Cruise dining inclusions vary widely across lines
Main dining rooms and buffets are typically covered by mainstream cruise fares, but speciality meals, drinks and room service can carry added charges.
A main dining room and buffet are standard on most mainstream cruise ships, although other food and beverage costs depend on the line. A recent account from Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas described main dining room dinner as complimentary, with three courses, daily menu changes and waiters who remembered the passenger’s name.
Some cruise lines include broader dining access. Viking covers all meals in its fare, meaning there is no extra charge for its Manfredi’s Italian speciality restaurant. Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Scenic and Seabourn also include speciality dining in their fares.
Elsewhere, speciality venues may require an additional payment. One passenger reported spending about £40 per visit at each of Azamara Pursuit’s two speciality restaurants: Italian venue Aqualina and the more formal Prime C, which serves steak and seafood.
Beverage and delivery charges can also add to cruise costs. Basic tea and coffee are often included, while drinks such as cappuccinos, flat whites and espressos may be extra. Soft drinks, alcohol, fresh juices, smoothies, bottled water and certain premium snacks can also fall outside the basic fare. Celebrity Cruises applies a service fee to some room-service orders.