Allie Hubers During our recent Royal Caribbean cruise, we decided to dine at Jamie’s Italian restaurant. This specialty dining venue onboard Anthem of the Seas is inspired by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
While we usually enjoy the main dining room for dinner in the evenings, we wanted to treat ourselves to something different. Jamie’s Italian has been one of my favorite restaurants on other Royal Caribbean cruises.
So, was Jamie’s Italian worth the splurge? Here’s my honest review, with ratings of each dish we tried. We’ve also included the full menu for Jamie’s Italian so you can decide if the splurge is worthwhile for you.
Jamie’s Italian Royal Caribbean Menu (2025)
STARTERS – ANTIPASTI
ULTIMATE GARLIC BUNS: Soft tear & share bread, veggie Parmesan, rosemary
TRUFFLE ARANCINI: Cheesy truffle risotto balls, truffled Béchamel sauce, shaved truffle
TOMATO BRUSCHETTA: Gorgeous heritage tomatoes & fresh basil on garlicky toast
CURED MEAT PLANK: San Daniele prosciutto, Tuscan fennel salami, coppa piccante, pistachio mortadella, tomato & olive crostini, baby mozzarella, pecorino sardo & chilli jam, olives & pickles, freshly baked focaccia
SQUID FRITTI: Crispy fried squid, garlic mayo, lemon
CRAB & AVOCADO: Freshly picked crab, whipped avocado, heritage tomatoes, Sardinian crackers
TRUFFLE BURRATA: Creamy burrata, shaved truffle, honey, hazelnuts, toast
MAINS – SECONDI
FRESH PASTA & RISOTTO
CREAMY PRAWN LINGUINE: Garlicky prawns, smoky pancetta, mascarpone & Chianti sauce, aged Parmesan, peppery rocket
TRUFFLE TAGLIATELLE: Luxurious silky truffle butter, veggie Parmesan, nutmeg, shaved truffle
RISOTTO ROSSO: Oozy sundried tomato rice, slow-cooked cherry tomatoes, creamy burrata, veggie Parmesan, fresh basil
PENNE VODKA ARRABBIATA: Vodka-spiked spicy tomato sauce, creamy buffalo mozzarella, chilli flakes, aged Parmesan
PENNE CARBONARA: Creamy pasta, smoky pancetta, slow-cooked leeks, aged Parmesan
TAGLIATELLE BOLOGNESE: Rich beef, pork & Chianti ragù, aged Parmesan
AUBERGINE PARMIGIANA: Tender balsamic-roasted aubergine topped with tomato & basil sauce, oozy smoked mozzarella & veggie Parmesan
STICKY SHORT RIB: Tender 12-hour Chianti-braised beef, creamy Parmesan mash, lemony kale, flash-pickled onion, grated horseradish
LAMB CHOPS SCOTTADITO: Charred juicy chops, agrodolce peppers, sticky onions, salsa verde, crispy capers
AVOCADO CAESAR SALAD: Crunchy baby gem & radicchio, avocado, anchovies, avo Caesar dressing, garlicky breadcrumbs, aged Parmesan
CHICKEN PARMIGIANA: Crispy breaded chicken breast, tomato & basil sauce, oozy mozzarella, aged Parmesan, peppery rocket
BEEF & PORK LASAGNE: Layers of rich beef & pork ragù, creamy Béchamel sauce, pasta sheets, mozzarella & aged Parmesan
SUPER SALMON*: Crispy-skinned salmon, sprouting broccoli, veg couscous, chilli, tomato salsa cruda
SIDES – CONTORNI
ROCKET SALAD: Radicchio, veggie Parmesan, aged balsamic
CHARRED BROCCOLI: Garlic, chilli, lemon
GREEN SALAD: Half a butter lettuce, avocado, radish, shallots, creamy avo dressing
SKIN-ON FRIES: Sea salt
GARLICKY MASH: Creamy potato, roasted garlic, nutmeg
POLENTA CHIPS: Crispy rosemary, veggie Parmesan
DESSERTS – DOLCI
RICH CHOCOLATE BROWNIE: Chocolate sauce, salted caramel gelato, caramelised popcorn
TIRAMISÙ: Boozy coffee-drenched savoiardi sponge biscuits, silky mascarpone cream, cocoa
AMALFI LEMON CHEESECAKE: Velvety mascarpone & lemon cheesecake, crushed Italian meringue, lemon curd, blueberry compote
BANANA SPLIT: Vanilla, strawberry & chocolate gelato, caramelised banana, honeycomb, chocolate sauce
GELATO & SORBET: Ask for today’s flavours. Three delicious scoops & two toppings of your choice: praline, caramelised popcorn, chocolate sauce. Seasonal fruit compote
Appetizers: A strong start (mostly)
After settling at our table and ordering cocktails, we browsed the menu and decided to try every appetizer on the menu, excluding the meat plank. Overall, the appetizers were flavorful and easy to share—it was a great start to our specialty meal.
We had to wait about 25 minutes for our drinks and appetizers to arrive, but it was worth the wait!
Garlic Parmesan Buns – 8/10
Buttery, warm, and melt-in-your-mouth soft. The sprinkle of Parmesan on top made them addictively good.
Arancini – 10/10
These fried risotto balls were one of the stars of the night. Perfectly crisp outside with a cheesy, truffle-scented center.
Burrata – 7/10
Creamy and paired nicely with a subtle touch of honey, but it could’ve used more toast. Also a little runny in texture.
Bruschetta – 7/10
Only one piece was served, which felt a bit stingy, but the tomatoes were incredibly fresh and flavorful.
Crab and Avocado – 4/10
This was our least favorite. It had a tuna-like taste and the chips were disappointingly soggy.
Crispy Squid – 8/10
A solid dish! Well-fried with a satisfying crunch and paired with a delicious garlic aioli.
Jamie’s Italian entrées: Pasta lovers, rejoice
The Jamie’s Italian menu has a variety of tasty pasta dishes to try, followed by the second courses to order as well. You can order as part of your appetizer or served with your main entrées.
We ordered multiple pastas to share as a family, along with short rib to pair with the pasta. This was the highlight of our meal!
Carbonara – 9.5/10
One of the best carbonara pastas we’ve had on a cruise ship. Rich, creamy, and cooked to perfection, though a bit more bacon would’ve made it perfect.
Truffle Tagliatelle – 10/10
Absolutely divine. The creamy truffle sauce had just the right balance, and the generous dusting of Parmesan took it over the top. I would come back just for this!
Garlicky Prawn Linguine – 9/10
Loaded with plump shrimp and big seafood flavor. Another creamy sauce that hit all the right notes.
Lasagna – 7/10
A hearty portion, but our table couldn’t decide if we really enjoyed this. Some loved the rich meat sauce, while others weren’t fans of the pork undertones.
Slow-cooked Short Rib – 7/10
The flavor was fantastic and the mashed potatoes were a highlight, but the meat was on the fattier side.
Desserts: Sweet finish with some standouts
You can’t dine at Jamie’s Italian without sampling some of the fantastic, decadent dessert options on the menu. The brownie and cheesecake were our favorites, while the tiramisu was slightly disappointing.
Epic Chocolate Brownie – 9/10
Fudgy, rich, and everything you want in a brownie. It came with vanilla ice cream (not the salted caramel as advertised), but still a win.
Creamy Cheesecake – 8/10
Light and fluffy with a show-stopping meringue topping. Not too sweet, not too tart—just right.
Tiramisu – 6/10
We found this one a bit underwhelming. It had a hint of lemon and was more spongey than creamy. Not bad, just not memorable.
Friendly but slow service
Jamie’s Italian was unusually busy the night we dined—our server mentioned they were seating over 200 guests. As a result, we waited about 45 minutes before getting our appetizers and drinks.
Once the food started arriving, though, things picked up and dessert came out quickly. Despite the delay, our server was kind, attentive, and clearly worked hard to keep things moving.
Is Jamie’s Italian worth it on Royal Caribbean?
Jamie’s Italian is a rustic, relaxed alternative to the main dining room, with hearty, satisfying food in a more intimate setting.
While it’s not a “must-do” for every guest, dining here is a worthwhile treat, especially if you score a discount or use a Royal Caribbean loyalty perk. I also enjoy the change of pace from the main dining room on longer itineraries.
We used our Diamond Plus BOGO dining perk, which brought the cost down to about $27 per person, plus gratuities. At that price, it was absolutely worth it. The portions were generous, the food was flavorful, and it felt like a great value.
At full price (around $55 per person), the value depends on your preferences. If you’re an Italian food lover, it’s likely worth the splurge, especially since you can order multiple appetizers, entrées, and desserts with no limits. That’s a big bonus compared to some cruise lines that restrict your selections at specialty restaurants with only a few options.
Would we go again? Yes, especially for the amazing truffle pasta!
Tips for dining at Jamie’s Italian on a Royal Caribbean cruise
Try lunch instead – The lunch menu is nearly identical to dinner, with slightly smaller portions but a lower price tag ($25 per person). It’s a great way to sample the menu without committing to the full dinner cost.
Ask for a discount – Don’t be afraid to chat with crew members about deals. We were offered 30% off when we inquired about specialty dining onboard.
Use loyalty perks – If you’re a Crown & Anchor member with BOGO or specialty dining benefits, this is a fantastic place to use them.
