Best cruise lines for food and drink

Big cruise liners have a tempting array of restaurants, but the best food at sea is found on small ships, according to passengers.

When we asked 2,865 holidaymakers about their on-board experiences, only five out of 26 ocean cruise lines scored full marks for food and drink. And all of them offer small ship voyages.

What’s more, none of these companies charge extra for 'speciality' restaurants. Four of our top five are also all-inclusive cruise lines, so the upfront fare covers your drinks on board too.

Whether you’re looking for good, old-fashioned service or varied cuisine, you won’t go wrong if you book with one of these top-rated cruise lines.

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Saga Ocean Cruises

Customer score: 87%

A choice of wines, draught beer, cocktails and spirits, and all the restaurants are included on Saga’s mid-range over-50s cruises (as well as tips, wi-fi, some excursions, travel insurance and transfers to UK departure ports).

Its 999-capacity ships have a formal, informal and al fresco dining room serving the à la carte menu. Guests were even more impressed by the three speciality restaurants, which are included in the headline fare and which range from Nepalese to a 50s-style cabaret club. 

Bars include a lounge where you can order coffees and cocktails, and an Art Deco-style venue. Denim and T-shirts are frowned on in the evening, and every cruise has at least one formal night. 

Saga is the top-rated cruise line and a Which? Recommended Provider.

Read our full review and find cruises with Saga

Silversea

Customer score: 85%

Another all-inclusive cruise line, Silversea sails to exotic locations worldwide and - like Saga - includes private transfers from your front door. Once on board, there’s a free excursion every day, premium drinks (including champagne) and 24-hour dining, with a butler service thrown in too - regardless of your room category. 

That means you can have breakfast served in your suite if you fancy a lie-in, or even enjoy your own private cocktail party. Expect service to be attentive: capacity ranges from 100 to 728 guests, and there is roughly one staff member for every passenger on board. 

The range of speciality restaurants also impressed: from elegant French cuisine to Asian fusion. There’s an intimate chef’s table on some ships, which offers a tasting menu of small plates with wine and cocktail pairings. 

All this extravagance adds up to an eye-watering price per night (around £720), but customers thought it was worth it, awarding Silversea four stars for value for money.

Read our full review and find cruises with Silversea

Hurtigruten

Customer score: 83%

You won’t find fancy speciality restaurants on Hurtigruten, which specialises in Norwegian small-ship expeditions (with a maximum capacity of 619 passengers). 

But both the main bistro and fine dining à la carte restaurant showcase the best local, seasonal ingredients - with huge floor-to-ceiling windows so you can enjoy views of the fjords as you dine. 

Hurtigruten’s ethos is farm-and-fjord-to-table food with big flavours - including cod from Vesterålen and award-winning cheeses from Lofoten. Alcoholic drinks - including Arctic gin and craft beer from Bergen - will cost extra.

One happy customer told us: ‘The food was out of this world - just amazing, fresh and tasty with lots of variety.’

Read our full review and find cruises with Hurtigruten

Viking Ocean Cruises

Customer score: 83%

Passengers can choose from seven all-inclusive dining options, including a Norwegian cafe and afternoon tea in a leafy conservatory. Restaurants range from fuss-free burgers at the poolside grill to multi-course tasting menus at The Chef’s Table. Wines, beers and soft drinks are included with onboard lunches and dinner.

Several guests praised the personalised service as well as the excellent food. One told us: 'We have always had good service from friendly staff, many remembering our names and preferences.' 

There are no formal nights, but 'elegant casual' attire is expected after 6pm. This luxury Swiss-based cruise line has nine small ships that carry a maximum of 930 passengers and two smaller Arctic and Antarctic expedition ships. 

Read out full review and find cruises with Viking

Regent Seven Seas

Customer score: 81%

Sailing to destinations worldwide, Regent Seven Seas is another cruise line that offers an all-inclusive experience - with unlimited spa access, excursions and alcoholic drinks. You can also dine at a variety of speciality restaurants - with offerings such as fresh seafood and prime steaks - for no extra cost. 

‘Sinfully indulgent’ desserts, crafted by bakers and pastry chefs, are also promised. One passenger told us: ‘The specialised restaurants are top class while their regular catering is at a very high standard.’ 

On top of this, a 24-hour room service is available - with dinner served course by course in your cabin. The biggest ship in its fleet carries a maximum of 850 passengers.

Find cruises with Regent Seven Seas.

Is a cruise drinks package worth it? We added up how much you have to consume on a P&O, Cunard, Princess, Celebrity or Fred Olsen cruise to get your money’s worth