Let’s talk about something a lot of cruisers think about but do not say out loud.
While you’re on a cruise, ‘it’ can be fine – you do want that extra special magical experience (but it’ll cost you) and you probably don’t need it, but you definitely want it.
Now before your little cheeky minds go wandering, I’m talking about food.
Recently a dear friend cruised about Discovery Princess. She’s a real foodie (and works in the food industry) and she snaps pics of every meal, just like me.
Unfortunately I couldn’t cruise with her this time but I demanded every little detail about her meals on board.
Discovery Princess, which debuted in Australia in December 2025, was touted as the newest, most high-tech Princess ship to hit Aussie waters.
Lots of excitement, lots of bookings by die-hard Princess fans. The ship is heavily food-focused and offers plenty of included dining options:
- 3 Main Dining Rooms
- Buffet (World Fresh Marketplace)
- International Café (24/7)
- 3 Poolside venues (pizza, grill, ice cream)
Plus, several dining options that incur a small fee and a number of elevated specialty venues that attract a higher fee, including the much talked about 360: An Extraordinary Experience.
On every Princess ship I’ve sailed (and my first cruise was on the Dawn Princess in 2009) I’ve always had great to excellent meals, even in the main dining rooms and other included options.
So, imagine my surprise when I heard (and saw images) of the meals in the main dining room. These were not the Princess quality I know.
The uninspired and mediocre dishes got me thinking: has Princess Cruises joined the subtle push toward paid dining?
As you probably know, most mainstream cruise lines include meals in the main dining room and buffet, but reserve their best culinary experiences for specialty restaurants that cost extra. Now, not only are these dining options different, they’re deliberately better.
They offer higher-quality ingredients, a more intimate setting, elevated service and often unique cuisines and or whimsical experiences not available elsewhere onboard, such as Wonderland on Royal Caribbean.
This is not done by accident. Cruise lines know that food is a huge part of your holiday and also know that when the included options feel repetitive or average after a few days, that perfectly plated steakhouse dinner or upscale Italian restaurant starts looking very tempting.
Add an event you’re celebrating on board and before you know it you’ve booked that extra nice restaurant and you’re now paying a couple of hundred to have the privilege. And yes, it is a privilege, and I have no qualms paying for that memorable dinner.
My problem lies in the fact that I’m seeing more and more cruise lines deliberately serve edible food in the included options, thereby almost forcing guests to pay to eat something better than they’d get at a local shopping centre food court.
You’re on holiday – you want something better than you’d get on land in your everyday life.
What Specialty Dining Actually Costs
Here’s where it gets interesting and can add up quite quickly.
Specialty dining prices vary widely but most fall into these ranges:
- Casual specialty spots: $15–$30
- Mid-range restaurants: $30–$75
- Premium dining experiences: $100+ per person
And, when you’re cruising with a few kids who want that extra nice ice cream or pizza or sushi, the bill can rack up quickly.
Then you might indulge in a night out with your partner. For example:
- Royal Caribbean: steakhouse (Chops Grille): about $72–$109 per person
- Le Petit Chef Celebrity: $90 – $120
- Carnival Fahrenheit steakhouse: $48–$55
- Chef’s Table experiences: up to $125–$175 per person
And that’s before drinks and gratuity, which are not included.
Do that a few times on a seven-night cruise and suddenly you’re spending an extra $250–$500+ per person just on dining upgrades. That’s not exactly the ‘all-inclusive’ holiday many people think they’re booking.
Why People Still Pay
Here’s the thing though. People do pay. And I have and will continue to. Why?
Simply because when you’re on holiday you want memorable meals, that ‘wow’ dinner, that memory. You want to dress up, take photos and enjoy something special.
The psychology is simple and most cruise lines have perfected the formula.
Included dining = everyday. Specialty dining = holiday experience
My Happy Middle Ground: Dining Packages
To make it easier (and encourage more spending), some cruise lines offer specialty dining packages. These bundle multiple meals at a discounted rate. While they still cost extra, they’re often much better value.
Unlimited dining packages can cost hundreds of dollars but they’re designed to feel like a deal and especially tempting to cruisers who plan to avoid the main dining room altogether.
And yes, some cruisers do exactly that.
Not all cruise lines play this game the same way. More modern cruise lines have started including specialty dining in the fare.
One of the best examples is Virgin Voyages. Nearly all dining is included, with no traditional main dining room and no extra charge for most restaurants. Another favourite of mine is Norwegian Cruise Line’s fares Free at Sea which includes a limited number of specialty meals.
Higher-end lines such as Regent Seven Seas has specialty dining included upfront. Seabourn and Viking have more inclusive pricing with fewer onboard upsells.
Am I Grilling the Cruise Lines Too Hard?
Here’s the honest Honey take.
Cruise lines aren’t forcing you to pay for specialty dining. You can absolutely cruise without spending an extra dollar on food. But they are very intentionally designing the experience to encourage it.
The included food is good enough, but not always great. And when you’re on holiday, ‘good enough’ can feel like a compromise. Solution? You upgrade. And often more than once.
If you want my advice…plan ahead! Budget for one or two specialty meals on a typical cruise. Choose wisely – maybe a chef’s table – and make it part of your overall cruise experience.
This way you get the best of both worlds: Value from your included dining and memorable moments from specialty restaurants.
Because, at the end of the day, cruising isn’t just about filling your gut, but those standout meals? They’re the ones you remember long after the ship docks.
