What is the best time to eat on a cruise ship?

Early dining typically begins anywhere from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. Early dining frees up your entire evening for shows, live music, deck parties, and other activities around the ship. It's also great for families with children, because kids are often used to eating a bit earlier.



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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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To the delight of many passengers (or to the chagrin of those watching their waistlines), cruises offer no shortage of nibbles at all hours of the day. Although cruise midnight buffets are nearly extinct, several lines still offer a spread of snacks that are available into the wee hours of the morning.

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Generally speaking, guidelines for tipping vary from cruise line to cruise line. However, the general rule of thumb is to tip approximately 15-20% of your daily cruise fare plus an additional gratuity of $5-10 per person per day.

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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.

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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.

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Many first-time cruisers don't realize that they won't be able to go directly to their staterooms upon boarding. Pass the time while you wait for your room to be ready and for the ship to set sail by enjoying lunch on the Lido Deck of the ship.

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If you're planning to go on a cruise, you might be wondering whether cruise lines check your luggage. The answer is yes, they do.

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It's important to note that if you board very early, your cabin may not be ready yet as they're probably still cleaning from the last cruise. Once settled in, or if your cabin isn't ready, it's time to explore the ship and check out everything there will be to do throughout your trip.

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Your cruise fare always includes food for breakfast, lunch and dinner on a cruise ship. However, not all venues that offer food will be free. The main dining room and cruise ship buffet will always be included in your cruise fare, though a few specialty items might cost extra.

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Breakfast is served roughly between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., and lunch between noon and 2 p.m.; you can arrive anytime within that window. Passengers who choose a Traditional Dining plan will be assigned a dinner time, either Early (sometime between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.) or Late (an 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. start time).

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Located in the multi-level Royal Promenade at the heart of our ships – and the best spot for people-watching – Café Promenade serves coffee, snacks, pastries, and sandwiches around the clock. Open 24 hours a day, it's perfect for satisfying your late-night cravings.

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If it's homemade, not in a sealed package or needs refrigeration or to be cooked, it's prohibited. The only food allowed on cruise ships is store-bought items in sealed, shelf-stable packaging. If you're tempted to try to smuggle something on board, it's not recommended.

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