Speciality Dining Packages

[Bellamariya]

We are considering buying one of the dining packages for our upcoming 12 night cruise. We've never done this before, but after 4 cruises in a relatively short amount of time (totalling 39 nights), it might be nice to have some different lunch and dinner options.

The prices to pre-purchase range from 10-45% off "onboard" prices but my question is, do they discount the price at all once you're on the ship?

Is there a chance it will get cheaper towards the end of the cruise? What have people's experiences been?

We once got the galley tour and bottomless brunch for $20 on the second last day of a cruise, is this sort of thing likely for the specialty restaurants?

I know there's a risk they will get booked out so weighing that up as well.

'

[Sunshine3601]

I did not see any onboard dining specials on my cruise 2 weeks ago.    Offers will definitely vary per ship and the restaurants bookings.

Maybe book one or two lunches with the cruise planner sales.   Lunch menus are very similar to dinner menus but usually half the price.

[leaveitallbehind]

We purchase the dining packages in different options frequently and in our experience purchasing them in advance through the planner has provided the best pricing.  Once purchased, you can also watch to see if the price moves lower, and if so, you can cancel and rebook without penalty to get the better price.

 

Check the published individual restaurant pricing to compare to the average combined price per the option you choose to see the plan value.  Typically that pricing is close to the lowest specialty fees and measurably lower than the highest usually making the deal better than if you purchased each separately.  As Izumi is a la carte, we don't include that restaurant as part of our selection as in our experience, the fee credit allowed is often higher than the a al carte purchases would be and is better placed on the more expensive venues where there would be greater value. We do, however, eat there a la carte.

 

While there can be on board specials and you can also find maître d's who will offer attractive pricing, in particular on repeat visits, in our experience this has not been consistently as attractive as the pre sailing pricing through the planner and is also hit and miss with being offered.

 

The planner will provide a placeholder reservation for one restaurant typically for the first night once you purchase the plan and you cannot make individual reservations in advance through the planner.  However, once you board if you go to any of the specialty restaurants the maître d can schedule all of the restaurants for you, including rearranging the first night placeholder, in a matter of ten minutes or so.  We typically go the the placeholder restaurant since that is where our "reservation" for the first night will be, but any specialty restaurant can provide the scheduling for you.

 

The galley tour you reference would likely be a separate purchase and in our experience is not typically part of any dining package.  That, too, may be hit or miss in being offered.

 

You don't say which ship you are on, but typically your 12 night cruise is the perfect opportunity to experience one of the offered dining packages.  However the restaurant choices vary by ship with some are more limited in the variety and number of options than others.  I think this can play a part in which option you would choose.

 

 

Edited March 22 by leaveitallbehind

[SEA DOGY]

16 hours ago, leaveitallbehind said:

We purchase the dining packages in different options frequently and in our experience purchasing them in advance through the planner has provided the best pricing.  Once purchased, you can also watch to see if the price moves lower, and if so, you can cancel and rebook without penalty to get the better price.

 

Check the published individual restaurant pricing to compare to the average combined price per the option you choose to see the plan value.  Typically that pricing is close to the lowest specialty fees and measurably lower than the highest usually making the deal better than if you purchased each separately.  As Izumi is a la carte, we don't include that restaurant as part of our selection as in our experience, the fee credit allowed is often higher than the a al carte purchases would be and is better placed on the more expensive venues where there would be greater value. We do, however, eat there a la carte.

 

While there can be on board specials and you can also find maître d's who will offer attractive pricing, in particular on repeat visits, in our experience this has not been consistently as attractive as the pre sailing pricing through the planner and is also hit and miss with being offered.

 

The planner will provide a placeholder reservation for one restaurant typically for the first night once you purchase the plan and you cannot make individual reservations in advance through the planner.  However, once you board if you go to any of the specialty restaurants the maître d can schedule all of the restaurants for you, including rearranging the first night placeholder, in a matter of ten minutes or so.  We typically go the the placeholder restaurant since that is where our "reservation" for the first night will be, but any specialty restaurant can provide the scheduling for you.

 

The galley tour you reference would likely be a separate purchase and in our experience is not typically part of any dining package.  That, too, may be hit or miss in being offered.

 

You don't say which ship you are on, but typically your 12 night cruise is the perfect opportunity to experience one of the offered dining packages.  However the restaurant choices vary by ship with some are more limited in the variety and number of options than others.  I think this can play a part in which option you would choose.

 

 

This is our first time sailing R C Anthem of the Seas 12 nights  in Sky Class our restaurant on board will be the C K.  You think we should buy a Dinner package’s around $300 for 2 

TIA 

[Sianli]

5 hours ago, SEA DOGY said:

This is our first time sailing R C Anthem of the Seas 12 nights  in Sky Class our restaurant on board will be the C K.  You think we should buy a Dinner package’s around $300 for 2 

TIA 

Is that for the 3 night package? Yes, that would be a nice price.

[Gracie115]

On 3/22/2024 at 9:41 AM, leaveitallbehind said:

  As Izumi is a la carte, we don't include that restaurant as part of our selection as in our experience, the fee credit allowed is often higher than the a al carte purchases would be and is better placed on the more expensive venues where there would be greater value.    

 

 

 

 

We are on Allure in a few weeks and just purchased dinner at Izumi on the planner, it didn't say anything about it being "a la carte." 

 

Edit... I went to Royal site and it explained the options.

Edited March 24 by Gracie115

[leaveitallbehind]

12 minutes ago, Gracie115 said:

 

 

We are on Allure in a few weeks and just purchased dinner at Izumi on the planner, it didn't say anything about it being "a la carte." 

 

Edit... I went to Royal site and it explained the options.

Here is the menu.  All items are priced individually.  Note at the top right there is a single fixed option.  The credit value for the package usually is more than what we would eat a la carte, and can be more than the fixed price.  That is why we don't include it in our dining package, wanting instead to use it for the other fixed fare restaurants. 

 

(As the menu is a pdf you may have to download it to open it).

izumi-menu-sample.pdf

Edited March 24 by leaveitallbehind