Is the Food on Cruises Free? Explained

When you’re on vacation, what you eat is just as important as the places you visit and the memories you make. Whether it’s dishes that represent the local flavor of the destinations you’re sailing to, or just the feeling of sitting down to enjoy an amazing meal with your loved ones, great food enhances any experience. With that said, you might be wondering, “Is the food on cruises free?”

With Royal Caribbean, variety is never an issue — you’ve got tons of options to choose from at every turn. But two complimentary favorites that you’ll find on every ship are the Main Dining Room and the Windjammer Café — known as Windjammer Marketplace on select ships. Both serve breakfast, lunch and dinner complimentary with your cruise fare, but each has its own vibe and advantages.

Whether you’re after a quick and casual bite to eat in between deck-side thrills or an upscale night out with your partner in adventure, here’s a guide to help you decide which cruise restaurant will best cater to your culinary cravings and how to maximize your experience at each.

Key Takeaways

● Windjammer Cafe and the Main Dining Room are found on every Royal Caribbean cruise, serving delicious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

● Royal Caribbean has countless free cruise ship dining options outside of these two eateries, including The Dog House, Sorrento’s Pizza, Park Café or Café Promenade, El Loco Fresh®, Mini-Bites or Surfside Bites℠.

● Our ships also have specialty dining venues that aren’t complimentary, offering unforgettable experiences that will leave you in awe.

● Enjoy multiple specialty restaurants for a discounted price and save money in the long run with Specialty Dining Packages.

● Find all our mouth-watering dining options you can enjoy on your next trip.

Is Food Free on Cruises?

Yes, Royal Caribbean cruises have free dining options onboard every ship. These free, or complimentary, restaurants are included in the price of your cruise, enabling you to eat how and when you want without grabbing your wallet. Beyond free dining, our specialty restaurants aren’t included in the price of your cruise. However, these eateries feature memorable dining experiences you won’t want to miss out on.

Some complementary restaurants that vacationers love include The Dog House, Sorrento’s Pizza, Park Café or Café Promenade, El Loco Fresh, Mini-Bites or Surfside Bites. These top-notch spots make it easy to eat the types of food you love at almost any time of day.

From Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine to Giovanni’s℠ Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, specialty restaurants are exactly that — special. They enable you to go all out on exclusive culinary adventures that you can’t find anywhere else. Whether you want to try them all or just a couple, Specialty Dining Packages make it easy to save money while satisfying every craving. Royal Caribbean offers either a three-restaurant package or an unlimited dining package, ensuring you get the vacation — and menu — of your dreams.

Now, let’s compare two complementary restaurants you’ll find on each of the ships, helping you determine which one to check out based on your needs.

If You’re Looking for Goodness on the Go: Windjammer

Pressed for time or just want to fuel up without any fuss? Head to Windjammer. It’s set up as a complimentary self-serve buffet, which means you can be in and out as quickly as you like if you’re hurrying to get to your next activity onboard.

That said, every Windjammer restaurant in the fleet offers lots of seating near windows that look out over the pool deck and the ocean, making this fast-casual dining option a fan-favorite spot to unwind and soak up the breathtaking sea views. You can hang out as long as you want and try as many dishes as you like, so go ahead and grab seconds — you know you want to.

If You’re in the Mood for Fancy Feasting: The Main Dining Room

Maybe you want to treat your special someone to an elevated date night at sea. Or maybe you’re celebrating a special occasion. Sometimes it’s just nice to take your family dinner to the next level — and there’s no better place on board to do that than the Main Dining Room. The largest cruise ship dining venue, the Main Dining Room, delivers a traditional multi-course dinner experience in a beautiful upscale setting with a dedicated wait staff — all included in your cruise fare.

Dinner here is meant to be savored. The menu spotlights international dishes with several rotating options, and you can order as many of each as you like. There’s also a kids’ menu offering finger foods like burgers, pizza and chicken fingers. The recommended style of dress for dinner in the Main Dining Room is resort casual, so think sun-dresses, nice slacks, blouses and collared shirts. And on formal night, you can always dial it up a notch.

If There’s a Picky Eater in Your Party: Both

If you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, don’t worry — both Windjammer and the Main Dining Room will help you find something delicious that works for you. The menu in the Main Dining Room is completely customizable to suit different tastes and needs. You can request modifications on any dish that catches your eye, or even ask the chef to surprise you based on your preferences.

On the other hand, the Windjammer restaurant offers an extensive range of options from morning to night. At breakfast, you’ll find stations serving up everything from custom fluffy omelettes to indulgent treats like muffins, pastries and sweet breads — not to mention fresh fruit and just-pressed juices. At lunchtime, expect comfort food included on Royal Caribbean, like burgers, sandwiches and salads, plus rotating international options like Asian stir-fry, Caribbean-inspired entrees, Indian specialties and more. Dinner serves up just as much delicious diversity, with carving stations, vegetarian spreads and a decadent assortment of desserts.

If You Want To Be Wined and Dined: The Main Dining Room

Like Windjammer, the Main Dining Room will usually set up a self-serve buffet area during breakfast and lunch for guests who are on the go. But the key draw of eating here is the option to order off the menu and enjoy personalized service from a world-class wait staff while you taste your way through a wide variety of gourmet goodness. Think heavenly French toast and waffles, golden hash browns sizzled to perfection, hearty home-cooked oatmeal and eggs prepared just the way you like them with all your favorite classic breakfast sides.

For an additional charge, you can also opt to take part in the Bottomless Galley Brunch and start your day off with unlimited bubbles. In the Main Dining Room, every meal comes with the VIP treatment.

Are Reservations Required for Windjammer or the Main Dining Room?

You don’t need reservations to dine at the Windjammer restaurant, which is convenient if you like to play your day by ear rather than stick to a schedule. Peak hours are between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. for breakfast and between 7 and 8 p.m. for dinner. Just remember, there are other dining options open during these times, like The Dog House, Sorrento’s Pizza, Park Café or Café Promenade, El Loco Fresh, Mini-Bites or Surfside Bites.

Breakfast and lunch in the Main Dining Room are first-come, first-served, so no reservation is needed. If you’re joining for dinner, you have two options: traditional dining or My Time Dining. If you go with traditional dining, you’ll be assigned either an “early” dinner seating between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. or a “late” seating between 8 and 8:30 p.m.* You can choose your preference when you book your cruise.

If you opt for My Time Dining, feel free to arrive whenever you like during the venue’s open hours. You’re welcome to walk in, or you can make a reservation in advance if you want to avoid waiting for a table during peak dinner hours.

Insider Tips

1. Though cruise booking generally opens several months in advance, deals on long weekend cruises may post just weeks or even days before departure. If you're flexible about when you sail, you'll enjoy some pretty sweet deals.

2. On the other hand, for Labor and Memorial Day weekend cruises, booking (or at least searching) early is often a fact of life. Begin shopping early in the year, and book as soon as you begin to notice availability decreasing.

3. Be smart when you get on board to avoid undue stress. For example, eat before or after typical meal times, then enjoy less crowded common areas while most others are eating.

4. If you have no preferences on eating times in the Main Dining Room, traditional dining will serve you well. If you desire to eat at specific times, you can choose My Time Dining when you book your cruise. This allows you to dine anytime you’d like during dinner hours, according to availability.

5. While we have many drink offerings onboard, you are welcome to bring distilled water for infants, medical or dietary use.

Royal Caribbean Has Something for Every Palette

Is your mouth watering yet? We don’t blame you! When it comes to dining on a Royal Caribbean cruise, the possibilities are almost endless. From fast casual and specialty dining to top bars and lounges, you can leave no menu unturned and no entree or dessert left untested on your next trip. Pick the types of dining you see most fit for you and your family, and enjoy every bite.

Want to do a deep dive into each ship’s food and drink options?

*Hours may vary by ship and are subject to change. Check your Cruise Compass for accurate hours of operation.

Savor flavor-packed bites from sunup to sundown without spending a dime. Discover all the complimentary dining options waiting for you on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.