It’s not your typical Disney Cruise meal — and that’s exactly what makes Ramone’s Cantina worth talking about.

As the resident food writer for WDW Magazine, DLR Magazine, and DCL Magazine, I make it my business to keep on top of any menu changes and new restaurants opening throughout the Disney universe. So when I learned that the Disney Dream added a new grab-and-go Mexican restaurant after some dry dock renovations AND that I would be sailing onboard the Dream soon thereafter, I was understandably excited.

One of the many reasons why I, and so many others, love cruising with Disney is the variety of included dining options. While other cruise lines can make sailing complicated with a mix of included and added-costs dining, Disney Cruise Line keeps things quite simple. In fact, it’s easier for me to list off what’s not included (alcoholic drinks, specialty coffee drinks like cappuccinos and lattes, specialty treats and packaged novelties from the onboard sweets shop, and adults-only dining like Palo), than to run down the sheer volume of included eats.

When you find yourself on the pool deck onboard the Disney Dream you’ll have a number of quick, grab-and-go options to choose from all with playful naming and themes courtesy of the Cars film franchise. There’s pizza, burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, sandwiches and wraps, fresh salads, fresh fruit and the newest addition: tacos and bowls from Ramone’s Cantina.

Ramone’s Cantina: An Overview

Build the perfect burrito bowl at Ramone’s Cantina. Photo by Danny Shuster

Ramone’s Cantina on the Disney Dream will be familiar to anyone who’s dined at a Chipotle. This quick-service dining spot functions similar to the popular chain (but thankfully, there’s no extra charge for guac when you cruise with Disney).

The crew will build your meal fresh and exactly to your liking. Start by choosing your format, either soft shell tacos (prepared with flour tortillas) or skip some carbs and opt for a bowl.

From there, you’ll choose your rice and beans, add on fajita veggies, opt for grilled chicken or seasoned beef, pick your toppings and salsa and voila — your meal is ready.

Customize your tacos and bowls at Ramone’s Cantina. Photo by Danny Shuster

It’s worth mentioning that most of the toppings available at Ramone’s (cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and assorted salsa) are served up by the crew members making your meal. Some other options — notably the hot sauces, of which there are several to choose from — are do-it-yourself and can be added on from the condiments bar (which is also where you’ll find the ketchup and mustard for the hamburger stand next door).

My wife, who is something of a self-proclaimed salsa and hot sauce aficionado, was very pleased with their salsa verde and homemade hot sauces, which she even used on her chicken tenders.

Is Ramone’s Cantina Any Good? Yes — But It’s Slow

The menu options at Ramone’s Cantina. Photo by Danny Shuster

I see the vision with Ramone’s Cantina, and I really want to like it and give it full marks. But I do have some thoughts.

Most of these gripes are process issues, and I know it’s a relatively new addition to the ship. There are always going to be new Cast Members in need of training and familiarization, but these are things holding me back from giving Ramone’s a truly glowing review.

I’m not sure if it’s due to high demand, or longer preparation times, but Ramone’s moved slower than its fellow grab-and-go dining options on the Dream. While you can simply breeze up to the pizza or burgers window and be on your way in mere moments, on our sailing, Ramone’s commanded a separate queue complete with a Cast Member controlling the flow of traffic before you even reached the ordering window.

Pumping my brakes in line while I watched one taco be assembled at a time and seeing all the other food stations cranking out pizza, burgers, chicken nuggets, sandwiches, and salads at lightning (McQueen) fast speeds did have me considering jumping ship more than once while waiting for my taco trio. I can also see this problem being exacerbated with a family, particularly if one child only wants chicken fingers and another only wants tacos; that’s a situation that’ll cause one to wait in line longer while someone else’s food gets cold.

I recognize how trivial these problems are in the grand scheme of things, but when so much of the Disney Cruise Line experience is effortless and easy, friction like this stands out.

Work up an appetite for Ramone’s Cantina on the AquaDuck. Photo by Danny Shuster

Now, let’s talk about what I like. I love that you can get your tacos and bowls exactly how you want them at Ramone’s Cantina. And the menu is extremely easy to modify and make inclusive of dietary restrictions and preferences. I also love having the additional salsa and toppings bar open on the pool deck (I recommend trying some of the new hot sauces to liven up your chicken tenders!).

I just didn’t love the queue. 

Overall, the food at Ramone’s Cantina itself is tasty, and it feels nutritious and wholesome. I’ll never deny anyone the deep-fried pleasures of chicken tenders but, by contrast, my tacos with rice, veggies, grilled chicken, corn salsa, and guacamole certainly felt more akin to a balanced, filling, and delicious meal. If taco night is a tradition in your household or you like getting takeout from Chipotle, I’m confident you’ll be able to build a delicious meal at Ramone’s, even if you have to yield to slower traffic.