Conflicting reviews of food on ships

[Tigert]

Looking at sailing a 4 or 5 night on the Destiny, Dream, or Fantasy. Only looking at sailings that hit Castaway and Lighthouse. I have read so many opinions of the food on Disney ships. I realize this is highly subjective, but what I’ve read is all over the place. Can anyone clear this up for me once and for all? Does the food quality differ ship to ship? I realize the newer ships will have more options. As an example, saw one review where the person ate at Palo every night because the food wasn’t good in the main dining rooms. I’d appreciate any input. Thanks!

 

[princesscinderella]

I think food is so subjective and what is delicious to someone can be gross or under seasoned to another. Palo food quality is definitely better than the main dining rooms because they aren’t preparing food for 800+ people at one time at each main dining room twice a night. I wouldn’t say the food is amazing but there are some good options on each menu.

It’s easy to look ahead at the menus on the navigator once you are on the ship and you can see if nothing appeals to you that night you can plan to eat food from the pool deck or order from the room service menu. We just got off the treasure and we didn’t eat in the MDT on 2 of our nights, one for palo and the other because we didn’t want to spend so much time dining and grabbed bbq from the festival of foods on the pool deck before it closed at 6pm.

 

[Joanna71985]

I've done 13 cruises (on 4 different ships), and I've never had any issues with the food. I'm doing the Treasure for the first time in Sept, and I'm looking forward to trying the MDR (especially the Coco restaurant)

 

[OKW Lover]

We've sailed on all 6 ships and no, the food quality is not a function of the ship. Reading reviews of dining is really not helpful because you don't know the experience of the ones doing the review and their likes/dislikes.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Looking at sailing a 4 or 5 night on the Destiny, Dream, or Fantasy. Only looking at sailings that hit Castaway and Lighthouse. I have read so many opinions of the food on Disney ships. I realize this is highly subjective, but what I’ve read is all over the place. Can anyone clear this up for me once and for all? Does the food quality differ ship to ship? I realize the newer ships will have more options. As an example, saw one review where the person ate at Palo every night because the food wasn’t good in the main dining rooms. I’d appreciate any input. Thanks!

Of course the food will vary from ship to ship. Biggest reason - different head chef. Each chef has his/her strengths/weaknesses. Also food supplies may limit what may be available to work with. Only you can determine what you like and don't like (after giving it a try). Remember, you can always get something different if what you initially order isn't to your liking.

 

[happycamper47]

We've sailed on all 6 ships and no, the food quality is not a function of the ship. Reading reviews of dining is really not helpful because you don't know the experience of the ones doing the review and their likes/dislikes.

YEP... 5 of the 6 and 22 cruises and I can say it isn't always perfect, but won't say bad.

 

[lilmc]

We’ve had the same dish be moderately better or worse depending on which sailing we’ve been on. It’s all been fine to mediocre. Think catered wedding food. Perfectly edible, something for everyone, but “safe” options that aren’t piping hot or generously seasoned.

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

I’m really curious to see what the food is like on my Dream cruise in June. I have heard so many negative reviews about food on almost every ship lately. (Also positive reviews, but more negative than I used to see.) I know it’s a very subjective thing but it still makes me a little nervous.

I definitely noticed a decline in food taste/quality on my 2021 and 2022 cruises, but I wouldn’t say anything was bad, just not as good as previous cruises. Hopefully it hasn’t gone downhill even more in the last 3 years.

 

[dreamer17555]

Food is so subjective. We have done 16 Disney cruises since 2020 and I’ve never actually had a bad food. I’ve had meals that I haven’t enjoyed as much I have menus that I don’t love but nothing actually bad.

Also, people tend not to post when they love stuff, but tend to be quick to comment when they dislike something.

I do suggest that if you have any sort of issues with the food or the service that you tell your serving team and your head server right away. They will go out of their way to make things right for you and make sure you are enjoying the food on your sailing.

So often people come back from a cruise complaining when things could’ve been easily rectified if they had just spoken up while they were on the ship.

 

[Cfabar1]

We were last on the Dream in 2024 and we really enjoyed the food. Also had some good meals on the magic.

We found the food on the Wish to be mixed... On our two cruises it varied wildly... not even consistent from dining hall to dining hall...

 

[FireflyTrance]

I had a friend go on a Disney cruise recently and complain about the food, but I’ve always found it to be good to decent. I think it also depends on your expectations. Really good food isn’t that important to me and that’s not the main reason I would go on a cruise. Others might go on a cruise mostly for the food and then they are more likely to be disappointed. If you’re fine with the food you find in the parks then you’ll be fine with the food you find on the ship. Also if you really don’t like what you get in the main restaurant, they will often be willing to switch it out for you.

 

[princesscinderella]

I was sad that Escargot is not an appetizer on the Treasure in any of the restaurants menus. It’s one of my favorite cruise treats as I rarely see it on menus at local restaurants. I’m sure a lot of people don’t like even the thought of it but it’s super delicious. My kids even tried it after seeing me order it every cruise and loved it. That’s what I love about cruising is being able to try something you normally wouldn’t because if you are ordering it off a menu and paying the bill you are only going to get what you know you like.

 

[Erica1016]

I was sad that Escargot is not an appetizer on the Treasure in any of the restaurants menus. It’s one of my favorite cruise treats as I rarely see it on menus at local restaurants. I’m sure a lot of people don’t like even the thought of it but it’s super delicious. My kids even tried it after seeing me order it every cruise and loved it. That’s what I love about cruising is being able to try something you normally wouldn’t because if you are ordering it off a menu and paying the bill you are only going to get what you know you like.

My favorite is the Deep Fried Brie. I'm so sad it isn't on the Wish or Treasure. I just told DH it's a reason we'll have to go on an older ship again soon!

 

[Peaseblossom36]

We were on the Fantasy in February and the food was good. The best I've ever eaten, no. But good. I feel like it was better on our cruise in 2019 but that could also be that I wasn't a parent so was able to focus more on eating my own food while it was hot. I did feel like our servers were VERY slow (which may have been why my food wasn't hot), but they did a good job.

I would say it was on par with good wedding food.

 

[Cfabar1]

I was sad that Escargot is not an appetizer on the Treasure in any of the restaurants menus. It’s one of my favorite cruise treats as I rarely see it on menus at local restaurants. I’m sure a lot of people don’t like even the thought of it but it’s super delicious. My kids even tried it after seeing me order it every cruise and loved it. That’s what I love about cruising is being able to try something you normally wouldn’t because if you are ordering it off a menu and paying the bill you are only going to get what you know you like.

Very sad! Always order it when on the ship!

 

[Liastaob]

We're usually pretty happy enough with the food. I loved the Coco restaurant, but it was essentially my favorite kind of food so I'm pretty biased. Also I could have Mariaci music pretty much anywhere

Marvel is OK, as is 1923 mostly.

 

[Tigert]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I like the comparison to wedding food

 

[Joanna71985]

I’m really curious to see what the food is like on my Dream cruise in June. I have heard so many negative reviews about food on almost every ship lately. (Also positive reviews, but more negative than I used to see.) I know it’s a very subjective thing but it still makes me a little nervous.

I definitely noticed a decline in food taste/quality on my 2021 and 2022 cruises, but I wouldn’t say anything was bad, just not as good as previous cruises. Hopefully it hasn’t gone downhill even more in the last 3 years.

My last cruise was on the Dream, and I enjoyed the food

 

[Erica1016]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I like the comparison to wedding food

I would also add that almost everything tastes better to me if I don't have to prepare it!

 

[Peaseblossom36]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I like the comparison to wedding food

I've always liked the food I've had at weddings, so that's a good thing to me And I agree with that statement that food is always better when I don't have to make it. That was my favorite part of the vacation!