Royal Caribbean International is famous for its innovative cruise experiences. Among all the impressive features that add up to a cruise, dining options are one of the best perks. Guests have a wide range of restaurants and cuisines to tickle their taste buds while sailing high on the world’s ocean waves. Of course, with a spirit of innovation, the line has also designed two exciting meal packages: Unlimited Dining Package and 3 Restaurant Package. This article will cover all the Royal Caribbean meal packages, detailing their features, merits, costs, and how one can get the most from one’s meal onboard.
Understanding the Royal Caribbean Meal Packages
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of each dining package, one would want to know how Royal Caribbean approaches food and dining in general. Quality, diversity, and innovation are some of the words that resonate well with the culinary palette of this cruise line. By focusing on fresh ingredients and diverse cuisines, Royal Caribbean tries to provide guests with an outstanding experience in dining based on the destinations they visit.
Dining Variety
Royal Caribbean meal packages offers specialty dining in a variety of styles, ranging from old-school American steakhouses to Asian fusion. From gourmet burgers to sushi, there’s a little bit of everything available onboard. It is no wonder then that dining onboard a Royal Caribbean ship tops the bucket list for so many travelers; indeed, one can say that incredible diversity is one of the key reasons why.
Ambience of Dining
The ambiance of each restaurant is vastly different, offering diverse dining experiences for all visitors. If you desire a fine dinner in the evening or perhaps a casual lunch near the pool, Royal Caribbean meal packages provide the options you require for various moods and occasions. Decoration style, service style, and overall ambiance make every meal memorable.
Unlimited Dining Package
The Unlimited Dining Package is for people who want to experience the vast offerings of specialty restaurants during their cruise. By way of this package, the guests can enjoy dining at various specialty restaurants without worrying about charges for individual meals.
Key Features:
1. Multiple Dining Options
What’s more, you’ll be able to dine at specialty restaurants as much as you want on this cruise. In other words, this plan permits dinner each evening in addition to lunch during sea days. You can thereby choose to visit a different restaurant every evening or return to the ones you like best.
2. Specialty Dining Options
The package will bring you access to hundreds of specialty dining venues on the Royal Caribbean cruise ships. The most popular are:
- Chops Grille: Old School American Steakhouse-high-cut meats and sophisticated.
- Giovanni’s Table: This is an Italian trattoria. Here you can have nice, rustic Italian dishes made from fresh ingredients.
- Izumi: Here is a Japanese restaurant with sushi, sashimi, and more traditional dishes. Hibachi experiences may be subject to an extra charge.
- 150 Central Park: Fine dining experience, focuses on seasonal offerings and creative meals.
- Hooked Seafood: Shores’ seafood paradise, with fresh catches prepared in several styles.
3. Saver Options on Beverages
Beverages are not included in the Unlimited Dining Package. Yet, there are some savings on wine: 40 percent off on bottles priced under $100 and 20 percent off on those that cost over $100. This will surely make fine wines fit meals without breaking the bank.
Pricing Model
Prices for the Unlimited Dining Package vary with the length of the cruise and itinerary but run between $50-$100 per person per day. Children aged 6-12 years will dine for a price as low as $14.99. If you have children aged five or below, the good news is that you won’t have to pay anything for their meals. It comes for free. What’s more, is that the little ones will also have a kid-friendly menu that they can enjoy. A good tip is to purchase this one before sailing to get the most competitive rates.
Reserving Your Time
To make the most of every minute of your Unlimited Dining Package, make reservations at your preferred restaurants as soon as possible after boarding. You can do this from the Royal Caribbean app or at the guest services desk onboard.
Price Plan
I found that the Unlimited Dining Package cost is other than being different, though it depends on the number of nights of the cruise and any promotion that might be in place during your cruise. The following are the normal costs of the Unlimited Dining Package costs:
| Cruise Length | Approximate Cost per Guest | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3-night cruise | $115 | Ideal for short getaways |
| 4-night cruise | $150 | Great for extended weekends |
| 5-night cruise | $190 | Perfect for a mid-length cruise |
| 7-night cruise | $260 | Best value for longer voyages |
These prices will fluctuate and do not include gratuity added at the time of checkout, an estimated 18% on top.
Benefits of the Unlimited Dining Package
1. Food Exploration
This Unlimited Dining Package allows guests to try a variety of cuisines and formats without having these charged to their particular accounts, which is most appealing to foodies who can look forward to trying new dishes or repeating their favorite old flavors during the cruise.
2. Convenience
Passengers are at liberty to select their meal times without pre-booking based on their individual preferences to dine in restaurant-style facilities, all meals included in the one cost of dining.
3. Atmosphere Encounter
The spontaneity of different settings for dining during your cruise likely leads you to interact with other people, which creates a more enjoyable voyage. You will either spend time with family and treat these dining opportunities as some quality bonding time or make friends with other people while on board, which increases interpersonal interaction.
3 Restaurant Package
The 3 Restaurant Package is also a more limited yet still wonderful option providing the opportunity to have specialty dining without committing to the unlimited plan.
Key Features
1. Choose Three Restaurants
This package allows clients to have three specialty restaurants of their choice during the cruise. It is a more selective dining experience yet does offer variety.
2. Affordable Option
Usually, the 3 Restaurant Package is purchased at a savings when dining individually at specialty restaurants. The 3 Restaurant Package allows diners to enjoy gourmet dining while keeping an eye on expenses.
3. Restaurants
When choosing the 3 Restaurant Package, guests can select from a wide variety of specialty restaurants. Among them are:
- Chops Grille
- Giovanni’s Table
- Izumi
- Sabor (Mexican)
- Wonderland (an imaginative culinary adventure)
4. Price Structure
The package price for the 3 Restaurant Package is comparatively cheaper than the Unlimited Dining Package, yet it depends upon the chosen restaurant and cruise itinerary. The average prices for three meals across specialty venues range between $30 and $70 per person.
In the case of ships offering the following venues and experiences, these are also subject to a supplemental charge, but these are made onboard: Izumi Hibachi/Teppanyaki — $15; Wonderland by DaDong — $25; Royal Railway: Adult — $50, Child — $25; Chef’s Table & Holiday Dinners — $50; Izumi Omakase — $60; Empire Supper Club — $130.
5. Reservations Making
For the 3 Restaurant Package, as it is with the Unlimited Dining Package, one should reserve restaurants of their choice to be available at the time of visit. One can book reservations at these restaurants through an app of Royal Caribbean or at guest services onboard.
Advantages of the 3 Restaurant Package
1. Flexibility with Dining Choices
The guests can opt for a few restaurants to have their dinner without the compulsion to dine out every day. This flexibility allows the guests to explore casual as well as luxurious dining, based on personal choice.
2. Intimate Dining Experience
Restricting the restaurant number provides guests the chance to sit down and think about each meal and discover deeper about the characteristics of each restaurant.
3. Suitable for Casual Eater
This package will suit people who do not require a fine meal every night but will enjoy some special dinners during their cruise.
Comparison Between Packages
In case you need to decide between the Unlimited Dining Package and the 3 Restaurant Package, just consider what dining habits and preferences may best suit you:
| Feature | Unlimited Dining Package | 3 Restaurant Package |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Restaurants | Multiple (every night + lunch on sea days) | Three selected restaurants |
| Cost | Flat fee for unlimited access | Lower cost per meal |
| Beverage Discounts | Yes (40% off under $100; 20% off over $100) | Not typically |
| Ideal For | Frequent diners seeking variety | Casual diners wanting select experiences |
| Reservation Requirement | Recommended before sailing | Recommended before sailing |
Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Dining Aboard
To make the most of your chosen Royal Caribbean meal packages, here are a few useful tips to prepare you:
Plan Ahead
When you first book your cruise, research all specialty restaurants on board and browse their menu offerings. Knowing what you’ll want to dine on will simplify the process once you get on board.
Book Reservations Early
Take one of the dining packages-the Unlimited Dining Package or the 3 Restaurant Package-and be sure to make reservations, especially for restaurants like Chops Grille or Izumi during peak hours.
Try Something New
Use either the Unlimited Dining Package or the 3 Restaurant Package to discover a new cuisine every evening. If you’re purchasing the Unlimited Dining Package, you might want to have pasta at Giovanni’s Table one night and sushi at Izumi the next.
Read Also: Royal Caribbean Cancellation Policy
Match Meals with Matching Drinks
Drinks are not covered by either of the Royal Carribean meal packages, naturally; order wines that match your meal orders; this makes the experience much more satisfying.
Interact with Staff
Don’t be shy to ask for menu recommendations or secret dishes they would recommend. Interacting with the staff would lead you to discover some gems on the menu that you wouldn’t have otherwise known.
Conclusion
While each Unlimited Dining Package and the 3 Restaurant Package have their benefits, the Unlimited Dining Package provides diversity in the everyday dining experience for their guests. Otherwise, the 3 Restaurant Package, it is a useful tool for travelers who prefer a specific meal but don’t want to commit fully and can go wild at one or two particular restaurants on the ship.
So, in planning your cruise, don’t forget to plan your dining by choosing the apt Royal Caribbean meal packages. Are you a foodie looking forward to trying all the variety you can, or are you someone who likes just a few special occasions? Royal Caribbean makes sure that both ways, your culinary adventure will be unforgettable, regardless of which package you choose!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though most of the meals have already been paid for in the price of your cruise, specialty dining options often incur an additional charge. The main dining room and buffet are free, but if you want to dine in one of the specialty restaurants, you are paying separately for those meals.
The Royal Caribbean meal package has a provision for unlimited dining. This package offers unlimited access to specialty restaurants each night of the cruise. On days at sea, lunch is also served in specialty restaurants. Beverages are not covered within the package, although they do offer discounts on wine.
Extras at specialty restaurants usually come with a supplement fee. While prices vary with individual restaurants and items, it is always a good idea to look over menus once you board the ship.
Drinks are not included in the dining package. Beverage packages, such as the Deluxe Beverage Package, can be purchased separately by guests; this offers unlimited drinks of all types of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages during the cruise.