See what we ate in 14 days on Island Princess in the Mediterranean, course by course, plus what's changed at Princess and tips for the dining room.
The food on Island Princess is classic, comforting and generous. Think French onion soup, Beef Wellington, fettuccine Alfredo and a soufflé to finish. Over 14 days through the Mediterranean, we never had a night where we struggled to find something we wanted to eat. Most nights the struggle was choosing just one dessert.
We visited ports in Italy, Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, and we were wined, dined and indulged with so many delicious dishes that sharing them all would make for a very long article. Instead, I’ve picked our favourites and organized them by course rather than by day, to make it easier to digest （雙關語意）. Every dish here was eaten in one of the ship’s two main dining rooms, the Bordeaux Dining Room or the Provence Dining Room, which are both included in your cruise fare.
I’ve sailed on about a dozen Princess cruises, and this one confirmed what I said in my Caribbean Princess dining review: the Princess dining room does the classics well, and does them consistently.
Key Takeaways
- Island Princess main dining room menus lean classic and continental, with plenty of Italian dishes that suit a Mediterranean sailing.
- The pasta course is a highlight. The fettuccine Alfredo is a Princess favourite, and the truffled gnocchi is worth ordering at least once.
- Formal-night standouts include Beef Wellington, rack of lamb, whole roasted beef tenderloin and Land & Sea (beef tenderloin and lobster tail).
- Leave room for dessert. The French vanilla soufflé and crème brûlée are the ones I’d order again.
- Princess has changed its packages since our sailing, so check what’s included before you book (details below).
Author’s note: Menus rotate and change over time, so you may not see every dish below on your sailing. I’ve added a “Know Before You Go” section with what has changed at Princess since our cruise.
Know Before You Go: What’s Changed Since Our Sailing
Where Island Princess sails now. Island Princess sailed a long Mediterranean voyage in fall 2026. From fall 2026 through April 2027, it does Panama Canal crossings; in summer 2027, it sails Alaska; and from 2027 to 2028, it’s in the Caribbean. If you’re booking one of those itineraries, the main dining room experience below is still a good guide to what you’ll eat.
How the dining rooms work. On Island Princess, reservable and walk-in dining are combined in a single main dining room, while traditional set-time dining runs in the other.
Package changes for 2026. For 2026 sailings and later, Princess Plus includes four casual dining meals per guest per voyage. Princess Premier includes unlimited casual and specialty dining. Pre-cruise pricing on most ships went up from US$60 to US$65 per person per day for Plus, and from US$90 to US$100 for Premier.
Specialty dining on board. Island Princess has Crown Grill, Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, the Chef’s Table and the Crab Shack pop-up as extra-cost options. Princess has revamped the Sabatini’s menu with Italian winemaker Frescobaldi, including a six-course Grand Tuscan Dinner offered one night per sailing for US$99 per person. The Crab Shack is a lunchtime pop-up in the World Fresh Marketplace, with clam chowder, popcorn shrimp and a steamer pot of crab legs, shrimp and clams.
Upcharges in the main dining room. Main dining room meals are included, but on some Princess ships extra servings of lobster tail and filet mignon cost extra. Check the menu before you order seconds.
Pro Travel Tips for Dining on Island Princess
- Ask your server what they recommend. They know which dishes other guests have loved.
- Don’t fill up on the breadbasket. I know. It’s hard.
- Save room for dessert. You’ll thank me later.
- Order more than one. It’s perfectly acceptable, even encouraged, to order more than one appetizer, entrée or dessert. Just watch for upcharge items like extra lobster tails.
- Compare the buffet and dining room menus. The World Fresh Marketplace buffet serves different dishes from the main dining room, so check both menus before you decide where to eat each night.
- Try something new. This is your chance to taste a dish you’ve never had before.
- Don’t like your dish? Say so. Tell your server and order something else.
- Tell them about allergies early. If you have food allergies, let the maître d’ and your server know so they can suggest dishes or handle special requests.
If this is your first sailing, my guide to first-time cruise ship experiences covers more of what to expect on board.
Appetizers on Island Princess
Crisp Thai Vegetable Spring Roll
– Rice noodle salad and sweet chilli dipping sauce
Baked Brie Cheese Parcel
– Cranberry compote and frizzled onion
法式洋蔥湯
– Gruyère cheese and croutons
Vol-au-Vent, le Grand Chef
– Delicate puff pastry overflowing with a luxuriant sherry-infused, tarragon-scented lobster and shrimp bisque
Oxtail Soup en Croûte
– Julienned leeks and seasonal vegetables topped with a light pastry crown
Tomato and Basil Bruschetta
– Extra virgin olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar
Prosciutto and Melon (featured image)
– Dry-cured ham and sweet cantaloupe
Mushroom Arancini （如上圖所示）
– Tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese
Pasta on Island Princess
Fettuccine Alfredo (pictured at the bottom of the article)
– A rich parmesan cream sauce (a Princess favourite as well as mine)
Baked Rigatoni with Italian Sausage
– Tomato sauce and parmesan
Gnocchi with Truffled Cream
– Parmesan shavings, rocket and basil oil
Cheesy Tortellini
– Ham and peas
Main Entrées on Island Princess
San Francisco-Style Cioppino
– Fish and shellfish in a white wine and tomato broth with a sourdough garlic crouton
Red Wine Braised Brisket
– Shallots, buttermilk mash, snow peas and broccoli
Barbecued Pork Ribs （如上圖所示）
– Cajun potato wedges and coleslaw
English-Style Roast Beef
– Yorkshire pudding, gravy and vegetables
烤羊排
– Gratin dauphinois, haricots verts, rosemary jus and mint sauce
Beef Wellington, Truffle Madeira Demi-Glace
– Celeriac purée, asparagus and cherry tomato
Pan-Fried Cod
– Creamy mashed potatoes, carrots and lemon-caper butter
Braised Short Ribs
– Pan jus, brie polenta and wild mushrooms
Whole Roasted Beef Tenderloin, Cognac & Peppercorn Demi-Glace
– Scalloped potatoes and buttered vegetables
海陸
– Beef tenderloin with jus, lobster tail with béarnaise, mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach
If you’ve read my Regal Princess food photo essay, a few of these will look familiar. The rack of lamb and Land & Sea show up across the Princess fleet, and they’re just as good on Island Princess.
Desserts on Island Princess
Traditional Florida Key Lime Pie
– Whipped cream
Caffè Mocha Bar
– Chocolate sponge, dark chocolate mousse, vanilla latte mousse, cappuccino foam and cocoa-chocolate sauce
French Vanilla Soufflé
– Lady Godiva cream sauce
Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake (pictured above)
– Butterscotch sauce
French Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée
– Sugar cane crust and lemon madeleines
Traditional New York-Style Cheesecake
– Macerated strawberries
VISIT PRINCESS CRUISES FOR MORE INFORMATION:
經常問的問題
Yes. Meals in the Bordeaux and Provence main dining rooms, the World Fresh Marketplace buffet, La Patisserie, Princess Pizzeria, The Bar & Grill and Swirls are all included in your fare. Crown Grill, Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, the Chef’s Table and the Crab Shack pop-up cost extra.
Island Princess has two main dining rooms, Bordeaux and Provence. Traditional dining runs at set early and late seatings, and on this ship, reservable and walk-in dining are combined in one dining room. Both serve the same rotating menu, which changes every night.
Yes. You can order more than one appetizer, entrée or dessert at no extra charge, and servers are happy to bring it. The exception is premium items: on some Princess ships, extra lobster tails and filet mignon carry a surcharge, so check the menu first.
Island Princess sailed a long Mediterranean voyage in fall 2026. Its published schedule then moves to Panama Canal crossings through April 2027, Alaska in summer 2027 and the Caribbean for 2027 to 2028. Check Princess for future Mediterranean dates.
Partly. For 2026 sailings and later, Princess Plus includes four casual dining meals per guest per voyage, and Princess Premier includes unlimited casual and specialty dining. Main dining room meals are always included in your cruise fare, whether you buy a package or not.
Bon Appétit
Although my waistband may disagree, I thoroughly enjoyed researching, writing and photographing this article. Reader statistics and your feedback tell us you love seeing the dishes as much as we love eating them. The menus will keep changing, but the best advice stays the same: ask your server, skip the breadbasket, and always say yes to the soufflé.
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