Family Enjoying Breakfast at the Windjammer

THE BEST CRUISE RESTAURANTS ONBOARD GRANDEUR OF THE SEAS

Looking for the best cruise food at sea? Your ship’s come in.

By Amanda Mesa| Published on May 22, 2024

If you’ve read any of my past guides to cruising, you know that I take food very seriously on all my vacations. A getaway without great meals is like a cannoli without any cream inside — it just doesn’t make sense. Of course, something Royal Caribbean always nails is cruise dining. It’s a big reason why their ships are always at the top of my list when I’m planning a vacation at sea — and Grandeur of the Seas is no exception.

This long-sailing cruise ship offers plenty of restaurants to please a diverse range of flavor preferences and cravings. Whether I’m in the mood for fantastic sushi, authentic Italian entrees, a hearty steak or a comforting bowl of soup, I know I’m only ever steps away from something delicious when I sail aboard this ship. When it comes to cruise fine dining, Grandeur also knocks it out of the park. Chops Grille, Izumi and Chef’s Table are wonderful, upscale options for celebratory dinners and dialed-up date nights. And of course, the main dining room serves up a fabulous multi-course feast in an opulent setting every night of your sailing.

Purchasing cruise drink packages takes every sailing a step further by letting you pair every bite with unlimited ice-cold brews, fine wines and vacation libations throughout your getaway. And buying a specialty dining package unlocks unrivaled discounts at the ship’s specialty restaurants, including Izumi, Chops Grille and Giovanni's℠ Table. Prefer to stick to complimentary cruise dining options? No problem — the complimentary restaurants onboard serve food that’s just as wow-worthy, at no additional cost. Here’s a quick rundown of all the cruise restaurants onboard one of my favorite Vision Class ships.

1. Windjammer

If you’re looking for casual, complimentary eats during breakfast, lunch or dinner, head to Windjammer. This fleetwide mainstay serves up a rotating selection of global fare buffet-style, so you can create your own smorgasbord of delicious bites from across the many different stations on offer. There’s also always plenty of seating, and you don’t need a reservation — simply pop in any time of the day and get ready for an international flavor-fest. There are lots of tasty options for kids, too, as well as vegetarian offerings that are easy to spot.

2.Park Café

Another great complimentary cruise dining option is Park Café. At this laid-back, family-friendly dining spot, you can dig in to refreshing, made-to-order salads, fresh-pressed paninis loaded with deli meats and cheese, piping-hot bowls of soup and decadent desserts bound to satisfy even the strongest sweet tooth (trust me, I would know). The most iconic item on the menu, however, is the Royal Kümmelweck, a roast beef sandwich that’s become something of a legend (and a rite of passage) among Royal Caribbean cruisers. While Park Café isn’t open for dinner, it does serve up a mean breakfast spread if you want to drop by before lunch.

3. Café Latte-Tudes

Speaking of breakfast, one of my favorite haunts onboard this cruise ship is Café Latte-Tudes. This cozy little nook is so much more than just a coffee shop — though the daily brews are out of this world. The baristas here are skilled at whipping up stellar macchiatos, cappuccinos and more, and there’s always a mouthwatering selection of pastries and baked goods to go with every last drop. I love to stop by in the morning and in the evening, especially if the day’s had more adventures than relaxation and I’m hoping to spend the night out on the ship. If you’re craving something stronger in your brew, you can ask the team to spike it with your favorite spirit — it’s the ultimate pre-dinner pick-me-up.

4. Chops Grille

In my opinion, every cruise getaway should have at least one night dedicated to a classic steakhouse dinner at Chops Grille. For more than a decade, this upscale onboard steakhouse has been making waves across the fleet with its prime cuts of meat, all seasoned and sizzled to perfection. If you’re not a meat-eater, you’ll still find lots of tantalizing options on the menu, including succulent Maine lobster and tender branzino — not to mention raw seafood classics and family-style sides that elevate every meal. Keep in mind that Chops Grille is one of the most popular specialty restaurants onboard, so I recommend making a reservation ahead of time.

5. Izumi

Izumi is your go-to if you’re craving Asian-inspired flavors during your cruise onboard Grandeur of the Seas. Another Royal Caribbean classic, it’s definitely one of the best places to eat on a cruise. I like to start my meal here with a few of the restaurant’s izakaya-style appetizers, namely the shrimp firecracker rolls. Then it’s all about the baked snow crab and salmon dynamite roll. My husband loves the fried rice and perfectly cooked scallops, capped off with a serving of chewy, refreshing mochi or crispy sesame balls with red bean and strawberry sauce.

6. Giovanni’s Table

One of my top restaurants onboard Grandeur of the Seas is Giovanni’s Table. It’s a favorite of mine when I’m looking to plan an intimate, romantic dinner at sea with my husband. It’s also a great option for memorable family meals during your vacation. The menu at this beloved specialty restaurant spotlights Old-World entrees like hearty veal osso bocu, traditional risotto with porcini and truffle tapenade, thick slabs of herb-baked focaccia bread and grilled lamb chops that will have you dreaming about them long after you’ve finished every bite on your plate. If you’re a seafood lover, go for the tagliarini tossed with calamari and scallops.

7. Main Dining Room

A staple on any Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the main dining room serves an incredible multi-course feast every evening for dinner. Ahead of your cruise, you’ll get to select your preferred seating time. Alternatively, you can choose My Time Dining, which allows you to eat in the main dining room whenever you like during dinner hours, according to availability. If you’re traveling with a family or a large group, I suggest choosing a dining time ahead of your sailing, so that you can always be guaranteed a table together (or several tables close to each other, if your group is really big) at the appointed hour. Dishes on the menu in the main dining room rotate daily — though you will find some tried-and-true favorites that don’t change. Some of my favorite global options include the Moroccan-spiced ahi tuna and the mojo-marinated pork loin.

8. Chef’s Table

Those of you foodies looking for a dining experience that’s the definition of “extra” need to snag a reservation at Chef’s Table. The most exclusive specialty cruise dining option onboard Grandeur of the Seas, Chef’s Table is an intimate culinary journey hosted for just a small group of people each night of your sailing. This formal celebration of flavor includes five exquisite courses hand-selected by the cruise ship’s chef de cuisine and expertly paired with wines chosen by the head sommelier. Highlights include scallop carpaccio dressed in yuzu vinaigrette, smoked tomato soup sprinkled with garlic focaccia croutons, Maine lobster salad tossed with pineapple and a coriander-vanilla dressing and a roasted branzino paired with lemon confit.

9. Room Service

There’s nothing basic about wanting to stay in the comfort of your stateroom to enjoy a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner. And onboard Grandeur of the Seas, you can call up all your favorite eats whenever your cravings strike, thanks to 24/7 room service. The continental breakfast items on your room service menu are included in your cruise fare, though you can level up your meal with upgrades that include fried eggs, omelets and more. Have a beverage package? Order up some fizzy mimosas or a Bloody Mary. Lunch and dinner cover a wide range of options, from crispy chicken tenders, hot dogs and cheese toasties to the legendary Royal Burger — 225 grams of tender Wagyu beef topped with aged cheddar and crispy bacon.

These are all the incredible cruise restaurants onboard Grandeur of the Seas, though because the menu rotates in spots like Windjammer and the main dining room, you can always look forward to something new to try — even if you’ve tasted your way across all the other dining concepts onboard. Next, it’s time to check out all the fun activities, shows and cool things to do onboard this cruise ship. Or, if you’ve ready enough and are ready to book, find your perfect itinerary.