Cruise ships are stepping up their coffee game

If you’re a fiend for caffeine, these cruise ships have you covered.

I admit it, I am a coffee fiend. So much so, I travel with an   Aeropress portable coffee maker   and ground beans. But lately I have found it goes unused when I’m on a ship as cruise lines wise up to the fact we love our coffee.

If, like me, you’re one of those coffee drinkers who can’t function well before the first brew, it’s good to know there are now choices as close to your bed as possible every morning.

Coffee makers are popping up in suites, as I discovered on board Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot when a Nespresso machine was just one of the vessel’s highlights on a cruise in Greenland this year. Another memorable coffee moment on a cruise? The double shot of Italian Illy coffee delivered to my suite by a butler on Silversea’s Silver Muse. And no more tepid brown water in restaurants – cruise lines are employing baristas to make your morning cup.

Celestyal, which offers cruises in the Greek Islands, the Adriatic, and the Arabian Gulf, recently expanded its specialist on-board coffee bar Café Nation to be on both the 1266-guest Celestyal Discovery and the 1260-guest Celestyal Journey. The café is operated in partnership with Illy and the barista can whip up more than 90 specialist drinks, from cold-brewed coffee to espressos.

Meanwhile, I can attest that Virgin Voyages’ coffee bar Ground Club Too serves an exceptional brew. They source their beans from Chicago brand Intelligentsia. Their first ship, Scarlet Lady, is about to undergo a glow-up, where this coffee bar in The Galley will still serve Intelligentsia Coffee to jump-start the day, but by night, will transform into a full-service bar with intimate lounge space and cocktails. An Espresso Martini perhaps?

I’ve also had top-notch coffee on Oceania Cruises’ Nautica (at Baristas, which is included in the fare) and at The Arts Café on Silversea (also included in the fare).

Those who prefer their coffee with syrup or whipped cream will be happy to know that Starbucks is a staple on Royal Caribbean ships. Picture: Supplied.

Those who prefer their coffee with syrup or whipped cream will be happy to know that Starbucks is a staple on Royal Caribbean ships. The line’s Oasis Class ships have dedicated Starbucks at Sea cafés while older vessels also serve Starbucks from on-board cafés.

Norwegian Cruise Lines also serve Starbucks. The company offers a Starbucks Package which includes everything from classic coffees to Frappuccino favourites for $US16 a day. It might add up to be a little more, as a 20 per cent gratuity and beverage service charge is added at checkout.

And while Princess Cruises’ official coffee partner is well-known Italian coffee brand Lavazza, the cruise line also offers a Starbucks shore excursion in Costa Rica. The day-long Starbucks Coffee Tour journeys to the foot of the Poas Volcano, where you’ll find Hacienda Alsacia, Starbucks’ 240ha coffee farm.

Here you can take a tour of the tree nursery, the micro wet mill, the drying patio, and the roaster, and learn about sustainable practices. Of course, there’s a tasting afterwards at the café where the coffee is made with beans harvested exclusively from the farm.

Originally published as Cruise ships are stepping up their coffee game