Oasis Of The Seas - The Best and Worst Dishes In The Main Dining Room
I was excited about trying out the food, so I planned to stick with the main dining room for most of my meals, which I did. I had breakfast there every day and dinner every night.
As someone who had never been on a cruise, I was amazed at the amount of food included in the fare. I didn't have to worry about budgeting for food or figuring out where to eat while also avoiding overly touristy spots with mid-food. I also had the option of paying extra for different dining experiences.
My dining time was 5:00 pm, but I wish I had picked a later time. Some days, I wasn't even hungry when dinner rolled around because I had a late lunch. One day, I ate at Portside BBQ for lunch and was so full that I could barely eat dinner at 5:00 pm.
In early 2023, Royal Caribbean changed its main dining room menu. Since this was my first cruise, I don't recall the dining experience before the changes. Therefore, this is an entirely unbiased food review.
Some cruisers say the service is slower because of the changes, while others say it's quicker.
I was in and out of the venue within 90 minutes.
However, I was in and out of the venue within 90 minutes. I've heard from other cruisers that the food is lacking, but I had a different experience. Most of my food was delicious, with a few notable standouts. However, there were some dishes I wouldn't order again.
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Embarkation Day: Welcome Aboard
Starter: Classic Caesar Salad & Chilled Shrimp Cocktail
During my voyage, I was constantly drawn to appetizers: Caesar salad and shrimp cocktail. These dishes quickly became my go-to choices, and as you'll see later in this post, I made a point of ordering them whenever they were available on the menu.
Main Course: New York Strip Steak
I've never been a fan of steak, but this one was fantastic. It was cooked perfectly and very tender.
Dessert: Vegan Peanut-Caramel Bar
I've been ordering vegan desserts every night since I'm lactose intolerant and can't stomach non-vegan desserts.
Sea Day: A Taste Of France
Starter: Iceberg Wedge Salad & Baked French Onion Soup
The salad could have been better. It was bland, but I shouldn't have expected more from iceberg lettuce. Honestly, it tasted like water with blue cheese and bacon mixed in. However, the soup was delicious. I have only had French onion soup once before at Be Our Guest in Disney World's Magic Kingdom, and this version was even better than that one.
Main Course: Roasted Beef Tenderloin
Dessert: Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
My favorite dessert of the entire cruise.
Port Canaveral: A Taste Of Mexico
Starter: Roasted Poblano Pepper Soup & Chilled Shrimp Cocktail
Main Course: Carne Asada
Dessert: Vegan Toffee Cheesecake & Vegan Strawberry Ice cream
CocoCay: A Taste of the Caribbean
Starter: Crispy Coconut Jumbo Shrimp & Asian-Style Pork Bao Tacos
I did not enjoy either of the appetizers. The coconut shrimp was too sweet, and the Pork Bao Tacos lacked flavor.
Main Course: Garlic Herb Buttered Tiger Shrimp
The only main course I ordered a second serving of.
Dessert: Fudge Brownie
Nassau: A Taste of Italy
Starter: Garden Mixed Salad
This was a nice break from my Caesar salad obsession, but I wish I had ordered the Caesar instead.
Main Course: Chicken Parmesan
The chicken parmesan was my favorite dish, and I regret not ordering another.
Dessert: Crumbly Oat and Berry Bar
I'm not a fan of tarts, so I didn’t care for this one.
Sea Day: The Royal Night
Starter: Chilled Shrimp Cocktail & Classic Cesar Salad
Main Course: Maine Lobster Tail
I have never tried lobster before, so I was excited to see what all the hype was about. However, I did not find it to my liking. It tasted like the ocean; even trying it with butter did not help cut through the strong sea flavor. On that day, I didn't order anything else as I was still full from eating lunch at Portside BBQ.
Dessert: Chilled Banana-Cocoa Custurad
Sea Day: Bon Voyage
Starter: Mediterranean Tapa medley & Chilled Shrimp Cocktail
I love Mediterranean food and was excited to try the tapas plate. Although the salad and tzatziki differed from what I liked, I loved the pita and hummus.
Main Course: Grilled Mediterranean Steak
Dessert: Warm Apple Crumble
sorry for the terrible photo quality
On the last night, I decided to try the warm apple crumb instead of the vegan desserts I had been having. Though it was good, it was too sweet for my taste. I can see why people love it so much, though. The combination of warm apple crumbs and chilled ice cream was amazing.
Breakfast & Brunch
On sea days, the main dining room opened for breakfast around 7 - 8 am, but the hours were shorter on port days.
Seasonal Fruit Plate
French Toast
Eggs Your Way
Omelet Your Way
Breakfast Burrito
I didn't enjoy this dish either; the chorizo was too overpowering and dried it out.
Buttermilk Pancakes
I dream about these pancakes.
Chicken Ceasar Salad
This salad was the worst I had on the cruise. The chicken was dehydrated and in too big of chunks for the small salad, and it didn’t taste fresh either.
The Royal Burger
I had high expectations for the royal burger, which I had been looking forward to trying for months before the cruise. However, it was the worst dish I had on the entire trip, and I was very disappointed. The burger lacked any flavor and tasted like it had been frozen for too long. Even the fries could have been better. I am willing to give it another try on a newer ship, though.
I'm Andrea, a travel content creator from NYC. If you are considering visiting the world's most sought-after travel destinations and need tips and recommendations or are looking for the latest film reviews, you are in the right place. Join me as I share my passion for cinema and exploration.