What Are The Differences Between Eating In The Main Dining Room Or In A Speciality Restaurant onboard a Cruise Ship?

If you’re considering taking a cruise you may have heard that you can eat in the main dining room or in the Speciality Restaurants onboard.

You may be wondering which would suit you best, and whether the food in the additional cost Speciality Restaurants is worth the extra money.

In this article, we explore both options.

What is the Main Dining Room on a Cruise Ship?

All mainstream cruise lines have at least one – sometimes more – main dining rooms where you can eat your meals.

All food is served by wonderful waiters, who go out of their way to look after you and make you feel welcome.

Food in the main dining room is included within the cruise fare

Occasionally there may be some items on the menu – like steak or lobster for example – where there is an additional charge payable. This is always clearly marked, and I always avoid these menu items!

Main dining rooms are always open for dinner, and sometimes open for breakfast and lunch too.

You need to check your daily schedule or cruise ship App to find the opening times of the restaurant you are interested in visiting.

Fixed or Flexible Dining Times

Fixed Dining Times

Traditionally cruise ships had fixed dining times, with an early or late sitting for dinner.

If you pay the cheapest or “saver” fare – as I usually do – you don’t get to choose the sitting. The cruise line will just allocate you a sitting, depending on when they have space available.

If you have paid more for your cruise fare, you will get to choose the time you want to eat.

Luckily for me, I always prefer to eat early in the evening and then go to the show. Early dining times are less popular, so I have never had a problem getting an early sitting!

Most people seem to eat at around 8 p.m. This is the most popular dining time.

Find out more about cruising on a traditional cruise line with fixed dining times below:

Flexible Dining Times

Many cruise lines, like Norwegian, have a far more relaxed approach to dining.

Dining rooms are open between set times, and you can just turn up to eat within those times.

This is very convenient. You can eat around any other plans you have rather than making plans around a set dining time.

Check in the daily schedule or cruise ships App to find out which restaurants are open and when.

Find out about the food I ate on Norwegian Prima – both in the dining room and the speciality restaurants in the video below:

Are the Main Dining Rooms Open for Lunch and Breakfast?

This varies a lot from one cruise line to another.

On most ships, you can go to the main dining room for breakfast, between set times and have your breakfast served to you.

Main dining rooms are often shut at lunchtime – unless it is a sea day.

I was disappointed to find on my cruise on Celebrity Edge that even though they had three main dining rooms, none were ever open at lunchtime.

You had to eat at the buffet or pay extra to visit a “Speciality Restaurant.”

Find out more about my Celebrity Edge cruise below, It is an amazing ship!

Dress Codes for Eating In the Main Dining Room

Day Time Dress Codes

Even on the most formal cruise lines, like Cunard, there are no daytime dress codes.

You are expected to be wearing shoes, and not turn up to eat in your swimsuit – but apart from that, pretty much anything goes!

Evening Dress Codes

There are often three different evening dress codes in the main dining rooms.

It will say in the daily schedule or cruise ship App which dress code applies to which night.

On most cruise ships the dress code applies to the main dining room only. On the more traditional British cruise line Cunard, the dress code is ship-wide after 6 p.m.

These dress codes are normally:

• Formal – Dinner jackets, Tuxedos, Evening Dresses
• Smart Casual – Blazers, collared shirts, dresses for ladies
• Casual – jeans, chinos, T-shirts etc

For more examples of dress codes and what to wear, read the article below that explores the dress codes on Royal Caribbean:

What To Wear on a Royal Caribbean Cruise – Examples and Enforcement

There are often set rules, which vary from cruise line to cruise line. When I recently travelled on the Symphony of the Seas, even on casual nights, men weren’t able to wear shorts in the main dining room.

Europe was in the middle of “Heatwave Cerberus” and we avoided going to the main dining room as we didn’t want to dress up. It was just far too hot to bother!

Find out all about that very hot cruise here:

Drinks In The Main Dining Room

There is no need to buy drinks in the main dining room.

Cruise lines give you free iced water with meals – and often this is all I want.

If you have a drinks package, you can of course use this in the main dining rooms.

You may be offered Coffee after your meal. Sometimes this is included, but sometimes there is an extra charge for this coffee. If there is an extra charge it will be clearly marked in the menu.

I don’t ever drink coffee, so I never end up paying extra for this.

If you don’t want to pay the additional charge, you can always go to the buffet and get a cup for free!

You can order all of your favourite drinks – like beer, wine, and soda in the main dining room. These will be charged to your onboard account if you don’t have a drinks package.

Speciality Restaurants

Most ships have Speciality Restaurants onboard – these are usually smaller, themed restaurants that charge extra.

Types of cuisine available varies from one ship to another, but often you will find Steak Houses, Curry, Thai, Seafood, and Mexican restaurants.

These speciality restaurants provide a more intimate setting with fewer tables and dedicated food waiters.

It is a good idea to book in advance if there is a restaurant you would particularly like to try.

How Much Do Meals Cost?

This varies hugely!

Some Speciality Restaurants charge a flat rate cover charge per person. Others charge per item, similar to a restaurant on land.

If you travel on the British Cruise line P&O, their larger ships have a “Keel and Cow” restaurant that charges a very reasonable £6.50 for a main course. Desserts are priced around £3.50.

On the other end of the scale is the restaurant on the Magic Carpet Restaurant on Celebrity Edge.

The Magic Carpet platform is turned into a speciality restaurant called “Dinner on the Edge” on some evenings. There is a cover charge of around $129/£100 per person.

I’m sure eating on the Magic Carpet would be a memorable experience. However, I wouldn’t be prepared to pay $258 for the two of us, plus a 20% service charge added on top.

A meal for two would cost around $310 /£240. While that may offer good value for some, I can think of better ways to spend my money.

Can I Use My Drinks Package In A Speciality Restaurant?

Usually, yes, if you have a drinks package, you can use it in Speciality Restaurants. If that is not the case, it should be clearly written on the menu and the staff can advise you further.

Do These Restaurants Only Open For Dinner?

Many sit-down type speciality cruise ship restaurants are open for dinner only. Some do offer a lunch menu, usually at a lower price but this is often only available on sea days.

More casual venues might serve food all day – like Johnny Rockets on Royal Caribbean or Keel and Cow on P&O.

Can I Eat At A Speciality Restaurant More Than Once Per Cruise?

Yes, as long as you are able to get a table. Most ships have more than one Speciality Restaurant, so you can work your way around them all!

Be aware that you might end up with a large onboard account to pay though, at the end of the cruise.

Are Children Allowed In Speciality Restaurants?

Usually, children can dine in speciality restaurants if you want to take them along.

Lots of restaurants like Johnny Rockets American Diner, or Sorrentos Pizza on Royal Caribbean are very appealing to families with children.

Certain Speciality Restaurants may be adult-only, but it will tell you this in the daily schedule or on the cruise ship App.

Do I Have To Dress Up To Eat in Speciality Restaurants?

There isn’t usually a daytime dress code on ships. However, more formal restaurants that open for lunch might ask that you don’t wear shorts, vest tops, or swimwear.

At dinner, most cruise ship speciality restaurants tend to be “smart casual”. Women can wear casual dresses, skirts or trousers. Men can wear trousers, collared shirts and shoes – not trainers/sneakers.

On some lines, the general dress code carries over into the speciality restaurants. If it’s formal night in the main dining room, it’s formal in the other restaurants, as well.

On some ships, if you don’t want to dress up for formal night, you can go to a more casual Speciality Restaurant instead.

When I recently took a short cruise on P&O’s Aurora. I didn’t go to formal night in the main dining room, I went to Sindu, a smart casual Indian Restaurant instead. The food was wonderful.

Will I Be Expected To Table Share?

You aren’t expected to share a table with strangers in the Speciality Restaurants onboard.

You simply make your reservation for the size of your party, and you’ll be seated accordingly.

Is There Any Way To Save Money On Speciality Restaurant Dining?

Many cruise lines offer speciality dining packages, which allow you to pay a reduced rate for multiple Specialty Restaurant meals on a cruise.

Choices typically range from three-restaurant packages up to unlimited speciality dining.

You might also get free speciality dining as part of a booking perk. Norwegian often offers a “Free at Sea” package – where you can choose a certain number of perks, depending on the length of the cruise or your stateroom category.

Perks are subject to change, but a “Free at Sea” package often offers:

• a free drinks package
• free speciality dining
• free shore excursions
• free Wi-Fi
• free third and fourth guests in a cabin.

You will be able to pick a certain number of these perks. Choose the ones that offer the best value to you.

Free Speciality Meals With Loyalty Programs

I have Black loyalty status with MSC cruise lines.

I “status matched” my loyalty status from Norwegian Cruise line. Find out why and how I did that here:

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

Because of my loyalty status with MSC, I am entitled to one free speciality meal on any MSC ship. I always make sure I take advantage of this!

Are Speciality Meals Worth The Money?

I always enjoy a speciality meal, and if I have free onboard credit, I often use some to try out a new restaurant.

I don’t ever feel that I have to spend extra money on this, I am quite happy with all the included food onboard. There is lots to choose from.

I would hate anyone to think that Speciality Dining is a necessity, and they must spend money on it to have a good cruise. That’s absolute rubbish! The included cruise food is usually great…

If you are a big “Foodie” then definitely, spend the extra money because it’s something you will really enjoy.

If you have something to celebrate or want to treat yourself, specialty dining is a lovely thing to do.

If I ever get a speciality meal as part of my cruise line loyalty status or as a booking perk, I always enjoy it. It is nice to eat somewhere different and see what these alternative restaurants have to offer.

Before You Go

Costa cruises are a budget Italian cruise line, who don’t have a great reputation. I enjoyed the food onboard the Mega ship Costa Smeralda. To find out everything I ate onboard, read this article next:

Everything I Ate on my Costa Cruise (Photos and Menus) – Food Review

Compare this to everything I ate on the far more expensive cruise line Celebrity here:

Everything I Ate on my Celebrity Cruise (Photos and Menus) – Food Review