I’ve been on 5 Disney cruises. Here are the 11 best things to eat on the ships.

I’ve been on a number of Disney’s cruise ships. Megan duBois I’ve been on five Disney cruises, and some foods are worth seeking out on the ships.   The delicious chicken Parmesan from the adults-only restaurant is only served at brunch.

  Dinner with Rapunzel isn’t complete without scallop pasta, and you can end the night with gelato. The chicken Parmesan from Palo is a must-get for me. Parmesan-crusted chicken breast at Palo.

Megan duBoisPalo is the adults-only restaurant on all of the Disney Cruise Line (DCL) ships — it’s called Palo Steakhouse on the Disney Wish.  The restaurant serves a decadent brunch for $45 a person on sea days, and I always order the Parmesan-crusted chicken breast.  The upscale take on a chicken Parmesan is topped with a sauce made with San Marzano tomato and basil.

It’s also covered in mozzarella cheese that’s been melted until it’s brown and bubbly. It’s served over a creamy risotto, which I often ask for a second serving of because it’s just that good. There’s one pasta dish at Animator’s Palate that’s always a hit.

Black-truffle pasta purseittes at Animator’s Palate. Megan duBoisAnimator’s Palate is a complimentary rotational dinner restaurant on every ship except the Disney Wish. It’s a popular spot with Disney Cruise fans who, like me, always have to get the black-truffle pasta purseittes as an appetizer.

 The pasta is filled with truffle-scented cheese and tossed in a light Champagne sauce that brings everything together. If you ask your server nicely, you can also get an entrée-sized portion of the pasta. Trust me, it’s so good you’re going to want to.

For something sweet, the gelato on the ships is worth the extra cost. Gelato isn’t included in the cost of the cruise. Megan duBoisOn all five DCL ships, there’s a gelato shop where you can get cups, cones, or sundaes.

It costs extra, and the prices vary depending on what you order. But it’s worth it to get a cone (around $4) with more exciting flavors than the vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate soft serve Disney serves for free.  My favorite gelato flavors are blueberry and lemon, peanut butter, and chocolate hazelnut.

Rapunzel’s Royal Table is my favorite restaurant on any Disney ship. Rotational dining is included in the cost of the cruise. Megan duBoisMy favorite Disney movie is “Tangled,” so it’s no coincidence that my favorite rotational dining option is Rapunzel’s Royal Table on the Disney Magic.

The storyline of the restaurant is that you’re celebrating Rapunzel’s birthday with Flynn Rider and the Ruffians from the movie.  The restaurant serves a delicious prime-rib plate and a perfectly cooked sea bass, but my favorite dish is the “Tangled” pasta. The entrée comes with seared scallops alongside angel-hair pasta that’s been tossed in basil pesto.

It’s served with roasted tomatoes, sun-dried-tomato tapenade, and a roasted Meyer lemon half. I like squeezing the lemon over the entire dish so the scallops have a citrusy zing. The lemon also cuts through the savory pesto well.

Mickey-shaped churro waffles are a sugar rush at breakfast. Churro waffles on a Dinsey Cruise. Megan duBoisWhile sailing on the Disney Magic, I was able to try Mickey-shaped churro waffles at the buffet line at CabanasThey were tossed in a sweet mix of cinnamon and sugar, and I got them with fresh fruit instead of dousing them in syrup because they’re so sweet.

A side of bacon is also a must-get because, after a few bites of waffle, I always want something salty.  The churro waffles are served on select days on the ship’s main buffet, so you’ll want to walk through the line each morning so you don’t miss them.  If I’m at Palo for dinner, I’m getting the gnocchi.

Potato gnocchi with pesto at Palo. Megan duBoisPalo also serves dinner, and I always look forward to its soft potato gnocchi. It can only be described as little potato clouds.

The gnocchi is tossed with roasted tomatoes, basil pesto, and prosecco wine sauce and topped with crunchy pine nuts. This dish is a separate cost outside of the prix-fixe dinner menu at Palo, so it costs $12, but it’s worth the splurge. If there’s one thing I wish I knew how to make at home, it’s this.

 The all-you-can-eat soft serve is nice after a day off the ship. Soft serve is free on DCL ships. Megan duBoisOne of my favorite DCL traditions is getting soft-serve ice cream immediately after getting back on the ship from a shore excursion.

It’s usually very hot in all of the Bahamian and Caribbean destinations, so the ice cream is a sweet way to cool down before going back to my cabin for an afternoon nap. There’s nothing better than a charcuterie board for a snack in the afternoon. Charcuterie board from Marceline Market.

Megan duBoisOn the Disney Wish, there’s a charcuterie board served at lunch inside the buffet-style restaurant Marceline Market. I love this board because it comes with two different cured meats, a small breadstick, a roasted artichoke heart, a small caprese salad, a few chunks of salty Parmesan cheese, and a dish of marinated olives.  Whenever I want a snack to take with me to trivia or to watch a movie, this is usually what I go for.

It’s easy to carry around the ship, and there’s usually an easy place to pop my empty tray. 1923 is my favorite restaurant on Disney Wish. Alameda porcini spiced ahi tuna from 1923.

Megan duBoisI’d say 1923 is the more subdued dining room on the Disney Wish. There are no big shows or characters roaming around, and it feels like an elegant steakhouse with a Disney twist thanks to the addition of sketches, clay models, and artist renderings of classic animated films. While dining here, I love getting the Alameda porcini spiced ahi tuna.

 The appetizer comes with four slices of tuna that are seared on the outside and rawer on the inside. The dish is complemented with pickled lotus root, black-sesame brittle, oyster mushrooms, a dollop of spicy wasabi, and creamy yuzu mayonnaise. Swiping each bite of tuna through the wasabi and mayo is a perfect combination of citrus and spice.

Taco bowls from Donald’s Cantina may be the best quick-service option on any Disney ship. Taco bowl at Donald’s Cantina. Megan duBoisOn the Disney Wish, Donald’s Cantina is one of the outdoor dining locations on the pool deck.

As the name suggests, the quick-service restaurant serves Tex-Mex-inspired fare like taco bowls, burritos, and tacos with all of the toppings and fixings you can imagine.  One of my go-to lunches is the taco bowl. I was able to pick a base like rice and load on my choice of beef or chicken fajitas or pork carnitas.

Then I added toppings like guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and cheese. After my bowl was built, I was able to go to the salsa bar where there are 20 different hot sauces and salsas to try. The scallop appetizer at Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure is worth ordering.

Elsa’s royal baked scallops from Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure. Megan duBoisArendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure — part dining room and part theater-in-the-round — is one of the most talked about experiences on the Disney Wish. During dinner, you’ll be celebrating the engagement of Queen Anna and Kristoff with performances of “Frozen” songs and character meet and greets.

 One of the best appetizers I’ve ever had on any cruise line is Elsa’s royal baked scallops. The dish comes out in a crock, like what French onion soup is served in, and is filled with a flavorful shrimp-and-tarragon bisque. The scallops float alongside rainbow carrots.

But the best part of this dish is the flaky pastry that covers the top of the crock. You have to break through the buttery dome to get to the scallops.  BONUS: I look forward to the beach barbecue on Disney’s cruise-exclusive private island.

Barbecue from Castaway Cay. Megan duBoisWhen I cruise with Disney, I’m usually going to ports in the Caribbean or Bahamas, which means they stop for one magical day at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. The tropical escape has so much to do, and the best part is lunch is served beach-barbecue style.

 There are two locations to eat at the family beaches. But I always go back to the adults-only beach, Serenity Bay, to eat lunch. The adult beach has all of the usual suspects like burgers, fish, chicken, and ribs, plus grilled steaks that can only be found there.

My favorite is the ribs, which are sticky, sweet, savory, and fall off the bone. I usually end up going to get ribs twice during my day at Castaway Cay, once when the restaurant opens and once just before closing time. Read the original article on Insider.