What Food is Included on Royal Caribbean Ships with Your Cruise Fare?
When you book a cruise with Royal Caribbean, you’re not just paying for your cabin and access to the ship’s amenities—you’re also getting a wide variety of delicious food included with your fare. These are called complimentary dining venues. Also, within the dining options you will find a myriad of casual dining options that are great for a quick bite and often family friendly. Knowing what’s available can help you make the most of your dining experience at sea. Let’s break down the food options that come with your cruise ticket. With many dining options available on my cruise ships, it can be hard to keep them all straight. This blog post will help you determine what is part of your initial cruise package, so you can eat to your heart’s content without adding extra charges to your cruise account.
Main Dining Room: A Classic Experience
The Main Dining Room is one of the main places to eat on a Royal Caribbean cruise, and the best part is that it’s included in your fare! The experience is like dining at a nice restaurant, with a full menu and attentive waitstaff. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner here.
For breakfast, you might find a selection of eggs, pancakes, pastries, and more. Lunch offers a range of options from light salads to heartier sandwiches and entrées. Dinner is where the Main Dining Room really shines, with a multi-course meal that includes appetizers, main courses like steak, pasta, or seafood, and desserts that can be hard to resist. And don’t worry—if you want to try more than one appetizer or dessert, you can!
Due to the volume of passengers on board, diners are typically assigned a dining time and a specific table to sit at. You are generally served by the same wait staff each night. This is a traditional dining experience for many long-standing mainstream cruise lines. During the breakfast and lunch services, you are seated at random tables and are served by staff assigned to those tables similarly to any casual or fine dining restaurant.
Windjammer Café: Casual and Convenient
If you prefer a more laid-back dining experience, the Windjammer Café is the place to be. This buffet-style restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering a wide variety of dishes that cater to all tastes. It’s perfect if you’re in the mood to try a little bit of everything.
For breakfast, the Windjammer offers classics like scrambled eggs, bacon, waffles, and fresh fruit. Lunch and dinner feature an array of international cuisines, from Asian stir-fry to Italian pasta, and even American favorites like burgers and fries. If you are looking to skip the traditional sit down experience, the buffet is a great place to enjoy the wide range of global flavors on your own terms. Plus, there’s always a dessert station with cookies, cakes, and soft-serve ice cream.
Café Promenade: Snacks and Light Bites
Café Promenade is a great spot to grab a quick bite anytime, day or night. Located on the Royal Promenade, this café offers snacks, sandwiches, and sweets—all included in your cruise fare. It’s open 24 hours, so if you’re craving a late-night snack or an afternoon treat, you can swing by and pick up something tasty.
You’ll find options like croissants, sandwiches, pizza slices, and cookies. It’s a simple and easy option for when you’re on the go or just want something light between meals.
Sorrento’s Pizza: A Slice of Heaven
Craving pizza? Sorrento’s has you covered. This pizza joint serves up freshly made pies throughout the day, and yes, it’s included with your cruise fare. You can grab a slice (or two) of classic pepperoni, veggie, or cheese pizza, or try one of the daily specials. Sorrento’s is the perfect spot for a quick and satisfying meal.
Room Service: Breakfast in Bed
Room service is another option that’s included with your fare, but with a few limitations. Continental breakfast is complimentary, so you can enjoy coffee, pastries, fruit, and cereal delivered to your room each morning at no extra cost. If you want room service during other times of the day, there’s a small service charge, but it’s nice to know that breakfast in bed is on the house. Even with a small charge, room service can be a great way to get in a meal or snack. If you have a balcony, you can enjoy the scenery while you eat from the comfort of your cabin. It can also be a nice way to unwind from a long day of shore excursions while exploring the sites.
Solarium Bistro
If you are lucky enough to have a Solarium Bistro on board, be sure to take advantage. The food is lighter fare, like burgers and sandwiches, but what is nice is that it’s tucked away in the Solarium and it is often quieter there and not as crowded.
Other Dining Options
While the options above are all included with your cruise fare, Royal Caribbean also offers specialty restaurants for an additional charge. These include restaurants like Chops Grille (a steakhouse) or Izumi (serving sushi and Japanese cuisine). While these aren’t included in the cruise fare, they’re worth considering even with the extra charge if you’re celebrating a special occasion or just want to treat yourself. Also keep in mind that sometimes specialty dining packages are part of your cruise package as a promotion or perk. Be sure to check if you have a dining package included with your cruise fare so you don’t miss out on any fun bonuses or opportunities to try something special.
Conclusion: Delicious Dining at Sea
With all the food included on Royal Caribbean ships, you’ll never go hungry on your cruise. Most mainstream cruise lines go out of their way to offer good food. They want diners and passengers alike to enjoy the food because good food can make the difference as to whether that person will book with you again for another cruise vacation. Royal Caribbean Cruise ships offer a slower paced dinner hour that can make you feel you are dining in an elegant restaurant in the main dining room. But when you want something fast or simply on your own terms, the Windjammer Café’s endless buffet has something for everyone. So go ahead, indulge in the flavors of the sea—you’ve already paid for it!
