count down, its time to pick the most outrageous stories of the year. I hope you have a lovely time. Made-to-order, small pies, exactly as you want themand with true FRESH mozzarella! Passengers told Which? No votes so far! Carnival has some damn good food options. 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. And House of Houdini. NOW WATCH: The world's largest cruise ship just landed in Miami here's what it's like on board, Sign up for Business Insider's transportation newsletter, Shifting Gears, to get more stories like this in your inbox, Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories, Cruise-ship workers reveal how much money they really make, Trump banned US cruise ships from traveling to Cuba, and Carnival is feeling the pain, A lawyer who represents cruise ship workers reveals the hardest job on a cruise ship, A former cruise-ship waiter describes why the party culture on cruise ships isn't as fun as it seems. 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 And its the same with cruise lines. read more about why MSC Cruises are so cheap here. MSC Cruises. 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. Best variety of cool upscale food Ive had cruising. From luxury small-ship cruises to big name brands with full entertainment and leisure facilities we know from guests that the cruise lines rated best are always those that have the best passenger to space ratio onboard something that will be more important than ever as cruise lines look to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Your rating of sports, fitness and wellness on board the MSC Lirica: If you traveled with children: Was the cruise child-friendly? Have not sailed ncl in a long time but there food is one of the reasons we will not cruise with them again. While Fred Olsen is definitely aimed at a more sedate cruising experience, and the quality of the entertainment may be a little tired, there is still at least a small variety of things to do. Then you have the luxury linesSeabourn, Regent, Silversea and Crystal are top notch with Regent winning that race by a nose. Its all about the food on Oceania Cruises. Passengers onboard MSC complained about congestion and having to wait in queues for restaurants and entertainment. Neither is it the amount paid. 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. Any business that scores an F at the Better Business Bureau is a concern. 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. Guys Burgers and Blue Iguana are awesome, as is the cook to order pasta and Asian stir fry at lunch. Not the worst food per dollar - just the worst food. They had a lobster night and regular escargot. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By 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. When it comes to The Lirica, it has been around for a while and over the years, its customer rating has dropped significantly. Now that is the perfect answer I was looking for. These 10 Cruise Lines Have The Worst Customer Service (2 Every Passenger Loves), Ovation Of The Seas Has Too Many Useless Gimmicks, Quantum Of The Seas Has Long Boarding Times & Cold Food, MajesticHas Great Staff, But The Food Is Bland & Lacking In Variety, Meraviglia Not Only Has Boring Food, But The Entertainment Is Lacking As Well, Lirica HasHorrible Food & Just All-Around Bad Service, Armonia Has Unfriendly Service, Limited Food Options& Below Average Cleanliness, Preziosa Has Cold & Old Food, As Well As Horrible Service, Magellan Doesn't Smell Nice & Doesn't Have Very Tasty Food, Deliziosa Has Poor Food & The Limited Staff It Does HaveHas Limited Knowledge, Fascinosa Has Rude Staff,HorribleQuarters & They Reuse Leftovers For Next Day Meals, Allure Of The Seas Is One Of Their Best Ships With Outstanding Food & Entertainment, Seaside Has Jaw-Dropping Entertainment & Is Just An All-Around Lively & Fun Experience, Services That Vacationers Assume Most Cruises OfferBut They Don't, Sweet Tooth: 10 Divine Desserts From Around The World, These Cruises Stop At The Safest Ports In The Caribbean, Here's What Norwegian Cruises Don't Actually Include In The Cost, Uncover Hidden Gems: 10 Unique Tours In Charleston, 10 Most Exclusive Myrtle Beach Resorts Where You Can Stay In The Lap Of Luxury, 10 Top-Rated Resorts In The Phoenix Area: Unwind In The Desert Oasis Of Arizona's Stunning Capital, Georgia's College Town: The Ultimate Guide To Athens & Things To Do, A Historic & Academic Haven: The Ultimate Guide To Chapel Hill & Things To Do, 10 Beautiful Hikes In Australia You Need To Experience, A Romantic Spring Getaway to Florida: Sunsets, Beaches, & More, 10 Incredible Things You Shouldn't Miss In Las Vegas In 2023. Now, I know many people dont like paying for food on an all inclusive vacation, but I found doing specialties was worth it. Powered by Invision Community. For example, we used to think that Celebrity had the best mdr food among the mass market lines. Their alternative restaurants seem on a par with alternatives on other lines. The problem, for us, is that the quality of food/cuisine has changed so much over the years that its impossible to rate current ships unless one has been on the ships within the past few months. I think the main issue is that people take cruises with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity etc, then they pay half as much for MSC and expect it to be the same standard. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Norwegian is the worst IMO. Not on all of the ships some of the latest ships have cabins that are on par with other cruise lines. In early 2015, Crystal brought a yacht into its fleet for the first time, and following its success, the cruise line decided to custom-build a polar-class expedition megayacht. Luxury line Silversea recently launched a new culinary program called S.A.L.T. It was a tough call on which to put as the worst, but based on reviews Ive gone with Hurtigruten. I would disagree with Joebucks because we think food/cuisine is a very legit discussion issue, especially among those of us who find it an important part of cruising. In my experience, the MDR food (and service) on NCL ships is uniformly less enjoyable than that on other lines. Whenever youre trying to find the best in something, it means you automatically have to rank something as the worst at the same time. While theyre closed, more people are crammed into the venues that are open. This was on a mass market line. We had experienced an ongoing problem with how they were preparing fish, whichweexplainedto the maitre d' and we showed himexactly what it was. Crystal Cruises. But some of its recent fleet additions are truly luxe, from its two polar-sailing expedition ships, National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Resolution, to the elegant Oberoi Philae, which sails the Nile. Viana was referring instead to former colleagues on Costa Cruises. Waiter grabs my plate and walks away without saying a word. A couple of years ago, I wrote a number of articles asking the rhetorical question why cruise lines have an image problem. Menus change frequently and even on any single cruise line food quality can vary greatly from one ship to another depending on the skills of the executive chef and his/her staff. The food on the other areas of the ship were just as bad. We have been on 6 cruise lines and in my opinion the worst was Carnival. If it's related to cruising, it belongs here! Could you please tell me how I can improve it? Kellers influence also shines in theme nights at The Colonnade and select dishes during lunch at The Patio. And when guests are allowed to leave towels down on unattended sunloungers all day, you might have to remove them yourself if you ever want to be able to sit down outdoors. :). But often, the ships are described as uncomfortable ferries rather than relaxing cruise ships. 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. 16 / 24 Also several port calls a day! I did however, appreciate the fact that they had alternate breakfast meats on the buffet. Dont think of Seabourn as a typical cruiseits ships are much more akin to megayachts, with ultra-luxurious decor, service, and dining. Never had bad food on any of them. Celebrity chef-helmed onboard restaurants, cooking classes, food-centric shore excursions and themed culinary cruises mean shipshape culinary experiences abound. As a result, the line draws a good number of luxury-seeking travelers. Not the worst food per dollar - just the worst food. , 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. I probably would have never tried escargot if it weren't for this! They are really good burgers and the fries are just as tasty. Ive seen 2 of the worst big production shows Ive ever seen on any cruise Ive been on. Find out how to find the best cruise deals. With regal ships and a previous-passenger list that includes many generations of royals, Cunard knows how to treat passengers like royalty. 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. 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. What distinguishes a cruise from the very best cruise? Beyond that, personal tastes are extraordinarily important. Ranking report to see which cruise lines have scored worst for different aspects of life on board. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. #6. Viking Ocean Cruises. Really got me ready for the treks through the Alaskan wilderness. 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. Where else can you get so much for such a low price? I have no problem answering this question. Granted, Ive only been on one cruise and it was with HAL, but I was floored by how good their food was. The Which? Here are 10 cruise lines that have missed the mark and have some of the lowest ratings on travel sites, as well as two cruise lines that make sure to go all out for their passengers. Under Viking River Cruises, the companys riverboats explore familiar waters like the Danube and Rhne in Europe, as well as faraway itineraries on the Volga in Russia, the Nile in Egypt, and the Mekong in Southeast Asia. Related:Sweet Tooth: 10 Divine Desserts From Around The World. The decor can be a bit dated, the space to get dressed is very limited, and you may not have anywhere to sit down just a bed, which could even be a raised/bunk bed recessed into a sloping wall. How did you like the entertainment program? Fincantieri is the cheaper but quality wise, the worst cruise ship yard, with unfortunately extremely good connections with the Carnival group. "Sometimes, you cannot eat it.". Press J to jump to the feed. What theyre concerned with is conflict resolution. Two new 1,200-passenger ships are on the way for Oceania, set for delivery in 2023 and 2025. Made to order eggs benedict EVERYday. Many passengers opt to extend their experience with a multi-night stay in the Bahamas, which the cruise line organizes for its guests. and will either be self-serve or have crew ready to portion out food from large serving dishes for you. They are all about the destination. If youre looking for a good price and a good time Carnival Cruise Lines may be your best option. The food isnt exactly bad it just doesnt necessarily stack up too well against what other cruise lines offer. 7 Armonia Has Unfriendly Service, Limited Food Options & Below Average Cleanliness. 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. The free food at the main dining room is generally good also, as is the buffet. A former Carnival Cruise Line employee said he would advise crew members to refrain from eating the food he served them. Jenni. Really cool cooking workshops organized by America's Test Kitchen. It seems like they were trying hard to accommodate different diets/eating lifestyles (vegetarian, vegan, etc). The food was very tasty, both in the MDR and the buffet. We tried one of nearly everything (and walked away so full we were sick but happy, first time that happened to us on Celebrity since portions in main dining are small). Email this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com. We only did one specialty dining restaurant, the Italian Steakhouse, and it was exceptional. All of the Collection sailings are led by James Beard Foundation-recognized guest chefs, sommeliers and beverage experts. Hi, I'm Jenni. Next:Here's What Norwegian Cruises Don't Actually Include In The Cost. One of the reasons we would cruise with NCL again,if possible would be because we like the food.Everyone has different opinions.It would be a very dull world if we all shared the same opinion. At a mere fifty-four percent overall customer satisfaction rating, the disgruntled cruisers had a lot to say about MSC. Its important to note that larger rooms are available and the newer ships have lovely, modern decor. Featured on Scenic Rhne and Bordeaux itineraries, the complimentary and typically daily Scenic Culinaire experience features a small group French cooking class in a fully-outfitted kitchen with a bursting-at-the-seams larder. Focusing on adventurous coastal Norway destinations, the line and its chefs are dedicated to procuring and preparing locally produced, raised and caught ingredients. Celebrity Cruises. Thats especially true at the dimly lit Le Petit Chef and Friends experience at Le Grand Bistro. Fusing fine cuisine and entertainment, the tabletops themselves come to life for dinner through a partnership with TableMation Studios featuring Skullmappings world-famous Le Petit Chef, an animated 3D character who appears on diners plates and "prepares" the courses right before their eyes. Also, their sit down brunch on sea days has some of the best food at sea and is usually some the best meals of the week. Disney Cruise Line. The main dining room was 'blah' at best though and the service was worse than I've seen on any ship. One of the worst steaks I've ever had anywhere was an prime agedrib steakthat was butchered and cooked improperly on an upscale small ship cruise line that heavily advertises andpromotes its food quality. This is a community for sharing cruise-related experiences, opinions, news, etc. For this article, Ive taken a look through the latest Which? 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. worst cruise line food. Others have commented that the juice was watery, the service was horrible, and the staff was rude and unenthused. ), the most fun, young cruises have the worst food (Carnival, Norwegian, RCL).