Avoid These Costly Cruise Dining Mistakes That Wreck Your Budget

Dining on your cruise can be one of the best parts of the trip. There’s so much food to try, and a lot of it is included in the price.

But there are a few traps that can catch you out and leave you spending way more than you planned.

Don’t worry, my family and I have made some of these mistakes, so you don’t have to!

Here’s how to enjoy great food onboard without wrecking your budget.

#1 Thinking Speciality Dining Is A Must

Specialty restaurants are great, but they’re not necessary to have an amazing cruise.

Main dining rooms and buffets are included in your fare and usually have fantastic options.

If you don’t like what you have, you can ask for something else – or go up to the buffet afterwards and see what is on offer up there!

The cruise lines will try and encourage you to spend extra on Speciality meals. The food offered and the level of service is usually excellent – but you don’t NEED to visit them to have a good cruise.

Join the cruise lines loyalty scheme. With MSC cruises, I get a free speciality meal as a perk with my “diamond” loyalty status.

MSC are one line who will match your status from other cruise lines, I actually had a high loyalty status with Norwegian and matched it with MSC. Find out more about that here:

MSC Status Match – What Is it And is it Worth Doing? A Step-by-Step Guide

#2 Forgetting What’s Actually Included

Most cruises have great options when it comes to free food.

There could be pizza counters, soft-serve ice cream, or “grab-and-go” sandwiches.

Don’t pay extra for snacks when you can get something just as good for free.

On MSC there is free pizza at almost all hours of the day, I probably eat my weight in pizza slices!

# 3 Buying The Drinks Package

Drinks packages can be a great deal, but only if you use them.

If you’re not a big drinker or only want the odd cocktail, you would be better off paying as you go. Just pay for the drinks you actually want.

I rarely buy drinks packages, unless they are part of some sort of deal when I am booking.

Again, don’t think that you NEED a drinks package. Find out more about that here:

Drinks Packages Aren’t Worth it For Me – Here’s How I Decide (Price Lists & More)

#4 Paying for Room Service Without Checking The Cost

Room service used to be free on most ships, but now many charge for it.

Always check the menu before you order, or opt for included dining options instead.

If room service is free, I always use it. It would be rude not to!

On one cruise, I ordered free room service tea, bread rolls or toast to my room every morning. It was the best way to start the day without fighting for a table in the buffet.

MSC offer a free room service continental breakfast in certain categories of cabins. Its worth checking.

I am not a great breakfast eater, it has to be said. I rarely have more than a bread roll, fruit and a nice cup of tea. If I can get that delivered to my cabin for free – all the better!

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#5 Ignoring The Main Dining Room Menu

Main dining rooms often have special items that feel like fine dining, but are totally included in your fare.

Before you book a speciality meal, check what’s on offer in the main dining room that night.

Some main dining room menus offer extra-charged items, such as steak. I never even look at that section of the menu. If it isn’t included, I don’t order it.

#6 Overlooking Dining Packages

If you do love speciality dining, a dining package can save you money.

These let you prepay for multiple meals at a reduced rate – but only get one if you’re sure you’ll use it.

On Norwegian, I bought a three-meal dining package, which worked out at half the cost of paying for those meals individually. Planning ahead definitely paid off!

Make sure you book your preferred restaurants as soon as possible, though. There is nothing more annoying than spending extra on speciality dining and then not being able to get into your preferred restaurants.

#7 Overpacking Snacks

You don’t need to bring lots of snacks onboard. There’s food everywhere, and most of it is free.

I’ve seen people bring crisps and chocolate in their cases but never eat them because the buffet rarely closes!

(Having said that, I often bring a packet of “emergency biscuits” just in case, but I often end up eating them at the airport or on transfers or excursions, not on the ship itself.)

Why not buy yourself some more interesting snacks in port? I enjoyed the Norwegian version of the British snack, KitKats (wafer biscuits covered with chocolate.)

#8 Ignoring the Free Water

Bottled water is expensive on cruise ships, but tap water is free and safe to drink.

Many ships even have refilling stations where you can top up your reusable bottle.

You will be offered free iced water in the main dining room with meals (apart from on Costa Cruises), and I usually drink water with meals to keep hydrated.

Costa Cruises don’t include many “extras” in their cruise fares, but the fares are so cheap, I can understand why.

Find out about the bargain, out-of-season Costa cruise I took here:

#9 Paying For Kids Meals

Most cruise lines offer included options for kids, but some speciality restaurants charge extra for them.

If you’re cruising with children, check if the kids’ menu is free before you book.

Most kids love the free pizza on MSC or burgers in the Royal Caribbean buffet, and they don’t cost anything extra.

When I sailed on Costa Smeralda, I was surprised to find that they actually had a separate family restaurant/ part of the buffet for those travelling with children. Italian cruise lines are very child friendly.

Don’t discount the Italian cruise lines, Costa and MSC if you are travelling with children. They really do offer some great value holidays, with excellent facilities – Kid’s Clubs, Waterparks and rock climbing walls etc.

#10 Overdoing the Splurges

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and book a speciality restaurant every night, but the costs add up quickly.

Choose one or two meals that feel special, and enjoy the included options for the rest of the trip.

On P&O, I had a fantastic burger at the Keel and Cow restaurant for around £8.50. That was my splurge for the week, and it was perfect.

My brother particularly enjoys the “Prime Minister Burger”. It is absolutely HUGE but only costs £9.50.

If you consider that a meal in Celebrity Edges Eden speciality restaurant starts at around $85 per person, or £129 for the “tasting menu” – plus a 20% service charge on top, the Keel and Cow on P&O offers very good value for money.

Whilst some might see paying that amount for a speciality restaurant as a splurge for a celebration or a special occasion, I would struggle to justify paying hundreds of dollars for a meal for two, when there is so much excellent included food onboard.

One interesting speciality restaurant I would have liked to have tried was on the “Magic Carpet” onboard Celebrity Edge. That also cost $129 per person ( + a 20% service charge), so needless to say, I didn’t – but I did enjoy drinks on the Magic Carpet when it was set up as a bar.

Find out all about the Magic Carpet and its other uses here:

Before You Go

One cruise line I sail with where I rarely spend extra money is Marella. Find out about everything included here:

Marella Cruises, What Does ‘All Inclusive’ Include?

When I sail with MSC, I have some essential money-saving tips that I always use. Find out more here:

19 Essential MSC Cruise Tips That I Use Everytime (Freebies, Money Saving & More)