I am a FOODIE, let me repeat that, I AM A FOODIE. If you happen to enjoy really, really, really good food that resembles something you might see on Iron Chef, then let me introduce you to a cruise line that is absolutely destroying the competition’s taste buds!
All meals are included in your cruise fare; there are no extra dining restaurants onboard that will cost you an extra upcharge to settle at the end of your sailing.
Let’s start with The Galley. This is an upbeat, very visual dining experience in the heart of deck 15. It features sushi/bento boxes, burgers, an American-style diner (with pub stool seating), multiple grab-and-go options, paninis, a noodle bar, and THE WORLD’S MOST VISUAL/TASTY DESSERT BAR. Coffee and pastries can be found on deck 15 throughout the day as well.
Speaking of dessert, what about the ice cream? Well, Lick Me Till Ice Cream is a buffet of flavors all waiting for you on Deck 7. True story: we got ice cream before we ordered a pizza.
The Pizza Place is also on deck 7 and has that authentic feel of your local wood-fired pizza place. Order an entire pizza and take it to the pool or just sit down, have a beer, and relax while you soak up that booze you have been drinking all day.
The Social Club on deck 7 has great snacks during the day: hot dogs, popcorn, soft pretzels, and tons more treats. The seating is more of a social environment (think high-top tables with bar stools), and the arcade and shuffleboard are right there too. The Social Club is a great place to meet other sailors, singles, or group meetings!
Well, if you have made it this far, you must be a foodie also because everything I have described so far is not very “Iron Chef,” but just wait for the next few eateries! These are 100% included, but reservations are needed. You can make reservations on the app or with Sailor Services once onboard the ship.
In no particular order, here are the most stunning and visually pleasing restaurants at sea you will find!
The Wake – Think 5-star steakhouse at the aft of the ship. The giant windows enhance your dining experience with the ports in the far distance as you sail to the next stop. There is a reason there is a grand staircase leading to The Wake: the menu is unreal. Razor Clam Chowder, Pan-Roasted Ora King Salmon, Filet Mignon, New Zealand Lamb Chops, and much more! We ate at The Wake on Scarlet Night to class it up even more!
Extra Virgin – Yes, Italian, not Tuscan, Sicilian, or Roman, but Italian: the entire country’s palate is offered at Extra Virgin. Ribollita, Crispy Artichoke (A+ presentation), Oxtail Agnolotti, Potato Gnocchi, Grilled Mediterranean Sea Bass, Spatchcocked Grilled Young Chicken, Chestnut Castagnaccio, to a selection of Gelatos. We ate here during a sea day for dinner; the atmosphere was alive and vivid, the taste was quintessentially Italian, and the wine was amazing. I had a Chianti Classico, which paired well with the Gnocchi and Brussels Sprout Arrabbiata.
Gunbae – What a perfect way to start a cruise with the most social dinner onboard. Dinner table drinking games (yeah, it is adult only, did we mention that?) 1,2, -, 4, 5, -, 7 <— you will only get it if you have been. You and 5-6 others sit around a grill, excited about what is about to happen; the server explains how things work, and drinks are ordered. The drink menu names are exciting, and the presentation is unreal. GET THE DISCO BALL DRINK! Dinner is very social, with everyone getting to order and cook their own food on the grill in front of them. Dakgangjeong (spicy fried chicken), Japchae (stir-fried veg and noodles), and Kalbi Samgyeopsal Saewoo Modum (short rib, pork belly, and shrimp) are all of Sailingwithoutkids.com’s favorite dishes.
Razzle Dazzle (Lucky Lotus) – A gem that has been polished inside and out. Visually, my eyes do not know where to look; the decor is a perfect representation of what my brain was thinking when we ate here. The menu is not vegan, vegetarian, or even “hipster,” but it is eclectic in its uniqueness. Mushroom Tartare, Fish and Chips, Heirloom Squash Ravioli, and Nutty Gazpacho are some of the dishes served for dinner. You can always go to Razzle Dazzle for breakfast, and if their menu does not impress, you can always order the cheeseburger.
Pink Agave – The most desired of all the restaurants onboard, based on many talks with passengers while sailing in ’23 and ’24. Yet, we have not been able to get a reservation, so that tells me something. It must be amazing, and Virgin must be doing something right. The menu is robust in flavors the American palate loves. Esquites (grilled corn with lime and spicy aioli), Enchiladas, Cochinita Pibil (the one DJ Robert Michael mentioned in his interview), and Pato (roasted duck, mole, with smoked yam puree).
Test Kitchen – I mentioned Iron Chef before, and these are exactly the dishes you will find from the Test Kitchen. A foodie’s dream, this place is not only cutting edge but also a magic show on your taste buds. The first course comes out, and you look at it, think you know what it is, then you dip your fork into it, and the texture is not what you imagined. You smell it; WAIT, it smells exactly like what you thought it was before, then you take a bite, could it be some of the most mind-bending texture, taste, and mouthfeel you have ever experienced? Yes, it can be. This place is unreal; I can’t explain the other dishes. The Test Kitchen is something of a must-experience culinary adventure!
A special thanks to everyone on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady Turks and Caicos 4/12 sailing group for images of their meals!