17 Foods NOT to Eat on a Cruise (Even if They're Free!)

Summary

Ilana of Life Well Cruised shares a subjective list of cruise foods and drinks she often skips, based on more than 50 cruises and feedback from her community. She emphasizes that cruise-ship food is generally safe; her advice is mainly about taste, freshness, comfort, and personal preference—not a claim that these foods are unsafe.

Foods and drinks to reconsider

• Buffet coffee: Ilana finds it mediocre and suggests considering a paid coffee option.
• Buffet scrambled eggs: They can be watery and may be made from a powdered or liquid mix. The omelet station may be a better choice because the eggs are made fresh.
• Buffet bacon: It may be thin, dry, or brittle. She prefers bacon served in a dining venue or fresh ham from the carving station.
• Pizza kept under heat lamps: It can taste stale. Look for a dedicated pizzeria or freshly made poolside pizza instead.
• Shared table condiments: Many guests handle ketchup, mustard, salt, and pepper, so be mindful of hygiene.
• Dining-room bread rolls: They can be ordinary and easy to overeat. Ilana makes an exception for the cheese bread at Princess’s Crown Grill.
• Dining-room chicken: In her experience, it is often dry.
• French onion soup: She prefers mushroom soup. For homemade onion soup, she recommends adding white wine and using several cheeses.
• Very spicy food and beans: These may worsen gas or bloating, especially when people are already eating and drinking more than usual on vacation.
• Self-serve soft-serve ice cream on a busy pool deck: If the area is messy, consider staffed service or a machine inside the buffet instead.
• Burgers and hot dogs sitting in buffet warmers: They may be greasy or dry, and the buns may be stale. Ilana prefers the pool grill.
• French fries as a snack: She suggests fresh fruit or buffet nachos with salsa as alternatives.
• Cut fruit, street food, tap water, or ice in ports: Take extra care because handling and water standards may differ from those on the ship.
• Private-island buffet meals: The selection may be limited, and flies or bees can make eating unpleasant. Returning to the ship may offer more variety and air conditioning.
• Frozen cocktails: Drinks such as piña coladas and daiquiris are often made with sugary mixes and can contain substantial sugar and calories. She suggests pineapple juice with coconut rum as an alternative.
• Buffet sushi: It may become dry, especially the rice. If you choose it, go soon after it is put out; a specialty sushi restaurant may offer better quality.
• A heavy breakfast before a tender ride: If a small-boat ride to port is expected, a lighter breakfast may help avoid stomach discomfort or nausea.

Hygiene reminders

• Wash your hands or use sanitizer before eating, especially before entering the buffet.
• After handling shared buffet utensils, wash your hands or sanitize again before eating.

People, places, and products mentioned

• Speaker: Ilana of Life Well Cruised.
• Locations and venues: Montreal, Quebec; Princess’s Crown Grill, Alfredo’s, and Gigi’s; cruise buffets, pool grills, Lido decks, ports, and private islands.
• Cruise lines: Princess, MSC, Carnival, and Celebrity.
• Products: Incogni, the video sponsor, and Life Well Cruised’s 47-page Ultimate Cruise Planner.