Is food and drink included on Disney cruises?

[MaleficentRN]

Thanks for all the replies. Couple more questions to clarify; Are you basically paying for and guaranteed three meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)? What if someone wanted a late night snack or perhaps wanted a late night sandwich? Is all room service extra? Also are breakfast, lunch, dinner only available during certain times? Sorry to ask more questions but our clan has a wide range of eating habits?

You are basically guaranteed to be able to eat 24 hours a day.

 

[summerskye]

AquaDame has been working on the FAQ sticky. If you have specific suggestions, I'm sure she'd be happy to hear them.

If we could just get all of the new cruisers (and some old) to look there before posting a thread with their question. It gets a bit monotonous seeing a new thread started for questions that have been asked and answered on this board tens, if not hundreds of times.

I'll just plead my case - when I was a newbie, I didn't know or understand how forums/boards worked, I had no clue how to find stuff. So I probably was in that group that asked questions that had been asked before. Not all of us can jump into a new situation and know the ins and outs of it.

Hopefully there are enough of us who want to answer questions (yes, repeatedly) for those newbies that this board will remain friendly and helpful.

I wanted to say thanks. I am guilty of asking questions without doing a deep search. But to my surprise, I went to look at the FAQ and discovered something wonderful. There is a link to the history of Castaway Cay. This was an awesome article. Thanks.

 

[su_A_ve]

FYI - with regards to water. The water is as good as or even better than bottled water, since it's filtered and processed via reverse osmosis. It's not city water and you can't go wrong it with it. Some prefer to bring a case of bottled water. The only times I think it's necessary is for excursions. Otherwise, no need.

My 02...

 

[peachypie]

Most food and soda type drinks are included with some exceptions.

Alcohol is not free. They do offer packages and you can bring a limited amount of wine and beer onboard.

Bottled water is not free. There is a tap water option at the soda drink stations and you can get glasses of water free at main dining. You can bring your own bottled water with you. They do sell it onboard but it's crazy overpriced.

Soda is free from the drink stations and at main dining. It is not free if you order from room service because they will bring you a can.

Room service is mostly free but there are certain items I've been told that are extra (i.e., the soda cans).

Specialty coffee is not free. There is regular coffee offered at the soda drink stations but any fancy latte frap thing is extra.

Theater snacks are extra. We always grabbed cookies and ice scream from the free areas on deck and brought them down if we wanted a snack.

Sailing concierge does have some perks with the price tag. They have a happy hour each night with free drinks. You can get endless, free, bottles of Evian in there. And they have one of the fancy coffee machines for free espresso and lattes.

The adult specialty restaurants also have an upcharge to dine in them.

Dining is rotational and your waiters follow you each night. You either eat main seating around 5:30-6:00? (Can't recall) or second seating at 8:15 (we prefer second). I've been on Dream and Fantasy and they have 3 main dining halls, Animators Pallate, Royal Court, and Enchanted Garden. You will hit these at least once in your trip. There are quick eat places that serve hamburgers and pizza and such on deck 11 as well as the Cabana buffet.

I don't drink and my husband drinks lightly. We only ate at the buffet for breakfast and lunch and main dining for dinner. Our food bill was just a few beers he ordered at dinner.

When we sail concierge, our extra food bill is $0 because he gets his drinks from their free happy hour every night.

I've never sailed another line but husband has done Carnival and says their food was just as tasty (he hated the rest of the experience). Oddly enough, the one time we spent the money and ate at Palo we didn't like the food as much as main dining.

 

[peachypie]

Most food and soda type drinks are included with some exceptions.

Alcohol is not free. They do offer packages and you can bring a limited amount of wine and beer onboard.

Bottled water is not free. There is a tap water option at the soda drink stations and you can get glasses of water free at main dining. You can bring your own bottled water with you. They do sell it onboard but it's crazy overpriced.

Soda is free from the drink stations and at main dining. It is not free if you order from room service because they will bring you a can.

Room service is mostly free but there are certain items I've been told that are extra (i.e., the soda cans).

Specialty coffee is not free. There is regular coffee offered at the soda drink stations but any fancy latte frap thing is extra.

Theater snacks are extra. We always grabbed cookies and ice scream from the free areas on deck and brought them down if we wanted a snack.

Sailing concierge does have some perks with the price tag. They have a happy hour each night with free drinks. You can get endless, free, bottles of Evian in there. And they have one of the fancy coffee machines for free espresso and lattes.

The adult specialty restaurants also have an upcharge to dine in them.

Dining is rotational and your waiters follow you each night. You either eat main seating around 5:30-6:00? (Can't recall) or second seating at 8:15 (we prefer second). I've been on Dream and Fantasy and they have 3 main dining halls, Animators Pallate, Royal Court, and Enchanted Garden. You will hit these at least once in your trip. There are quick eat places that serve hamburgers and pizza and such on deck 11 as well as the Cabana buffet.

I don't drink and my husband drinks lightly. We only ate at the buffet for breakfast and lunch and main dining for dinner. Our food bill was just a few beers he ordered at dinner.

When we sail concierge, our extra food bill is $0 because he gets his drinks from their free happy hour every night.

I've never sailed another line but husband has done Carnival and says their food was just as tasty (he hated the rest of the experience). Oddly enough, the one time we spent the money and ate at Palo we didn't like the food as much as main dining.

 

[peachypie]

FYI - with regards to water. The water is as good as or even better than bottled water, since it's filtered and processed via reverse osmosis. It's not city water and you can't go wrong it with it. Some prefer to bring a case of bottled water. The only times I think it's necessary is for excursions. Otherwise, no need.

My 02...

Are there any guidelines for bringing a case of water?
I hope my question makes sense....let me know if not.
I just want to bring one case but not sure if any rules apply.

 

[MSPeeler]

Are there any guidelines for bringing a case of water?
I hope my question makes sense....let me know if not.
I just want to bring one case but not sure if any rules apply.

The only "rule" is that it must be carry-on and not in checked baggage!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Are there any guidelines for bringing a case of water?
I hope my question makes sense....let me know if not.
I just want to bring one case but not sure if any rules apply.

As noted, only that it must be with your carry on bags, and not checked.

Is there a particular reason you want to bring bottled water onboard? Not sure if you're a first time cruiser, but the water onboard the ship is processed the same as most bottled water (reverse osmosis and filtered). We just bring our own refillable water bottle onboard and fill up in our room. Or at the drink station. Another note - you'll be handling your carry on bags until the rooms are ready (about 1:30).

 

[lbus42]

He

I'll just plead my case - when I was a newbie, I didn't know or understand how forums/boards worked, I had no clue how to find stuff. So I probably was in that group that asked questions that had been asked before. Not all of us can jump into a new situation and know the ins and outs of it.

Hopefully there are enough of us who want to answer questions (yes, repeatedly) for those newbies that this board will remain friendly and helpful.

Well said

 

[RedSox68]

If you order room service, anything on their in-room menu or breakfast hang tag is free -- specialty orders from restaurants may cost, and snacks cost (not the cookies or cake of the day though). If you order soda through room service, it cost. So have someone run up to the free drink stations and get your drinks.

TIP: Bring one of the drink carriers from a fast food place. Easy to pack and it makes carrying drinks back so much easier!

 

[com_op_2000]

Also, the food in the Cove Café is free. The coffee and adult drinks in this location cost extra.

 

[RedSox68]

As noted, only that it must be with your carry on bags, and not checked.

Is there a particular reason you want to bring bottled water onboard? Not sure if you're a first time cruiser, but the water onboard the ship is processed the same as most bottled water (reverse osmosis and filtered). We just bring our own refillable water bottle onboard and fill up in our room. Or at the drink station. Another note - you'll be handling your carry on bags until the rooms are ready (about 1:30).

We bring our favorite bottled water only because we don't like the taste of the tap water. But we don't like the taste of the tap water in our township either LOL

 

[Megster67]

If you order room service, anything on their in-room menu or breakfast hang tag is free -- specialty orders from restaurants may cost, and snacks cost (not the cookies or cake of the day though). If you order soda through room service, it cost. So have someone run up to the free drink stations and get your drinks.

TIP: Bring one of the drink carriers from a fast food place. Easy to pack and it makes carrying drinks back so much easier!

I would agree with this tip with the added suggestion that you be sure to fold up the drink carrier every day and keep it in the drawers. We did that most days when we sailed on the Magic last October. Unfortunately we left our drink carrier out in the room on the third day and the housekeepers must have thought it was trash because it disappeared and never came back.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The problem with prices is that they change. It's hard to keep up with accurate pricing. Then someone gets mad because the price on the FAQ is not the price they got onboard.

 

[DisneyQuartet]

FYI - with regards to water. The water is as good as or even better than bottled water, since it's filtered and processed via reverse osmosis. It's not city water and you can't go wrong it with it. Some prefer to bring a case of bottled water. The only times I think it's necessary is for excursions. Otherwise, no need.

My 02...

Is bottled water available to purchase for port excursions?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Is bottled water available to purchase for port excursions?

Yes.

 

[Alicatt]

What drinks are free with room service? Can you get juice or milk or coffee at any time? Dessert too?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What drinks are free with room service? Can you get juice or milk or coffee at any time? Dessert too?

Juice, milk, coffee, tea, all included. And dessert. The only things that have a cost will have "Please call In-stateroom dining for prices" noted.

 

[Kimberly9701]

I'll just plead my case - when I was a newbie, I didn't know or understand how forums/boards worked, I had no clue how to find stuff. So I probably was in that group that asked questions that had been asked before. Not all of us can jump into a new situation and know the ins and outs of it.

Hopefully there are enough of us who want to answer questions (yes, repeatedly) for those newbies that this board will remain friendly and helpful.

...and I definitely Thank You for answering questions!!!!

I know for myself at least, I check the cruise forum almost daily..and like a lot of the questions that people post. Most are the same as what I am wondering..and if not, then I just post my own question.
Sometimes when you search a topic it can be similar, but not directly related..or, it is 2 years old and I don't know if info is still accurate..etc

 

[peachypie]

As noted, only that it must be with your carry on bags, and not checked.

Is there a particular reason you want to bring bottled water onboard? Not sure if you're a first time cruiser, but the water onboard the ship is processed the same as most bottled water (reverse osmosis and filtered). We just bring our own refillable water bottle onboard and fill up in our room. Or at the drink station. Another note - you'll be handling your carry on bags until the rooms are ready (about 1:30).

I am a first timer I guess I am just used to having bottled water vs. my own refillable.
I will probably bring a small pack and not a big Costco sized case just to have in a pinch.
Thanks for you help....I appreciate it!