How does dinner work on a cruise ship?

The main dining room and cruise ship buffet will always be included in your cruise fare, though a few specialty items might cost extra. Most upscale or sit-down specialty restaurants incur an extra fee, either a flat cover charge or a la carte pricing per item.



People Also Ask

Dinner or “smart casual” attire If you're having dinner in the main restaurant or any meal at one of the specialty restaurants, you'll follow a “smart casual” dress code on most nights. This means long pants, jeans, a dress or skirt, a stylish top, or a button-down.

MORE DETAILS

Cruise ships are good at making food available 24/7, so if you're hungry, there's usually no one to blame but yourself. The main dining room usually has set meal times, but sections of the buffet will always be open, and you'll usually be able to find a diner, cafe, or pizza shop that's open at all hours.

MORE DETAILS

After breakfast service ends in the late morning, all major cruise lines offer an all-day room service menu of salads, sandwiches, snacks and desserts. Most cruise lines have special in-room dining menus, separate from what you'd find that day on the buffet or in the main dining room.

MORE DETAILS

No cruise line charges for pizza at this time, though some cruise lines do have fees for pizza that may be ordered through room service or otherwise delivered to guests. When picked up at casual dining venues, pizza is always free.

MORE DETAILS

Getting on your ship means a lot of choices on how to begin your vacation, but many guests elect to start things off with lunch. Embarkation usually begins in the late morning to early afternoon, so lunch is the first opportunity to sit down for a bite to eat.

MORE DETAILS

In the dining rooms, items such as shorts, pool wear and baseball caps are not permitted; shoes must be worn at all times. Jeans are permitted as long as they aren't fraying and don't have holes.

MORE DETAILS

Even though twice-daily stateroom cleaning has long been the standard in the cruise industry, how often you like your cruise ship stateroom cleaned by your cabin steward is a matter of personal preference. Some cruisers love the pampered feeling of a stateroom that is always clean -- when done by someone else.

MORE DETAILS

Cruise ship workers are not supposed to hook up with passengers, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. It is rare though – most crew follow the rules because they know they'll lose their job if they're caught. You won't be surprised to hear that cruise lines ban crew from having sex with passengers.

MORE DETAILS

Activities That Cost Extra on Cruises: Bingo, casino play, arcade games, escape rooms and golf simulators will all cost you extra on most ships. Additionally, hands-on cooking classes, wine and liquor tastings, and a few other courses require an extra charge outside your fare.

MORE DETAILS

Much like any hotel on land, room service tends to be operational 24/7 and that means passengers can have breakfast in bed at 2 p.m. if they so please or enjoy a hot pepperoni pizza at 3 a.m. by the sea.

MORE DETAILS

Is food included on a cruise? You do not have to pay for food on a cruise – but you might want to. Unless you're sailing on an all-inclusive luxury cruise ship, you'll find two types of restaurants on board a cruise ship: free venues and extra-charge, specialty restaurants.

MORE DETAILS

It's tradition for many cruisers to eat in the main dining room on the first night of the cruise. You're still getting the lay of the land, and if you've selected assigned-seating dining, you're eager to meet your waiters.

MORE DETAILS

If you like to have dinner on the table the minute you get home from work, stick to your regular routine. Choose the early dinner seating—it usually starts around 6 p.m. But if you like to lounge around a while or hit the gym after work, you might prefer a later setting, which typically starts at 8:30 p.m.

MORE DETAILS

Each night, there are 2 seating times for dinner. These times vary based on itinerary. In general, for sailings out of the domestic US, the Main Seating begins at 5:45 PM, and the Second Seating begins at 8:00 PM. For sailings out of Europe, the Main Seating begins at 6:00 PM, and the Second Seating begins at 8:30 PM.

MORE DETAILS

Yet Empire Supper Club and Royal Caribbean aren't alone in the world of top-end specialty restaurants on mainstream ships with high-end price tags. Dinner at Disney Cruise Lines' Remy Restaurant costs $125 per person, while Chef's Table by Daniel Boulud on Celebrity goes for $139 per person.

MORE DETAILS

Some of the most luxurious cruise lines offer some or all drinks free of charge. Cruise lines such as Silversea, Seabourn, and Regent Seven Seas are some that provide passengers with all-inclusive beverage service.

MORE DETAILS

You can get complimentary tea and coffee options from the cafes and restaurants that are present onboard the ships. However, specialty teas and coffees are likely to incur an added cost so make all the necessary inquiries before you order something.

MORE DETAILS

Nice jeans would also be ok, although we'd suggest something slightly more dressy. That said, not everything goes. There are some clothing items to avoid if you plan to eat in the dining room on formal night. This includes shorts, tank-tops, t-shirts, and swimsuits, as well as flip-flops.

MORE DETAILS

A formal night is an element of traditional cruising where guests wear their finest clothes and enjoy dinner. Many people love having the opportunity to dress up and many have photos taken with the captain. There may be a special formal night menu in the main dining room and there may be additional entertainment.

MORE DETAILS

For evenings, the recommended onboard dress is elegant casual for most ship venues. Suggested attire for men includes trousers and collared shirts (ties and jackets are optional but not required). For women, dresses, or skirts or slacks with sweaters or blouses are recommended.

MORE DETAILS