Cruising is not only a fantastic way to experience several destinations, it has also become synonymous with exceptional service, masterful mixology and elaborate dining options. From cooking classes to celebrity chefs and multi-course menus, across both small boats and some of the world’s biggest ships, these are the absolute best cruises for food and drink lovers.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the world's top cruises for foodies, counting down to the greatest of all.
Our ranking is based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. This list is unavoidably subjective.
This small yachting group offers a luxury cruising experience like no other. If you love food but also wish to make health-conscious decisions while travelling, it’s possible to do so deliciously on board, with the team offering a vast range of raw food, as well as vegan and organic options. There’s lots of opportunity for a little indulgence, too, with an elaborate dessert gathering, featuring baked treats, tarts, pies, ice cream and cakes, taking place after dinner. The service is excellent, and the food is always fresh.
Travelling by water is made all the more comfortable (and tasty) thanks to CroisiEurope River Cruises. The menus on offer have been designed by renowned chef Alain Bohn, who pays tribute to French gastronomy, as well as the other destinations cruisers will visit on their journey. Expect days filled with bountiful buffets, set menus and delicious desserts. Those after a coastal experience are in luck as CroisiEurope also offers trips around the Mediterranean Sea and some of the Atlantic and Adriatic.
River cruising has never looked so good, and it’s all courtesy of AmaWaterways, a luxury cruise line specialising in scenic riverboat experiences. The destination-influenced menu is hard to beat, with guests able to sample goulash while journeying through Hungary, bratwurst and sauerkraut on returning from Vienna and creamy Camembert while on the Seine. Cruisers can level up the experience even further with a seat at the special chef’s table restaurant, where the kitchen becomes part of the entertainment.
Those eager to explore various open rivers across the globe should look to Emerald Cruises. The team are experts in their field, offering trips through Central Europe and Southeast Asia. On board, foodies can expect expertly prepared dishes, alfresco cocktail spots and plenty of opportunities to get stuck in at a cookery class. Further interactive experiences available include everything from sharing the table with a local family in Slovakia to savouring a rural dinner at the beautiful Quinta da Pacheca wine state in the Douro valley. Emerald Cruises also offer yachting holidays, too, through the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.
With over 20 eateries, a Michelin-starred culinary council and absolutely zero buffets or busy dining halls, Virgin Voyages is the rebel child in the cruising industry, and we’re all for it. There’s plenty to get excited about onboard ship, with foodie highlights including a lively Korean barbecue spot, an innovative Test Kitchen restaurant, exquisite tasting menus and a trendy ice cream parlour.
Avalon Waterways knows how to cater for foodies. Alongside a farm-to-fork approach across its European ocean cruises, the brand has crafted a series of journeys with food and drink lovers in mind. There’s something for everyone, including speciality wine adventures across the French Riviera, culinary tours throughout Prague and craft beer cruises across Germany and Switzerland. If the nautical option leaves you hungry for more, Avalon offers culinary land tours in some of the home ports, too.
Luxury cruising and expertly crafted, memorable dining experiences are what Regent Seven Seas Cruises is all about. Global flavours and influences are interwoven with regional dishes inspired by the destinations visited, with plenty of fine dining options available for everyone. Expect breathtaking ocean views during breakfast or lunch at La Veranda, dramatic Pan Asian dinners at Pacific Rim and French fare at Chartreuse.
Luxury hospitality group Belmond is known for its exceptional quality, so it comes as little surprise to hear that the brand offers a range of beautifully curated river cruising experiences. These floating cruises, available for private charter, allow guests to unwind in style while soaking up picturesque French scenery. The food is just as breathtaking as each fleet’s interior, with a strong focus on destination-based menus, plus there's the opportunity to stop off and enjoy regional foodie highlights, from vineyards to truffle excursions.
Cruising across the globe is made all the more luxurious thanks to Atlas Ocean Voyages. Whether you’re traversing across Antarctica, exploring the beauty of Patagonia or reclining in the Mediterranean, you can guarantee you’ll be fully catered for. The culinary team have worked their magic to curate a range of brilliant speciality restaurants, including Alma’s multi-course Portuguese menu, expert grilling options at 7AFT and afternoon tea with views over the ocean at The Dome.
Under the direction of renowned chef Daniel Boulud, Celebrity Cruises offers one of the best dining options at sea, with destination-inspired menus showcased throughout. Eateries include Cyprus Restaurant, which offers a taste of the Mediterranean, Cosmopolitan Restaurant, showcasing the best of new American cuisine and Tuscan Restaurant, boasting Italian-influenced options. The speciality restaurant everyone wants to try, though, is Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud. Beautifully decked out with soft tones and banquette seating and offering a sensational tasting menu, the chef’s first restaurant at sea certainly doesn’t disappoint.
For a taste of Southeast Asia, the Aqua Mekong is the way to cruise. Journeying along the Mekong River, passengers can expect to sail through Cambodia and Vietnam in style. Created in partnership with Michelin-starred chef David Thompson, the menu is beautifully presented and showcases the full, vibrant flavours of the Asian countries you are travelling through. Guests can enjoy market expeditions with the ship’s chefs, where they’ll sample local delicacies and be shown how to incorporate regional ingredients into their own kitchen through live cooking demonstrations.
Whether you’re cruising around the Mediterranean, South Africa or the Caribbean islands, MSC Cruises offers an array of game-changing dining packages that will seriously impress foodies. Those who love to try as much variety as possible will adore the vast buffet options, with everything from international bites to pasta stations, plus a dreamy dessert corner. There are endless speciality packages to add on, too, so look forward to dining on Pan Asian delights from Oriental Plaza and prime cuts from Butcher’s Cut Steakhouse.
British cruise line Cunard is renowned for its luxury offerings and things have recently become even more exciting thanks to the brand’s partnership with Michelin-starred chef Nathan Outlaw. He has launched Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, an exciting culinary experience showcasing five-course seafood tasting menus crafted from the finest Mediterranean ingredients. Available on select Queen Victoria Mediterranean voyages, it’s a truly elevated dining option all seafood lovers will enjoy.
This ultra-luxury cruise line is one for fine dining fans. Part of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, one of the world’s top gastronomic societies, the company is known for offering excellent, Michelin-level culinary experiences. There’s plenty to get excited about, from Solis, a Mediterranean restaurant inspired by the places guests can choose to visit to The Colonnade, an upscale buffet experience with open-air seating overlooking the ocean.
Smaller cruise ships usually translate to a more luxurious, intimate experience and that’s certainly the case with Paul Gauguin Cruises. Hosting just 330 guests, everyone is fully catered for here. There are three main foodie attractions on board; La Veranda offers alfresco dining with wraparound ocean views and serves both buffet and a la carte breakfast and lunch options. At Le Grill, guests can enjoy a more casual experience with grilled dishes, salads and fresh fruit in abundance, while in the evening it’s reservation only and allows diners to sample Polynesian specialities. The main dining room, L’Etoile, is for the fine dining lovers, with brilliantly prepared dishes paired with wine.
Specialising in both ocean and river adventures, Viking Cruises offers immersive trips with a destination-focused dining approach. Opt for an ocean experience and avid foodies can look forward to multi-course tasting menus, private dining room options and premium seafood choices. There’s also The Kitchen Table, an onboard cooking school where guests can see for themselves how the chefs incorporate local ingredients and showcase regional dishes. Viking River Cruises offer excellent dining options, too, including a mesmerising open-air terrace with soaring views over Europe’s striking riverscapes.
Thanks to the expertise and brilliance of French chef Jacques Pépin, Oceania Cruises has curated a tantalisingly good onboard menu. The food programme is enhanced further by Culinary Discover Tours, which includes exclusive local food excursions and cooking classes at the cruise ship’s Culinary Center. There are multiple speciality restaurants aboard ship, too, from a classic steakhouse to a Parisian-style bistro.
An all-inclusive cruise is a fantastic opportunity to relax and enjoy travelling without worrying about trying to squeeze a month’s worth of sightseeing into a day. With Norwegian Cruise Line, guests are pampered from the moment they step on ship. Expect a range of specially crafted menus with global influences, buffet options designed for all ages, as well as endless speciality dining restaurants. Whether you’re after French classics, Texas-style barbecue, refined Thai dishes or Mexican flavours, you can travel the world without ever having to leave the ship.
Restaurateur, author and the first British chef to receive three Michelin stars, Marco Pierre White is one of the UK’s most renowned food personalities. The celebrity chef has partnered with P&O Cruises, along with wine expert Olly Smith, to offer foodies a chance to enjoy exquisite dining experiences. The pair, alongside other culinary figures, regularly teach masterclasses and host private dinners on board. Other foodie highlights include Sindhu, an Indian British fusion restaurant, and trendy tapas spot The Glass House.
Offering both ocean and river cruises, Scenic is renowned for its ultra-luxe dining options. Opt for a river trip across Central Europe or Southeast Asia and you can look forward to delicious dishes crafted using local ingredients. Expect five-course tasting menus on European rivers cruises, while across Southeast Asia you can enjoy a 10-course chef’s table experience. Scenic’s ocean cruises, meanwhile, boast over 3,000 dishes across the 10 unique dining experiences, all specially curated to reflect the regions you’ll be sailing through.
For those after a day cruise to remember, Rottnest Cruises showcases the best of Western Australia’s seafood. Located just off the shore of Perth, Rottnest Island is known for its quality seafood, crystal clear waters and striking scenery, and this is exactly what you can expect from a day at sea with Rottnest Cruises. Premium beverages, freshly caught lobster and a seven-course degustation menu full of local delicacies is just a taste of what guests can look forward to.
Perfect for Disney fans of all ages, this cruiser is designed with big and small kids in mind. Expect your wildest Disney dreams to come true aboard this ship, with film-themed restaurants showcased throughout. There’s Remy, a fine dining, adult-only experience inspired by Ratatouille, a theatrical dining adventure centred around Frozen and even a sweets corner influenced by Inside Out.
Crowned the World’s Best Cruise Ship for Dining 2024 by World Cruise Awards, Princess lives up to the hype, offering a range of personalised foodie packages to explore. There are endless buffet options, from the freshly made pizza served at Slice Pizzeria to global fusion dishes at World Fresh Marketplace. Add on a special meal to remember and enjoy authentic favourites from Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria or speciality seafood at The Catch by Rudi.
Holland America Line (also known as HAL) has been at the top of the cruise food scene for some time, and it’s easy to see why. The upscale cruise experience boasts a culinary council including famous chocolatiers Lindt, sushi master Andy Matsuda and renowned chef Rudi Sodamin, who expertly delivers a modern twist on classic French dishes. The fleet also proudly sources more than 80 varieties of seafood and fish locally across its global network of ports. Expect a mix of fine dining and casual spots serving everything from gourmet burgers to authentic Italian delights.
Silversea offers an impressive collection of international flavours to please every palate, but the highlight of its offering is S.A.L.T., the cruise ship's exclusive destination-focused restaurant that stands for Sea and Land Taste. Curated by Adam Sachs, former editor-in-chief of Saveur magazine, the menu changes with every port visited, whether you’re in the Greek Isles or the vibrant waters of the Caribbean.
Luxury hotel group The Ritz-Carlton has a reputation for its lavish interiors, beautiful architecture and exceptional service, and this is exemplified further with the brand's Yacht Collection. Whether you want to explore diverse landscapes across Asia, the balmy blue waters of the Caribbean or the history of Europe, there’s a cruising experience for everyone. As you’d expect, the food is anything but an afterthought – each voyage has an array of speciality restaurants, with many under the wing of huge culinary names.
Windstar Cruises is the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, which brings some of the most coveted chefs and mixologists onboard. As part of this partnership and the all-inclusive boutique programme, Windstar offers the option to join the brand’s James Beard Foundation Culinary Themed Cruise experience, where guests can go shopping in the local food markets with chefs and learn culinary techniques, as well as see live demos and enjoy hosted dinners. There’s also the opportunity to dine at Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso, an onboard Spanish-inspired restaurant from the 10-time Michelin-starred chef.