Which line has the best cruise burger? Here are TPG's top picks
There's no vacation more closely associated with food than a cruise, so what better time to indulge than when you've set sail? Despite the variety of cuisine on modern cruise ships, sometimes you just feel like comfort food in the way of a big ol' greasy burger.
From standard hamburgers and cheeseburgers to meatless selections, I've combed the seven seas to find the best of the best cruise ship burgers. And I'm not talking about your average, wilted "sitting by the pool deck under a heat lamp for 30 minutes" options. (They have their place, too, of course. It's just not in this article.)
Here are my picks for some of the best cruise burgers.
The Burger, MSC Cruises
Where to find it: The MSC Yacht Club's Ocean House restaurant, found on private island Ocean Cay
Cost: Free for passengers staying in MSC's Yacht Club
TPG Take: Billed as "a signature blend of fresh Angus chuck, short ribs, grilled brisket meat patty, red onion jam [and] Monterey Jack cheese," this burger, exclusive to MSC Cruises' Ocean House restaurant, is one of my absolute favorites. Stacked high with lettuce, tomato and, in my case, ketchup and mayo, it's a tall order — literally.
However, the taste is what makes it truly impressive. Bursting with just the right amount of flavor, the burger is perfectly complemented by the cheese and onion jam. It also comes with fries, but with how tasty The Burger is, they're really just a garnish.
TPG rating: 5/5
American Diner Cheeseburger, Norwegian Cruise Line
Where to find it: American Diner on Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Joy
Cost: $12 or free with a dining package redemption
TPG take: The American Diner Cheeseburger, available at the '50s-style, extra-fee eatery on six of Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ships, looks like what you'd expect from any respectable greasy spoon restaurant. It's topped with cheddar cheese and piled high with lettuce, tomato, pickles and raw red onions on a toasted bun. The patty is made from a blend of chuck, brisket and short rib meats, and though that sounds scrumptious, the burger was surprisingly lacking in flavor. I was sad that I paid $12 for it, as I've had better burgers for free at the pool deck grills on other ships. Go with the Carolina pulled pork slider appetizer instead.
TPG rating: 3/5
Impossible Burger, Virgin Voyages
Where to find it: Razzle Dazzle, a veggie-forward restaurant that's included for all passengers on a complimentary basis on all of Virgin Voyages' ships
Cost: Free
TPG take: Kudos to Virgin Voyages for its massive effort to cater to vegetarians and cruisers on a gluten-free diet. The line's ships offer several varieties of beef burgers at the Burger Bar stand in The Galley food court. However, I'm giving a shoutout to the Impossible Burger, found in Razzle Dazzle, a "new American" eatery on board. The tasty plant-based patty is topped with poblano salsa, paprika, vegan mayonnaise and avocado and served on a bun with either fries or a salad. As a regular meat-eater, I was impressed. Although I could tell that it wasn't meat, the flavor was amazing and satisfied my burger craving in a way that pleasantly surprised me.
TPG rating: 4/5
The Original, Royal Caribbean
Where to find it: On all of Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class and Freedom Class ships, plus Adventure of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas
Cost: There is a $12.99 cover charge for as many menu items as you'd like (unless you have a dining package, in which case it's free). Soda and milkshakes cost extra.
TPG Take: Yeah, we know you can visit Johnny Rockets just as easily on land as you can on one of Royal Caribbean's ships. Still, there's something novel about stopping in for a delicious burger, some onion rings or fries, and a shake while you're at sea. My favorite burger option is The Original — a simple, classic take featuring a quarter-pound beef patty, lettuce, tomato, chopped onion, relish, pickles, mustard and mayonnaise. It's delicious and just greasy enough to make you feel like you've properly indulged.
TPG rating: 4/5
The SDG Burger, Princess Cruises
Where to find it: The Salty Dog Gastropub on Crown Princess, Discovery Princess, Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess
Cost: A cover charge of $14.99 allows you to choose two menu items plus a dessert. Beverages cost extra.
TPG Take: The SDG Burger (which stands for Salty Dog Grill Burger) is a rib-eye and short rib patty with pork belly, Gruyere cheese, kimchi beer-battered jalapenos and charred onion aioli on a brioche bun. I had high hopes, but what I received was a burger so greasy that the bun was wet and soggy. The pork belly was undercooked, rubbery and excessively fatty. The flavor was decent, which saved it from being a total loss, netting this burger a lower but still passable rating.
Frankly, I was majorly disappointed to find The Ernesto — a delicious burger that used to be served at the Salty Dog Gastropub — is no longer on the menu since Princess parted ways with chef Ernesto Uchimura.
TPG rating: 3/5
The Ringer, Carnival Cruise Line
Where to find it: Guys Burger Joint on all Carnival ships except Carnival Luminosa
Cost: Free
TPG take: Although Guy's Burger Joint — a burger counter found on Carnival Cruise Line ships in partnership with Food Network star Guy Fieri — is located poolside on most vessels, it does not serve your average pool grill burgers. Choose from one of five different meat-based gut-busters or a veggie burger on request. My favorite is The Ringer: a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, Guy's signature donkey sauce, brown sugar barbecue sauce and a giant onion ring. It also comes with a side of phenomenal fries.
The best part? It won't cost you a penny extra.
TPG rating: 5/5
Bottom line
Of all of these options, my favorite is Carnival's The Ringer. It's simple, delicious and free, which makes it more accessible (unlike my second favorite, MSC's The Burger, which you have to book a suite to enjoy).
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