Royal Caribbean Dining Packages: Must-Know Before You Buy
Royal Caribbean sells specialty dining packages that can save you a lot of money, but there are a lot of rules and extra costs you should know about before you buy.
I’m sharing an in-depth breakdown of what the UDP and other dining packages include, and why you might want to buy one.
How much I tip on a cruise: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oQfcSTr1Hzw&pp=0gcJCVELAYcqIYzv
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21 Comments
Okay so we say if I get unlimited dining and I go to chops grille for lunch and have a big steak can I use my wife's unlimited dining to go have a big steak later
After 2 cruises where I planned no specialty dining in advance, but ended up purchasing individual meals once on board, purchasing the UDP as soon as I book my cruise is essential.
There are big savings to be found with the UDP, especially if you buy it through the cruise planner during a holiday sale. RC gives you a discount, and the tradeoff is that they get your $200 (or whatever the cost is) upfront, which is really what they want.
It is entirely possible to not spend any extra money (beyond the UDP) by just booking meals in restaurants with no surcharges, but for $17.70 ($15 + 18%), Izumi Teppanyaki is always worth the extra money. Chops, Giovanni's and 150 Central Park are all excellent.
Like the video says, the UDP has greater value if you are on a newer ship with more restaurant choices, but if you're like me, and you enjoy eating at Chops five times in seven days, it could work for you, too.
Question Matt! If I have the unlimited dining package, and I go to Chops for lunch, Giovanni for dinner, can I go to playmakers at night and still have the $20 credit?
Just to clarify some of the things you mentioned. If you purchase the Unlimited Dining Package (UDP), on embarkation day and sea days, you can dine at a specialty restaurant for lunch (if it's open) and dinner. We do it all the time. Also, when you have the UDP, you get $20 per person per day to spend at al a carte restaurants. We use this to dine at Playmaker's or Johnny Rocket's for lunch most of the time, but we also use it to have a full tapas plate at Vintages Wine Bar several times a cruise. Honestly, the ability to have $40 per day to spend at these restaurants is what makes the UDP such a great deal. On a typical Oasis or Icon class 7-night cruise, my wife and I can dine at specialty restaurants up to 15 times. I think it's the best deal going.
Just a personal pet peeve. If you name the dining package Unlimited, it should include everything with no surcharges and restrictions. Otherwise, give it a different name. I'm ok if you charge me accordingly, but I would never purchase it as is.
I got the unlimited specialty dining at 50% off for me and my son. I think that’s a pretty good deal for an eight day cruise.
Does everyone in the room need to have the same dining package? (Not worth it if one person in room on GLP-1)
I know you can request more food at the discretion of your waiter/waitress, but for Izumi’s for example, the food doesn’t really fill me up. The menu is usually 1 appetizers, 2 entree/main, and 1 dessert. How do I go about asking for more entrees/main without them saying no? Their sushi just isn’t enough and I would like at least one more sushi plate.
Also, I feel pressured to tip (again) even though I prepaid for gratuities for the UDP. Whenever they bring the bill and they ask you to sign it, I feel bad for leaving the tip part blank. How much, if any, do you guys tip? One time at Izumi’s I left the tip blank, and the next time I went, I was assigned a different waiter and the original waiter never looked at me or said hi.
Unlimited for a 3n cruise. I’ve reserved two lunches and 3 dinners. Cheaper than multiplying the per day fee x 7. Smaller ship though so only a few choices but I’m happy with it.
The sweet spot for unlimited dining package is $25 per day + gratuity, which can be booked even on an Icon class ship if you book early enough. I had one, but cancelled it and swapped it for a 3 night package because there is so much good free food to try on the Legend of the Seas. I did keep the unlimited dining packages on two Quantum class sailings, 14 nights and 23 nights, because their main dining hall food isn't good enough for me.
My last cruise I tried the ultimate dining package. It was nice but I actually missed the main dining room and some days felt like I already ate way too and didn’t want to go out at my reserved time. I’ll stick with the 3 day I feel like that’s perfect. So I would agree that’s the “sweet spot”
Great video! I have a short video too with my top 25 tips for the UDP (coincidentally with “must-know” in the title, LOL), including some things regarding navigating food allergies, making reservations for multiple cabins, and the penalty for being a no-show.
1. Don’t buy it.
2. No really, don’t buy it. It’s not worth it.
We got it on a RC cruise last year and the dining package was paying to partially ruin our vacation for the following reasons:
1. Reservation Hell—You will almost certainly NOT get your money’s worth because many of the places you actually want to go to will be filled up or only have slots at too early/late times. It kneecaps your ability to change plans, go to the aqua show, ice skating show, etc.
2. Too much food. Yes, really. As much as you might think you do, you really don’t want a mountain of food every single night.
3. Tipping 3 times. When you book the cruise you pay gratuities, when you purchase the dining package you pay a second round of gratuities, then when you actually eat at the specialty restaurant, they bring you a $0 receipt at the end with a tip line. Yes, they ask for a 3rd tip.
4. Some of the specialty restaurants just aren’t that great. Places like Hooked and Chops are usually the ones with reservations left over and I didn’t think they were that much better than the main dining hall.
I’d say pick 2 that you really want to do and just do those out-of-pocket. You already paid for food in the main dining hall and and it shouldn’t be dismissed how good it already is.
Hey Matt, I bought the 3 night dining package but I’m unable to make reservations until I’m on the ship. I confirmed that with RC on the phone.
Don’t eat the whole menu with Unlimited dining every venue every meal , tailor what you like and eat what you like
You will be too full and feel awful
Otherwise
Just like drink packages, dining packages are a math formula. There's a breakeven point for each one. If you're not going to hit that break even, you've lost money. If you do break that point without the package, you're losing money too. You just have to know your own habits and do the math.
It’s a rip off. Stick to the main dining.
Getting a Dining Package is definitely a personal choice. I usually get an Unlimited Dining package for my cruises. I just like the variety of choices. I usually get a good deal when purchasing before the cruise. If you know your restaurant prices, you will notice that the dining packages are noteworthy.
I always get the dinning package and I’m not that much of a food person. I just get it for the atmosphere and the service inside the restaurant vs the main dinning room.
I have purchased the unlimited dining package for a 7 day cruise on Symphony of the Seas and it was a highlight of the cruise. After a day excursion at the leaning tower of Pisa or sangrada familia or Pompeii the kids were excited about where is dinner tonight. I would watch videos on YouTube to determine if the experience is worth the cost for you. But depending on the type of itinerary the specialty restaurant package might make more sense than the drink package. Alaska vs Caribbean
Perfect video for me right now, just bought it for my next cruise and wondering how it works.