5 Foods You Should Never Eat On A Cruise

Take How I Met Your Mother‘s mantra to heart: Nothing good happens after 2 a.m. At least not when it comes to fourth-meal snacking. Most cruises have late-night buffets or 24-hour food options (like room service), but that after-midnight snacking — which often involves greasy, salty foods — could leave you feeling sluggish and bloated the next day.

Hot foods need to be kept at 140 degrees or higher to kill bacteria and be safe to eat, so the best way to make sure you won’t regret your buffet dinner is to make sure the food is basically steaming (just remember to let it cool before you chow down).

We often overlook condiments as something that can spoil, but when they’ve been baking under the hot sun for hours, they’re still vulnerable to bacterial growth. If a condiment looks like it’s been out for a while, you’re better off asking for a fresh bottle; you may look high maintenance, but your stomach will thank you.