Late-night food on a cruise doesn't seem important in the months before your vacation, but when it's 12:37 a.m., the shows are over, the casino’s still buzzing, and suddenly you’re starving.
Royal Caribbean has evolved its food game. Traditionally, it might have been a slice of pizza or waiting for room service. But on the new ships, there are way more late-night food options than you might expect, and some of them are really good.
So instead of guessing, I stayed up late and tried them all while sailing. For the purposes of this test, I considered any time after 10 p.m. "late night".
From grab-and-go snacks to surprisingly good hot food, I ranked every late-night option on Star of the Seas to figure out what’s actually worth your time.
Sorrento's
There's a reason that you can get pizza by the slice on every single Royal Caribbean cruise ship late at night. It's not the best pizza in the world, but darn if a greasy slice doesn't hit the spot.
Sorrento's is open all day, but stays open very late. On Star of the Seas, the ship's pizza joint is open until 3 a.m.
There's always cheese and pepperoni slices available, and usually one or two other variations that change daily.
Located on the Royal Promenade, it's convenient and also incredibly popular.
When I asked Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley his favorite food on Icon of the Seas, he said it was a slice of pepperoni pizza. For him, it was tradition to enjoy pizza on a cruise.
As a pizza snob myself, I would never gloat over the quality of it. But it has a thin bottom and a pretty good crust. The slices are small, but load up with 2 or 3, and you're ready to soak up the next round of drinks.
Aquadome Market
Royal Caribbean's food hall is as impressive as a snack stop as it is for a full meal.
Aquadome Market is open until midnight, offering not just a quick bite to eat late at night, but you can also go for a second dinner, too.
When I went up for a visit at 11 p.m., there was a giant line for the crepes. It might have had a longer line than even Sorrento's. And I can't say I blame anyone who waited in that line.
The crepes are made on the spot just the way you like them: Nutella, banana, chocolate, caramel, or strawberry.
Around the corner, there are 4 other options with barely any line.
My favorite late-night snack has to be a good falafel wrap. Ever since I started cruising to Europe, I have fallen in love with falafel or shawarma wraps.
Call me crazy, but I think these are also healthier than a few slices of pizza. If I'm wrong, please don't tell me so I can continue indulging.
You could opt for a brisket sandwich, Thai bowl, or arepas. All of it included!
Playmakers Sports Bar
If you don't mind spending a few dollars, Playmakers Sports Bar has the bar food to go along with those beers and cocktails.
Bar food just hits right, especially nachos, onion rings, or a buffalo crunch wrap.
My family loves to have dessert here because Playmakers has the best dessert ever: the Campfire Cookie.
It's warm, gooey, sweet, and the kind of dessert that there is no way you're going to leave anything behind.
Plus, if you're used to having bar food with your late-night drinks, this is your best bet.
The real problem with Playmakers is that the kitchen is only open until 11 p.m., so you've gotta plan ahead if you want late-night nachos.
Pearl Cafe
The only true option that's available any hour of the night, Pearl Cafe is open 24 hours and is the last refuge for the weary-eyed party animal.
There are desserts, sandwiches, and even fruits or vegetables. Heck, you could grab a coffee to power through the next marathon Blackjack session.
I tried the Oreo cheesecake, which was about as indulgent as you can get without paying for the Campfire Cookie. It may be small, but it was a solid serving of cheesecake.
I saw something called a Coconut Cheese Custard, which looked as strange as the name sounded. I decided to try it out in the name of research.
It wasn't as bad as I expected, but it also wasn't good either. It had a gelatinous consistency to it. Maybe with enough drinks, this will be your must-eat choice.
It's hard to deny the variety of food choices available at Pearl Cafe. It's a major upgrade from Cafe Promenade, and I think an impressive array of choices.
Honorable mentions for not-so-late-night snacks
There are two other venues that close at 10 p.m., but could work for a snack if you're taking a break before the shenanigans really start.
There are two Sprinkles locations on Icon Class ships: the pool deck and Surfside. The location on the pool deck stays open until 10 p.m.
Soft-serve froyo is great, but I think it's usually an opportunistic snack you would get as you walk past it and think, "Oh! Ice cream sounds great."
The other good idea is Sugar Beach for even more flavors of ice cream (or candy).
Also closing at 10 p.m., Sugar Beach is probably where your kids would want to stop for food while you're between sips of your drink.
I think Aquadome Market has the overall best food, but it's not open as late as other spots
If we're judging this competition purely on the food offered, Aquadome Market wins in a landslide.
They have so much variety and good quality. You can have a couple of bites or a full meal. And it's all included in your cruise fare.
Sorrento's is a close second because it's open much later, and it seems the later at night it gets, the better their pizza tastes.
Plus, Sorrento's is on the Royal Promenade, making it a very convenient option if you're at the Schooner Bar, Dueling Pianos, or Pub.
