What to Eat on a Cruise
The last thing you want on a vacation is to get sick. Unfortunately, some cruise foods are known for giving travelers an upset stomach. In this article, we're reviewing what to eat on a cruise, and what to avoid so you can enjoy your vacation.
Here are some food safety tips to follow to ensure you have the trip of a lifetime.
Foods to Avoid on a Cruise
While you likely won’t be able to completely avoid the cruise ship buffet on your trip, these dishes and food items aren’t worth the risk.
Self-Serve Items
No restaurant is immune to the bad habits of human beings, especially cruise lines. The average buffet anywhere in the world is risky because of other people, not because of how the food is handled. Cruise buffets offer self-serve items and dishes that require you to handle utensils touched by other customers.
One of the main ways you're likely to get sick aboard a cruise is by handling tongs, forks and other communal buffet items without washing your hands. You have no idea who’s touched these items previously, and it could’ve been used by someone coming down with the flu. By washing your hands more frequently and keeping sanitizer on you while you go about your cruise ship itinerary, you'll avoid most potential illnesses.
Sushi
Even though cruise ships maintain quality ingredients and place an emphasis on kitchen hygiene, buffet sushi is rarely a good idea. Fresh, raw fish is one of the most likely ingredients to carry foodborne illnesses, especially if your cruise buffet isn't properly monitored. Choose to eat sushi at a restaurant in one of your port cities instead.
Tap Water
All cruise lines offer tap water, but you may not know that it goes through a severe desalinization process first. This is because your standard tap water on board any cruise ship is, technically, originally seawater. While completely safe and potable, some cruisegoers experience issues when consuming water that's gone through the desalinization process.
Dairy-Based Dishes
Just like sushi, dairy-based dishes at any buffet are more at risk for foodborne illnesses, especially if left unattended. Your cruise ship staff will be thorough in checking whatever dishes they serve, but any cuisine that's heavy in dairy may be something you avoid just in case.
Overly Spicy Dishes
Unless you already have a high tolerance for spicy dishes, you may want to avoid them on your next cruise. The level of spice in certain cuisines can be difficult to predict, and spicy food is one of the leading causes of indigestion and other intestinal upset. Use your best judgment when it comes to anything that may leave you needing an antacid at the end of the day.
Safe Foods to Enjoy on a Cruise
When it comes to what's safe to eat aboard the average cruise, here are some fail-safe options and recommended dishes.
Waiter-Plated Salads
Self-serve salads are one of the leading causes of foodborne illnesses on a cruise ship. Lingering germs on tongs or food handling tools can infect salad greens and other raw food ingredients much easier than cooked dishes. If you're craving a salad on your next cruise, ask for it from a proper restaurant so that a chef or waiter can plate it for you.
Popular Entrees That are Consistently Replenished
Freshness is key when it comes to any buffet. Cruise ships will attempt to maintain freshness across all dishes they serve, but you'll know an entree is fresh if it is consistently replenished. This may mean you'll be waiting in line for some of the most popular dishes at the buffet, but the constant refreshment means you'll have hot, safe meals for the duration of your trip.
Dishes You Know and Love
No matter where your cruise ship is headed, you may be feeling adventurous about what to eat while on vacation. However, you may be better off eating dishes you already know and enjoy while on board your vessel. Choosing dishes outside your comfort zone can be a good idea, but weigh the pros and cons when it comes to the possibility of you becoming ill from certain foods.
Reasonable Portions
It's no secret: overdoing it portion-wise is common on cruise ships. Buffets and all-inclusive meal plans make it easy to eat, especially if you're at sea for a number of days. However, to avoid indigestion or other illnesses, try to maintain a fine balance between delicious meals and healthy portions!