Hudson's

The Logbook — Real Guest Soundings

Depth Sounding: This is a composite account from multiple guest experiences, edited to our venue standards for clarity. Individual sailings vary by ship, itinerary, and crew.

Hudson's Review: Classic Steakhouse, Cruise Ship Scale

Introduction. Hudson's is a specialty steakhouse found on select Norwegian ships, serving American-style steak and seafood with a supper-club feel. It carries a specialty dining surcharge ($39-59 or a dining credit from Free at Sea). Reservations are recommended. It positions itself as the classic fine-dining steakhouse experience at sea.

Food & Drinks

The Shrimp Cocktail starter is solid — large shrimp, properly chilled, with a cocktail sauce that has real horseradish kick. The French Onion Soup is a highlight: rich beef broth, caramelized onions, a proper Gruyere crust that bubbles and stretches. For mains, the NY Strip is the strongest cut — well-marbled, cooked accurately, with good char. The Filet Mignon is tender but can lack the beefy depth of the Strip. The Lobster Tail add-on is sweet and well-prepared. Where it falls short: the sides feel like afterthoughts — the Creamed Spinach is gluey, the Baked Potato is just a baked potato with toppings, and the steakhouse Mac and Cheese is decent but not memorable. The Lamb Chops, when available, can arrive overcooked. Dessert: the New York Cheesecake is the right choice — dense, creamy, classic.

Service

Service aims for old-school steakhouse formality — your waiter knows the cuts, will recommend cooking temperatures, and paces the meal with proper timing between courses. Wine service is competent, with a steakhouse-focused list (big Cabs, bold Malbecs) that's better curated than the fleet-wide selection. A full dinner runs 90-120 minutes. The experience is consistent across sailings, though the quality of the actual steak varies — some nights the marbling is excellent, other nights it's merely good.

Atmosphere

Dark wood, leather, dim lighting — it's a steakhouse. The design hits the expected notes without being innovative, and that's fine. It feels like a proper restaurant, not a cruise ship dining room. Music is subtle jazz. On ships where it's positioned with an ocean view, the ambiance elevates further. Seating is typically 50-70, which keeps it intimate. Dress code is cruise-casual-to-smart — no one's turned away, but guests tend to dress up slightly.

Conclusion

Rating: 3.7/5. Hudson's delivers a competent steakhouse experience — the NY Strip and French Onion Soup are genuine highlights, and the service is appropriately formal. It loses points for inconsistent steak quality, the uninspired sides, and the premium price point for what's a good (not great) steakhouse. Tip: Order the NY Strip medium-rare, start with the French Onion Soup, and skip the sides in favor of an extra appetizer. Use your Free at Sea dining credit here.

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