As someone that cruises about once per month, I get to eat on Royal Caribbean cruise ships a lot, and dinner is usually a big deal on any sailing.
Some restaurants are included with your cruise fare while others cost extra. I like to go back and forth between what's included and not to not only get a wider variety of food, but also evaluate how each restaurant is. Menus change, and as I try new restaurants, it's good to go back and see how other venues compare.
The cost of a Royal Caribbean restaurants vary from included to hundreds of dollars per person. Luckily, I've had the chance to dine at nearly every restaurant on Royal Caribbean's ships.
I'm not a food critic or trained in evaluating restaurants. I just know what I like, and I go often enough to get a good sense of what seems to stand out, so here are my humble opinions on the top Royal Caribbean restaurants I'd recommend to anyone going on a cruise.
Coco Beach Club restaurant
In terms of food, I have never left the Coco Beach Club restaurant disappointed because the food quality is so good.
Located within the Coco Beach Club section of Perfect Day at CocoCay, the restaurant is included as part of your admission cost to enter the club. Club admission prices vary depending on the sailing, but it can be less than $100 per person or as high as $200 per person.
I think the filet mignon served at the Coco Beach Club restaurant is just as good, if not better, than the steaks you find on Royal Caribbean's ships.
Friends who eat seafood rave about the grilled Bahamian lobster served, as well as the Coco lobster sandwich.
Usually private island food is nothing exciting, but Royal Caribbean broke the mold with the Coco Beach Club restaurant, and it's just as good as the food I've found on the ships.
150 Central Park
If there's a top quality specialty restaurant that flies under the radar, it's 150 Central Park.
Available on the Oasis Class ships, 150 Central Park is a modern American restaurant that might appear overly fancy, but the cuisine is not only approachable, but fantastic.
I could rave about the entire menu, but there's three items I order every single time I go because they are just so good.
The garlic bread served when you sit is simply amazing, especially if you can manage to snag the middle piece before someone else at your table does. It's not drowning in oil, but has more than enough to make every bite satisfying.
The beef tenderloin for two is large enough you can actually share it with a tablemate, or keep it all to yourself. No judgements.
I think this is the best cut of steak on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship (although the new Iconic cuts at Chops Grille on Icon and Utopia of the Seas might change my opinion on that).
To finish out the meal, the fried cheesecake balls are just about the best comfort food I've found on a cruise ship.
While it doesn't have the widest menu out there, I think 150 Central Park has enough going for it that it warrants not only trying, but eating at every single time you're on an Oasis Class ship.
Aquadome Market
Royal Caribbean's first foray into a food hall concept quickly became one of my favorite restaurants to visit, day or night.
Aquadome Market is a series of stalls that serve a specific cuisine. Each is freshly prepared, and it's perfect for a quick bite or a full meal.
- Crèpes
- Asian
- Mac and Cheese
- Greek pitas and bowls
- Sandwiches and salads
First and foremost, all the food in Aquadome Market is included in your cruise fare. Plus, it's all really good. Best yet, it's open late, so you can get something other than a sandwich or pizza past 9pm!
I think the crèpes, pitas, and Asian bowls are the best choices available, and every time I happen to be anywhere near deck 15, I'll think twice if I want to stop by for something from the market.
Izumi Hibachi
If there's an award for restaurant I always leave full, satisfied, and entertained, it's Izumi hibachi.
Teppanyaki dining is as popular on Royal Caribbean's cruise ships as it is on land because it combines freshly grilled meats, rice, and vegetables with a show.
When we eat at hibachi, I know we aren't leaving hungry. There's a lot of food served, and usually by the end the chef is asking if anyone wants third or fourth servings.
There's the choice of many different proteins with your meal: chicken, beef, lobster, shrimp, or scallops. If that isn't enough food, you can actually order sushi too.
Whenever I'm asked for one specialty restaurant to recommend to try for families, couples, friends, or random people from the internet, my first choice is hibachi because of how well-received it is.
Main Dining Room
In coming up with this list, I wrote down my list on a piece of paper and really struggled with which I would pick for my fifth choice, but it was too difficult to overlook the Main Dining Room.
The Main Dining Room is an institution on any cruise ship, and while it may not be the flashiest restaurant (and definitely not the newest), there's a reason it remains the top spot for dinner on every single Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
While not every single dish is necessarily my favorite, I can always find a few things each night that I really like. The sheer variety of food served in this restaurant across your cruise is impressive.
Not to mention the service gets just as much praise as the food. There are some seriously talented waiters that truly make an effort to get to know you and want to ensure you have a fabulous meal.
Whenever I go too heavy into specialty restaurants on a cruise, I get a hankering to return to the Main Dining Room because I really enjoy the tradition and ambiance you can only find there.
