Dining Package, buy in advance or on board?

[tedsto]

When is the best time to buy the packages? I usually buy dining in advance so I don't have to deal with it once on board. My concerns are that the package price will increase as our sailing date approaches. I do recall that there was a lot of promoting the packages on board during our last years cruise.

[Biker19]

26 minutes ago, tedsto said:

When is the best time to buy the packages? 

When you see the value in it - unlikely you'll get better price on board. You can cancel and re buy if the price drops.

[Clarea]

32 minutes ago, tedsto said:

When is the best time to buy the packages? I usually buy dining in advance so I don't have to deal with it once on board. My concerns are that the package price will increase as our sailing date approaches. I do recall that there was a lot of promoting the packages on board during our last years cruise.

 

Also, there is no guarantee that any dining package will be offered on board.

[LBumb]

Definitely before

get costs out of the way

[critterchick]

If you purchase the package in advance, you don't pay the additional 18% gratuity that they are now charging for specialty restaurants. So I would buy it now. Odds are decent that you can get a discount on additional nights if the specialties are slow.

[Readytogo]

39 minutes ago, critterchick said:

If you purchase the package in advance, you don't pay the additional 18% gratuity that they are now charging for specialty restaurants. So I would buy it now. Odds are decent that you can get a discount on additional nights if the specialties are slow.

 

This, 100%.