Please tell me about the "free" basic food on cruises...

[Disneyland1084]

It can be any cruise line. I'm flexible. When DH and I go in three years, I'm sure we'll get the drink package but probably no specialty dining package. But that could change. What restaurants are included in the price? I realize they may vary from different cruise lines. There's the buffet, and what else? And say we get the midnight munchies, what's available at no extra charge?

 

[Deb]

it will definitely vary based on cruise line, but the main dining room will always be included as well as the buffet. No need to buy specialty dining if you do not wish too.

 

[sam_gordon]

For Royal Caribbean, the MDR (main dining room) is free for dinner, and at least sometimes lunch. It used to be open for breakfast, but not sure that's returned since Covid.

There's also at least one Buffet (Windjammer) on every ship, that's open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

There's a free pizza place (Sorrentos) I think on every ship, as well as Cafe Promenade (small sandwiches, some small deserts, and coffee). Cafe Promenade is 24 hours I believe. All the rest have specific hours.

On larger ships, there's more free choices that will depend on which ship. DW & I have been on four cruises, only purchased Specialty Dining on our first (the package price for three dinners was pretty reasonable), that on Oasis of the Seas.

Of course, a LOT can change in three years.

I suggest first deciding what itinerary you want to go on... Caribbean (Eastern, Western, Southern), Alaska, West Coast, Europe, etc, then think about what size ship you want (some of them, the ship is as much a destination as the ports). Once you have those narrowed down, THEN look at dining. Unless something drastically changes, you're not going to go hungry on a cruise (unless you want to).

 

[Mommb]

All cruise ships will have a main dining room included in the fare. Most dining rooms will have chicken, beef, and fish options each night, along with other options that vary by night.

Some ships (including Disney Cruise Line) include 24-hour room service in the fare; others have a small charge.

 

[Disneyland1084]

For Royal Caribbean, the MDR (main dining room) is free for dinner, and at least sometimes lunch. It used to be open for breakfast, but not sure that's returned

Is the main dining room buffet style, or do you walk up to different eateries and chose what you want?

 

[design_mom]

Is the main dining room buffet style, or do you walk up to different eateries and chose what you want?

Usually the main dining room is a traditional sit-down restaurant with a menu and waiters.

 

[sam_gordon]

Is the main dining room buffet style, or do you walk up to different eateries and chose what you want?

Neither. Typical "restaurant". Sit at a table, order off the menu, its delivered to you. Usually three courses, apps, main, desert. You can get more than one of any of the three.

 

[kymom99]

On some carnival cruises they have the main dining room, the buffet, and a guys burgers open for lunch as well as a place that has burritos and bowls for breakfast and lunch. They also offered small bites around the ship during the day. I believe they made an effort to spread people out, which was nice. I only cruised carnival once. Despite the fact that I liked the food options, it’s not my favorite line.

I’ve cruised RC several times but only on the smaller ships. Usually at night they would offer snacks up by the solarium pool deck. You can also order room service.

Check out cruise critic to find out specifics as well as reviews.

 

[Southernmiss]

The cruise line will have menus and descriptions of their restaurants on their website.

There are also helpful Facebook pages for the ships and cruise lines. People ask and answer all kinds of questions

We're taking a Holland American Alaskan cruise later this year. The website, cruise line app and Facebook pages have answered all my questions.

 

[CynBeth]

We have pretty much gone with Royal Caribbean on different size ships. We have never paid for specialty dining. Usually have breakfast at the buffet and lunch there if we are on the ship and dinner in the main dining room. I have family members with food allergies and they are great accommodating.

 

[dpswift]

In the past 18 months I have done 2RCI, 1Disney and 1Carnival cruise. We did early seating in the main dining room for the Disney and RCI cruises. It is nice having the same waiters each night. On Carnival we did my time dining. You put yourself on a waitlist. We did not like the buffet on the Carnival cruise we were on because the lines were ridiculously long. We ate breakfast in the dining room each morning.

 

[goofyernmost]

The main dining room, the ginormous buffet and various small snack bars located on different levels of the ship. Believe me you will have more than enough to eat just on the basic cost of the cruise. I have never seen the need to go to the other restaurants and pay more for a meal that is prepared basically by the same chefs. If you want something fancy, the main dining room fills the bill easily besides you usually have the same people at your table for the entire cruise and you make some good friends along the way. That is the one drawback of the dining room is that it is a shared table with 4 to 6 others but it has always been a lot of fun observing others in the dining room.

 

[disykat]

We've been on a couple of cruises and never ate beyond the included meals. So much food! Be sure to look carefully at the drink package too. While it feels convenient and luxurious to drink whatever you want, depending on how often you drink, it may be way cheaper to pay out of pocket. (I'm not a big drinker anyway but literally drank nothing but water on our recent week long cruise. I just didn't have room and would rather squeeze in another dessert!)

 

[Deb]

The main dining room, the ginormous buffet and various small snack bars located on different levels of the ship. Believe me you will have more than enough to eat just on the basic cost of the cruise. I have never seen the need to go to the other restaurants and pay more for a meal that is prepared basically by the same chefs. If you want something fancy, the main dining room fills the bill easily besides you usually have the same people at your table for the entire cruise and you make some good friends along the way. That is the one drawback of the dining room is that it is a shared table with 4 to 6 others but it has always been a lot of fun observing others in the dining room.

not anymore. For the most part if you want a table with just your party, you can get it.

 

[kymom99]

We've been on a couple of cruises and never ate beyond the included meals. So much food! Be sure to look carefully at the drink package too. While it feels convenient and luxurious to drink whatever you want, depending on how often you drink, it may be way cheaper to pay out of pocket. (I'm not a big drinker anyway but literally drank nothing but water on our recent week long cruise. I just didn't have room and would rather squeeze in another dessert!)

This is true about the drink packages because you have to pay a large tip on it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Our only recent experience is with a high end cruise line of which there aren't any additional costs to food nor drinks (aside from certain high high end liquor) nor did you need to tip as a requirement for anything aside from spa services.

The dining options on those ships depended on which ship you were on. They have 3 classes of ships but all have generally the same options with slight variances to account for size of ship. We were on the largest ship which carries up to 600 passengers. It had a dedicated sushi restaurant, a main dining room, a buffet (breakfast lunch and dinner), a pool eatery (open for breakfast and lunch then turned into a dinner dining place for the evening) and one specialty restaurant. We ate at all of them with exception to the pool side restaurant during the morning and lunch; we did eat at the evening several times though. That sake at the sushi restaurant was no joke lol

That specialty restaurant did require reservations limited to one reservation per every 7 days of a cruise and was able to be reserved online ahead of time or booked while on the ship. The intention for that place was to allow the option for all guests to have at least 1 go at it. That restaurant is being replaced by a different one as the cruise company ended their partnership with the restauranteur but the same stipulation is there.

Actually one of our fav meals was at that prior specialty restaurant and then we really liked eating at the outside evening place but really didn't have a bad meal overall. We'll have to see how the new restaurant goes on our next cruise which we just booked. The majority of the regulars were ready for a change while I'd say the newer cruisers were more interested in the American steakhouse that it was prior.

The dedicated sushi restaurant went over so well on the 2 sister ships that sushi (in a more limited capacity) was added to the remaining ships served in an existing space.

With this cruise line you didn't have assigned seating or dining times. I think the default for this cruise line is to seat you just with your party unless you request to be sat with other parties.

 

[Disneyland1084]

While it feels convenient and luxurious to drink whatever you want, depending on how often you drink, it may be way cheaper to pay out of pocket.

I don’t drink alcohol, my DH rarely does. I'm mainly think of sodas. I'm not crazy about them, but enjoy them whenever I'm on vacation.

 

[sam_gordon]

This is true about the drink packages because you have to pay a large tip on it.

Isn't the same tip you pay if you buy a drink ala carte?

 

[sam_gordon]

I don’t drink alcohol, my DH rarely does. I'm mainly think of sodas. I'm not crazy about them, but enjoy them whenever I'm on vacation.

Do the math. You can buy sodas (any drink) ala carte. You don't HAVE to get a package. At least on RCI.

 

[kymom99]

Isn't the same tip you pay if you buy a drink ala carte?

They add a tip at booking. It’s a big tip, of course depending on length of cruise. Like $100, and everyone in the stateroom has to get it if one gets it . We don’t drink a lot so the tip would cost more than any drinks we might purchase.

OP, there is usually a soda package you can buy.