The Best Specialty Restaurants on Cruise Ships, Ranked by Category

Is Specialty Dining Worth It? The short answer is: sometimes. Specialty restaurants on cruise ships range from genuinely outstanding (steakhouses, sushi bars, chef's table experiences) to slightly-better-than-the-MDR-but-not-worth-the-surcharge. This guide breaks them down by category and tells you which to prioritize with your dining budget. Steakhouses: Almost Always Worth It Every major cruise line has a steakhouse and most of them are legitimately excellent. The quality of beef is meaningfully higher than the main dining room and the preparation is better. Carnival's Fahrenheit 555, Royal Caribbean 's Chops Grille, Norwegian's Cagney's Steakhouse, and Celebrity's Tuscan Grille are all strong. Expect to pay $45–$65 per person. If you're a steak lover, this is one specialty restaurant that consistently delivers its value. Sushi and Japanese: Excellent on the Right Ships Royal Caribbean's Izumi Japanese restaurant, Princess's Kai Sushi, and Norwegian's Food Republic all offer sushi a…