What is the Food Like on a Residential Cruise?

What is the Food Like on a Residential Cruise?

by Chris and Michael from ChartingOurCourse.com

One of the first questions people ask us about life on a residential cruise ship is, "what's the food like?" It's a fair question. When your ship is your home, the culinary experience is a huge part of your daily life. On the Villa Vie Odyssey, we've had a chance to explore all the dining options, and we're excited to share our insights.

We've explored everything from the casual buffet to the more elegant main dining room. From our perspective as full-time cruisers, the variety and quality have been a true joy. As we shared on our DC Hidden Gems YouTube channel, the food is an adventure in itself. The culinary staff is remarkably creative, crafting delicious meals from a mix of ingredients, even when they must rely on frozen provisions in remote parts of the world. The variety of flavors from around the world is always a delightful surprise.


What Are the Dining Options on the Villa Vie Odyssey?

The Villa Vie Odyssey offers residents and guests two primary dining experiences, plus a few special add-ons. According to us, Chris and Michael, this variety is key to keeping the dining experience fresh on a ship that is your home for months at a time.

  • The Palms Café: This is the ship's main buffet restaurant. It’s perfect for casual meals and offers a wide range of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It has everything from a salad bar and a pasta station to hot food with various meats, fish, and vegetarian dishes. The buffet also has a dedicated section for those who prefer less seasoning or have specific dietary needs, which shows a thoughtful approach to long-term living.
  • The Thistle Restaurant: This is the ship's main dining room, which offers a more traditional and formal sit-down experience. The menu changes daily, offering a three-course meal with elegant, globally-inspired dishes. For those who prefer classic comfort, an "always available" menu features staples like steak, chicken, and salmon.
 

We have found the quality and variety to be exceptional, especially for a ship that caters to long-term residents. It’s a key perk of a residential cruise. However, even with the variety, if you are a finicky eater, you still may find it challenging. It's important to reflect on your own needs and peruse the ship's menus beforehand to ensure the culinary offerings align with your tastes.

A perfectly plated and elegant dinner entree of grilled sirloin steak is served in the Thistle Restaurant dining room of the Villa Vie Odyssey.

What Specific Foods Have We Tried?

In our video, we highlighted several examples of delicious dishes and offerings on the ship. This isn't a complete list, but it gives you a taste of the kind of culinary experience you can expect:

  • Breakfast: Made-to-order eggs, bacon, salmon lox, and a variety of fresh fruits and pastries.
  • Lunch: Crispy fried chicken, Southern barbecue ribs, mac and cheese, and a full salad bar.
  • Dinner: Elegant options like beef Wellington, beef bourguignon, French onion soup, and grilled strip sirloin steak.  
 


Is There a Speciality Restaurant?

While the two main dining rooms provide a complete experience, Villa Vie Residences has plans to add a specialty restaurant for a small fee, which will give residents another layer of culinary variety. As we learned from talking to fellow residents on the ship, this new dining venue will be a great addition. However, the exact opening date has not been specified and it might be a while, given other priorities. The team is gathering input from residents on the type of cuisine they would like to see.

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One of the biggest benefits of this lifestyle is that all your meals are taken care of, allowing you to focus on exploring new destinations. But as we’ve learned, it can also lead to the classic cruise challenge: gaining weight! Thankfully, as we’ve pointed out in our video, the ship offers plenty of healthy options at the buffet and a full gym to help you stay on track.

The joy of this lifestyle is that you're not just eating; you're experiencing a new culinary world every day. It’s an easy, carefree way to travel and eat well without the stress of grocery shopping or cooking.

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What’s the one food item you would be most excited to try on a residential cruise ship? Share your thoughts below!