Beyond the buffet: unforgettable cruise ship dining

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These days, cruise ships are like floating dining districts, with as many as 25 different restaurants on board serving eclectic, gourmet and even celebrity-chef fare. Here’s our picks for unbelievable onboard restaurants for a memorable cruise ship dining experience.

Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian, Norwegian Cruise Line

Available on brand-new ships Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, this elegant seafood restaurant features a menu and dining experience orchestrated by the Iron Chef and Chopped judge himself. Sample the Grilled Prawn Panzanella for your first course, but save your appetite for the Lightly Roasted Sea Scallops or signature dish Dover Sole.

Wonderland, Royal Caribbean International

You’ve never dined quite like this before (let alone on a cruise ship). This imaginative, whimsical new restaurant lets you pick your element—Wind, Ice, Fire, Water, Earth and Dreams—and embark on a surreal culinary experience. Prepare yourself for eccentric yet delightful dishes like liquid lobster, Sriracha eggs served in a plume of smoke and flash frozen ice cream atop a savory pork belly.

Steakhouse, Carnival Cruise Lines

Looking to celebrate a special occasion on board? The Carnival Steakhouse is the perfect spot for an intimate evening overlooking the ocean. Available aboard most ships, the mouthwatering menu features ribeye, New York strip and filet mignon cooked to perfection, plus equally palate-pleasing seafood like lobster tail and surf & turf.

Lawn Club Grill, Celebrity Cruises

Set on the onboard grass-covered lawn (seriously), this new, open-air restaurant lets you grill up as many specialties as you can eat, from pizzas and poultry to seafood and veggies. Adding to the “backyard BBQ” feel, select passengers will be selected as grill masters to cook their party’s food—under the tutelage of Celebrity’s resident grill men, of course.

Bayou Café & Steakhouse, Princess Cruises

Passengers can spice up their sailing with peel-and-eat-shrimp, gator ribs, seafood gumbo, chorizo jambalaya and moreCajun- and Creole-inspired dishes at the very first New Orleans restaurant at sea. After dinner, you can even enjoy a little dancing to live jazz music.

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Tagged: Caribbean, Cruise, Family time