Is food free on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Meals from many onboard venues, such as the Main Dining Room and Windjammer Café, are included in the price of your cruise. Reservations are only required for dinner. There is a service charge per person to dine at Chops Grille and Johnny Rockets.



On a Royal Caribbean cruise in 2026, food is "included," but it is not entirely "free." Your base fare covers meals at the Main Dining Room, the Windjammer Marketplace (buffet), and several smaller venues like Cafe Promenade, Sorrento's Pizza, and El Loco Fresh. In these locations, you can eat as much as you want without paying extra. However, Royal Caribbean has significantly expanded its "Specialty Dining" portfolio, which includes high-end restaurants like Chops Grille, Izumi, and Wonderland. These venues require an additional "cover charge" (typically $35–$60 per person) or have a la carte pricing. In 2026, many passengers opt for a "Specialty Dining Package" to save on these costs. It is also important to note that while the food is included in the main venues, "extras" like soda, specialty coffees (Starbucks), and alcoholic beverages are not, and will be charged to your room account unless you have a beverage package. Essentially, you will never go hungry for "free," but the most gourmet experiences come with an added price tag.

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So which food is included and which cost extra? While not all the food on Royal Caribbean is included, there is enough food and drink for you to enjoy that is included so you will not need to pay extra for food. However, you may feel inclined to pay for drinks or meals anyway as a way to enhance your cruise.

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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.

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So how much money do you need? The answer to this question varies a lot by person, their travel habits, spending preferences, length of the cruise and destination. Many people suggest $100 per day, and this has generally worked well for me in my cruising experiences, but there are a lot of variables to consider.

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Sure, you can eat at the buffet at almost any time of the day or make a reservation at a specialty restaurant, but to dine in the main dining room, most cruise lines require you to show up at either a set time or during a limited timeframe.

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No Charge for Pizza on Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean International has spoken out about the pay-for-pizza debate raging in the cruise community. Cruise line president and CEO Michael Bayley confirmed on social media that there will be no charge forthcoming for Sorrento's pizza.

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All Royal Caribbean cruise fares include most meals and snacks onboard your ship and at any private destination you visit (such as Labadee or CocoCay). This means there will be ample opportunity to enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks without additional cost.

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It's always possible to purchase a lobster tail in MDR from the small list of items from the Chops steakhouse menu every night, but on formal night, they are included.

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Cash is not accepted at the onboard shops. All purchases made at the Royal Shops must be made using your Seapass® card. Was this content helpful? Thank you for helping us improve our website!

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Taking food back to the room You can take food from the buffet back to your room if you'd rather eat away from the crowds. If you take food from the buffet or another informal location and bring it back to your room, nobody will object.

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You can order several entrees if you want, or even several appetizers. The wait staff will bring you anything on the menu in pretty much any quantity. If the dish you have been given is distasteful to you in anyway don't feel you have to eat it.

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Whether you order from the bar, main dining room, or a specialty restaurant, soda will cost extra on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Currently, the price for a can of soda is $3.50, before the 18% gratuity. Additionally, cruisers wanting juice from a bar or during other meals will also be charged $3.50.

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Most veteran cruisers recommend that you budget between £75-£100 per day for other costs. You can cut back on spending and reduce your budget. However, you're probably going to need at least £50 a day. So, once you've booked your cruise, you'll want to set aside around £350-£700 for other costs.

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As a general rule, plan to have $50 to $100 each day in the local currency. Also, you may want to bring an extra $20 a day for tipping crew members. Make sure to include smaller bills for tips. Fifty to a hundred dollars a day should be enough to cover small purchases, tips and snacks at each port.

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