royal caribbean unlimited dining package lunch

If youre trying to determine whether or not the Unlimited Dining Package is worth it on Royal Caribbean, its helpful to take a look at the pros and cons of this package before booking. It is commonly known as the cover charge. Ages 5 and under eat free! Is the coastal kitchen included in unlimited dining pkg. Don Bucolo, or DB, loves everything about cruising- the ocean, the food, and the atmosphere. I have emailed Royal Caribbean for an explanation but after 2 weeks I have yet to receive an explanation. In order for guests to save a huge sum of cash on specialty restaurants, a dining package is often available. For me personally, I dont really drink wine, and I almost always get the deluxe beverage package, so this benefit is missed on me. Here's the reasons to (and not to) get one. To simplify your dining package decision-making, you should know how many specialty restaurants you would like to try. Experience our unique specialty restaurants and enjoy great savings when you purchase this package to dine at 3 different venues. The average cost will be around $21 to $25 per night, depending on the length of the package you acquire. Basically, the package covers all specialty dining venues, and gives you the. Perhaps my favorite part of going on a cruise is the huge variety of dining experiences. Royal Caribbean's 'Unlimited Dining' Just Got A Lot More Limited Solarisys/Shutterstock By Matthew Spina / Nov. 3, 2022 3:18 pm EST Cruise ships like Royal Caribbean and Holland America. After experiencing it on Mariner, its safe to say I would definitely book it again. The offer on the cruise planner sales, especially when 50% off , make it great value for money. With Royal Caribbeans Unlimited Dining Package, you can dine at specialty restaurants for brunch, lunch, and dinner every day of the cruise. Across its fleet, there are a variety of complimentary, casual dining spots included in the cruise fare. Factoring that into the equation, purchasing the dining package was only about $12 extra, per person. For one low price, you can enjoy multiple entrees and visit multiple specialty restaurants every night of your sailing. Madera, CA. Dining packages have become very popular with cruise fans, who enjoy the ability to dine at as many specialty restaurants as they like for a fixed price. I feel the deal is worth it for a $35 food credit and 40%off wine bottles under a $100. Royal Caribbean will create a courtesy dinner reservation for the boarder on day 1 or day 2 (may change while onboard). Related: The Mason Jar Southern food restaurant review on Wonder of the Seas. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. The Overview section reads: For one low price, you can enjoy multiple entrees and visit multiple specialty restaurants every night of your sailing. No where does it state that you are only allowed one entree at any of the specialty restaurants. The average cost will be around $21 to $25 per night, depending on the length of the package you acquire. Royal Caribbean introduced the unlimited dining package in 2019 to replace the Ultimate Dining Package and it allowsguests to enjoy their meals at specialty restaurants as many times as theyd like, based on availability. It seems Royal Caribbean agrees because, as The Street reports, they have now limited that a la carte credit to once per day. Specific specialty restaurants are omitted from all specialty dinner packages such as: A price cut of 40% off bottles of wine under $100 and 20% off bottles above $100 while dining in specialty restaurants. However, on this trip, the Unlimited Dining Plan was a huge cost savings. We have 3 sea days plus embark day and one day where we leave the port at 3:00, so we figured theres 5 nights we could easily do. Learn the cruise secrets most people don't know and cruise like a boss. This may push some people off, but it is still a good deal in my book. We'll be on Odyssey with the UDP in 2 weeks - what are your 'can't miss' recommends? Your email address will not be published. These specialty dining packages may not be available for every sail date. Every specialty restaurant has a specific dining staff, so there are several waiters and waitresses at each restaurant. However, dining packages purchased onboard will have an 18% gratuity added to the purchase price. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Ask the Giovanni's manager on the ship. I know to some people the main dining room is great and we did eat there one night and it was good however we just loved to go to the specialty restaurants and have a more one on one dining experience. Children under 5 eat free. I personally wouldnt do this though, as it would take up way too much time in one evening. I just couldnt chance missing out on the night life onboard! We got the UDP on Navigator of the Seas and loved it. Those ships typically have 3 restaurants: Chops, Izumi and either Jamies or Giovannis. Basically, Royal Caribbean uses the dining packages to replenish reservations that were unsold at their restaurants to boarders as soon as they board the ship. STOP!!! Do you know of an explanation for the conflict of information? Check out our YouTube video on the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel to learn more about the pros and cons of a Royal Caribbean Unlimited Dining Package: Want to learn more about dining on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Both Jamies Italian and Chops were open for lunch on our sea day as well, if those sound more your pace. At a la carte restaurants, like Izumi or Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade, you receive a food credit for up to $35. I dont want to commit to a specialty restaurant if Im schlepping back onboard at 7:30/8:00 after being ashore all day. Either option here surely beats dealing with the buffet area on embarkation day. Get Deals on Royal Caribbean Cruises Now! The Unlimited Dining Package allows guests to enjoy multiple specialty restaurants* every nights of their sailing for one low price. For this rate, you can eat as much as you want. Departing from Florida, Barcelona, Southampton and Copenhagen, these cruises include both tropical and cultural island stops, in ports such as the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Greenland and Iceland. At present, you can get a 3 to 5-night dining package for a 7-night cruise. Meanwhile, transpacific cruises go from Sydney to the U.S., with plenty of white-sand-beach-filled South Pacific ports in between. Wine discount valid only with the purchase of 3-night, 4-night, 5-night, or Unlimited Dining Packages; other Dining Packages excluded. When he's not on a cruise, you can find him talking about or planning his next one. Even the most basic of cruise accompaniments, booze, is being given the glam treatment by one of the most family-friendly companies, with Disney offering a $5,000 Star Wars-themed cocktail on their ship, the Disney Wish. Unlimited Dining Package What's a good price for the Unlimited Dining Package? Yes, main dining room (MDR) meals are always complimentary. At dinner, we certainly made sure to sample a little bit of everything. Plus, the Princess had been hinting that she wanted to dine at Johnny Rockets for a snack one day. Giovannis Table ($15 for lunch, $25 for dinner), Jamies Italian ($20 for lunch, $30 for dinner), Sabor Modern Mexican ($19 for lunch, $29 for dinner). My interpretation of the conflicting information from Royal Caribbean is the Unlimited Dining Plan I purchased is for 5 nights and not everyday of the cruise. Has anyone done the Unlimited Dining Package. The going rate for Hibachi a la carte is around $45. [New and Used Jet Ski Prices], Kayaking in Ohio [Best 13 Places to Kayak in Ohio], Sit-In vs Sit-On Kayak [Difference Between Sit-On-Top vs Sit-In Kayaks]. Search Multiple Sites at Once Instant Real Time Pricing Search Now View All Cruises Powered by Cruiseline.com. Related Post: Navigator of the Seas Cruise Review. We also have a suite so access to the Costal Kitchen which we've never had before. Keep in mind, the venues are not always the same between Royal Caribbean ships, but each of my tips can still be applied to venues on your particular Royal Caribbean sailing. How Much Does It Cost to Live on a Cruise Ship? A single reservation should be used on the first or second night of the sailing. Guide to Royal Caribbean's Unlimited Dining Package, 19 Things You Should Do on Cruise Embarkation Day in 2023, Carnival Cruise Ship Headed to Dry Dock Later This Week, Cruise Line Announces Epic 6 Month Cruise That Visits 37 Countries and 85 Ports, 6 Weeks of Cruises Cancelled for Norwegian Cruise Ship, Princess Cruises Giving Crew Members on Diamond Princess Two Months Paid Vacation, Royal Caribbean Inks Deal with Caribbean Port for New Destination Concept, Best All-Inclusive Cruises in 2023: Top 5 Cruise Lines, 8 Things That Always Surprise First-Time Cruisers, What Is the Best Cruise Line for the Perfect Cruise (25 Compared), 7 Reasons to Take a Cruise on Virgin Voyages, Cruise Ships Named the Best Under 1,000 Passengers, Carnival Cruise Ships Getting Faster WiFi with Starlink, New Cruise Website Makes It Easier Than Ever to Book Cruises on a Cell Phone. The Royal Caribbean dining package is a convenient way to allow guests to delight themselves in several specialty restaurants at a discounted rate. Of note, the package did sell out before the actual sail date. For ships with these venues, Teppanyaki/Izumi Hibachi is included, with a $10 surcharge, Chefs Table is included, with a $49.99 surcharge, and Dadong is included, with a $35 surcharge. Come hungry, and dont be tempted to order a sushi roll all to yourself. Any lunches or snacks would provide you with additional cost savings. In theory, you could eat at multiple restaurants for each meal. So it should show up around 90 days before your sail date. In addition to the complimentary dining spots, there may be other restaurants on your ship that are not covered in your cruise fare. All rights reserved. At present, you can get a 3 to 5-night dining package for a 7-night cruise. Children ages 0-5 are complimentary. ]. Each specialty dining package comprises a particular size of meal at a fixed price. 20102022Regal Sea Media LLC. The feeling that I got while I was dining at Chops Grille, Izumi, and Samba Grill was that they were trying too hard to be "special". Portside BBQ, Playmakers, and Giovannis Wine Bar are the exceptions, as you will only receive a $20 food credit. The main dining room on every Royal Caribbean ship will provide a complimentary dinner every evening throughout the cruise. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. I think you could order up to 11pm. Based on my own experience with the unlimited dining plan, it's possible this change was made to cut down on guests overusing the package benefits at restaurants such as Playmakers. If not, do you plan to purchase it on an upcoming sailing? So for us it really depends on the ship and itinerary. So, we essentially paid that difference to dine at Chops Grille and Hooked Seafood, the two most expensive restaurants on the ship. Guests will also be able to enjoy lunch at specialty dining restaurants on sea days. On smaller ships (Freedom and below) we usually will do a 3 night and possibly go back to one for a 4th night. Royal Caribbean offers its guests that are fans of specialty dining the opportunity to purchase dining packages that, Royal Caribbean will introduce a new dining package that includes the most specialty dining options of any of its, Royal Caribbean has started offering dining packages on select Allure of the Seas sailings,that allow guests to enjoy, Royal Caribbean has a new pre-cruise purchase option on select sailings that combines the deluxe beverage package and, Royal Caribbean has quietly begun including Izumi Hibachi with the Unlimited Dining Package.Royal Caribbean's website, Theres no denying that there is plenty of unlimited, complimentary food on a Royal Caribbean cruise. If not, just leave blank, Royal Caribbean adds daily limit to unlimited dining plan a la carte restaurants. To be honest, I did not enjoy specialty dining as much as I enjoyed the Main Dining Room (which is already included in the cruise payment). The Unlimited Dining Package can vary per sailing, but here are a few sample prices you can expect for an Unlimited Dining Package (no gratuity added): 3-night cruise: $115 per guest 4-night cruise: $150 per guest 7-night cruise: $260 per guest An 18% gratuity will be added to the total cost of the Unlimited Dining Package upon checkout. Of all the selections that we sampled, we were fond of the oysters, the clam chowder, and the whoopie pie dessert. Two brothers started Cruise Fever in 2011 when they decided they couldn't stop cruising so they might as well write about it. You might even be able to score a deal if you time your purchase with a cruise planner sale or promotion. Regardless the food is not very expensive in the Pub to begin with, like 4-8$ for appetizers. Also, there is no limit to the number of times you can dine at a specialty restaurant. This means that Chefs Table is included (albeit with a surcharge). Most specialty restaurants have prices that are between $35 to $50 per person, so a dining package can really save you a lot of money. Once onboard, head to any specialty restaurant to make reservations for the duration of your cruise. For specialty restaurants with a la carte pricing, the Unlimited Dining Package provides a $35 food credit per person for each visit. Do not worry too much about the day and time you pick because you can always change it once youre on the ship. I made the mistake of ordering one and I was really full before my main course was even served. Cruise ships like Royal Caribbean and Holland America seem to be in an ever-escalating cold war to offer the most decadent experiences possible. Cruisers can use the Unlimited Dining Package at most restaurants found onboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships, including the brand new Mason Jar on Wonder of the Seas. Dont let the $10 surcharge discourage you and give it a try. I like the food better in the specialty restaurants though no real complaints about the MDR food. There are two types of specialty restaurants: those with a cover charge and those with la carte options. Kawasaki STX-15F Jet Ski Specs and Review. I dont want to purchase anything when the included meals are just fine. By If you are wanting to get the most bang for your buck out of the package, be sure to dine somewhere that normally would have a cover charge every single night. As always, if you are looking for more of my cruise content you can find it at CruiseLifeMatt.com and on Instagram @CruiseLifeMatt. Do not get a dining package for your kids who are 12 years old and below, but rather, dine with your kids and pay for them at the discounted kids rate. Here are some of the estimated prices (as of 2017) for most of the common venues. Either they are unfamiliar with these restaurants and want to try a few or all of them, or they can be a returnee who favors specialty dining, these dining packages are an excellent choice. But you can still enjoy their starters, sides, and desserts as much as you want for no additional fee. In the past, the $20 per person credit was determined by your seating. This will be our first time experiencing the UDP. Most specialty restaurants that offer lunch will be open for lunch on sea days and select port days. So, the only specialty dining meal was our dinner at Chops Grille. I don't know if that is always the case or perhaps the bartender just made a mistake. How does this work with a dining package? We just booked a 2023 Spring transatlantic cruise and added the Unlimited Dining Package. I still like and will continue to sail with Royal Caribbean. Were you able to find out the difference? The MDR is always great. Our total, including the 18% service charge, would have been $28.32. Related Post: Guide to Royal Caribbean Ship Classes. I tried Royal Caribbeans least well-known specialty restaurant: heres what I thought, Spotlight: Royal Caribbean dining packages, Izumi Hibachi now included with Unlimited Dining Package, Spotted: Deluxe Beverage and Ultimate Dining Package combo, Royal Caribbean adds daily limit to unlimited dining plan a la carte restaurants, 4 Easy steps for getting a Royal Caribbean dining package, Royal Caribbean specialty dining packages guide, 2022 Royal Caribbean Cruise Planning Guide, Guests with a dining package must wait to make reservations at specialty restaurants until they board the ship, One reservation must be used on the first or second night of the sailing, For restaurants with la carte pricing, you receive a $20 credit which can only be used once a day, Izumi Hibachi has a $15 surcharge on top of the dining package, which will be charged onboard, Certain venues are excluded from dining packages(Chefs Table, Vintages, etc. Though, children must order from the kids menu. The food and the service was very nice but we would not do the UDP again, probably the 3 night one because we do love the SD. On selected days, breakfast and lunch are also offered in the main dining room. While we have not used the Unlimited Dining Package on a 7-day cruise yet, this package was available for $217 per person for our recent Wonder of the Seas cruise. If you add up the individuals prices for restaurants you want to try and then the special on there UDP, it is a no brainer and well worth the money. A 7-night Unlimited Dining Package, for example, may be priced at $260 per adult and only $77 per child. While specialty restaurants do book up quickly, we were told that some reservations are reserved exclusively for those with dining packages. Basically, Royal Caribbean uses the dining packages to replenish reservations that were unsold at their restaurants to boarders as soon as they board the ship. There was one person in our group who only joined us at Chops on night one. I like it for when I cruise solo. We are normally fans of the main dining room, but on a short cruise like this, booking the Specialty Dining package provided us with more options. Not valid for premium experiences including: Wine Pairings Dinners, Taste of Royal, Mystery Dinner Theater and Holiday Celebration Dinners If you are going on a ship with fewer options it might make more sense to do the chops +1 or something else.