Dining and Drink Charges on Board

[4cordelia]

Hello Fellow Cruisers!

This will be our first cruise with Princess.  Previously cruised on Disney where all non-alcoholic drinks are bottomless and we had rotational dining is inclusive. 

Question:  Could someone explain how the dining and drinks work on Princess?  Is it true you have to pay for a glass of juice at breakfast???

 

Thank You!

Heidi 

 

[katisdale]

If you want fresh squeezed orange juice at breakfast there is a charge. I don't know what the charge is as I don't like orange juice, fresh squeezed or not. I have apple or cranberry juice and those are no charge. The buffet and main dining rooms (either traditional or anytime) are no charge as are the food selections at the international cafe. The coffee drinks at the cafe are extra. There are also specialty restaurants where there is an extra charge. Depending on the ship you can see the menu and decide if you want to attend. You can also pay for ultimate balcony dining (breakfast or dinner) or the chef's table and the winemaker's dinner (some not all ships).

Drinks that are free are water, juice at breakfast, lemonade and iced tea. If you want soda there is a charge as well as a charge for wine, mixed drinks, and beer.

Edited May 6, 2019 by katisdale

[beg3yrs]

Regular juice (not fresh squeezed) is included at breakfast only. After a certain cutoff time (11 AM I think), there's a charge.

 

Iced Tea and water are available free all day. Regular coffee (depending on the ship it will be from a syrup or brewed) is also free.

 

Sodas and alcoholic drinks are charged via your cruise card each time you order. Prepaid packages are available as well. It's up to you to decide what's a better deal for you.

 

Dining in the buffet and main dining rooms is included. Pizza on deck and at Alfredo's (if your ship has one) is also included. The grill on deck is included.

 

Specialty restaurants (steak house, Sabatini's - Italian, and others depending on the ship) are an extra up charge, typically around $29 per person.

Edited May 6, 2019 by beg3yrs

[happy cruzer]

You might consider the Soda and More package if you like sodas or mocktails.

[Thrak]

You can take as much soda aboard as you like. Princess has only Coke products so if you like Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, etc. you should take your own in your carry on luggage. I "think" OJ is available free from room service. The glass is small so order more than one if you want very much.

[skynight]

1 hour ago, 4cordelia said:

Hello Fellow Cruisers!

This will be our first cruise with Princess.  Previously cruised on Disney where all non-alcoholic drinks are bottomless and we had rotational dining is inclusive. 

Question:  Could someone explain how the dining and drinks work on Princess?  Is it true you have to pay for a glass of juice at breakfast???

 

Thank You!

Heidi 

 

The breakfast juice was answered. Lots a jucies to select from.

Drinks: Ice tea, lemonade, water, milk, chocolate milk, hot tea (Lipton, Twinnings, some Herbal), coffee prepared from a concentrate*, are available all day and evening in the buffet. The buffet is open 6am until 11pm, never closes during that time.

The MDR's have the same selections with the exception of the lemonade.

If you want soda you can bring it on board, or purchase it at any bar or from any waiter. Cost this past winter was $2.36/can, includes gratuity. You can also purchase the Soda & More Package. You can find details in the cruise personlizer. Espresso drinks have a charge, as do all alcoholic drinks. An 18% gratuity is added to the menu price of all beverages alcoholic or non-alcoholic. 

*Royal Class ships have free coffee in the buffet prepared from grounds as well as free hot chocolate.

 

Most ships have 3 DR's. The Island and Coral which sail in North America have 2 DR's. When you book you select either traditional fixed seating or anytime dining. With traditional you either select early seating or the late seating. You will be assigned a DR where you get the same waiter and table every evening. With anytime dining you show up at the anytime dining room basically anytime, ask for a table and be seated just like a restaurant. Most maitre'd's will allow reservations for ATD. You call the dining line in the morning for that evening. All MDR's have the same menu which change each evening. You can select your dining option in the cruise personlizer.

For a better description of dining options it would be good to know your ship and itinerary. 

 

[4cordelia]

Thank You for all the great responses!

 

 This is a new experience bringing your own soda on board.  

 

  We haven't booked ship/itinerary for British Isles as of yet because I'm waiting for Disney to announce their WBTA back to the States.  Would love a BI cruise that takes in Ireland, Scotland, and England. Then 10-12 days on Disney for the WBTA.   We've already been to Norway and Denmark so would prefer not to do those this time.  More time in London and Isle of Mann. 

 

Any recommendations on cruise lines?   

 

Edited May 6, 2019 by 4cordelia
left off information

[bemis12]

9 minutes ago, 4cordelia said:

Thank You for all the great responses!

 

 This is a new experience bringing your own soda on board.  

 

  We haven't booked ship/itinerary for British Isles as of yet because I'm waiting for Disney to announce their WBTA back to the States.  Would love a BI cruise that takes in Ireland, Scotland, and England. Then 10-12 days on Disney for the WBTA.   We've already been to Norway and Denmark so would prefer not to do those this time.  More time in London and Isle of Mann. 

 

Any recommendations on cruise lines?   

 

 

When you said "This will be our first cruise with Princess", I assumed you had booked with Princess.  Is that not correct?

[BCCRUSINGCOUPLE]

The lemonade is really good but I would say purchase the soda card also gives you Hot Choc and also very good 

[getting older slowly]

I think the OP is flying to the UK... hoping to do a cruise round the British Isles    with a cruise line may be Princess,,,, then board Disney for a TA home to the US

 

Dining can be different from Ship to Ship and if you are in a suite or Club Class

 

Cheers Don 

[4cordelia]

18 hours ago, bemis12 said:

 

When you said "This will be our first cruise with Princess", I assumed you had booked with Princess.  Is that not correct?

This will be our first cruise with Princess if we decide to book with them.  Sorry for the confusion.  We're still exploring cruise lines to see which one is the most enticing.  Appreciate everyone's comments and recommendations.  Please keep sharing. 

[JF - retired RRT]

19 hours ago, skynight said:

Most ships have 3 DR's. The Island and Coral which sail in North America have 2 DR's. When you book you select either traditional fixed seating or anytime dining. With traditional you either select early seating or the late seating. You will be assigned a DR where you get the same waiter and table every evening. With anytime dining you show up at the anytime dining room basically anytime, ask for a table and be seated just like a restaurant.

Another exception is the Pacific Princess. She has ONE MDR and no anytime dining. Buffet, traditional early or late are the choices available. Also the 2 specialty restaurants (Sabatini's and the steak house) alternate the nights that they're open.

[Kartgv]

Another free dining venue is the International Café - in our opinion, one of the best things about Princess.   Open 24 hours a day - pastries at breakfast, plus sandwiches, salads, desserts, etc. - very tasty options.