Compared to other mainstream cruise lines, Celebrity Cruise Line’s food is just a step above. Or does it feel that way because everyone has a beverage package and you can have bubbly three meals a day?
I think it’s the food.
Breakfast
Buffet Breakfast
The breakfast buffet on all mainstream cruise lines is suspiciously similar. Omelets stations, fruit stations, bread stations, bacon you cannot get for yourself. Celebrity is no different. We almost always have the exact same breakfast no matter what cruise line we are sailing.
The omelet station is something that it often takes people a couple of days to discover so make sure you check it out early for the shortest lines. Usually at least one of the omelet stations will also do eggs any way you request them so you can get fried or scrambled eggs if that is how you prefer them. Other stations include the pastries, bread, fruit and pancakes. (There is also a British area for your baked beans and grilled tomatoes.)
I happen to think the regular coffee on Celebrity is better than some other cruise lines. Since the beverage package is included you can also get a latte, espresso, cappuccino, etc. from the friendly waiters who are walking around.
Main dining room breakfast
The main dining room has basically the same options as the buffet, they are just served to you in a much more classy environment.
On days where we want to feel a little elegant we choose the main dining room, but we have decided over the years that the food is generally not much better. It still has to travel to get to you.
The main dining room menu is like the menu at dinner. You can order as much as you want. The servers typically walk around with trays of pastries and juices to start the meal and then you order as many dishes and sides as you need off the main menu. These options range from “healthy” parfaits to eggs benedict, to waffles and much more!
Personally, I don’t think the choice of buffet or dining room is about the food – it is about atmosphere. If you want to sit and be waited on at a leisurely pace then the dining room is a great experience. If you want to get your own food at your own pace and be more casual about it, then the buffet is probably for you. The breakfast foods on Celebrity Cruises are great either way!
Room Service
Celebrity is the only cruise line we have ever been on that included hot breakfast items in their free room service breakfast. We were not especially pleased with the hot items – they were hot – they just were not to our preference. However, the coffee was plentiful, the pastries were good and the view was unbeatable.
Lunch
Full disclosure – we have never quite managed to eat in the main dining room for lunch. It is open, at least on sea days. But it’s just too challenging to be dressed at lunch time. Swimsuit cover-ups are acceptable at the buffet and that is where you find us!
The buffet on Celebrity, or the Oceanview Café, is a step up from other cruise ship buffets. It has standard items like hotdogs & hamburgers, nachos, Asian food of some sort, American, salads and a carvery. But they also regularly have some special or noteworthy options such as the occasional filet mignon on the carvery or the exotic fruit stand. This is really where the food on Celebrity Cruises is just a step above other cruise lines and where Celebrity really shines.
But sometimes it is just the standard vegetable lo mien that is the standout dish of the day. You just never know until you’ve tried everything on the buffet – or at least attempted to!
Other lunch options for when you can’t make it out of your swimsuit or don’t get hungry until 3pm
Pizza is open all afternoon and is pretty standard. It’s not the most amazing pizza I’ve ever had at sea, but it’s not the worst either. Same thing with burgers from the pool-side grill. Pretty standard. Not the best at sea, but not the worst either.
Afternoon Snack
I think the afternoon snack is Celebrity’s attempt at an afternoon tea. It included scones, finger sandwiches and cake, but if it’s not a sit-down affair with white table clothes, is it really a traditional afternoon tea?
(Sorry Celebrity, but this is one Carnival totally does right! Check out Carnival’s FREE high class tea here.)
That being said, its totally worth popping by if you are hungry in the 4-5 time range and you’re dinner isn’t until 8. It has enough to make a nice little unhealthy afternoon snack.
Dinner
The buffet is open for dinner, but unless we are exhausted from some excursion we always make a point to go to the main dining room(s) for dinner at night.
Like other cruise lines, food is unlimited at dinner and you can order however many appetizers, main dishes, lobsters and deserts you want. And of course bread. There is always plenty of bread.
Like any other cruise line, I don’t think it’s possible to actually go hungry on a Celebrity Cruise. There are plenty of options with overlapping times and for people of all different tastes.
The food is absolutely one of the most important onboard activities no matter if you are sailing Celebrity or another cruise line – it should always be a main focus!
What to read next when you’re still interested in food on a celebrity cruise:
Trying to decide between cruise lines? Check out this post comparing Celebrity to Royal Caribbean!
Trying to decided a cruise line based on food? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Food on Carnival Cruise Lines
Looking for more information about what’s included on a Celebrity Cruise? Find out more here.
Cruising in the Caribbean? Check out these Caribbean Cruise Tips.
