What eateries are free?

[PA8880]

First time sailing on Princess-

I know the buffet is always free

-Is the dining room always free - breakfast and dinner?

-On RC, they always had a cafe - I know Princess has something simliar - what foods are offered? I know you must pay for coffee and soda. Is it open late??

[sasa]

The dining room, whether you choose traditional or Anytime Dining is included in your cruise fare, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The specialty restaurants onboard are open for dinner and they do charge a fee for this, it was $20 pp the last time we tried one. Not sure if that price is still current, but I'm sure you'll get other responses.

 

Coffee in the buffet and dining room is free, unless you upgrade to a coffee card. Sodas are available for a charge, but Princess has a soda card package available for purchase which is similar to the one on RCCL.

[alabama ghost]

The pizza place and the grill on Lido are free (except for coke). The International Cafe is free except for the gelato (.50/scoop). Sorry, no caramel apples on our trip in October. Of course, there's a charge for the specialty coffees (or buy the coffee card).

[Woodmnky]

Other than the specialty restaurants, all eateries are free.

Food the will cost extra:

Gelato (if available from an International Cafe. Not all ships have this)

Specialty restaurants (Sabatinis, Crown Grill, Sterlings, ect)

Drinks other than tap water, iced tea, regular coffee, and lemonade at the buffet.

 

Our first cruise, we did not spend a dime extra on food and stayed very full for the week.

[TuxedoMan]

Just got back off the Emerald and the lunch "fish n chips" in the Wheelhouse bar was also free...good stuff.

[Cruisin' Chick]

We also haven't felt the need to eat at the specialty restaurants.

 

Here's the basic choices (I may be missing some):

 

breakfast in the dining room (open seating, no charge)

breakfast in the buffet -- Horizon Court on many on the ships (no charge)

Ultimate Balcony Breakfast (still available?) -- charge

room service (continental breakfast unless you have a suite) -- no charge, but you should tip the server

 

lunch in the dining room (open seating, no charge)

lunch in the buffet -- no charge

the outside grill (hot dogs, burgers, chicken burgers) -- no charge

pizzaria -- no charge

room service (limited menu unless you have a suite) -- no charge, but tip

 

dinner in the dining room (traditional for fixed, anytime rooms for flexible -- you sign up for one or the other at time of booking) -- no charge

dinner in the buffet (and later on bistro) -- no charge

specialty dining rooms -- a charge

the outside grill and pizzaria do close in the early evening, but until then -- no charge

room service (limited menu unless you have a suite) -- no charge, but tip

Ultimate Balcony Dinner -- charge

 

some of the specialty dining rooms may offer breakfast or lunch

 

there's also an indoor pizzaria on some ships and room service charges for pizza delivery

 

You will have information on all this in your cabin.

[NSWP]

Free? Nothing on a ship is 'free', you have paid for it! I prefer the words 'No additional charge!

 

Enjoy !

[caribill]

Drinks other than tap water, iced tea, regular coffee, and lemonade at the buffet.

 

 

 

Milk is also at no extra cost. Juice is at no extra cost at breakfast in the dining room or the buffet, but there is a charge at other times.

[pompeynanny]

We also haven't felt the need to eat at the specialty restaurants.

 

Here's the basic choices (I may be missing some):

 

breakfast in the dining room (open seating' date=' no charge)

breakfast in the buffet -- Horizon Court on many on the ships (no charge)

Ultimate Balcony Breakfast (still available?) -- charge

room service (continental breakfast unless you have a suite) -- no charge, but you should tip the server

 

lunch in the dining room (open seating, no charge)

lunch in the buffet -- no charge

the outside grill (hot dogs, burgers, chicken burgers) -- no charge

pizzaria -- no charge

room service (limited menu unless you have a suite) -- no charge, but tip

 

dinner in the dining room (traditional for fixed, anytime rooms for flexible -- you sign up for one or the other at time of booking) -- no charge

dinner in the buffet (and later on bistro) -- no charge

specialty dining rooms -- a charge

the outside grill and pizzaria do close in the early evening, but until then -- no charge

room service (limited menu unless you have a suite) -- no charge, but tip

Ultimate Balcony Dinner -- charge

 

some of the specialty dining rooms may offer breakfast or lunch

 

there's also an indoor pizzaria on some ships and room service charges for pizza delivery

 

You will have information on all this in your cabin.[/quote']

Why include a tip for the room service but not for the other locations mentioned?

 

The room service staff are included in the pool of all the other waiting/serving staff.

[michigan tim]

Free? Nothing on a ship is 'free', you have paid for it! I prefer the words 'No additional charge!

 

Enjoy !

 

I too am going to weigh in with nothing is free. I prefer ot use the term, "included". :cool:

[Cruisin' Chick]

Why include a tip for the room service but not for the other locations mentioned?

 

The room service staff are included in the pool of all the other waiting/serving staff.

 

Actually the waitstaff for the buffet and the dining rooms are included in the autotip pool. You're often see some of the dining room waiters also working in the Horizon at breakfast and dinner (at least I have). But I haven't seen any mention here that the room service people do share in the tipping pool. So maybe if someone has the definitive answer, they can post.

 

This is from Princess's website and doesn't specify:

 

Question: What are the tipping guidelines for my cruise?

Answer: During your cruise, you will meet staff throughout the ship who provide you with excellent service. Many more crew support those who serve you directly. To save you the worry of who to tip and how much, Princess makes it easier for you to reward excellent service by automatically adding a discretionary Hotel and Dining charge of $11 USD for suites and mini-suites and $10.50 USD for all other staterooms per person per day (including children) to your shipboard account on a daily basis. This charge will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including the wait staff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff and others. Casino dealers and Lotus Spa personnel do not share in the Hotel and Dining charge as not all passengers utilize these services.

 

This is what the site says about room service:

 

http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/dining/room_service/index.html

 

(couldn't copy and paste)

[caribill]

But I haven't seen any mention here that the room service people do share in the tipping pool. So maybe if someone has the definitive answer' date=' they can post.

 

[/quote']

 

On two different Princess ships I asked this question at the Purser's desk. Both times I was told that room service personnel are included in the tipping pool.

[regnig]

On two different Princess ships I asked this question at the Purser's desk. Both times I was told that room service personnel are included in the tipping pool.

 

No one on board seems to appreciate the extra tip more than the room service guys & gals. We always write in a time that is not included on our door card and it always shows up almost to the minute. Since we normally tip extra in cash at the end of our cruise (we leave auto-tip in place) to others who have served us well (room steward, table servers etc) by handing the room service personel an extra dollar or two when they arrive just assures us they are covered too.

[pompeynanny]

On two different Princess ships I asked this question at the Purser's desk. Both times I was told that room service personnel are included in the tipping pool.

This is a link to a reply I received from Princess on this subjecy:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=19936353&highlight=#post19936353

 

 

They confirmed that Room Service staff ARE included in tipping pool.

[cruzinchris]

There was a $3 charge for cheese at Vines. Limited tapas/sushi selections are free.

Chris

[m steve]

if you have paid $1000s for a cruise?:cool:

[cruzmax]

The desserts and salads at International Cafe (Deck 5, I think) are free. I loved ordering the shrimp salad and greek salad, then putting them together.

Also, in the breakfast buffet, ask a waiter for juice - tomato, orange, several kinds available. I didn't realize this at first.

Anyone know why they don't have grapefruit/orange sections at breakfast buffet, but it is available from room service?

[Liberty6277]

Free? Nothing on a ship is 'free', you have paid for it! I prefer the words 'No additional charge!

 

Enjoy !

 

Either way you don't pay for it! Which on a cruise is few and far between as more and more things are costing you.