Cruise Ship Dining

Dining is one of the highlights of cruising. Amazingly, on a ship you can have up to 14 meals per day! Each cruise line offers a variety of dining options and provides different dining concepts onboard their ships. Here’s what you need to know:

Meals Are Included: Meals served in the ships’ main dining rooms, casual buffets, snacks and room service are included in your cruise program price.

Traditional vs. Open Seating: Ships with traditional, “fixed seating” dining offer either early (first) or second seating times with assigned tables for the duration of the cruise. For planning purposes, early seating is usually between 6 – 6:30 pm, while late seating is 8 or 8:30 pm. In general, luxury cruise lines and smaller, yacht-like vessels offer “open seating”, meaning guests may sit at any available table with whomever they wish at whatever time they choose (Please refer to individual cruise line pages for specific details on dining style.)

Flexible Dining: More cruise lines today are offering “Flexible Dining” in addition to traditional dining, featuring a choice of several times & locations for dinner. NCL introduced the groundbreaking concept of “Freestyle Cruising” on their ships for the ultimate in dining variety and flexibility. This concept features a greater selection of dining venues with different capacities and cuisine type; some require advance reservations and have additional service fees ranging from $10 - $30 per person. Many cruise guests appreciate the freedom to choose a different restaurant each evening and the flexibility of “anytime” dining.  


Group Seating: On ships with a fixed dining schedule, a section of the dining room may be assigned for your group in advance. Round-robin seating can be accommodated within the group’s assigned tables. When you reserve half of the ship (half-ship charter), you can negotiate exclusive dining for your group during one traditional seating time.

If you are accustomed to holding your awards or recognition ceremonies during dinner, consider reserving a separate ship venue for the presentation before or after dinner - many groups have found this to be a great way to combine an exclusive company event with dinner.

In addition to the main dining rooms, most cruise ships feature alternative specialty restaurants for a more intimate dining experience. These venues can usually be pre-reserved for group and/or private dinners, based on the restaurant size and cruise line policies. Be aware that specialty restaurants generally have an additional per person service fee. Dining arrangements for large groups on ships with flexible or “freestyle” concepts will require advance planning with the cruise lines and might involve supplemental service fees.

More Food Choices & Healthy Options: Unlike hotels where group meals are often limited to pre-set banquet menus, you’ll be amazed at the variety of dining choices to suit every taste and special diet need. Today’s ships feature elegant dining rooms; fresh, cooked-to-order specialties in alternate restaurants; casual indoor-outdoor buffets, 24-hour pizzerias, poolside grilles, nostalgic “supper clubs”, in-suite dining and trendy restaurants boasting celebrity chefs.

In addition to menu options designed to accommodate special diets (diabetic, kosher, low-fat, vegetarian, low sodium, low cholesterol), nearly all cruise lines now offer light and healthy “spa” selections with nutritional content and calories listed for each selection.

Planning Tips

• Obtain a dining room venue diagram, using existing table numbers when identifying your group area request
• Avoid selecting tables right by the galley (kitchen) doors when possible to minimize the noise and distraction
• Request servers with specific language abilities when bringing a multi-lingual group aboard. If the ship has the staff to accommodate your request, everyone will be happier and better served
• Bring your own customized tent cards to identify pre-confirmed group tables for your guests (note: be sure to confirm the cruise line’s policies with regard to customized signage in advance)

For a list of the top 10 alternative dining ship restaurants according to Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships: Top 10 Alternative Restaurants