Given the popularity of cruising and the importance of food to cruise holidays, it’s a wonder this has never really been done before. But here it is now. Forbes Travel Guide has charted new territory with its 2025 Star Awards, becoming the first rating system to officially recognise cruise ship restaurants.
The move reflects the growing emphasis on culinary experiences at sea, and according to Forbes, sets a new benchmark for excellence in cruise ship dining.
Earning four-star ratings in Forbes’ 67th annual Star Awards were Celebrity Apex and Ascent’s Fine Cut Steakhouse along with SeaDream II’s Dining Room.
Elsewhere, Silver Origin’s The Grill (Silversea), Star Pride’s Candles (Windstar) and Fine Cut Steakhouse received Forbes’ Recommended Award.
As with all Forbes Travel Guide ratings, undercover inspectors assessed service, quality and experience.
No fees or partnerships influence the awards, with all assessments based on incognito and in-person evaluations.
“The cruise industry has raised the bar significantly when it comes to dining with big investments from the style and design to the food and wine program all helping to elevate the epicurean experiences at sea,” Forbes Travel Guide’s President of Standards & Ratings, Amanda Frasier said.
“Of note, we are seeing cruise lines partnering with celebrated chefs and sourcing of the finest ingredients to equal the very best restaurants on land.
“We’re proud to acknowledge this progress and highlight the best of the best through our star ratings.”
Cruise dining has evolved into a destination-worthy experience. Some restaurants, like S.E.A. on Evrima, feature menus from Michelin-starred chefs such as Sven Elverfeld of The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg. Others, like The Grill on Silver Origin, highlight regional cuisine, showcasing Ecuadorian flavours.
Menus also impressed inspectors – Fine Cut Steakhouse’s New York strip, The Grill’s lava-stone-cooked lobster and S.E.A.’s champagne crème sorbet all stood out as must-try dishes.
Forbes began awarding Star Ratings to cruise ships in 2023, reflecting luxury cruising’s rapid evolution.
Fourteen cruise liners are now star-rated.
The first ocean liner to earn a prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Star Award in 2023, Celebrity was the only cruise line to have two restaurants awarded.
“We seek to provide authentic, globally inspired food and beverage options that guests can only find onboard Celebrity ships to help guests create memories that will last a lifetime,” Celebrity Cruises Vice President of food and beverage Jan Sorensen said.
“We push the boundaries of what dining at sea can be. From our award-winning wine collection, to partnering with world-renowned chefs such as Chef Daniel Boulud who is our global culinary ambassador, Celebrity Cruises offers an elevated, premium dining experience.”
Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) recently revealed that Celebrity would enter the river cruising market. Read about that here.
