After sailing on 12 different Princess ships over the past few years, I've eaten my way through virtually every specialty restaurant and main dining room they offer. The truth? Not all Princess ships are created equal when it comes to food quality, and some specialty restaurants are absolute gems while others will leave you wondering why you didn't just stick to the buffet.
Let me break down exactly which Princess ships deliver the best dining experiences and where to spend your specialty dining dollars for maximum deliciousness.
If you're a foodie, the Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, and Sky Princess are your best bets. These ships consistently deliver the highest quality across both specialty and complimentary venues.
Crown Grill on these ships is phenomenal – I'm talking perfectly cooked filet mignon and lobster tail that rivals high-end steakhouses on land. The $39 cover charge feels like highway robbery until you taste the food. Pro tip: Book the chef's table experience for $89 per person on sea days – you'll get a multi-course tasting menu that's honestly better than most $200 dinners ashore.
The Salty Dog Gastropub (available on Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess) serves elevated pub fare that puts other cruise line casual dining to shame. Their fish and chips uses beer batter made with local brews from ports, and the $18 price point is reasonable for the portion size.
Honest Con: The main dining rooms on Royal-class ships can be hit-or-miss depending on your dining time. The 6:00 PM seating gets fresher food than the 8:30 PM crowd, when some dishes have been sitting under heat lamps.
Share your Royal-class dining experiences in our Princess Cruises forum!
The Grand Princess, Golden Princess, Star Princess, and their sisters offer decent dining, but you'll notice the difference immediately if you're coming from a Royal-class ship.
The Crown Grill on these older ships uses the same menu, but the execution isn't quite as polished. I've had overcooked steaks and lukewarm sides that would never fly on the newer ships. That said, the $39 cover charge remains the same, so your value proposition drops.
Sabatini's Italian Trattoria is actually better on some Grand-class ships than the newer ones. The chefs seem to have more freedom with the menu, and I've had incredible osso buco on the Golden Princess that wasn't available on Sky Princess. The $35 cover charge is worth it, especially if you skip appetizers at dinner and load up on their excellent antipasti selection.
The main dining rooms on Grand-class ships serve classic Princess fare – think reliable but uninspiring. The lobster tail on formal nights is consistently good, but don't expect any culinary surprises.
Izumi Sushi (on newer ships) charges $8 per specialty roll, which sounds expensive until you realize each roll has 8-10 pieces. I've made a full meal out of two rolls and miso soup for $16 – try finding fresh sushi at that price on land.
Planks BBQ (Regal Princess and newer) offers all-you-can-eat BBQ for $29. The brisket is surprisingly tender for shipboard cooking, and the sides are actually made fresh, not reheated. Go hungry and make it your only meal of the day.
La Mer Bistro on the newer ships serves French cuisine that's genuinely impressive. Yes, $45 per person is steep, but the duck confit and bouillabaisse are restaurant-quality. Book this on a sea day when you have time to savor the experience.
Skip These: The pizzerias on older Princess ships serve cardboard with cheese. Seriously. The Alfredo's Pizza on Grand-class ships is barely edible. Stick to room service for late-night pizza cravings.
Here's what Princess won't tell you: traditional dining beats anytime dining for food quality every single time. The chefs know exactly how many meals to prepare for each seating, so food comes out fresher and hotter.
Best Traditional Times:
Avoid: Showing up to anytime dining between 7:00-8:00 PM. You'll wait 45 minutes for a table, then get rushed service as the crew tries to turn tables for the second seating.
The formal night menus are consistently Princess's best work. The surf and turf is actually worth getting excited about, and the chocolate journeys dessert is legendary among repeat cruisers.
Insider Tip: If you have dietary restrictions, email Princess 30 days before sailing. Don't wait until embarkation day – the specialty restaurants need advance notice to accommodate special requests properly.
The Horizon Court buffets vary wildly between ships. The newer ships have better organization and fresher food rotation, but even then, timing matters enormously.
Best Buffet Times:
Avoid: The buffet after 2:00 PM and before 5:30 PM. Food sits too long, and you're eating lunch leftovers or early dinner prep.
The grill stations (hamburgers, hot dogs) are consistently good across all Princess ships. The pizza at the buffet is actually better than Alfredo's on most ships – it's made fresh throughout the day.
If dining is a priority, book Sky Princess, Majestic Princess, or Enchanted Princess. These ships have the most specialty options and the most consistent execution.
For specialty dining, budget $150-200 per person for a 7-day cruise if you want to try 3-4 restaurants. The Crown Grill and Sabatini's are must-dos, while the others depend on your tastes and budget.
Money-Saving Tip: Princess often runs specialty dining packages during Wave Season (January-March) that can save you 20-30% if you book multiple restaurants upfront.
The reality is that Princess sits in the middle of the cruise dining pack – better than Carnival or MSC, but not quite reaching Royal Caribbean's specialty restaurant heights. Set your expectations accordingly, and you'll have plenty of delicious meals without the disappointment.
What's been your best (or worst) Princess dining experience? Share your restaurant reviews and tips in our Princess Cruises forum!
Let me break down exactly which Princess ships deliver the best dining experiences and where to spend your specialty dining dollars for maximum deliciousness.
The Royal-Class Ships: Princess Dining at Its Finest
If you're a foodie, the Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, and Sky Princess are your best bets. These ships consistently deliver the highest quality across both specialty and complimentary venues.
Crown Grill on these ships is phenomenal – I'm talking perfectly cooked filet mignon and lobster tail that rivals high-end steakhouses on land. The $39 cover charge feels like highway robbery until you taste the food. Pro tip: Book the chef's table experience for $89 per person on sea days – you'll get a multi-course tasting menu that's honestly better than most $200 dinners ashore.
The Salty Dog Gastropub (available on Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess) serves elevated pub fare that puts other cruise line casual dining to shame. Their fish and chips uses beer batter made with local brews from ports, and the $18 price point is reasonable for the portion size.
Honest Con: The main dining rooms on Royal-class ships can be hit-or-miss depending on your dining time. The 6:00 PM seating gets fresher food than the 8:30 PM crowd, when some dishes have been sitting under heat lamps.
Share your Royal-class dining experiences in our Princess Cruises forum!
Grand-Class Ships: Solid but Not Spectacular
The Grand Princess, Golden Princess, Star Princess, and their sisters offer decent dining, but you'll notice the difference immediately if you're coming from a Royal-class ship.
The Crown Grill on these older ships uses the same menu, but the execution isn't quite as polished. I've had overcooked steaks and lukewarm sides that would never fly on the newer ships. That said, the $39 cover charge remains the same, so your value proposition drops.
Sabatini's Italian Trattoria is actually better on some Grand-class ships than the newer ones. The chefs seem to have more freedom with the menu, and I've had incredible osso buco on the Golden Princess that wasn't available on Sky Princess. The $35 cover charge is worth it, especially if you skip appetizers at dinner and load up on their excellent antipasti selection.
The main dining rooms on Grand-class ships serve classic Princess fare – think reliable but uninspiring. The lobster tail on formal nights is consistently good, but don't expect any culinary surprises.
The Best Specialty Restaurant Values
Izumi Sushi (on newer ships) charges $8 per specialty roll, which sounds expensive until you realize each roll has 8-10 pieces. I've made a full meal out of two rolls and miso soup for $16 – try finding fresh sushi at that price on land.
Planks BBQ (Regal Princess and newer) offers all-you-can-eat BBQ for $29. The brisket is surprisingly tender for shipboard cooking, and the sides are actually made fresh, not reheated. Go hungry and make it your only meal of the day.
La Mer Bistro on the newer ships serves French cuisine that's genuinely impressive. Yes, $45 per person is steep, but the duck confit and bouillabaisse are restaurant-quality. Book this on a sea day when you have time to savor the experience.
Skip These: The pizzerias on older Princess ships serve cardboard with cheese. Seriously. The Alfredo's Pizza on Grand-class ships is barely edible. Stick to room service for late-night pizza cravings.
Main Dining Room Strategy
Here's what Princess won't tell you: traditional dining beats anytime dining for food quality every single time. The chefs know exactly how many meals to prepare for each seating, so food comes out fresher and hotter.
Best Traditional Times:
- 6:00 PM - Freshest food, most attentive service
- 8:30 PM - Still good quality, more relaxed atmosphere
Avoid: Showing up to anytime dining between 7:00-8:00 PM. You'll wait 45 minutes for a table, then get rushed service as the crew tries to turn tables for the second seating.
The formal night menus are consistently Princess's best work. The surf and turf is actually worth getting excited about, and the chocolate journeys dessert is legendary among repeat cruisers.
Insider Tip: If you have dietary restrictions, email Princess 30 days before sailing. Don't wait until embarkation day – the specialty restaurants need advance notice to accommodate special requests properly.
Buffet Reality Check
The Horizon Court buffets vary wildly between ships. The newer ships have better organization and fresher food rotation, but even then, timing matters enormously.
Best Buffet Times:
- 7:00-8:30 AM - Fresh breakfast items, no crowds
- 12:00-1:00 PM - Lunch at its peak
- 6:00-7:00 PM - Dinner items just put out
Avoid: The buffet after 2:00 PM and before 5:30 PM. Food sits too long, and you're eating lunch leftovers or early dinner prep.
The grill stations (hamburgers, hot dogs) are consistently good across all Princess ships. The pizza at the buffet is actually better than Alfredo's on most ships – it's made fresh throughout the day.
Bottom Line: Where to Book for the Best Food
If dining is a priority, book Sky Princess, Majestic Princess, or Enchanted Princess. These ships have the most specialty options and the most consistent execution.
For specialty dining, budget $150-200 per person for a 7-day cruise if you want to try 3-4 restaurants. The Crown Grill and Sabatini's are must-dos, while the others depend on your tastes and budget.
Money-Saving Tip: Princess often runs specialty dining packages during Wave Season (January-March) that can save you 20-30% if you book multiple restaurants upfront.
The reality is that Princess sits in the middle of the cruise dining pack – better than Carnival or MSC, but not quite reaching Royal Caribbean's specialty restaurant heights. Set your expectations accordingly, and you'll have plenty of delicious meals without the disappointment.
What's been your best (or worst) Princess dining experience? Share your restaurant reviews and tips in our Princess Cruises forum!