Royal Caribbean recently completely revamped its main dining menus. These new dining room menus were launched earlier this year and can now be found onall Royal Caribbean cruises. If you want to know what's for dinner (and breakfast and lunch), we have copies of all of these menus from Royal Caribbean's main dining room.
Royal Caribbean 2023 Main Dining Menus
Royal Caribbean's main dining room breakfast menu
Currently, Royal Caribbean's main dining room breakfast menu has not changed. It still features a range of classic breakfast options. Specials include French toast and breakfast burritos, along with other standard options like cereal, eggs and continental items.
Meal times on Royal Caribbean ships vary slightly by ship and itinerary.
For breakfast, the main dining room is usually open between 7:00 and 8:00 and stays open for about 90 minutes. Therefore, it usually closes between 8:30 and 17:30. and 9:30 a.m.
breakfast menu
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Royal Caribbean's main dining room lunch menus
On most itineraries, the main dining room hosts lunch on sailing days and on days after arrival in port. On a typical 7-night cruise this usually means that lunch is served twice in the main dining room.
Similar to breakfast, these options have not changed with this latest menu update. So these menus still offer classic choices, with spaghetti bolognese, a chicken king sandwich and fries both days.
Similarly, lunch in the main dining room is available for an hour and a half on sea days and late breaks. Usually the main dining room is open for lunch from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm. m. until 1 p.m. m.
lunch 1|lunch 2
Royal Caribbean Main Dining Room Dinner Menus
Unlike breakfast and lunch, Royal Caribbean's main dining room dinner menu is significantly different from the previous version of the menu.
These new Royal Caribbean main dining menus are now themed. Each night there is a new central focus on starters, main courses and desserts.
Welcome dinner on board|A taste of France|a taste of Italy|A taste of the Caribbean|A taste of Mexico|royal night|Have a nice trip
The rotation may change depending on your itinerary, but all cruises must begin with a welcome dinner on board on the 1st evening.
For our 7-day Western Caribbean cruise, our remaining rotation included A Taste of France on Night 2, which was the first official night. The menus then continued with a Taste of Italy on the 3rd night, a Taste of the Caribbean on the 4th night and a Taste of Mexico on the 5th night.
The 6th was our second gala dinner, so we had a royal dinner, with lobster tail and other typical dishes from the gala dinner menu.
Finally, night 7 was the Bon Voyage dinner. Fortunately, these new menus included the wife's last favorite meal, the fall turkey dinner.
It is important to note that the main dining room still offers two dining options, Traditional Dining or My Time Dining.
Along with traditional food, there is an early seating around 5:30 p.m. m. and 6 p.m. and a late seat around 8 p.m. m. and 8:30 p.m. m. Traditional dinner cruises have the same arrangement of tables and waiters throughout the cruise.
With My Time Dining, cruise passengers can dine at a different time each night and/or with a different table. Royal Caribbean allows guests to pre-book each evening with My Time Dining. When entering the dining room, these guests will have a separate line from those without a reservation. Of course, cruise passengers can also come up to the host without a reservation and ask for a table when they are hungry.
Meal time at My Time Dining is usually 18:45. m. until 9:00 p.m. Every night.
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No more classics on the menu
As mentioned above, the new menus now have themes. Although this does not mean that all menu items will be aligned with the new name. For example, while the Taste of the Caribbean menu offers a hot sauce-seasoned pork chop, it also has a pesto tagliatelle dish.
Another big change is the removal of the late-night menu of classic dishes. While the rest of the menu was always changing, these standard selections tended to stay the same throughout the cruise.
Previously, the classic menu consisted of 6 starters, such as Caesar salad, shrimp cocktail and escargot every night. Cruise passengers can also opt for one of 4 classic entrees, including fried chicken, New York strip steak and herbed salmon. Finally, there were six classic desserts, such as apple blossom a la moda or royal chocolate cake.
Those selections no longer exist in these new menus. This usually means that the menu is 30% smaller each night, giving travelers less choice. Previously, the older menus offered 28 choices each night, including 10 starters, 9 main courses and 9 desserts. Now the menus include 6 starters, 7 starters and 6 desserts.
However, while the Royal has removed the classics section, many of these dishes continue to appear on new menus on various nights.
For example, cruise ships can enjoy prawn cocktail for four nights. In addition, the escargot is now available on three occasions: the Welcome Aboard menu, A Taste of France and The Royal Night. Also, Spaghetti Bolognese is available three times.
Salmon was also offered on three evenings. However, with only a few other fish-centric dishes, it seemed that more seafood options were needed. Also, the cheese board, one of our staple table entrees, has completely disappeared from the menu.
Although Harmony of the Seas offered a grilled chicken option every night. This option was a substitute for tonight's poultry dish, such as Chicken Marsala or a fall turkey dinner.
New additions to Royal Caribbean's main dining menus
While some items have been removed from Royal Caribbean's main dining menu, some new items have been added to the menu. Now there's a featured vegetarian option every night, like pea and asparagus risotto or stuffed red peppers.
It also offers an Indian meal every evening. This has been a great addition for me. I enjoyed the aromatic chicken saag and shrimp jalfresia.
Many other menu items will look familiar on actual cruise ships, just find them on the different night/theme menus. The Welcome Aboard dinner still features prime rib, and the second formal evening (The Royal Night) still features the signature lobster tail. In 2023, additional lobster tails beyond the first will cost $16.99 each.
While all these changes may sound like bad news, in our opinion they are not. Compared to our last Royal Caribbean cruise aboard Navigator of the Seas in December 2022, we actually thought the food preparation was much better.
For example, the pork chop was a thick cut with lots of spicy seasoning. The prime rib was perfectly grilled, served juicy and warm.
Additionally, we were big fans of the new approach to themes, including the new Flavor of Mexico and Flavor of the Caribbean options.
We are not usually impressed with the desserts in the main dining room. Of the new options, I loved the Peanut Caramel Bar on the Welcome Aboard menu. The Italian chocolate hazelnut cake was actually a lava cake with sliced hazelnuts. Of course, you can't go wrong with warm apple pie either.
After all, one of the advertised reasons for these menu changes was to make dining more efficient. With fewer menu items, the kitchen can prepare better prepared foods that can be served quickly.
While this sounds good in theory, our table for 4 was never out of the main dining room for less than 90 minutes. Yes, we had solid three-course meals every night, with several rounds of drinks. So we may be outliers, but the dining room seemed to function like any other Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
Overall, although there were fewer options, we enjoyed Royal Caribbean's new main menus, even Heidi, who is a picky eater. The new teams offered great and much-needed variety. The quality of the food has improved and the overall preparation was a level above what we have come to expect from Royal Caribbean.
Although we have heard many negative comments, we disagree based on our recent experience with Harmony of the Seas. Of course, this could be partially related to the novelty of the menu items; however, we suggest you go on your next Royal Caribbean cruise with an open mind and try some of the new menu options in the main dining room.
Comments
Have you tried the new Royal Caribbean Main Dining menus yet? Do you agree with our assessment of these new offerings? Drop us an anchor below to share your thoughts on these recent foodie changes.
FAQs
Does Royal Caribbean main dining room menu change? ›
Many of the dishes on the Main Dining Room's menu rotate each night, which means you could go an entire week without ever repeating a course.
Does Royal Caribbean have better food than Carnival? ›Yes, the food options differ between Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line. While both cruise lines offer a wide selection of dining options, Royal Caribbean is known for its upscale feel and gourmet cuisine. In contrast, Carnival Cruise Line offers a more casual dining experience.
What is Royal Caribbean Flex dining? ›My Time Dining* is our flexible dining option that allows you to choose when you dine and who you dine with. Enjoying sitting in the ship's main dining room; order from the same dinner menu; and enjoy the same impeccable Gold Anchor Service® for which Royal Caribbean International® is known.
What time is main dining on Royal Caribbean? ›When making a reservation you will be offered “My Time” or traditional dining times* (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm). *Traditional dining times may vary by ship and itinerary.
Can you eat as many times as you want on Royal Caribbean? ›UNLIMITED DINING PACKAGE
For one low price, you can enjoy multiple entrees and visit multiple specialty restaurants every night of your sailing. And as an added perk, this unlimited package also applies to lunch at specialty restaurants on sea days.
How much are gratuities on Royal Caribbean cruises? Royal Caribbean charges a gratuity of $16.00 per person, per day. For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services.
Do you tip at dinner on Royal Caribbean? ›A 18% gratuity is automatically added to all beverages, mini bar items, and spa & salon purchases. Guests can pre-pay gratuities by calling 866-562-7625 before the sailing*. Guests booked through travel advisors, need to contact their advisor to add pre-paid gratuities to the booking prior to sailing*.
Do I need to tip on a dinner cruise? ›Many luxury cruise lines, higher-end river lines, and some British and Australian lines have a no-tipping policy, and gratuities are not required. You can always tip at your discretion, though some crewmembers are not allowed to accept monetary gifts.
Do you tip at cruise dinner? ›But now, on most cruise lines, guests can choose to dine wherever and whenever they like—a tipping pool ensures that everyone who takes care of passengers receives a tip. It's not necessary, but a small tip can be offered for in-room dining.
What is the best time to have dinner on a cruise ship? ›If you like to have dinner on the table the minute you get home from work, stick to your regular routine. Choose the early dinner seating—it usually starts around 6 p.m. But if you like to lounge around a while or hit the gym after work, you might prefer a later setting, which typically starts at 8:30 p.m.
Does Royal Caribbean have free soft serve? ›
On all Royal Caribbean ships, there is complimentary soft-serve ice cream on the ship. Usually, it is near the pools and there are ice cream cones available to pour the ice cream onto.
Is it better to pay gratuities on a cruise? ›Benefits of Prepaying Gratuities
The biggest advantage is simply getting the charge out of the way. By paying the charge at the same time you pay your cruise, it's one less cost that will hit your onboard account while you are cruising. Another advantage is that cruise lines regularly raise gratuity amounts.
More than 6,600 passengers can travel on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas. Some passengers eat up to eight times per day, meaning kitchen staff need to prepare meals at all hours. This cruise ship produces roughly 30,000 meals per day.
Is Johnny Rockets breakfast free on Royal Caribbean? ›About Johnny Rockets on Royal Caribbean Ships
On Royal Caribbean ships, Johnny Rockets offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is available complimentary to all guests, while lunch and dinner are considered a specialty experience and are an extra fee.
When can I eat in the main dining room? The main dining room will have set hours that can change daily based on arrival into port and the ship's departure time. Breakfast is served roughly between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., and lunch between noon and 2 p.m.; you can arrive anytime within that window.
Can I order two entrees on a cruise? ›Dining room etiquette – If you're a cruise newbie you've probably heard the rumors: You can order as much as you'd like in the dining room! Can't decide between two entrées? (Surf & Turf night gets me every time!) — go for it! Your server won't bat an eye.
Can only one person get the refreshment package on Royal Caribbean? ›All packages are for single guest use and cannot be shared by multiple people. Any guest wishing to purchase an alcohol... Are gratuities included in the Royal Caribbean beverage package cost?
Can you order multiple entrees on a cruise? ›You can order several entrees if you want, or even several appetizers. The wait staff will bring you anything on the menu in pretty much any quantity. If the dish you have been given is distasteful to you in anyway don't feel you have to eat it.
What happens if you don't tip on a cruise? ›What happens if you don't tip on a cruise? Most cruise lines work on the basis that the crew members' pay structure is based on receiving tips. If you choose not to tip, for whatever reason, you are impacting the salaries of the crew who have served you so well during your cruise.
How much do you tip a stateroom steward? ›| Crew | Suggested Cash Tip Amount |
|---|---|
| Waiter | $5 per day, per person |
| Cabin Steward | $3-5 per person per day |
| Butler | $10-20 per person per day |
| Room Service | $2-3 per order |
Can you wear flip flops in main dining room on Royal Caribbean? ›
Yes. Of the cruises I've been on, if dining in an actual dining room, on most nights they will be okay with smart-casual dress attire (no jeans, shorts, flip-flops etc.).
Are you supposed to tip for dinner and at all-inclusive? ›While tipping may not be required at some all-inclusive resorts, many guests prefer to do so. In the event that you would like to tip staff during your all-inclusive vacation, it is important to find out in advance whether staff would even be allowed to accept those tips.
What is a good tip for a waiter on a cruise? ›On an all-inclusive cruise, bar and dining room gratuity is often added automatically—to the tune of 15% to 18%. If alcohol or dining is charged separately, you'll want to tip within the 15% to 20% range either as you go or in a lump sum at the end of the cruise.
Do you tip the captain and the waiter? ›Most restaurants with captains combine tips, with seventy-five percent going to the waiter and twenty-five percent to the captain. If there is a separate line for the captain, you can ignore it and increase the tip if you like.
How much do you tip waiter on a 7 day cruise? ›In general, plan on giving $16–$23 in gratuities per day for each passenger. Note that the amount should be tabulated for each individual in your party—don't try to tip once per couple or group. So if you're planning to go on a 7-day cruise, expect to give a total of between $112 and $161 per person in gratuities.
How much do you tip a baggage handler on a cruise? ›Tipping on a Cruise Begins Before Sailaway
Savvy cruisers know that gratuities begin before you board your ship. Why? If you plan to drop off your larger pieces of luggage, be prepared to give the portside luggage handler a $2- $5 tip per bag.
In the unlikely event that a guest onboard being charged the daily automatic gratuity does not receive satisfactory service, the guest may request to modify the daily amount at their discretion by visiting Guest Services onboard and will be able to do so until the morning of their departure.
How much do you tip on a 1 hour cruise? ›Tip between 10% and 20%, based on how long your charter is, your itinerary, and how well it's executed.
Should you tip the wait staff on a cruise? ›Typical extra tips may be $15-20 per passenger for a seven-day cruise paid to the cabin steward for exceptional work, or an extra $10-20 per passenger to a waiter who offered spectacular dining service. Similarly, it is often acceptable to tip $1-3 when room service is delivered depending on the size of the order.
Are Royal Caribbean gratuities mandatory? ›Gratuities aren't technically required, but in reality, the are an automatic charge that every passengers pays. Keep in mind these charges are separate from an 18% automatic gratuity that is charged to specialty restaurants, bar drinks, and spa service purchases.
Do cruises still have midnight buffets? ›
One of the most beloved cruising traditions that has been phased out is the midnight buffet. Back when cruising had a more structured dining schedule, most cruisers only had the option to eat at the buffet or dining room during an early or late night seating for dinner.
Can I wear jeans to dinner on a cruise? ›On formal nights, proper attire includes tuxedos, suits or slacks (jackets required) for men and evening gowns, cocktail dresses or dressy pantsuits for women. Jeans are welcome in all dining venues during the day, but they're not appropriate in any public venues for dinner or cocktail hour.
Do you have to dress nice for dinner on a cruise? ›At night for dinner guests can go for casual or smart casual clothes at most of the restaurants. Although for specialty restaurants in cruise ships a formal dress code is suggested. The cruise line does not have any kind of formal nights but 'Norwegian's night out' can be considered as the formal night.
Are soda refills free on Royal Caribbean? ›Soft Drink and Water Packages
The Royal Caribbean soda packages give passengers unlimited refills at any of the bars or lounges onboard their ship as well as the Windjammer Café, Main Dining Rom and private islands. With the package, passengers also receive a souvenir Coca-Cola cup.
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What deck on a cruise ship is best? ›The best deck for the views
For passengers looking to enjoy views, especially the scenery in the wake of a ship, we recommend higher decks and the back of the vessel. The higher you pick, the farther you'll see. If you're after views, the best room on a cruise ship will be a balcony cabin at the ship's rear end.
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You have the right to refuse this automatic gratuity charge and may compensate cruise staff on your own terms. However, you will need to notify the front desk of this desire. Otherwise it will appear on your bill when your cruise ends and it will be charged to your credit card on file.
How Much Are Cruise Gratuities? The amount you pay will vary by cruise line, but they are all in the same ballpark. You can expect to pay about $15-$20 per person, per day. So a couple traveling together will see about $30-$40 per day in gratuities, or about $200+ over the course of a week-long cruise.
What is the 3 1 1 rule on Royal Caribbean? ›You are allowed to bring a quart-size, zip-lock bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes though the checkpoint in carryon luggage. These combined items need to be less than 3 ounces. More information from the TSA. So the 3-1-1 rule is the TSA's quick reminder: 3 ounces, 1 quart bag and 1 bag per traveler.
Can you eat 24 hours a day on a cruise ship? ›Yes, food can be delivered to your cabin 24/7 on most major cruise lines' ships. Typically, the room service menu features a Continental breakfast (some lines offer a few hot items, sometimes for an extra fee), plus an all-day menu of sandwiches, salads, pizza, perhaps a few hot items or appetizers, and dessert.
Can I bring a 12 pack of soda on Royal Caribbean? ›
Guests may also bring non-alcoholic beverages as carry-on items on boarding day. Non-alcoholic beverages may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom. Milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use are permitted.
Is Ben and Jerry's free on Royal Caribbean? ›Once it was discovered that these massive cows block most of the cabin's promenade view, Royal Caribbean decided to add a few freebies for guests. Alas, the Ben and Jerry's Sweet was born!
Is Park Cafe complimentary on Royal Caribbean? ›Park Cafe – A complimentary grab and go market café located in the Central Park Neighborhood serving soups, salads, sandwiches, and snacks serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Solarium Bistro Buffet – A casual self-service breakfast buffet located in the adults-only Solarium on Deck 15 – Forward.
Does Royal Caribbean do midnight buffet? ›Royal Caribbean International no longer offers the traditional midnight buffet where guests parade through the dining room, take pictures, then eat, on a regular fleet-wide basis.
What are the two dining times on Royal Caribbean? ›When making a reservation you will be offered “My Time” or traditional dining times* (i.e., 5:30 pm & 8:00 pm).
What time does dinner start on Royal Caribbean? ›You can choose to dine in our main dining room anytime between 6:00 and 9:30 pm (times vary by ship) each evening. You can decide on a daily basis what works for you.
When did Royal Caribbean change their menu? ›In late 2022, Royal Caribbean began testing new menus onboard the Symphony of the Seas. After receiving positive feedback from guests, they announced that they were going to permanently change the menus on all ships within the fleet.
Do you tip in the main dining room on a cruise? ›It's not necessary, but a small tip can be offered for in-room dining. Personally, when I have a great housekeeper, even on a ship that includes gratuities, I will leave a small cash bonus (maybe $20 per passenger) at the end of the cruise. The same goes for waiters.
What do you wear in the main dining room on a cruise? ›Casual attire includes jeans and collared shirts for men and sundresses or pants with blouses for women. No caps, tank tops or bathing suits are permitted in the main dining room or specialty restaurants, and footwear is always required. Shorts are not allowed during dinner.
Does everyone in the room have to get the refreshment package on Royal Caribbean? ›Does everyone in the stateroom have to purchase the Royal Refreshment Package or Classic Soda Package? No. Since these are a non-alcoholic packages, all guests staying in the same stateroom are not required to purchase it.
How much does it cost to eat at Johnny Rockets on Royal Caribbean? ›
Johnny Rockets Lunch & Dinner Menu
Lunch and Dinner are considered a specialty dining experience on Royal Caribbean cruises. For $14.99 you can choose two starters, one entree, a drink, and a dessert. Milkshakes are $4.99.
Room service is available any time of the day or night - simply order from the room service menu located in your stateroom/suite (service charge of $7.95* applies). An 18% gratuity is additional and will automatically be added to your check.
Are there refrigerators in staterooms on Royal Caribbean? ›Each Interior stateroom includes: Either a Royal king size bed or two twin beds, private bathroom with shower, vanity area, a TV and telephone, fridge or minibar, hair-dryer and 24 hour room service.
What happens if you don't tip on cruise? ›What happens if you don't tip on a cruise? Most cruise lines work on the basis that the crew members' pay structure is based on receiving tips. If you choose not to tip, for whatever reason, you are impacting the salaries of the crew who have served you so well during your cruise.
How much do you tip a 7 day cruise waiter? ›In general, plan on giving $16–$23 in gratuities per day for each passenger. Note that the amount should be tabulated for each individual in your party—don't try to tip once per couple or group. So if you're planning to go on a 7-day cruise, expect to give a total of between $112 and $161 per person in gratuities.
Do you have to dress up on formal night on Royal Caribbean? ›Formal nights
Think of our formal dress code as a night out in your best black-tie look — suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns are all acceptable options. There can be 1 to 4 formal nights during a sailing and is at the ship's discretion.
Depending on the cruise line and your cabin class, room service is either a complimentary all-inclusive service, billed per item or carries a flat delivery fee. Most lines will offer complimentary continental breakfast options through room service with no service fee, even if other options cost extra.