Cruise Ships Alternative Restaurants

Costs and Benefits of Dinner in Specialty Restaurants While Cruising

Feb 15, 2009
Renee Ruggero

Tamarind Restaurant, MS Eurodam (HAL) - Holland America Line

Cruise passengers have numerous dining options while onboard, but the cost of specialty restaurants is an extra cost of cruising. Is this dining experience worth it?

Most cruise ships feature a number of alternative restaurants, in addition to their no-charge dining rooms and buffets. These specialty restaurants offer passengers a more personal experience along with menu items not found elsewhere on the ship, but most of these venues come with a cover charge. Here’s what to expect.

Benefits of Dining in a Specialty Restaurant

Flexibility - Rather than the traditional dining room on a cruise ship where there is a fixed time to eat, these restaurants are usually open from 5 p.m. till late. Just make reservations.

Choice – Most cruise lines feature a number of specialty and boutique restaurants to choose from. Popular themes include Italian ristorante, French bistro, Asian sushi bar, and American steakhouse.

Romance - Romantic dining on cruise ships starts with a table for two. It’s difficult to book a table for two in the main dining room, making specialty restaurants a more intimate choice.

Quality – Some of these restaurants feature better china and stemware, more attentive service, and in most cases, better food than the main dining rooms.

The Best Alternative Restaurant on a Cruise

Holland America Line’s Pinnacle Grill was awarded the Best Alternative Restaurant in the Cruise Industry by Porthole Magazine in 2009. The atmosphere is formal and tables are set with Bvlgari china, Frette linens and elegant Riedel stemware. Passengers can choose from menu items such as poached lobster tail, lobster macaroni and cheese, or filet mignon ($20 pp).

Cost of Alternative Dining on a Cruise

Carnival Cruise Line features their reservation-only Supper Club where passengers enjoy live music, cocktails, and an artistically plated meal. Try the Filet Mignon topped with gorgonzola (made with garlic, butter and cheese) and piece of cheesecake for dessert if there’s room ($30 pp).

Celebrity Cruises has at least one specialty restaurant per ship, and on their Celebrity Solstice, there are four. Murano Restaurant serves dishes like Maine lobster or lamb ($30 pp). Tuscan Grill features tastes of Italy ($25 pp). And Silk Harvest is Asian themed with menu items including lo mein, pad Thai, and pot stickers ($20 pp).

Crystal Cruises features The Sushi Bar, an Asian themed restaurant serving 12 different types of sushi rolls, miso soup, tempura, and grilled Wagyu beef steak. Another popular choice is Prego, an Italian restaurant offering traditional dishes such as risotto, gnocchi, veal scaloppini, and tiramisu (no charge).

Disney Cruise Line’s specialty restaurant, Palo, is exclusively for adults. Enjoy a candlelit, gourmet meal where northern Italian cuisine is the specialty ($15 pp).

Holland America Line features a few different alternative restaurants. In addition to their award winning Pinnacle Grill (see above), Tamarind offers Pan-Asian cuisine ($15 pp), and the Canaletto features Italian cuisine (no charge).

Norwegian Cruise Line boasts their eat-whenever-you-want Freestyle Dining approach with up to 13 restaurants per ship. Choose from a French Bistro, a steakhouse, Teppanyaki, Tex-Mex, and others ($10 to $25 pp).

Princess Cruises features a steak dinner at the Crown Grill, where passengers choose from a variety of cuts, including a Filet Mignon ($25 pp). Their other specialty restaurant is Sabatini’s featuring an Italian tasting menu ($20 pp).

Royal Caribbean International features a couple of different alternative restaurants. Chops Grille offers steaks and seafood and Portofino is an elegant Italian restaurant ($25 pp for each restaurant).

Practically all the cruise lines offer some sort of alternative restaurant onboard their ships. And, although there is usually an extra cost to dining in these specialty restaurants, the experience is more intimate and the menu more varied than the main dining rooms. In the end, the passenger needs to decide whether it is worth it or not.