For carnivorous cruisers, a visit to the steakhouse is a quintessential part of any voyage. It’s a staple on the list of many of the lines’ specialty restaurants.

How can you go past a surf and turf when you’re on holiday? But these days, cruise lines are going above and beyond just your regular steakhouses – for example, on Princess Cruises’ Crown Grill, you can pair your medium rare steak with a number of different salts, or you can even order specialty meats from small boutique providores at The Grill by Thomas Keller onbaord Seabourn. Here’s a list of some of our favourite steakhouses.

P&O Cruises

Salt Grill by Luke Mangan

P&O long partnership with Australian celebrity chef Luke Mangan brings food that is sought after by the likes of Bill Clinton, Richard Branson, Tom Cruise and even Danish Royalty to cruisers. The menu offers a variety of beef cuts sourced from all over Australia. The chef’s signature dishes like the crab omelette, enoki mushroom salad with miso broth also feature Australian ingredients. Finish off your meal with their iconic dessert, the liquorice parfait with lime syrup. Salt Grill serves lunch, dinner and high tea at $49, $59 and $29 per person respectively and is available onboard Pacific Aria, Dawn, Eden and Jewel.

Princess Cruises

Crown Grill

The Crown Grill, which serves aged and hand cut, cooked-to-order steaks and seafood is a guest favourite that is available across Princess’ fleet. The restaurant has a selection of salts that you can pair with your meat: Hawaiian black salt, smoked applewood salt, Himalayan mountain pink salt, chosen by experts to compliment the meats. Also, try the decadent and rich Black and Blue Onion Soup, flavoured with fresh thyme, Jack Daniels and topped with a cheesy Roquefort Crust. For dessert, indulge in an exclusive chocolate dessert by Master Chocolatier Normal Love. Their open, theatre-style kitchen fires up at night and has a cover charge of $29 per person, which includes one main course.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Cagney’s Steakhouse

For an American-style steakhouse, visit Cagney’s Steakhouse on Norwegian Cruise Line, found on most of their fleet. At Cagney’s you can take your pick from choice cuts of Angus beef. Filet mignon is a favourite, or you can go with the T-bone for something traditional. If you’re looking for something tender, opt for the Prime Rib. Cagney also has a specialty cocktail, the Speakeasy Martini. It’s a combination of Southern Comfort, apricot brandy, Grand Marnier and Prosecco. The restaurant has a $30 cover charge, which includes three courses (sample menu) or you can choose from an a la carte menu.

Royal Caribbean

Chops Grille

Chops Grille on Royal Caribbean serves both lunch and dinner. Their signature appetizers include Charred Beef Carpaccio, a rare charred beef dish served with parmesan cheese, shaved asparagus and truffle mustard dressing. All steaks in the main course are also served with their exclusive homemade Chops steak sauce. Seafood lovers can also enjoy the chef’s revamped menu that has contemporary flair, such as the Snapper Veracruz with tomatoes, olives, jalapeno, caper, basil and lime. Lunch is served at USD$21.99, while dinner on most ships goes USD$35 and up to USD$52.99 on Symphony of the Seas.

Celebrity Cruises

Tuscan Grille

The Italian steakhouse serves fresh antipasto, homemade pasta, marbled steak and regional Italian wine or Italian cocktails, all in one sitting. Their homemade pasta even comes in half size portions so you don’t have to worry about missing out. For meats, dig into their butcher cuts or spoil yourself with a USDA Prime Aged Steak available at extra charge. Dinner is served nightly while lunch is served once per cruise. Dining at Tuscan Grill costs $45 per person for dinner and $35 for lunch.

Cunard

The Verandah

The Verandah is the line’s new dining concept and it takes influence from both sides of the Atlantic. Cunard’s team of chefs have curated a menu that showcases prime USDA grain finished New York strip steak, Maine lobster and Alaskan king crab alongside dishes celebrating British provenance such as Scotch grass-fed, dry-aged beef and Salt Marsh lamb rack. Grass-fed Wagyu beef from Australia also features on the menu. Craft cocktails and wines are also available to complement your meal, featuring classic peppery Syrahs alongside more contemporary juicy Malbecs and rich Chardonnays. The restaurant serves at lunch $25 and dinner at $39.

Holland America Line

Pinnacle Grill

This Pacific Northwest inspired restaurant has weekly specials featured on their menus. The menu focuses on premium ingredients such as wild-caught Alaskan King Salmon to sustainably raised and hand selected beef from Washington State’s Double R Ranch. Try their green peppercorn or sun-dried tomato sauce to go with your choice steak. Enjoy other land delicacies from the menu such as Kurobuta Pork Chop, Colorado Lamb Chops and Jidori Chicken among the lavish and elegant décor of the restaurant. It is open for lunch at $10 and dinner at $35.

Seabourn

The Grill by Thomas Keller

Seabourn’s partnership with renowned American chef Thomas Keller has brought onboard The Grill on its newest ships in the fleet. The gourmet dining experience is included in the fare and serves dinner only. The menu features steakhouse favourites like Lobster Thermidor and creamed spinach and serves prime beef from Snake River Farms and Elysian Fields Farm lamb of the US. Choose from sauces like Bordelaise, Perigourdine, Paloise Gastrique, Bernaise or Steak Sauce to go with your favourite cut of meat. Make an online reservation before sailing to save your table.

Oceania Cruises

Polo Grill

The dark wood décor and burgundy leather seats at The Polo Grill onboard Oceania Cruises ships is reflective of a classic American steakhouse. The dinner-only venue is included in the fare, but reservations are required to dig into their USDA Prime beef. And it is dry-aged for 28 days for enhanced flavour and tenderness. They also pride themselves with cooking your meats to your exact taste. So don’t be surprised when your server asks you to cut into your piece to check if it is suitably cooked. Other notable mains are the seafood dishes like the Grilled Swordfish and Whole Maine Lobster Gratinee.

Regent Seven Seas

Prime 7

Like their sister line, Prime 7’s steaks are dry-aged for at least 28 days, and their USDA Prime beef is the undisputed star. But carnivores and seafood lovers are both equally catered for with their Signature Surf and Turf. Enjoy your filet mignon with either lobster tail or king crab legs or make your own custom pairing with their other beef and seafood mains. Look out for their wide range of sauces to go with your meats. They have bearnaise, steakhouse barbecue, chimichurri and boozy options such as cranberry-port wine, Armagnac and green peppercorn and Jack Daniels steakhouse. There is no additional charge to dine at the dinner-only venue but do get your reservations in early.