If you are considering booking, or have booked a cruise with Royal Caribbean Cruises, you may have heard about their Unlimited Dining Package. In this guide to Royal Caribbean’s unlimited dining package, we’ll look at what it is and where you can dine. We’ll also give you some Royal Caribbean unlimited dining package tips, that might save you some money.
This package can cause some confusion for many, new cruisers especially, as they quite rightly ask “Isn’t the food already included in the price of the cruise?”
Well of course it is. But Royal Caribbean ships offer an “upgraded” dining experience in their “premium” specialty restaurants. These restaurants are not included in the price of your cruise package and if you want to dine there, you pay an additional fee or cover charge.
I’ve been sailing with Royal Caribbean from the days before they offered Specialty dining until now and I am also a Diamond Crown and Anchor member with them, so I do know a little about their dining options. I’m also a massive foodie fan!
So let’s look at exactly what the Royal Caribbean Dining Package is, how much it costs, and whether the package represents good value. We’ll also give you some tips on how to make the best use of it if you do decide to take that option on your next cruise.
What We Are Going To Cover
What is the Royal Caribbean Unlimited Dining Plan?
Royal Caribbean cruise ships have a number of specialty restaurants on board. The number of restaurants varies depending on the size of the ship. But even the smallest ships in the fleet have at least four. These specialty restaurants offer additional dining options to guests for an additional charge. Charges for each restaurant vary but can be anywhere around $40-60 per person for dinner. Lunch time is usually less expensive, but can still cost between $20-$40.
The Royal Caribbean Unlimited Dining Plan is an optional add-on package that allows cruisers the ability to dine at all of their specialty restaurants for the duration of their cruise for a fixed price.
Guests can dine at any of the restaurants as often as they want, with no additional charges. The fixed price you pay upfront also includes all gratuities.
All guests of course have access to fabulous free food at the complimentary dining venues like the main dining rooms, Windjammer, and Sorrento’s.
How much does Royal Caribbean Unlimited Dining Option Cost and Is It Good Value?
Like a lot of Royal Caribbean’s add-ons, the price of the Unlimited Dining option varies depending on the ship, length of the cruise, location, and season.
The only way you can find out the exact price is to wait until you have booked your cruise and then log into your cruise planner. The price will then be shown under the dining options.
However, it is still not as simple as that. The price can continue to vary, as the cruise line often can discount these add-ons during selected periods leading up to the cruise.
To give you an idea of the cost, here are some example prices I witnessed for two different cruises I sailed on with Royal Caribbean.
One of the cruises was a 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise on Wonder of the Seas sailing from Miami during September 2023. The other is a Transatlantic on Oasis of the Seas sailing from Miami to Barcelona in April 2024.
Wonder of the Seas 7-night Caribbean Cruise September 2023
$380 / £300 Adult (Average cost per night is $54 / £42)
$90 / £71 Child
Oasis of the Seas 14-night Transatlantic Cruise April 2024
$650 / £520 Adult (Average cost per night is $46 / £37)
$170 / £135 Child
As you can see from this example, the average cost on the 14-night cruise is lower than the 7-night cruise.
So based on these two examples the average costs work out at $46-54 per night.
If you consider that the cost to dine in a specialty dining restaurant is around $40-$65 per evening meal, you really do need to make sure you make good use of what the package covers to justify the cost.
Tip #1: If you do purchase the Unlimited Dining Package use it as much as you can – Lunch and Dinner. Be aware though that lunch is available on sea days only.
Tip #2: Itineraries with more Sea Days can provide better value as you will have more opportunities to use the package for Lunch as well as Dinner
Are There Any Discounts Available and When Is The Best Time To Buy The Unlimited Dining Plan?
The variable pricing of Royal Caribbean’s add-ons can be frustrating. The other frustration is that they often discount the prices, but you never know if this is the lowest price you are being offered or not.
Traditionally, Royal Caribbean offers the most significant discount on their packages around Black Friday. If the timing of that event coincides with the lead-up to a cruise, it is helpful to wait and see what goes on offer at that point.
However, the best advice is usually to book the package as early as you can afford to. If the price then drops, you can cancel it with Royal and rebook it at the new price, without charge. You can do this at any time up to 2 days before your cruise.
Tip #3: Once you have booked the Unlimited Dining Package, watch for any price drop and then cancel and rebook at no extra charge via Guest Services
How Do You Purchase the Unlimited Dining Package?
For best value, you should book the dining package before your cruise. You can purchase the unlimited dining package pre-cruise via the Manage My Cruise option on Royal Caribbean’s website.
Once logged in, select the “Plan My Cruise” option, and then select “Dining”.
You can wait until you’re onboard, but the price will be at its highest and there may be no availability.
Tip #4: Don’t wait until you get on board to purchase the ultimate Dining Package as you will pay more or it may not be available.
What Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Specialty Dining Restaurants are included?
The package gives you unlimited visits every evening at any of the “fixed price” specialty restaurants. It also includes lunch on sea days as well.
For the restaurants that have “A La Carte” pricing, you are either given a food “credit” or some additional surcharges apply (see below for details). Food credits can only be used once per day.
Standard Fixed Price Restaurants
- 150 Central Park
- Chops Grille
- Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen
- Giovanni’s Table
- Hooked Seafood
- Jamie’s Italian
- Johnny Rockets (Not the Express Venues)
- Sabor
- Samba Grill
- The Mason Jar
- Wonderland
A La Carte Restaurants
- Fish & Ships ($20 food credit)
- Izumi Sushi ($39.99 food credit)
- Izumi Hibachi/Teppanyaki ($15 surcharge)
- Johnny Rockets Express ($20 food credit)
- Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade ($20 food credit)
- Portside BBQ ($ 20 food credit )
Dining at the Chef’s Table is also included subject to a supplement of $49.99 per person per meal.
When dining in Specialty Restaurants, guests are also entitled to a 40% discount off bottles of wine valued at $100 or less. More expensive wines are subject to a 20% discount.
What are the Unlimited Dining Package’s rules and limitations?
The Unlimited dining package does come with some limitations. For example cannot be used for:-
A Taste of Royal
Culinary Activities
Holiday Celebration Dinners
Mystery Dinner Theater
Wine Pairing Dinners
The package does not include the cost of any drinks, so it can be useful to pair the package with an Unlimited Beverage package.
How to Make Your Reservations for Unlimited Dining
When you purchase the package, Royal Caribbean will make a courtesy dining package reservation for you on either embarkation day or the second evening of your cruise. However, any additional reservations must be made on board and can be made at any of the specialty restaurants.
It is advisable to make your dining reservations upon boarding as soon as you see anyone manning the specialty restaurants. You don’t have to go to the specific restaurant you want to book, as they all use the same central reservation system. The specialty restaurants do book up quickly on the first night of your sailing, so make reservations as soon as possible.
Is Breakfast Lunch and Dinner All Included in Unlimited Dining?
Technically breakfast is not included, because none of the specialty restaurants are open for breakfast.
There are two exceptions to this though. The first is Johnny Rockets. However ALL guests can get complimentary breakfast there, so you are not gaining any advantage with your dining package.
The second is The Mason Jar, which is open for Brunch on sea days only.
Lunch is included, but again only on sea days.
Tip #5: Make sure you are using the unlimited dining package to its full and grab Brunch at The Mason Jar!
Do Kids Have To Pay A Surcharge or Full Price for Unlimited Dining?
No, kids do not have to pay the full price for ultimate dining.
Children aged 5 and under will get free specialty dining when accompanied by an adult.
For children between the ages of 6 and 12, you can either pay $10 per meal on a pay-as-you-go basis. OR you can purchase an Ultimate Dining Package for them (expect to pay around $80 per child for a one-week cruise).
Are there Alternatives to the Unlimited Dining Room Package?
There are basically two alternative options if you want to make use of the specialty dining facilities on board – You can purchase a Three Night Dining Room Package or Use the Specialty Dining on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Three Night Specialty Dining Package.
This is ideal for guests who still want to make use of the normal free dining facilities on board while visiting the specialty dining options on selected nights.
To give you an idea of costs this is what I am seeing on my cruise planner at the moment:-
Wonder of the Seas – Three-Night Specialty Dining Package
$140 / £122 Adult
$35 / £28 Child
The cruise I have booked for Oasis of the Seas for next year was showing the exact same pricing.
Specialty Dining on a Pay Per Visit Basis
If you don’t want to commit to a set number of evenings for Specialty dining then the standard pay-as-you-go offering is perfect for this.
Here are some example prices for Royal Caribbean Specialty Restaurants
Lunch Prices
- Chops Grille $29.99
- Giovanni’s Table $24.99
- Izumi $39.99
- Izumi Hibachi Experience $39.99
Dinner Prices
- Chops Grille $64.99
- Giovanni’s Table $49.99
- Izumi $39.99
- Izumi Hibachi Experience $64.99
- 150 Central Park $64.99
- Is the Unlimited Dining Menu Good Value – What Are The Pros and Cons?
Is The Unlimited Dining Package Worth It?
Pros
- Gives you access to the finest dining on board Royal Caribbean
- Good Value if you make full use of it
- Combine with the Deluxe Beverage Package for a truly all-inclusive experience
- Gratuities are included
Cons
- This can cost more money if you don’t make full use of it
- Some guests report the food is not any higher quality than the Main Dining Room
- Adds another thing to “be organized” each day
- If you are on a voyage with lots of ports of call, sea days (and therefore lunch opportunities) are limited
For some, Royal Caribbean’s Unlimited Dining Package is the jewel in the crown that turns their cruise vacation into a truly five-star experience. For others, who are perhaps less motivated by fine dining, it is an additional expense that they can easily forgo as there are still plenty of complimentary restaurants available.
For myself and my Husband Alan, we sit in both camps. I am an out-and-out foodie and love the specialty dining rooms. Whereas, Alan is a plain eater who does steak and fries every night in the main dining room.
So for our needs, we either go with the Three Night Dining Package or just make a reservation whenever we feel like it. I do struggle to pull him away from Chops Grille though LOL
A Recap of our Royal Caribbean Unlimited Dining Package Tips
If you do decide to go ahead with the full Unlimited Dining Package, here is a recap of my tips to get the best value from it.
Tip #1: If you do purchase the Unlimited Dining Package use it as much as you can – Lunch and Dinner. Be aware though that lunch is available on sea days only.
Tip #2: Itineraries with more Sea Days can provide better value as you will have more opportunities to use the package for Lunch as well as Dinner
Tip #3: Once you have booked the Unlimited Dining Package, watch for any price drop and then cancel and rebook at no extra charge via Guest Services
Tip #4: Don’t wait until you get on board to purchase the ultimate Dining Package as you will pay more or it may not be available.
Tip #5: Make sure you are using the unlimited dining package to its full and grab Brunch at The Mason Jar!
