So you’ve booked that amazing cruise vacation and you’re ready to enjoy all the food your heart desires. With endless buffets and dining options, you might think nothing could go wrong with your food choices. But there’s one menu item you should think twice about ordering – the burger. Cruise ships have strict rules about how they cook certain foods, and those rules might ruin what should be a simple meal. Getting sick on a cruise can ruin your whole trip, and being stuck at sea with food poisoning is no joke.
Why are burgers on cruise ships always overcooked
If you like your burgers medium-rare or even medium, you’re going to be disappointed on most cruise ships. Carnival Cruise Line, which partners with celebrity chef Guy Fieri for their popular Guy’s Burger Joint, has a strict policy against serving undercooked burgers. According to their rules, all burgers must be cooked to at least medium or medium-well. This means those juicy, pink-in-the-middle burgers you might enjoy at your favorite restaurant back home simply aren’t available on your cruise, no matter how nicely you ask your server or how much you complain.
The reason behind this rule is simple – safety first. Ground beef has a much higher risk of bacterial contamination compared to whole cuts of meat like steak. When beef is ground, bacteria from the surface gets mixed throughout the meat, which means the entire patty needs to be thoroughly cooked to kill any harmful bacteria. On land, many restaurants will cook to your preference, but cruise ships take extra precautions with thousands of passengers in close quarters and limited medical facilities. The last thing cruise lines want is an outbreak of food poisoning spreading through the ship.
The unique challenges of food safety at sea
Cruise ships face special challenges when it comes to food safety. They’re essentially floating cities that need to store, prepare, and serve food for thousands of people, three or more times a day, for days or weeks at a time. There’s limited space for food storage, and getting fresh supplies while at sea isn’t always possible. These logistical challenges can impact food quality and safety. Plus, if something goes wrong with the food, the consequences are much more serious than on land. You can’t just drive to the nearest hospital or pharmacy if you get sick – you’re stuck on a ship, possibly days away from the nearest port.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) takes cruise ship food safety very seriously. Their Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) conducts regular inspections of cruise ships to ensure they’re following proper food handling protocols. These inspections cover everything from the galleys and dining rooms to water systems and pest management. Ships must score at least 86 out of 100 to pass, and the results are publicly available. This strict oversight is necessary because disease outbreaks on cruise ships can spread quickly and affect hundreds or even thousands of passengers and crew members.
Buffet burgers sit out for too long
Another reason to skip the burger on your cruise is how long they might sit out at the buffet. Unlike made-to-order burgers at specialty restaurants, buffet burgers are often pre-cooked in batches and kept under heat lamps or in warming trays. This means your burger might have been sitting there for who knows how long before you pick it up. The longer food sits at certain temperatures, the more bacteria can grow. And while cruise ships try their best to maintain proper temperatures, it’s not always perfect, especially at busy buffets where staff are constantly replenishing food and lids are frequently opened and closed.
The buffet setup creates another problem – other passengers. Think about how many people walk by and touch the same serving utensils before you. Not everyone washes their hands properly, if at all. In fact, some cruise critics point out that you’re more likely to get sick from the buffet than from port restaurants for this very reason. When grabbing that burger, you’re not just getting what the kitchen prepared – you’re potentially picking up germs from hundreds of other passengers who’ve touched the same tongs, handles, and serving stations. Add in the confined spaces of a cruise ship where germs can spread easily, and that burger becomes even riskier.
Quality issues with cruise ship burger meat
Even when safety isn’t an issue, the quality of burger meat on cruise ships can be hit or miss. Some passengers have reported a decline in the quality of burgers, even at specialty spots like Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival ships. The reason? Cruise ships need to store large amounts of food for extended periods, and fresh ground beef has a relatively short shelf life. To work around this, some cruise lines might use frozen patties or meat with preservatives that affect the taste and texture. The quality can also vary depending on when your cruise sets sail and how recently they’ve restocked their supplies.
Passenger reviews often mention inconsistency as a major issue. Some people rave about the burgers they had on one cruise only to be disappointed on their next trip, even on the same ship line. One cruise critic user noted a significant drop in quality on the Jubilee ship, while others disagreed. This suggests that burger quality can vary not just between cruise lines but also between different ships in the same fleet, different times of day, and even different days of your cruise. If you’re a burger lover with high standards, this inconsistency might leave you frustrated and wishing you’d ordered something else.
The medical nightmare of food poisoning at sea
Getting food poisoning is bad enough on land, but it’s a whole different level of awful at sea. Imagine being stuck in your tiny cabin bathroom for days, with nothing but the sound of waves and your own misery. Medical facilities on cruise ships, while better than nothing, are still limited compared to land-based hospitals. They might not have all the medications or equipment needed for severe cases. And if your condition is serious enough, you might need to be evacuated to the nearest port – a complicated and expensive process that could cost thousands of dollars if your travel insurance doesn’t cover it.
The close quarters of a cruise ship also mean that if you get sick from contaminated food, you’re not the only one at risk. Foodborne illnesses can spread rapidly in confined spaces, potentially affecting many other passengers and crew members. This is why cruise lines take food safety so seriously and are quick to implement quarantine measures at the first sign of an outbreak. If you get sick, you might be confined to your cabin for the remainder of your cruise – missing out on all the activities, excursions, and experiences you paid for. Is that burger really worth the risk?
Why cruise lines can’t serve burgers how you like them
Cruise lines have good reasons for their strict burger policies, even if they seem overly cautious. Remember, they’re responsible for the health and safety of thousands of passengers in an isolated environment. One bad batch of undercooked meat could cause a widespread outbreak that not only ruins the vacation for everyone on board but also damages the cruise line’s reputation and bottom line. Cruise ships also operate under different regulations than land-based restaurants. They must comply with international maritime laws, port authority rules, and health regulations from multiple countries – often taking the strictest approach to avoid any issues.
These strict rules aren’t unique to burgers – they apply to many potentially risky foods. Eggs, for example, might only be served fully cooked, and you won’t find many raw or rare seafood options except at specialty restaurants that can handle them properly. The no-undercooked-burger policy at Carnival’s Guy’s Burger Joint has disappointed many fans who enjoy their burgers medium-rare, but the cruise line stands firm on this rule. While some passengers may complain, the policy is ultimately in place to protect everyone on board from potential illness.
Better alternatives to burgers on your cruise
With so many amazing food options on cruise ships, why risk a disappointing or potentially unsafe burger? Cruise ships are known for their variety – from fancy main dining rooms to casual buffets and specialty restaurants. Instead of a burger, consider trying some of the fresh seafood options that cruise ships are often known for. Many ships have excellent steakhouses where you can get a high-quality cut of beef cooked to your preference (including rare or medium-rare, since whole cuts don’t have the same safety concerns as ground meat). Or explore the international cuisine options that might be new to you.
If you really can’t resist the urge for a burger, your best bet is to wait until you’re at a port. Many popular cruise destinations have excellent local restaurants where you can find a burger cooked to your liking. Just be sure to pick reputable places with good reviews and visible cleanliness standards. Remember that food safety practices vary around the world, so use your best judgment. And if you do decide to brave the cruise ship burger despite everything, at least you’ll know why it’s well-done and can adjust your expectations accordingly.
How to handle food choices for picky kids on cruises
If you’re traveling with kids who only want to eat burgers and fries, you might be worried about what they’ll eat if burgers are off the menu. The good news is that cruise ships understand this challenge and usually offer plenty of kid-friendly alternatives. Pizza is almost always available and is generally a safer option than burgers since it’s cooked at high temperatures. Hot dogs, chicken tenders, and mac and cheese are other common kid-friendly options that are usually available at the buffet or casual dining venues. Most cruise lines also have dedicated kids’ menus in the main dining rooms with simple, familiar options.
If your child insists on a burger, try steering them toward the specialty burger restaurants on the ship rather than the buffet. Places like Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival or Johnny Rockets on Royal Caribbean may still serve well-done burgers, but they’re made fresh to order, which reduces some of the risks associated with buffet burgers that sit out. You can also try involving your kids in the food adventure – make a game of trying new foods each day of the cruise, with a small reward for being brave enough to try something different. Remember, part of the cruise experience is trying new things!
Your cruise vacation should be a time of relaxation and enjoyment, not spent worrying about food safety or dealing with illness. While cruise ships work hard to maintain high food safety standards, some items like burgers come with higher risks than others. By making informed choices about what you eat on board, you can help ensure your vacation stays smooth sailing. And with so many amazing food options available on modern cruise ships, skipping the burger doesn’t mean missing out – it might just lead you to discover new favorites that are both safer and more delicious.
