Cruise Ship Food and Drink Preparation Overview

Video compliments of the Travel Channel

Breathing in all that fresh, sea air is bound to make you hungry, which is why food and drink is such a crucial part of a cruise (that, and it's usually included in the price of your ticket). When your boat is 600 miles offshore, you're at the mercy of the chefs on board. Whether you're looking for a formal affair at the captain's table or a more laissez-faire approach with 24-hour open buffets and pool-side edibles, there's a cruise that suits your taste. Bargain hunters can opt for all-inclusives, while more high-end cruisers might indulge in the new trend toward celebrity chef-designed onboard restaurants. And what's a vacation without free-flowing drinks? Booze cruises still exist, with enough beer to get you buzzed, but so do wine cruises, with star sommeliers on hand to walk you through the vino. Food and drink are paramount to a successful journey at sea, so do your homework and bring an appetite. (That thing people say about gaining weight on a cruise? It's pretty much true.)