If you’re wondering about the best food on Navigator of the Seas, you’re in the right place. During our seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise, I made it my mission to try as much of the food onboard as possible. We had breakfasts in the Main Dining Room and Windjammer, lunches around the ship, dinners in specialty restaurants, way too many desserts, and more than a few cocktails along the way. If I were sailing Navigator of the Seas again next week, these are the dishes I’d make sure to order.
Did I miss your favorite dish? Let me know below.
Best Food on Navigator of the Seas for Breakfast
Winner: NY Bagel & Lox (Main Dining Room)
If you’re a smoked salmon fan, don’t skip this one. On a couple of the mornings of our cruise, I ordered the fresh smoked salmon and cream cheese. Combined with a table overlooking the ocean, it was the perfect start to the day.
Honorable Mention:
- Breakfast Power Wrap (Main Dining Room)
- Breakfast Selection (Windjammer)
- Croissants, Jam & freshly squeezed Orange Juice (Windjammer)
Best Healthy Breakfast
Winner: Breakfast Power Wrap (Main Dining Room)
I know, I know. A healthy breakfast isn’t exactly what most people dream about on vacation. But after a few days of desserts, cocktails, and second helpings, this wrap was exactly what I needed. It is served cold, and was the healthy dish I was looking for. If you’re searching for the best food on Navigator of the Seas, this dish deserves a place at the very top of your list.
Best Buffet Breakfast
Winner: Breakfast Selection (Windjammer)
If someone told me I could only eat breakfast at Windjammer for the entire cruise, I’d be perfectly happy. One morning, I got smoked salmon and fruit. The next day, I got an omelet and avocado toast. The variety is incredible, and somehow I still found things I hadn’t tried by the end of the week.
Best Bread OPTIONS
Winner: Bakery Selection (Main Dining Room)
Let me save you some time. You’re going to walk past the bread section and tell yourself you’ll come back later. Then you’ll smell the fresh pastries, and suddenly you’re carrying a croissant, a cheese roll, and something sweet you didn’t plan on grabbing. I’d recommend the Raisin Bread, Cheese Rolls, Croissants, Muffins, Brioche and Baguettes.
Best Main Dining Room Dinner Dish
Winner: Slow Roasted Prime Rib (Main Dining Room)
This was one of those dishes that my server insisted I try. Now I understand why. The beef was tender, flavorful, and surprisingly good. If someone served this to me in a restaurant back home, I’d happily order it again. One of the reasons this made my list of the best food on Navigator of the Seas is that I’d happily order it again on my next cruise.
Best Main Dining Room Dinner Lunch
Winner: Off-Menu Grilled Salmon
This is proof that it never hurts to ask questions. The salmon wasn’t even on the menu that day, but the kitchen happily prepared it for my wife, who is gluten and dairy-free. It was fresh, light, and exactly what she wanted for lunch.
Best Main Dining Room Appetizer
Winner: Beef Carpaccio (Main Dining Room)
I’m a sucker for a good carpaccio, so this was an easy order. Thin slices of beef, Parmesan, and arugula all work together perfectly. It felt a little fancy, and I’d order it again in a heartbeat. After seven days of eating my way around the ship, this easily earned its place among the best food on Navigator of the Seas.
Best Main Dining Room Entrée
Winner: Chicken Parmesan (Main Dining Room)
There’s nothing trendy about chicken parmesan, and that’s exactly why I loved it. Again, it was a dish that our server highly recommended. Sometimes after a busy day, all you want is comfort food. Crispy chicken, melted cheese, and pasta delivered exactly that. There were no surprises, just happiness on a plate. Not every great meal requires an extra charge, and this proves that some of the best food on Navigator of the Seas is included in your cruise fare.
Best Main Dining Room Steak
Winner: New York Strip Steak (Main Dining Room)
I’ll be honest in that when I see steak included in the Main Dining Room, my expectations are usually tempered a little. This steak really impressed me. It was cooked medium rare (as ordered), had great flavor, and proved that you don’t always need to pay extra for a satisfying steak dinner onboard. It is served with a choice of herb butter or green peppercorn sauce. I tried dozens of dishes during our sailing, and this remains one of the best food on Navigator of the Seas experiences.
Best Starter Course
Winner: Fresh Salads (Main Dining Room)
I know a salad isn’t the most exciting thing on this list, but hear me out. After a day of burgers, desserts, and cocktails, these fresh salads were a welcome way to start the meal. They have crisp ingredients and are a great way to start dinner without feeling overly full. This was one of the biggest surprises I found while searching for the best food on Navigator of the Seas.
Best Food on Navigator of the Seas at Izumi
Winner: Champagne Lobster Roll (Izumi)
If you’re only ordering one specialty roll at Izumi, make it this one. We tried several rolls and then kept comparing them back to the Champagne Lobster Roll. It became the roll everything else was measured against. That’s a really good sign. If a friend asked me where to start with the best food on Navigator of the Seas, this is one of the first dishes I’d recommend.
Honorable Mentions:
- Salmon Lovers Roll (Izumi)
- Spicy Crispy Tuna Roll (Izumi)
Best Izumi Appetizer
Winner: Crispy Chicken Karaage (Izumi)
If you’re sharing appetizers at Izumi, this should be one of them. The chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and paired perfectly with the sweet chili sauce. Admittedly, I finished it self-handed.
Honorable Mention:
- Edamame (Izumi)
Best Seafood Appetizer
Winner: Crispy Squid (Jamie’s Italian)
We’ve had plenty of calamari over the years, but this version stood out. Lightly fried with a crisp coating and served with lemon and garlic mayo, it disappeared from the table almost embarrassingly fast. If you’re dining with friends, order two and avoid arguments.
Best Specialty Restaurant Appetizer
Winner: Charred Beef Carpaccio (Chops Grille)
I already mentioned the carpaccio in the Main Dining Room, but this one takes things up a notch. The charred beef, Parmesan, arugula, and truffle-mustard dressing work beautifully together. You know immediately that you’re in a specialty restaurant. Even after visiting the specialty restaurants, this still ranks among the best food on Navigator of the Seas.
Best Seafood Entrée
Winner: Luxurious Lobster Linguine (Jamie’s Italian)
The name describes this dish well and earns it. Lobster, clams, mussels, squid, prawns, and a rich sauce all piled onto beautifully cooked pasta. It is an additional $10, but worth it.
Best Fish Dish
Winner: Grilled Branzino (Chops Grille)
After several days of indulgent meals, this was exactly what my wife wanted. So much so, she said it was her favorite dish on our cruise. Light and fresh, the branzino lets the fish’s quality shine. The lemon and olive oil keep things simple, proving that the Italian way of less really is more. Every bite reminded me why this belongs on any list of the best food on Navigator of the Seas.
Best Meat Dish
Winner: Lamb Chops Scottadito (Jamie’s Italian)
Torn between the lamb chops, sticky short rib, and super salmon, I was told to order the lamb chops. That was a great suggestion. They were tender, flavorful, and beautifully charred. Even the agrodolce peppers and salsa verde deserve some credit for tying the whole dish together. If you’re planning your dining reservations, don’t overlook this standout from the best food on Navigator of the Seas.
Best Steak on Navigator of the Seas
Winner: Bone-In Ribeye (Chops Grille)
If you’re only going to splurge on one steak during your cruise, make it this one. The table next to me had ordered it, so it became a no-brainer for me. It was thick, juicy, and packed with flavor and everything I hoped it would be. It’s the kind of steak you remember as one of the most memorable dishes.
Best Side Dish
Winner: Gruyere Cheese Tater Tots (Chops Grille)
I wasn’t expecting a side dish to make this list, but after I couldn’t stop eating them, here it is. They are crispy tater tots topped with creamy Gruyere and crème fraîche. And they were both sophisticated and indulgent. One thing I learned is that the best food on Navigator of the Seas isn’t always found where you’d expect.
Honorable Mention:
- Creamed Spinach (Chops Grille)
Best Burger
Winner: Double cheeseburger (Windjammer)
A burger from a buffet doesn’t usually make anyone’s “best of” list, but this one earned its place. The patties were juicy and cooked fresh. Sometimes you don’t need fine dining. Sometimes you just need a really good burger. Mission accomplished! I wasn’t expecting a buffet burger to make this list, but it completely surprised me. Juicy, cheesy, and made fresh, it easily earned a place among the best food on Navigator of the Seas.
Best Cocktail
Winner: Goombay Smash (Lime & Coconut)
This drink is a little dangerous, not because it’s strong. Although it is. It’s dangerous because it goes down so easily while you’re sitting by the pool listening to music. Before you know it, you’re ordering another one and wondering where the afternoon went. Great food deserves a great cocktail, and this refreshing drink paired perfectly with some of the best food on Navigator of the Seas.
Honorable Mention:
- Lime & Coconut (Lime & Coconut)
Best Non-Alcoholic Drink
Winner: Apple Mint Juice (Vitality Café)
I ordered this, anticipating something healthy. What I didn’t expect was how much I’d enjoy it. The combination of apple, ginger, lemon, and mint is refreshing but not too sweet. It was the perfect drink when you want a break from cocktails and soda.
Best Cookie
Winner: Coconut Ranger Cookie (Windjammer)
I grabbed my first one because it is the most talked-about dessert on Royal Caribbean. Then I grabbed another because I couldn’t stop thinking about the first one. If you’re a coconut fan, consider yourself warned, as they disappear quickly for a reason. I am going to try making them at home with this recipe. If you have a sweet tooth like I do, don’t walk past these cookies. They’re one of the hidden gems among the best food on Navigator of the Seas.
Best Main Dining Room Dessert
Winner: Key Lime Pie (Main Dining Room)
I have eaten a lot of slices of key lime pie over the years, and this one held its own. It was tart, creamy, and refreshing after a big meal. It’s a good example of a dessert that makes you glad you saved room. This dish exceeded my expectations and quickly became one of the best food on Navigator of the Seas discoveries from our cruise.
Best Food on Navigator of the Seas for Dessert
Winner: Amalfi Lemon Cheesecake (Jamie’s Italian)
When it is time for dessert, I tend to say there’s no way I could eat another bite. But somehow I always manage. Then this cheesecake showed up with lemon curd, blueberry compote, and toasted meringue, and I devoured it. Save room and order the cheesecake. There were plenty of memorable meals during our cruise, but this is one of the dishes that truly defines the best food on Navigator of the Seas.
Best Buffet Dessert Selection
Winner: Desserts (Windjammer)
I went into Windjammer with a plan to try only one or two desserts per meal. Unfortunately, that plan lasted about five minutes as the selection is enormous, and before long, I consumed more than I planned to. Just for the record, I have no regrets. Whether you’re sailing for the first time or returning for another cruise, this is one of the best food on Navigator of the Seas choices you shouldn’t miss.
