The Dining Experience you will Have on a Cruise Ship

Dining Options on Cruise Ships

Dining options are the different types of restaurants and dining rooms available for passengers to enjoy during their cruise. They will usually be found within the main dining room, but can also be in a specialty restaurant that is open to a smaller or specific number of passengers. Some cruise lines will offer a ‘traditional’ dining option in which guests are seated at the same table and time every evening. Other cruise lines may offer a ‘my time’ dining option that gives guests greater flexibility in customizing their own dining schedule and seating arrangements. Some cruise lines may offer both traditional and my-time dining options, so check the amenities and services offered by each cruise line to see what would suit you best.

Cruise Only Guests

Cruise-only guests are those who are not booked on a cruise and cruise-and-stay package. This means they haven’t booked their room onboard, and therefore won’t be dining in the main dining hall. Cruise-only guests will be eating at the buffet. The buffet is self-serve and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The buffet offers a wide selection of hot and cold dishes that change each day, as well as salad, fruit, desserts and drinks. Cruise-only guests can also make use of room service. Room service menus are usually limited, but they do offer sandwiches and a selection of snacks and drinks.

Dining for Cabin-Only Guests

Cabin-only guests will be eating at the buffet like those on cruise-only booking. The difference is that they will be eating at a different time to the cruise-only guests since they are eating in a different section of the buffet. The buffet is self-serve and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The buffet offers a wide selection of hot and cold dishes that change each day, as well as salad, fruit, desserts and drinks. Cabin-only guests can also make use of room service. Room service menus are usually limited, but they do offer sandwiches and a selection of snacks and drinks.

Dining for Guests With Stateroom Choices

Guests with stateroom choices are those who have booked a cruise and cruise-and-stay package and have chosen to upgrade their room to a different stateroom. This means they have paid extra to receive additional amenities and a room upgrade. Dining for guests with stateroom choices is either traditional or my time dining. Traditional dining is where guests are seated at the same table and time every evening. My time dining gives guests greater flexibility in customizing their own dining schedule and seating arrangements. Guests with stateroom choices can also make use of room service. Room service menus are more extensive than those offered to cabin-only guests, offering a wider range of hot and cold dishes, desserts and drinks.

Dining for Travellers with an Ocean View Room

Passengers with an ocean view room are those who have booked a cruise and cruise-and-stay package and have booked an ocean view room. This means they have paid extra to receive an upgraded room with a view. Ocean view room guests will be eating at the same table and time as guests with stateroom choices in the main dining hall. The difference is that they will be seated on the opposite side of the room where the view is of the ocean. Ocean view room guests can also make use of room service. Room service menus are more extensive than those offered to cabin-only guests, offering a wider range of hot and cold dishes, desserts and drinks.

Bottom line

Cruise ships are amazing. The experience they offer is so surreal that it feels like you’ve left Earth and entered an alternate world where everything is perfect. The dining experience on a cruise ship is luxurious, decadent, and very special. Although it’s true that you don’t have much control over the type of food you’ll be eating, the setting and overall experience of dining on a cruise ship is one you’ll never forget.