The majority of larger cruise companies including Princess, P&O, Royal Caribbean and Holland America have speciality restaurants on board which you can dine in for a small cover charge. The cover charge is obviously different depending on which cruise company and restaurant is concerned, but in my experience it is generally less than 50 US dollars per person.

I have tried and tested many different speciality restaurants on different cruise ships and with different cruise companies on some of my 13 cruises and I’ve had some mixed results. Some of my best meals have been in speciality restaurants on different cruise ships and I definitely have some favourites.

Sindhu by Atul Kochhar

I visited Sindhu on board P&O’s modern cruise ship Azura, which is an Indian inspired restaurant by Michelin starred celebrity chef Atul Kochhar.

It was one of my absolute favourite meals ever and I could have happily dined in there every single night. The restaurant had a great ambiance, the staff were incredibly friendly and so helpful and the food was absolutely outstanding.

It was definitely worth the extra supplement that we paid to dine there and I would have no hesitation recommending anyone to dine in Sindhu whilst on board Azura.

Atul Kochhar (Benares)

Sindhu Restaurant. Image courtesy of flickr findyourfeet

Chops Grille

Chops Grille is Royal Caribbean’s speciality restaurant which can be found on board many of it’s ships including Radiance Class and Freedom Class ships.

I dined in Chops Grille on board Grandeur of the Seas and absolutely loved it. Chops Grille specialises in fresh, juicy steaks and delicious sea food all in an elegant and refined atmosphere. I had one of the most sumptuous steaks of my life with a collection of amazing side dishes and finished it off with a flaming crème brulee!

Pinnacle Grill

I had a wonderful dinner in Pinnacle Grill on board Holland America’s MS Ryndam. The surroundings were incredibly elegant, yet still simple and it was all the small touches that made all the difference. The china in Pinnacle Grill is delicate Bvlgari, the silverware is Riedel and the linen is Frette. It’s plush, luxurious and it definitely all combines to create a truly memorable dining experience.

There is also an extensive wine list available in Pinnacle Grill and a knowledgeable wine sommelier will be there to assist you should you need any recommendations.

My meal in Holland America’s Pinnacle Grill was without a doubt my favourite meal at sea and worth the small supplement that we paid in order to dine there.

Speciality restaurants can be the perfect option if you’re celebrating a special occasion during your cruise holiday, or if you simply just fancy a change from the main dining room or buffet.

Thanks Emma