One of our very favorite things about cruising is the food — the melting cakes, the tableside guacamole, the soups that somehow taste better with the ocean going by. So over the years we have come home and recreated the dishes we loved most, from Carnival to Oceania to Royal Caribbean. Here are the cruise ship copycat recipes we make again and again, so you can bring a little of that vacation magic to your own kitchen. Browse them all in our cruise recipes collection, and pair them with a frozen cocktail for the full lido-deck effect.
The Best Cruise Ship Copycat Recipes to Make at Home
1. Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake
The most requested dessert at sea — a warm chocolate cake with a molten, spoonable center. This is the one everyone orders twice. Get the recipe →
2. Carnvial Cruise Pumpkin Soup Recipe
Carnival’s silky, subtly spiced pumpkin soup — an elegant starter that is secretly simple to make at home. Get the recipe →
3. Norwegian Cruise Lines Los Lobos Guacamole Recipe
Norwegian’s tableside-style guacamole from Los Lobos, bright with lime and cilantro. A crowd-pleaser every time. Get the recipe →
4. Tortilla Soup with Lime and Avocado – Carnival Cruise Recipe
Carnival’s tortilla soup with lime and avocado — cozy, zesty, and topped with crunchy strips. Get the recipe →
5. Oceania Cruises Share Jaques’ Rotisserie Chicken Recipe
Oceania’s Jacques Pépin rotisserie chicken — golden, juicy, and shockingly doable in a home oven. Get the recipe →
6. Royal Caribbean Black Forest Cake Recipe
Royal Caribbean’s Black Forest cake — layers of chocolate, cherries, and cream, straight from the dessert cart. Get the recipe →
7. Braised Beef Short Ribs Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises’ braised beef short ribs — fall-apart tender and rich, a proper special-occasion main. Get the recipe →
8. Azamara Cruises Greek Salad Recipe
Azamara’s crisp Greek salad — a fresh, briny taste of the Mediterranean wherever you are. Get the recipe →
9. Oceania Cruises French Onion Soup Recipe
Oceania’s French onion soup — deeply caramelized and blanketed in bubbling cheese. Get the recipe →
10. Holland America Bread and Butter Pudding Recipe
Holland America’s bread and butter pudding — warm, custardy comfort, cruise-ship style. Get the recipe →
11. Oceania Cruises Chimichurri Recipe
Oceania’s bright, garlicky chimichurri — the green sauce that makes everything off the grill better. Get the recipe →
12. Individual Baked Alaska Recipe
The showstopping individual Baked Alaska — the classic parade dessert you can make at home. Get the recipe →
13. Moroccan Sweet Potato Stew from Windstar Cruises
Windstar’s Moroccan sweet potato stew — warmly spiced, cozy, and naturally vegetarian. Get the recipe →
14. Crystal Cruise Line Mushroom Soup Recipe
Crystal Cruises’ velvety mushroom soup — earthy, creamy, and restaurant-elegant. Get the recipe →
15. Ratatouille Recipe from Oceania Cruises
Oceania’s ratatouille — a sunny Provençal vegetable stew that is as pretty as it is good. Get the recipe →
16. Chocolate Chip Cookie 🍪 Recipe from Crystal Cruises
Crystal Cruises’ famous chocolate chip cookies — the warm welcome-aboard treat, recreated. Get the recipe →
17. Apple Delight Cupcakes from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean’s apple delight cupcakes — spiced, tender, and topped just right. Get the recipe →
18. Holland America’s Muesli Cereal Recipe
Holland America’s make-ahead muesli — the healthy breakfast that tastes like a vacation morning. Get the recipe →
That is our running list of the cruise dishes worth recreating — and we are always adding more as we sail. For the full collection, visit our Cruise Recipes page, and if you only make one, make the Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake.
