{"id":34475,"date":"2025-10-07T18:32:32","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T18:32:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/usa\/i-spent-a-week-eating-my-way-through-one-of-the-worlds-largest-cruise-ships-and-had-10-outstanding-dishes\/"},"modified":"2025-10-07T18:32:32","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T18:32:32","slug":"i-spent-a-week-eating-my-way-through-one-of-the-worlds-largest-cruise-ships-and-had-10-outstanding-dishes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/usa\/i-spent-a-week-eating-my-way-through-one-of-the-worlds-largest-cruise-ships-and-had-10-outstanding-dishes\/","title":{"rendered":"I spent a week eating my way through one of the world&#8217;s largest cruise ships and had 10 outstanding dishes"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628d33416e7dc5001975b7fb?format=jpeg\" alt=\"A composite image of the author looking down at a dish of food and a banana pudding in a mason jar\"\/><figcaption>Business Insider&#039;s reporter dined at several restaurants during her cruise on board Royal Caribbean&#039;s Wonder of the Seas.<\/p>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>I spent seven nights on Royal Caribbean&#039;s Wonder of the Seas in April 2022.<\/li>\n<li>The ship had 20 restaurants, and I ate at more than half of them during my cruise.<\/li>\n<li>Ten dishes stood out, including crab beignets, a lobster roll, and a special take on banana pudding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I thought I&#039;d get sick of the food by the end of my seven-day voyage. I&#039;d never been on a cruise before, but I imagined my dining options would be limited at sea.<\/p>\n<p>And they might have been if I weren&#039;t on board Royal Caribbean&#039;s Wonder of the Seas. As one of the largest cruise ships in the world, Wonder of the Seas has 20 eateries, from coffee shops and buffets to fast-food joints and upscale restaurants.<\/p>\n<p>So every time I got hungry on my Caribbean cruise, I had dozens of options. I ate at as many different restaurants as I could \u2014 more than half of them. There were 10 standout dishes that I&#039;m still thinking about when my stomach grumbles.<\/p>\n<p>Meals at both complimentary and specialty restaurants made my top list of favorite things I ate.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/62600975d2039d0019ba770b?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Wonderland dining room on the world&#039;s largest cruise ship\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Some restaurants are complimentary as part of the cruise rate, while specialty dining incurs an additional cost.<\/p>\n<p>For the latter, guests often pay a cover charge for a three-course meal, and the cost tends to increase the later into the cruise you reserve a table. I made reservations at five specialty restaurants.<\/p>\n<p>Two of my favorite dishes came from the main dining room.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/625ffea9d2039d0019ba7614?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Entrance to the main dining room on deck 3 of the world&#039;s largest cruise ship\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The main dining room is complimentary for guests and serves breakfast and a three-course dinner each day.<\/p>\n<p>I went there for dinner one night and had garlic tiger shrimp with jasmine rice, seasonal veggies, and herb butter.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628bb5dcb0a8be00186017fe?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Top meal on the world&#039;s largest cruise ship\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The shrimp was juicy and had great flavor. The rice was sticky, which I like, and the asparagus and tomatoes were well-seasoned.<\/p>\n<p>At breakfast, the main dining room served thick French toast that was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628bb5deb9dbb40018cb44cd?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Top meal on the world&#039;s largest cruise ship\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A delicious berry sauce on top paired nicely with maple syrup. This was my favorite breakfast of the whole trip.<\/p>\n<p>Outside the main dining room, I particularly enjoyed El Loco Fresh, an outdoor DIY taco bar.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628d0bc1b9dbb40018cb6bec?format=jpeg\" alt=\"El Loco Fresh sign on the top deck\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It&#039;s included for guests and serves a selection of meats, cheeses, and toppings, like pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream.<\/p>\n<p>I grabbed a bowl of chips to make some nachos.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628bce88b9dbb40018cb4ae6?format=jpeg\" alt=\"nachos on the world&#039;s largest cruise ship\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The queso had great texture and flavor. The bar had every topping I could want, satisfying my Tex-Mex craving on the ship.<\/p>\n<p>When I wanted an upscale meal, I chose Chops Grille, a steakhouse.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628d0a7eb9dbb40018cb6b6b?format=jpeg\" alt=\"The entrance to Chops grille\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I paid $55 for a three-course dinner here.<\/p>\n<p>The highlight was the appetizer \u2014 a crispy goat cheese salad with green apples, candied walnuts, cranberries, and balsamic dressing.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628bb5dcb0a8be00186017fb?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Top meal on the world&#039;s largest cruise ship\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It was an eclectic mix of textures and flavors, but blended together perfectly in my mouth.<\/p>\n<p>For another upscale meal, I went to 150 Central Park.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628d0aa4b9dbb40018cb6b85?format=jpeg\" alt=\"The entrance to 150 Central Park\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On a plant-filled outdoor deck, 150 Central Park served a variety of meat, seafood, and other &quot;locally sourced ingredients,&quot; according to Royal Caribbean. I had a three-course dinner for $50.<\/p>\n<p>The best thing I ate at 150 Central Park was the fried cheesecake, so if you dine here, be sure to save room for dessert.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628bb5e1b9dbb40018cb44d3?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Top meal on the world&#039;s largest cruise ship\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The dessert was soft, fluffy, and light, with a cream cheese filling. Caramelized popcorn, whipped cream, and a Nutella drizzle complemented it perfectly, making it even more satisfying than the main course.<\/p>\n<p>To get my seafood fix, I went to the New England-style Hooked Seafood restaurant.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628d0ad06e7dc5001975ab41?format=jpeg\" alt=\"The entrance to Hooked\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The menu draws inspiration from Maine to Maryland. I paid $53 for a three-course dinner.<\/p>\n<p>The lobster roll was fantastic.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628ce858b0a8be001860493c?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Lobster roll with fries on a blue plate at Hooked\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The toasty roll was loaded with thick chunks of lobster and crisp lettuce. I squeezed the grilled lemon across the top and bit into the refreshing mess of a sandwich. It reminded me of lobster rolls I&#039;ve had living on the East Coast.<\/p>\n<p>For dessert at Hooked Seafood, I went with the chef&#039;s suggestion: a lemon tart.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628bb5e1b9dbb40018cb44d8?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Top meal on the world&#039;s largest cruise ship\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I took one bite, and it was easy to see why it came highly recommended. The lemon custard was tangy with a bit of sweetness, and it filled up a flaky, buttery crust. It was the best lemon tart I&#039;ve ever had.<\/p>\n<p>The Mason Jar serves southern comfort food. I went there for a three-course dinner.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628d0b51b9dbb40018cb6bc4?format=jpeg\" alt=\"The Mason Jar entrance\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It cost $40, and everything I ordered made my top 10 list.<\/p>\n<p>To start, I ordered the crab beignets.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628bb5d6b9dbb40018cb44c9?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Top meal on the world&#039;s largest cruise ship\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>They were the perfect texture \u2014 soft and fluffy with a crisp outer layer. The crab flavor was subtle, with cinnamon on top for an interesting twist. The accompanying crap dip was refreshing, too.<\/p>\n<p>For my main, I had fried chicken with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628bb5dcb0a8be0018601801?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Top meal on the world&#039;s largest cruise ship\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The chicken was tender and well-seasoned. The sides had good flavor as well.<\/p>\n<p>The dessert at The Mason Jar was served in one.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628bb5d5b0a8be00186017f8?format=jpeg\" alt=\"Top meal on the world&#039;s largest cruise ship\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Called &quot;Gone Bananas,&quot; the dessert was made with layers of vanilla pudding and graham cracker crumbs inside a jar. It was topped with toasted bananas, whipped cream, and toffee. The dessert was fluffy, light, and rich in banana flavor.<\/p>\n<p>It was the perfect ending to my favorite meal of the trip.<\/p>\n<p>If I were to cruise with Wonder of the Seas again, I&#039;d spend less money on specialty restaurants and more evenings in the main dining room.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.insider.com\/628d3081b9dbb40018cb73c4?format=jpeg\" alt=\"People sit in the main dining room on the world&#039;s largest cruise ship\"\/><figcaption>\n<p>Joey Hadden\/Business Insider<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>While the specialty restaurants served delicious courses, I thought the food quality was just as high in the main dining room, where I only ate twice.<\/p>\n<p>But I&#039;d absolutely pay to go back to The Mason Jar for all three standout courses.<\/p>\n<p>Read the original article on Business Insider<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Business Insider&#039;s reporter dined at several restaurants during her cruise on board Royal Caribbean&#039;s Wonder of the Seas. Joey Hadden\/Business Insider I spent seven nights on Royal Caribbean&#039;s Wonder of the Seas in April 2022. The ship had 20 restaurants, and I ate at more than half of them during my cruise. Ten dishes stood [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34476,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-34475","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-usa"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34475"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34475\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}