That’s what the military promises, and that’s what it delivers. OK, the options are limited, but there’s plenty of food, and save for the occasional blandness, it doesn’t taste bad, either. I haven’t felt deprived on this trip. You can get a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausage, grits and the like or dine lightly on fruit and cereal. Lunch options included the thickest cheeseburgers I’ve ever seen, pizza, and cheesesteak and fries. For dinner, the choices included fish, beef and other meats, as well as rice, mashed potatoes, vegetables and other sides. The officers' mess includes a salad bar, too. There is an array of beverage choices, including various fountain soft drinks, fruit juices, tea and coffee, that are available all day. And there are dessert options with every meal. Our first night on board, we met the guy in charge of the ship store. He said he’s the most popular guy on the ship because he buys 11,000 pounds of chocolate goodies at a time. But Boston Maggie met the night chef a couple of days later, and he thinks he is the most popular. He never has to do his own laundry because sailors want to stay in his good graces.
