The cruise industry may be all abuzz about specialty restaurants, but complimentary main dining rooms are still wonderful culinary options. Many of them also happen to be spectacularly well designed venues, so here is our list of the seven most beautiful at sea.
Britannia Restaurant, Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line
Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 is already a gem as the last true ocean liner afloat today, and its Britannia Restaurant similarly hearkens back to a time of vintage glamour on the high seas with its art deco sconces, maritime wall tapestry and vaulted curved skylight ceiling. The ship's unique mezzanine levels even ensure the room is three decks tall but wonderfully terraced to spread seating across only two.
The Dining Room, Koningsdam, Holland America Line
When hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany designed Holland America Line's Koningsdam, he took inspiration from music, and The Dining Room is an elegant space exhibiting curved structural ribbing reminiscent of the braces inside a hollow acoustic instrument. The space is also pleasantly brighter than previous Holland America ships with an unexpected but harmonious color combination of merlot and yellow offsetting the cream paneling.
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Grand Dining Room, Riviera, Oceania Cruises
The Grand Dining Room aboard Oceania Cruises' Riviera is striking for appearing wide open thanks to bright whites and an abundance of crystal lighting. The room is architecturally classy with a high ceiling that contributes to the overall finesse of the ship and its exquisite dining as a whole.
The Manhattan Room, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Cruise Line
The Manhattan Room on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Escape is handsomely arranged as a supper club with a central dance floor and double-decker opening overlooking the ship's stern. A bright wall of windows lets natural light pour in over the elegant art deco details and rich wood paneling in a timeless manner.
The Restaurant, Seabourn Quest, Seabourn
For being the smallest venue and ship on the list, Seabourn's The Restaurant on Seabourn Quest is a spacious dining room nonetheless. Occupying the full width of the vessel, the airy space has an array of bright windows on either side and flowing white drapes that swoop up into large ceiling vaults in the deck above.
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The Restaurant, Viking Sea, Viking Ocean Cruises
Unlike most main dining rooms that are centrally focused, The Restaurant on Viking Ocean Cruises' Viking Sea is intentionally positioned along the windows with the galley displacing the core. What's more, the windows are actually sliding patio doors that open to the surrounding promenade deck to provide diners with an al fresco option as weather allows.
Tiana's Place, Disney Wonder, Disney Cruise Line
The Disney Cruise Line recently remodeled one of Disney Wonder's rotational dining rooms to the theme of the animated film "Princess and the Frog," and the result is the stunning Tiana's Place. The festive atmosphere includes everything from a live jazz band and appearances by Tiana herself to narrative easter egg details along the walls and in the plates as the frog prince is cleverly seen wearing a crown by the end of the meal.
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