Unusual Foods to Try on a Cruise – On Land & at Sea

• Daring Delicacies: Discover which foods require a strong stomach (and a bit of bravery), including "insect caviar" in Mexico and the infamous Fugu in Japan.

• Gourmet Twists: See how luxury lines like Seabourn elevate comfort food with lobster mac n' cheese and alfresco smoked oysters.

• Childhood Dreams & Lifestyle Changes: Explore the polar opposites of cruise dining, from Carnival’s Dr Seuss-themed breakfasts to Azamara’s high-end vegan menus.

Food is undoubtedly one of the greatest pleasures of a cruise. The sheer abundance, the variety, and the fact that most of it is already paid for make a cruise holiday the perfect opportunity to try something new. If you try something and hate it, you can simply move on to the next course without glancing at your bank balance.

But the adventure does not stop at the gangway. Every port of call offers a chance to sample local delicacies that you will not find at your local supermarket. To help you on your culinary cruise adventure, we have rounded up the most unusual foods to try both on land and at sea.

Daring Delicacies to Discover on Land

Stepping off the ship provides a golden opportunity to eat like a local, even if the "local" menu looks a bit daunting.

Fegato alla Veneziana in Venice

A stop in this romantic city might see you learning to love a school dinner classic: liver and onions. Fegato alla Veneziana is a traditional Venetian dish which combines finely sliced calves' liver with gently stewed onions to create a dish that will make you look at liver in a whole new light. Just do not tell your granny, or it will be on the table every time you visit.

Chocolate and Churros in Barcelona

Any stop in the popular port of Barcelona must include chocolate and churros. This sweet treat consists of thick hot chocolate that you can, quite literally, stand a spoon up in, served with long strips of sugar-coated fried dough (churros) for dipping. For the best in the city, head to the labyrinthine Gothic Quarter; La Pallaresa is a safe bet if you can find it.

Green Curry Lobster Rolls in LA

Lobster is a gourmet food that you will definitely want to try on your cruise holiday. However, if you are cruising to America, you might find it served in a far more low-key way—in a lobster roll. While Maine is the traditional home of the roll, Hinoki & The Bird in LA serves a green curry lobster roll in a charcoaled black bun. It is spicy, exotic, and perfect for a food selfie.

Jerk Chicken and Conch Soup in Jamaica

There is nothing quite like the jerk chicken in Jamaica. This spicy dish actually tastes best from a shack on the beach, washed down with a cold bottle of Red Stripe. In Ocho Rios, try Scotchies for chicken made the traditional way. To add an unusual course to your meal, try the conch (sea snail) soup for starters—and do not forget the rice and peas!

Rocky Mountain Oysters in North America

Heading to North America on your cruise? Do not confuse these on the menu with traditional seafood. Rocky Mountain Oysters are actually buffalo testicles, often deep-fried in breadcrumbs. They supposedly taste just like chicken nuggets, though we cannot see the kids being terribly keen once they find out the truth!

Pufferfish in Japan

Despite the fact that they are actually poisonous, you will find Fugu (pufferfish) on some menus in Japan. Proceed with caution; while it gives a great story to tell over dinner, these "poisoned puffers" have actually been known to cause accidental death when being prepared for the table by anyone other than a licensed master chef.

Insect Caviar in Mexico

If you have a strong stomach, you won't mind trying Escamole. Known as "insect caviar," this Mexican delicacy consists of ant larvae cooked up with spring onions. No one will blame you if you decide to stick to the burritos instead.

Unique Culinary Adventures at Sea

Onboard dining has moved far beyond the standard buffet, with cruise lines now competing to offer the most experimental and high-end dishes imaginable.

Gourmet Vegan Menus on Azamara

To a lot of non-vegans, vegan food can sound very unappealing, but times have changed. Azamara prides itself on its cuisine, and their dedicated vegan menu features 16 gourmet-style dishes.

Whether you are a plant-based veteran or a curious carnivore, these dishes are so impressive that they might just inspire a lifestyle change.

Horton’s Cereal-Crusted French Toast on Carnival

Remember when you were a child, and your parents would not allow you to have all those sugary treats you saw in the movies? Well, now you are an adult, and you can decide for yourself.

At the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with The Cat in the Hat, you can get your hands on cereal-crusted French toast. It is the ultimate "treat yourself" breakfast.

Lobster Mac n’ Cheese on Holland America

For a twist on a gourmet favourite, try the Lobster Mac n’ Cheese at the Pinnacle Grill (supplement applies). If you visit the restaurant on "Le Cirque" night, it is transformed with a menu from the famous NYC restaurant, taking this comfort dish to a whole new level of fancy.

Sensory Experiences on Celebrity Cruises

On Celebrity Edge, the Eden restaurant offers a unique sensory experience. With an open-air kitchen and experimental dishes like Rare Seared Wagyu Beef, Carabinero Shrimp, and Halibut baked in seaweed, it is a meal designed to stimulate more than just your taste buds.

Smoked Oysters on Seabourn

On this luxury line, smoked oysters are a casual, alfresco option. You can eat them alongside smoked salmon and jumbo shrimp as you watch the ocean go by.

Just remember that oysters are supposedly an aphrodisiac, so you might want to keep an eye on your partner's consumption!

Black Cod on Crystal Cruises

Far more palatable is the black cod bathed in sake that you will find at Umi Uma by Nobu Matsuhisa. This high-end Japanese restaurant is the brainchild of world-famous chef Nobu.

If you want to dine like a celebrity without the London or New York price tag, you can enjoy a taste of the high life here, with at least one complimentary reservation typically included in your cruise fare.

Caviar and Champagne in the Surf on Seabourn

The ultimate cruise food experience is Seabourn's "Caviar in the Surf." During a Caribbean beach BBQ, crew members set up a gourmet spread on the sand.

If you fancy a swim, a crew member will actually follow you out into the deep blue with iced champagne and caviar on a custom life ring or surfboard. Now that is what we call "surf-ice"!

There is so much food on offer on a cruise, both on and off the ship, that it would be rude not to push the boat out and try something different. Give the steak and chips and the chicken caesar salad a miss for a day and enjoy a holiday full of new taste experiences. We will entirely understand if you want to skip the testicles or the ant larvae, though.