Everything you’ve heard about the abundance of exceptional cruisine on a cruise is true. On virtually all cruises, meals or snacks are available 24 hours a day. There are formal dining rooms, buffets, pizzerias, poolside bars, espresso cafes and room service.

Most cruise ships offer at least two seatings, and you will be asked for your preference when making your cruise reservation. The first seating usually starts from 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., and the second around 7:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. For early risers, the choice is easy. Keep in mind that the main nightly entertainment will follow each dinner, so the second show might last past 11 p.m.

On Holland America and Carnival Cruise Lines, you can select from four dining times, giving you more personal choices and open dining options. The formal evenings typically offer even more elegant dining, but if you don’t feel like dressing up that evening, there’s always the casual dining deck and in-cabin dining as well.

On many of the newer ships, you can pay a small additional fee and dine in a specialty restaurant on board. These dining rooms offer a more intimate option and are often used to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries or other special occasions.