Every cruise line claims their food is restaurant quality. Every cruise line is lying.
The truth is cruise food ranges from cafeteria decent to actually impressive. Most falls somewhere in the middle. You are not getting Daniel Boulud at sea unless you are literally on a ship with Daniel Boulud.
The main dining room serves food designed to please 3,000 people at once. That means bland proteins and safe flavors. The buffet exists to feed you quickly, not to change your life. Specialty restaurants charge extra because they can actually focus on fewer dishes.
Here is what cruise lines do not tell you. The best food often comes from the simplest places. Room service pizza at midnight beats most formal dining experiences. The poolside grill makes a burger that puts the main dining room steak to shame. That random Asian noodle station tucked in a corner probably has the most flavor on the ship.
Stop expecting fine dining from a floating hotel with 18 restaurants. Start appreciating what cruise food actually is. Convenient, consistent, and available 24 hours a day. You will not starve. You might even enjoy it if you adjust your expectations accordingly.
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