Although Royal Caribbean's cruise fare includes unlimited food, you may want to consider paying extra for one of the ship's specialty restaurants.
I know, I know — the idea might sound a little silly at first. I mean, why should you shell out an extra $45+ per person when multi-course meals in the Main Dining Room are "free?"
After traveling on over 10 Royal Caribbean ships and even splurging on the line's Unlimited Specialty Dining Package add-on, I can confidently say that a specialty meal is always on my must-do list. Everything from the low-key ambience to the food quality and diverse cuisine options justifies the extra charge.
However, many first-time cruisers might not get the appeal of specialty restaurants until they understand how it differs from the main dining experience.
In this article, we'll highlight 6 reasons why you should skip the Main Dining Room and try at least one specialty restaurant on your next cruise.
Read more: How does specialty dining work on Royal Caribbean?
More intimate atmosphere
The Main Dining Room on Royal Caribbean ships is a multi-deck space designed to serve hundreds, if not thousands, of passengers at once. As such, it's far from a romantic or relaxed atmosphere, with dozens of waiters constantly moving around, taking orders, and delivering dishes.
Comparatively, specialty restaurants are smaller and quieter, designed to feel more like an upscale restaurant at home. The smaller setting allows for more attentive, personalized service.
Another perk is that some specialty restaurants have outdoor seating, such as Chops Grille on Oasis and Icon Class ships. Indulging in a juicy filet mignon while listening to live music in the Central Park neighborhood might just be as close to perfect as it gets on a cruise!
Greater menu variety
Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants offer a wide range of cuisines, from Japanese to Italian, New England-style seafood, Southern comfort food, and classic bar favorites.
Although the rotating Main Dining Room menus do provide variety — from escargot to bao buns, spaghetti, and more — they're more limited in scope compared to the specialty options. You won't, for example, find sashimi or oysters in the dining room.
Similarly, specialty restaurants usually focus on a single cuisine. As such, you'll find more authentic presentations and dishes prepared with higher-quality ingredients than in the Main Dining Room. This is to be expected, as cooking for a few hundred people in a specialty restaurant is different than preparing meals for thousands in the dining room.
Immersive dining concepts
Royal Caribbean ships, particularly the newer and innovative ones, are also home to unique dining concepts that you won't find anywhere else.
For example, on Utopia of the Seas, you can dine in a "train car" at Royal Railway — Utopia Station. Everything — from the themed menu to the visual and auditory effects — is designed to create a fully immersive, story-driven experience centered around the Wild West.
Similarly, the supper clubs aboard Icon and Star of the Seas pair a multi-course meal with handcrafted cocktails and live music. Empire Supper Club on Icon of the Seas is themed around the Big Apple, while Star of the Seas transports guests to an elegant lounge in Chicago. Either way, you don't feel like you're dining on a cruise ship!
Read more: I ate at the most expensive restaurant on Star of the Seas, and it's even better than the original
Fun way to celebrate a special occasion
Eating at the same restaurant each night can feel monotonous, even if the menu changes daily. Specialty restaurants break up the predictable routine by offering something different, whether that's a certain cuisine or a unique atmosphere.
Not only that, but having a specialty restaurant on the agenda gives you something extra to look forward to and is the perfect place to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or, heck, even a divorce!
Even if you find the Main Dining Room food perfectly acceptable, you're more likely to remember your special meal in one of the extra-charge restaurants, like hibachi at Izumi or a whimsical evening at Wonderland.
You can choose your dining time
Unlike the traditional seating in the Main Dining Room, where you're assigned a set dining time and table, specialty restaurants give you the freedom to choose when you eat.
If, for example, you chose the early seating on your cruise but prefer a later dinner after a long day in port, you can reserve a specialty restaurant at your desired dining time.
This flexibility allows you to enjoy the benefits of set dining (i.e., the same table and waiters) for the majority of your sailing, while mixing things up and planning certain meals around your schedule — without feeling tied to the buffet.
Onboard credit can be used to lower the cost
Finally, if you don't know how to spend your onboard credit, you can apply it toward a specialty dinner on your cruise. Many travel agents offer onboard credit as a booking perk, and Royal Caribbean frequently runs promotions that include it as well.
Essentially, onboard credit is "free" money that can be used toward cruise add-ons, like drink packages, shore excursions, spa treatments, and specialty dining.
Using it to dine at a specialty restaurant allows you to elevate your cruise experience without dipping into your overall vacation budget.
Another way to save on specialty dining is to go for lunch instead of dinner, as the cover charge during the afternoons tends to be less.
For example, on an upcoming cruise aboard Liberty of the Seas, the starting price for lunch at Chops Grille is $17.99 per person. The cover charge increases to $46.99 for dinner.
