Cruise Cuisine: Top 10 Don’t-Miss Dishes on HAL’s Newest Ships

Cruise Cruisine By David Yeskel

Offering what is arguably the finest cuisine in the cruise industry’s premium segment, Holland America Line’s (HAL) ships are a literal feast for the senses, largely thanks to the vision and creativity of Rudi Sodamin, HAL’s longtime Master Chef, who oversees the line’s culinary program.

In no particular order, here are my picks – along with the venue they’re serve in – for the 10 best dishes to order when cruising on HAL’s newest Pinnacle-Class ships ($ denotes a dish served in an extra-charge, specialty restaurant).

Restaurant And Menus: Cruise Cruisine

* Cannonball Burger (Dive-In Burger)  In the realm of cruise ship burgers, this one reigns supreme.  Not only is the hand-form patty thick, juicy and made-to-order (vs. the pre-cook variety often found elsewhere), but the toast brioche bun, caramelize onions, applewood smoke bacon, Gouda cheese and Dive-In sauce all combine to create a first-rate-quality sandwich that puts fast food in the rear-view mirror in Cruise Cruisine. 

* Dutch Apple Pie (Dining Room and Lido Market)  This impossibly-high slice of juicy apple filling and perfect, buttery crust would be great on its own, but top with real, homemade whipe cream – or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, natch – this beautiful dessert pays appropriate homage to the cruise line’s home country.

* Thai Beef Salad (Tamarind – $)  In the 10 years since the Tamarind pan-Asian eatery has grace HAL’s ships, it’s become a guest favorite, and the Thai Beef Salad starter is a key driver of that popularity.  Featuring rare sear beef mixed with scallions, fresh mint, cucumber and toasts peanuts tossed in a slightly-sweet lime dressing, this dish is a flavor sensation that perks up the taste buds.

Candied Bacon: Cruise Cruisine

* Clothesline Candeed Bacon (Pinnacle Grill – $) A few years back, just as the classic steakhouse menu in HAL’s Pinnacle Grill started to feel a little stagnant, it was inject with a shot of creativity thanks to contributions from chefs on HAL’s esteemed Culinary Council.  To wit, David Burke’s Clothesline Candied Bacon is a must-try starter and a sweet surprise that’s presented creatively while representing the only “candy” we’re allowed to have before dinner!

* Potato, Pea and Ham Hock Soup (Lido Market) Cruise ship buffet food has often gotten a bad rap over the years – largely undeserved.  In my mind, however, HAL’s Lido Market has historically been best-in-class, and this complex soup stands out as a perfect example of that distinction.  Composed to order, this combination of cheese-infused pea puree and potato croquettes in a savory, ham hock broth could easily be considered fine-dining in disguise.

* Dutch Pea Soup and Apple & Bacon Pancake (Grand Dutch Cafe) While this duo may not look like an appropriate hookup on paper, it rocks in real life.  A variety of Dutch delicacies is available daily – at no charge – in the beautifully-themed Grand Dutch Cafe, but the perfectly pureed and seasoned pea soup followed by the thin, rich pancake covered with sweet apple stroup (syrup) and bacon is the perfect mid-morning or afternoon snack.

Maine Lobster: Cruise Cuisine

* 12-oz. Maine Lobster Tail (Rudi’s Sel de Mer -$) In HAL Master Chef Rudi Sodamin’s eponymous eatery, French seafood gets a modern, gourmet twist.  And while it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that every course here achieves near-perfection, the 12-oz. Maine Lobster tail is definitely the piece de resistance.  Succulent, meaty and sweet, the tail turns heads in the dining room as it leaves the galley, and the first bite confirms that a simple, light touch is all it takes for a great protein like this to shine.

* Fruit Crisps (Dining Room & Lido Market)  If Holland America’s warm bread pudding with vanilla sauce has iconic status (and yes, it does), its closest guilty-pleasure competitor on board is the fruit crisp and its scrumptious, baked crumble topping.  Available nightly (but not typically on the menu), my favorite varieties are peach and strawberry rhubarb – best serve warm with a scoop of rich vanilla ice cream to cut the sweetness.

Others: Cruise Cruisine

* Jacques Torres’ Chocolate Souffle (Pinnacle Grill – $) The presence of at least one chocolate item on a cruise ship dinner dessert menu is like money in the bank, i.e., you can count on it.  Chocolate souffle is right up there in popularity, but this one – create by New York-based chocolatier and Culinary Council chef Jacques Torres – beats all others in its competitive set with a lusciously rich flavor and perfect consistency that easily elicits sighs of delight.

* Andy Matsuda’s Crispy Lobster Tempura (Nami Sushi – $) When notes sushi chef Andy Matsuda was task with creating a few signature dishes for HAL’s menus, he introduce several mouth-watering delicacies.  His Crispy Lobster Tempura Roll, however, is the standout choice when dining at Nami Sushi, locate within the Tamarind pan-Asian eatery.  The rich lobster meat, cover with delicate tempura batter and drizzle with a slightly-sweet ponzu sauce, positively exudes decadence.

Travel journalist and cruise expert David Yeskel, aka The Cruise Guru, has cover the cruise industry for over 25 years, often writing with a focus on cuisine.

Holland America Voyages: Just Steps Away

Foodies, food lovers and passionate travelers can sample these menus aboard a Holland American cruise happening not too far away. International travel is back, but travel uncertainties and delays persist. So, with a rise in travelers wanting to explore global destinations without taking international flights, Holland America Line has launched a “See the World from Your Doorstep” campaign, highlighting the cruise line’s strength in roundtrip travel from U.S. homeports.

Travelers who want to avoid a long-haul flight can sail roundtrip from Boston, Fort Lauderdale, San Diego or Seattle with Holland America Line. The brand has more cruises over 15 nights roundtrip from the U.S. to destinations around the world than any other cruise line, visiting 225 ports in 91 countries.  

“Over the past year we’ve seen a shift in the way people are vacationing due to the unpredictability of air travel and desire to explore more, and there’s higher interest when it comes to longer voyages from our U.S. homeports,” said Kacy Cole, vice president, marketing and e-commerce, Holland America Line. “Travelers love the idea of discovering the islands of the South Pacific or Africa’s exotic shores with just a simple drive or short flight to one our homeports.”

Conclusion: Cruise Cuisine

A recent poll by Cruise Critic found 82% of U.S.-base respondents would prefer to book an international cruise that sails from a domestic port than to fly to an international port. Holland America Line offers four Grand Voyages, all roundtrip from the U.S, for travelers who want to circle the world or explore Africa, South America or Australia. Monthlong cruises include a roundtrip itinerary from San Diego visiting Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas, or a roundtrip departure from Boston visiting Greenland, Iceland, Norway and the British Isles.  

Holland America Line also offers vacations of 15 nights or less to popular locales like the Caribbean, Panama, Canada, Alaska and Mexico roundtrip from a U.S. departure port and from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.