Royal Caribbean ships have endless food options, from grab-and-go pizza to build-your-own tacos and Main Dining Room delicacies. However, it's impossible to try everything, even if you're sailing on older Vision or Radiance Class vessels.
In a recent Reddit thread on the r/royalcaribbean forum, fans weighed in on their must-haves, ranging from dinner appetizers to decadent desserts and late-night munchies.
The post received over 70 comments in six days, revealing that long-time Royal Caribbean cruisers know what's worth the calories and what might be better left untouched. Common favorites include Sorrento's pizza, escargot, mozzarella sticks, and hash browns.
Here are the snacks you shouldn't miss on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.
Sorrento's pizza
Sorrento's is a Royal Caribbean staple found on most ships in the fleet. Operating hours vary, but generally speaking, it's a popular late-night spot for gamblers and partiers alike.
Families also love it for its quick, kid-friendly options, including classic pepperoni and cheese slices, making it an easy option for snacks between meal times and activities.
The best part? You can have as much pizza as your heart desires. Unlimited Sorrento's is included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare.
Playmakers' campfire cookie
Playmakers is Royal Caribbean's sports bar and arcade. Although it isn't available fleetwide, it's become so popular that it is a common addition to older ships.
The food isn't included in your cruise. However, everything is à la carte, meaning you only pay for what you order. Pricing tends to be reasonable, too.
There's a lot to love about the menu, but Royal Caribbean Blog's head honcho, Matt Hochberg, can't get enough of the ooey, gooey campfire cookie.
Another favorite from Playmakers is the jalapeño poppers.
"I will not be disclosing how many [poppers] I consumed on our cruise.....they are soooo good!" Reddit user Wonderlust_816 commented.
Spare Tire's pizza tornadoes
Spare Tire is exclusive to Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's purpose-built weekend party ship. The food truck-style venue has a limited variety of grab-and-go items, including veggie wraps, chipotle chicken sandwiches, raspberry cheesecake chimis, and more.
One Reddit user's favorite, however, is the pizza-flavored tornado. The crispy exterior and savory filling make it perfect for a heartier poolside snack.
Like Sorrento's, everything at Spare Tire is included.
CocoCay's famous mozzarella sticks
Perfect Day at CocoCay is Royal Caribbean's award-winning private island in The Bahamas, so it's only fitting that some of the destination's food options have garnered a cult-like following.
The mozzarella sticks are easily the most famous. They are beloved for the crispy breaded exterior and Instagram-worthy cheese pulls.
In fact, some cruisers love them so much that they only get off the ship at CocoCay to pick up an order from the Snack Shack!
Crêpes from Crème de la Crêpe
Icon of the Seas was Royal Caribbean's first cruise ship to have a food hall — dubbed the "Aquadome Market" — with each stall dishing up different cuisines.
The crêpe station quickly became a lot of cruisers' go-to spots for breakfast, lunch, an afternoon sweet treat, and more.
The sweet and savory options are all made-to-order. Whether you are craving a classic Nutella crêpe with fresh strawberries and powdered sugar or a savory ham and cheese option, there's something for all preferences.
Basecamp's Smashburger
Basecamp is another Icon Class-exclusive. Located in the Thrill Island neighborhood, Base Camp is meant to be a quick spot to refuel between activities.
Originally, the venue offered a mix of complimentary and for-charge items. However, the menu has since been updated so that everything is included in your cruise fare.
Favorites range from the juicy smashburger to the tater tots and warm pretzels with gooey melted cheese.
Pro tip: You can take an order of tater tots to El Loco Fresh and create your own DIY Mexican totchos.
Nachos from El Loco Fresh
Speaking of El Loco Fresh, you don't need Basecamp's tater tots to enjoy poolside Mexican fare.
Many cruisers love grabbing a bowl of tortilla chips and loading them up with chicken, nacho cheese sauce, guacamole, pico de gallo, and more.
However, El Loco Fresh has plenty of other options, too — ranging from fresh quesadillas to burritos and tacos.
One Reddit user even shared their favorite El Loco Fresh hack. Due_Warthog725 will take a burrito, open it up, and load it up with cheese and chips, calling it a "Taco Bell" equivalent at sea.
Main Dining Room's escargot
The Main Dining Room (MDR) is Royal Caribbean's traditional sit-down restaurant. It's open for dinner every night of your cruise and features a rotating 3-course menu.
In the past, there was a "Classics" section, where guests could choose from timeless favorites like French onion soup, shrimp cocktails, and more. However, this was removed in early 2023. Now, escargot is part of the appetizer rotation — much to the disappointment of frequent cruisers.
"I'm... mad they took [escargot] off the every night menu a few years back!" Bbtrpt1 shared, "[On the] nights they do have it, I always get two orders."
If you haven't had escargot before, it's worth giving it a try, especially if you're on a cruise and can order another appetizer.
DJJbird09 added to the conversation, saying that escargot "...is like buttery garlic and [cheese-covered] mushrooms."
Another popular appetizer in the MDR is the Maryland-style crab cakes, which are only available on the first night's "Welcome Aboard"-themed menu.
Royal Kummelweck roast beef sandwich
The Royal Kummelweck is a popular sandwich offered at the Park Cafe, The Café@Two70, and Cafe Promenade.
Warm, freshly sliced roast beef is added to a kummelweck roll and topped with jus and your choice of horseradish sauce or spicy mustard (or both!).
The sandwich is inspired by the "Beef on Weck" sandwich from the Buffalo, New York, area that's famous for its caraway seed and salt-crusted roll.
Coconut Ranger Cookies
There are a lot of different cookies available on Royal Caribbean cruise ships. However, the coconut ranger cookies, which are essentially chewy, coconutty praline cookies, consistently stand out among cruisers.
Often available in the Windjammer buffet, Park Cafe, and Cafe Promenade, many cruisers even pack a few in Ziploc bags to enjoy later in their cabins.
"I just discovered [the coconut ranger cookies] this week! They are worth the trip!" One cruiser commented on Reddit.
Soft-serve cone
Did you really go on a cruise if you didn't have at least one soft-serve cone?
Years ago, when I was getting my hair styled, my then-hairdresser mentioned that she had a friend who would always try to eat one more soft-serve cone than their previous cruise. Although I don't remember what number they were at, it was easily in the double-digits.
Every Royal Caribbean ship has a soft-serve station you can visit as often as you like, making it easy to satisfy any sweet tooth cravings. There are ways you can elevate your afternoon sweet treat experience, too.
"Get a bowl of soft serve, then head over to the [Windjammer] dessert section for hot fudge or whatever special they have for the night. Blueberry cobbler sometimes," Lopsided-Fix2 shared.
Tuna sandwiches
As popular as Sorrento's is, it's not uncommon to be greeted by long lines, especially late at night. Thankfully, most ships have another 24/7 spot. This turned out to be a lifesaver for Different-Cut-6992, who was tired of eating only pizza at night.
"I got tired of pizza for late night and tried the tuna sandwiches at the cafe, I never went back for pizza after that. SO GOOD!" they wrote.
The tuna sandwiches could also make for a good savory afternoon snack after returning on board from a long morning ashore.
DIY chili dog
Finally, if you don't want to pay for Johnny Rockets, one savvy cruiser shared their hack for making a DIY chili dog on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
DCarp2005 said, "Get a hot dog from Dog House, take it to Loco Fresh, and put [on] chili and nacho cheese! Saves you from paying at Johnny Rockets for a chili dog."
If your ship doesn't have a Boardwalk Dog House and El Loco Fresh (like Radiance of the Seas), you can still enjoy a hot dog with the available toppings, including mustard, ketchup, relish, and sauerkraut.
