One of the best parts of cruising has got to be the buffet — endless food, all you can eat, all day long- what’s not to love.
But there are some foods at the buffet I just won’t touch. Below, I’m sharing the 10 foods I’ll never eat on a cruise buffet — and why. I’ll tell you what to skip so you can enjoy your cruise without any food regrets.
1. Spaghetti
You won’t find me eating spaghetti at a cruise buffet. Pasta should be al dente, but on a steam table it just turns soggy and sad.
If I want pasta on board, I always head to the Pasta Bar, where I can order a cooked-to-order pasta dish.
2. Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled eggs are a definite no-go for me at cruise buffets. They usually aren’t made with fresh eggs — most of the time, they use powdered eggs in huge batches, and honestly, it just tastes kind of gross. I’d rather skip it altogether.
3. Eggs Benedict
I love eggs benedict, but the cruise buffet version? I avoid it. These tend to sit under heat lamps way too long, turning the eggs overcooked and the hollandaise sauce all clumpy and unappetizing.
If I’m craving eggs benedict, I always order it fresh from the main dining room instead.
4. Dinner Rolls
Dinner rolls at the buffet? I pass every time. Sure, they look tempting, but when you’ve got unlimited food options on a cruise, why waste your carbs on dry, stale rolls?
I save my bread cravings for the main dining room, where the rolls are fresh and served warm.
5. Steak
Steak at a cruise buffet? No thanks! Steak sitting under a heat lamp or on a steam table is never going to be juicy or tasty.
If I want a good steak, I head straight to the main dining room or a specialty restaurant where it’s grilled fresh and cooked just right.
6. Squid
I once made the mistake of trying squid salad at a cruise buffet — and never again! The squid was rubbery and just totally unappetizing.
Normally, I love squid, but that experience had me avoiding it for a long time.
7. Green Beans
Green beans at a cruise buffet? I skip those too. Just like pasta, they sit on the steam table way too long and turn into a soggy mess. I want my green beans crunchy — not this sad, overcooked version.
8. Burger
When it comes to burgers at a cruise buffet, I avoid any that have been sitting on the steam table. They lose all that fresh, juicy appeal.
Instead, I head to the grill where burgers are made to order—just how I like them!
9. Hotdogs
Hotdogs at the buffet? No thanks. Seeing them sitting next to dry buns under a heat lamp is a major turnoff.
I’d rather go straight to the grill where they cook hotdogs fresh and juicy whenever I want one.
10. Fruits on Ice
I’m always cautious about fruit that’s been sitting on ice at a buffet. The ice can be a germ hotspot, and the fruit often looks pale and unappetizing — like these strawberries.
I’d rather skip the fruit that’s been hanging out on ice and play it safe.
Cruise Essentials to Buy Before Your Cruise
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Travel Must-Haves
Passport neck wallet – Keeps your passport and travel documents secure and accessible. It also has RFID protection.
Cruise lanyards – A super convenient way to keep your cruise card within easy reach. No more digging through your bag every time you need it! I recommend getting one lanyard per person in your group and choosing different colors so it’s easy to tell them apart.
Anti-theft crossbody bag with anti-pickpocket clip – Genius anti-theft clip and versatile enough for both port days and evenings in the dining room.
Anti-theft crossbody bag with RFID – Padded shoulder straps with RFID lining to safeguard against identity theft.
Insulated water bottles –I don’t like spending money on bottled water, and I always want fresh water in my cabin. I’ll fill my bottle at the buffet or ask my server at dinner, then bring it back so I have water at night. This is my go-to water bottle—I prefer ones without straws since they’re much easier to wash in the cabin sink.
Pashmina – This multi-purpose wrap always earns its spot in my luggage. Use it as an evening wrap, a lightweight plane blanket, or a cover-up when visiting places of worship that require modest dress. I never cruise without one—you’ll be surprised how often it comes in handy.
Cruise Planning Essentials
Day Passes to Resorts– Booking private beach resort access in advance guarantees a comfortable beach experience at the cruise port.
Travel Insurance with CFAR Coverage– CFAR travel insurance gives you flexibility to cancel your cruise for any reason and recover part of your costs if plans change.
Last Minute Cruise Deals– Search for last minute cruise deals.
Cabin Comfort & Organization
Non-surge Cruise power strip– Cabins never have enough outlets (check cruise line rules first).
Magnetic hooks – Super-strong magnetic hooks that attach easily to your cabin walls. They’re perfect for hanging hats, cruise lanyards, goggles, swimsuits, and towels. I personally use the 85+ lb hooks—they’re incredibly sturdy and can even hold backpacks!
Small portable fan – Improves airflow and keeps Inside Cabins from feeling stuffy.
Motion sensor night light – Perfect for Inside Cabins, for when you get up at night to use the bathroom. It also has a magnetic base, so you can easily attach it to your cabin walls.
Toiletries & Laundry
Hanging toiletry bag – Keeps your essentials neat and accessible.
Fabric freshener spray – Fights wrinkles and refreshes clothes between wears.
Travel-size detergent – Handy for washing swimsuits, underwear, and quick-dry clothing in the sink.
TSA-approved travel containers – Easy to pack your lotions, creams, and other liquids without worrying about TSA rules.
Health & Wellness
Anti-seasickness medicine – My go-to meds for anti-seasickness. I take one in the morning on sea days (bring chewables for kids).
Acupressure bands – A natural alternative for seasickness relief. I use this with the anti-seasickness meds.
Packing & Storage
Cruise travel planners– Check out my travel planners, they help you stay organized before and during your trip.
Packing cubes – I never travel without packing cubes! They make packing and unpacking so easy—you can simply slip the entire cube into the cabin closet or drawer. I like to assign a different color to each person so there’s no mix-up.
Foldable duffel bag – I always pack a foldable duffel bag in case I bring home too many souvenirs or do some extra shopping. It doubles as an extra carry-on and barely takes up any luggage space.
Foldable shopping bag – Perfect for shopping at cruise ports, these bags fold up small enough to keep in your purse. I always carry one with me—you never know when you’ll need it! Plus, many countries charge a fee for shopping bags, and I’d much rather use my own than pay extra.
Foldable backpack – Perfect for cruise port days when you need an extra bag. I love that these backpacks are lightweight and fold down small, so you can toss one in your luggage without taking up much space.
Travel luggage scale – I always keep one in my suitcase so I can weigh my bags before heading to the airport. It’s a simple way to avoid overweight baggage fees.
Apple AirTags – I pop one into each of my bags so I can track my luggage for peace of mind. They’re especially helpful if you have a short layover and worry about your suitcase getting left behind.
Beach Essentials
Towel Clips – A simple must-have for pool and beach days! They keep your towels from slipping off lounge chairs, and I never cruise without brining a few in my luggage.
Waterproof phone pouch – Protect your phone from water and sand while still being able to snap photos. I always bring one when cruising the Caribbean or Mediterranean—it’s a lifesaver for beach and pool days.
Striped beach bag with zipper – You’ll need a beach bag with zipper to keep your things secure. I like this one because it’s stylish, has a water bottle holder, keeps belongings secure and has a lot of pockets.
Kid-Friendly Cruise Essentials
Magnetic toys – Cabin walls are magnetic, making these toys perfect for fun, mess-free entertainment. They keep kids busy when you’re in the cabin, especially since cruise TV options for kids can be limited. It’s always best to bring your own toys.
Collapsible beach buckets and toys – You’ll definitely want to bring beach toys if you’re going on a Caribbean cruise! This collapsible set includes foldable buckets, shovels, and sandcastle molds, all packed neatly in one bag. They’re easy to fit in your suitcase without taking up much space.
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