Drinks and Dining Series – Royal Caribbean
Here at PBL Travel, we have tons of experience with Royal Caribbean dating all the way back to the early 2000’s. The cruise line has added many dining options since that time, and we have been lucky to try many of them across multiple ships. With Royal Caribbean leading the industry in massive cruise ships with endless variety, there is so much to unpack when it comes to their food, both complimentary and specialty. So if you are a foodie who is considering going on a cruise with Royal Caribbean, check out the information below to learn all about what the cruise line has to offer.
Complimentary Dining
Like most cruise ships, the one stop shop for complimentary dining is the buffet, which on Royal Caribbean is known as the Windjammer Cafe. The Windjammer has a variety of foods ranging from traditional breakfast foods in the morning to cuisines from around the world for lunch and dinner. Just as you will see in most buffets, there is something for everyone to eat. The Windjammer can get pretty crowded for lunch since the Main Dining Room is not an option on port days, however, Royal Caribbean has added a number of additional complimentary dining options to their newer ships which helps mitigate some congestion and provide more lunch choices.
The Main Dining Room is of course essential on all cruise lines. Generally, the MDR on Royal Caribbean is 3-stories and offers early, late, and my time dining options for guests, which are available for selection when booking and are all subject to availability. Eating dinner in the MDR is a whole experience that can take up to an hour and a half depending on the night, but many guests find it worth it based on the quality of food and service. The menu does rotate each night (with the addition of some staples that remain on the menu every day), so we always look at the options early in the day to decide whether or not we will be partaking in what the MDR has to offer. Generally you can find options like steaks, fish, and pasta dishes each night.
Another staple of Royal Caribbean is Sorrento’s Pizza. Just as the name implies, this eatery, generally found along the promenade, offers different types of pizzas as a quick bite. Although the location of the pizza joint varies by ship, Royal Caribbean aims to keep it in a central and easy location for guests to get to. Passengers can also request gluten free pizzas, which are made to order, at no additional charge. Sorrento’s is also open into the wee hours of the night (sometimes as late as 2am), so it’s perfect for a quick snack after a night of entertainment before heading to bed.
One of my personal favorites is Park Cafe, which you can find on the Oasis class. Naturally, this cafe is situated in Central Park, so the atmosphere is peaceful and relaxed. It’s a great option for a quick breakfast as they have foods such as yogurts, fruit cups, and bagels. During lunch you can find plenty of sandwich and salad options, with the option to have custom salad made at no extra charge. And since vacation gets us craving afternoon snacks, Park Cafe is an excellent stop between lunch and dinner.
Another staple on Royal Caribbean ships is El Loco Fresh. This buffet-style Tex-Mex option is generally located on or near the pool deck, making it the ideal lunch when you plan to spend a day in the sun. Although it isn’t authentic Mexican food by any means, it’s still a a good and filling option. El Loco Fresh opens up for lunch and continues serving food until just around dinner time, so it’s definitely an afternoon spot, rather than a late dinner option. When getting food at this buffet, you can expect to find things like tacos, burritos, and nachos, which some dessert options at the end as well.
Costal Kitchen is a complimentary dining option for qualifying suite guests (and sometimes Pinnacle Club members). It’s a farm fresh restaurant with notes of the Mediterranean weaved throughout the food. The restaurant is open for all three meals and offers a rotating menu so guests can frequently try new dishes.
Specialty Dining
If you are in the mood for something outside of the norm, you may want to try one of Royal Caribbean’s many specialty dining options. Since RCCL has so many unique ships, the options on each ships varies widely. It’s best to look at your specific sailing to see what specialty dining options are available. What also varies is the price of the restaurant since some are a la carte while others are a flat fee per person. Because of this, some cruisers take advantage of Royal Caribbean’s specialty dining packages. You can choose from the 3 Restaurant Packages or the Unlimited Dining Package. Of course, the prices of these offerings is also dependent upon sailing.
Izumi is Royal Caribbean’s a la carte Japanese restaurant. You can find this option on all Royal Caribbean ship’s, which is more than ideal since it is a crowd favorite. Their menu includes both small and large plates, which includes some of the best sushi at sea. Another Royal Caribbean classic and long-time staple Chops Grille. This restaurant is considered to be an American Steakhouse, offering entrees such as filet and bone-in ribeye, with some non-steak options as well. Although this specialty dining option is not at raved about as Izumi, it is still highly recommended.
One of the newest specialty options featured on select Royal Caribbean ships is Royal Railway. This immersive dining experience features an opportunity to step onto a train cruising through a scenic landscape. Depending on which ship you’re on, your railway experience will differ. While on this journey, passengers also get to enjoy a five-course meal. The experience is great for kids and adults alike, none of which will be disappointed by the characters they will meet along the way. Currently the Royal Railway experience is only available on the Legend of the Seas and the Utopia of the Seas.
Another standout dining experience is the Empire Supper Club. Step back into the 1930’s for a glamourous and breathtaking night. you may see the cover charge at over $100 per person and feel a bit intimidated, but rest assured, the food, as well as the experience, is worth the high sticker cost. The Empire Supper Club is an eight-course meal which features elegant and ritzy dishes such as Oysters Rockefeller and Wagyu ribeye topped with delicious truffle. Be prepared to dress to the nine as this is a formal venue.
As an avid sports fan, Playmakers is one of my favorite spots to hang out on Royal Caribbean ships. Now popping up on more ships, Playmaker is your traditional sports bar with plenty of beers on tap and classic bar games like pool and darts. In addition to the beverages they feature, they also a menu with pub favorites such as onion rings and burgers. Although you can find similar complimentary options elsewhere on the ship, Playmakers offers slightly high quality offerings as well as the sports bar feel.
Room Service
As on most other cruise lines, complimentary room service is a thing of the past. Luckily, there is still an in-room complimentary breakfast option still available for all passengers. However, if you opt in for the American breakfast option, also available on the room service menu, you will see an additional charge of $7.95 plus gratuities. Included in those additional options you will find things like eggs, pancakes, and hashbrowns.
If you’re still hungry but want to stay in later in the day, you can still call for room service from 11am to 6pm. When ordering, you will incur a fee with gratuities added as well. On this lunch and dinner menu, you will find things like burgers, salads, and even salmon. There is also a small kids menu which features grilled cheese and PB&J. This menu is definitely not as extensive as some other cruise lines, but it does the trick if you don’t feel up for leaving the cabin or have napping children who need to spend the afternoon in.
If you are staying in a Grand Suite or above, you will be happy to find that the room service fee is waived and you have access to this service 24 hours a day. The menu remains the same, so you won’t find any new or exciting options by staying in a suite, but you will definitely have the convenience of choosing in suite dining whenever you feel like it.
Dietary Options
Like other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean is able to accommodate guests with special dietary restrictions. No special requests are required for vegetarian options in the Windjammer and Main Dining Room as a variety of dishes are available every day. Vegan menus are also available in the Main Dining Room at request. Guests with Kosher needs will have to notify Royal Caribbean in advance so they can ensure options are available on their sailing.
If you are looking to venture outside of the main dining options, we recommend heading to the Central Park Cafe. There you will find a variety of delicious and fresh options to build a delicious vegetarian salad. At Sorrento’s you can also make special requests such as gluten free or lactose free pizzas. Izumi is an excellent specialty option as their made to order style dishes can be customized. Even at Perfect Day at CocoCay, guests can find
Sweets and Treats
On vacation, it’s important to eat dessert all day long. Of course, one fan favorite is the complimentary soft serve that is traditionally found on the pool deck (locations vary by cruise ship). But, if you are looking for something like a parfait or pastry, Park Cafe has excellent options served throughout the day. Similarly, you can find plenty of options in the Windjammer Cafe after lunch and dinner.
if you are looking for a sweet way to cool down, look no further than Johnny Rockets. Here you can find classic milkshakes are soda floats available for an additional charge. To bring out your inner child, you can stop by Sugar Beach, Royal Caribbean’s bright and colorful candy store. Sugar Beach can be found on select ships including the Oasis of the Seas. On ships such as the Quantum of the Seas, you can say bonjour to La Patisserie, a French-inspired sweet stop that features treats like macarons, eclairs and mousse.
Drinks and Packages
Royal Caribbean offers a robust selection of beverage packages to ensure guests receive what they are looking for. The Deluxe Beverage Package includes almost everything from bottled water to cocktails up to $14. Of course, this package does not include items like souvenir glassware or wine bottles. But if you do want a bottle with dinner, this package gets you a nice discount. Guests staying in a Star-level suite will receive this beverage package as part of their perks. Now, if you love a good Miami Vice but don’t care for alcohol, the Refreshment Package is for you. This package includes everything the deluxe package includes without the alcohol.
The cruise line even offers a few more packages for people who don’t need so many beverage options. If you’re a caffeine addict like me and just need some sodas each day, you’ll be happy to find the Classic Soda Package, which includes canned and fountain sodas at any venue and comes with a souvenir cup to use at Coca-Cola Freestyle Stations. For the coffee lovers – RC now offers the Cafe Select Coffee Card that gets you 15 specialty espresso-based coffees throughout your cruise. And if all that you crave is some bottled water, the Evian Bottled Water Package is for you.
Conclusion
Due to the large fleet of diverse ships, Royal Caribbean has more options than a foodie could dream of. On the larger ships, you may not even have to eat at the same place twice. Whether you are willing to spend an extra buck on specialty dining or just want to enjoy the complimentary options, you will no doubt find something to enjoy.
*All menus provided in this blog are sample menus directly from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and are subject to vary by ship and sailing.
