Is the dining package worth it?

[ggo85]

You can’t completely base cost on what folks on other ships pay - each ship and itinerary has its own price and it’s own sales.  But you can get a sense of how low RCCL is willing to go, though that may never happen for your cruise.  

[E&D2004]

FWIW, the UDP is $239 for an 11 night cruise right now.  I think that's "worth it"

[Sianli]

If you like to try the specialties I think it is worth it on Navigator. Hooked, Chops, Jaimies, Izumi, Johnny Rockets, and Playmakers all included. On sea day and embarkation days Hooked, Jamies, and Chops will be open for lunch. On port days Johnny Rockets and Playmakers serve lunch. So that is 8 meals.That being said, the MDR is also good, Windjammer buffet is fine, and free El Loco Fresh is also very good. Promenade has pizza and nice small offerings. Room service is reasonably priced. 

[mpwarder]

I took Royal for the first time last year.  We booked the steakhouse and this time I will not be booking any specialties.  I thought the main dining room meals were very good and so not worth the charge for the specialties.  Most of our cruises have been with Carnival where I felt the steakhouse was worth the difference.

[E&D2004]

Is Johnny Rockets on the UDP?  Do they have gluten free options (GF Buns, dedicated fryer)?

[Sianli]

1 minute ago, E&D2004 said:

Is Johnny Rockets on the UDP?  Do they have gluten free options (GF Buns, dedicated fryer)?

Yes they are included. I am not sure if they have gf. 

[hlfrps]

We had the unlimited dinning with coastal kitchen when we won our royal up to grand loft on the odyssey last September, 8 day cruise. We thoroughly enjoyed it particularly lunch options on sea days. Do have to say that on the 2nd leg, 6 day cruise, we did not have the dinning package and actually looked forward to and enjoyed our main dining room turkey dinner.  With that said, we purchased the dining package on our upcoming 8 day, 3 port allure cruise and no package on second leg 6 Day cruise.   Enjoy the experience 

[George C]

On 9/9/2022 at 11:04 PM, E&D2004 said:

FWIW, the UDP is $239 for an 11 night cruise right now.  I think that's "worth it"

That’s a excellent price 

[CanHardlyWait4NextYear]

On 9/9/2022 at 8:40 AM, bruzin_for_a_cruizin said:

We are just back from a 7-night cruise on Symphony. It was our first cruise with the UDP, and it was completely "worth it." I was able to secure the package for four of us during the Black Friday sale at 55% off; I wouldn't have paid full price for it. 

 

While I never really complained about the food in the MDR, it was always just "fine." Never really hot, but understandable when the galley is serving thousands of plated dishes during a service. The specialty restaurants each have their own galley, meaning food is prepared to order, and as such is hot and fresh. 

 

We particularly enjoyed the experience at Wonderland, which is something we would never have tried otherwise. Jamie's Italian was also quite good, and we ate there twice. I also used the UDP for wings, onion rings, fries and massive sundaes at Playmakers. The biggest disappointment was actually Chops, where my rib steak was clearly not of any quality grade.  

 

I'll definitely be buying the package for future cruises, and watching closely for the 55% off sale.

Knowing what the 7 night UDP is currently averaging per ship, I'm curious what did it cost per person at 55% off? Hoping for good black friday deals myself this year.

[Ourusualbeach]

3 hours ago, CanHardlyWait4NextYear said:

Knowing what the 7 night UDP is currently averaging per ship, I'm curious what did it cost per person at 55% off? Hoping for good black friday deals myself this year.

Roughly the same, maybe $20-$30 less.  The advertised % off is rarely off the cost of the package but off the cost of what it would be purchasing individual restaurants

[CanHardlyWait4NextYear]

53 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Roughly the same, maybe $20-$30 less.  The advertised % off is rarely off the cost of the package but off the cost of what it would be purchasing individual restaurants

But I'm curious as to what that individual I quoted paid per person. Hopefully, they will respond with the specifics. 

[PolicromaSol]

On 9/9/2022 at 1:31 PM, Merion_Mom said:

 

There are laws that prevent those.  (it involves the visas that would be required for the crew)

Honestly I find myself wondering if this is one of the reasons why cruise companies have private islands...

 

They can offer some cruises that only really go to the private island and back, and people are mainly just enjoying the ship itself.

 

Anyway...

 

To the original posters' question, I personally don't feel it's worth it for most people. I get it if people have just been on so many cruises that they have the MDR and buffets memorized. But other than that, you've already paid for food with your cruise.

 

Personally I feel like you spend less if you stick to the MDR and buffets, but occasionally visit the specialty restaurants for lunch. And don't forget some shore excursions include lunch as well.

Edited September 12, 2022 by PolicromaSol

[2chiefs]

On 9/9/2022 at 12:06 PM, smokeybandit said:

Lots of people don't think it's worth it.

 

But plenty of people do.  

 

 

 

 

This is the most correct answer to almost all questions asked on cruise critic! 🙂 

[bruzin_for_a_cruizin]

1 hour ago, CanHardlyWait4NextYear said:

But I'm curious as to what that individual I quoted paid per person. Hopefully, they will respond with the specifics. 

I got you!

 

Total paid (incl. grat) was USD$788.16 for 4 people, or 197.04 per person for 7 nights. That's $28 per day and I never even had to set foot in the Windjammer.

 

As someone upthread said, calculate the cost of the UDP into your total cruise budget, and if it all rolls up into a number you can live with, sail with the UDP. I keep a spreadsheet for all my cruises to track costs and show me the end-cost per-person/per-day. This past cruise on Symphony, even with the UDP and drinks for 3 of 4 of us (youngest child is only 20) was my best priced cruise ever. 

Edited September 12, 2022 by bruzin_for_a_cruizin

[rudeney]

10 minutes ago, bruzin_for_a_cruizin said:

I keep a spreadsheet for all my cruises to track costs and show me the end-cost per-person/per-day. This past cruise on Symphony, even with the UDP and drinks for 3 of 4 of us (youngest child is only 20) was my best priced cruise ever. 

 

I do that, too.  My per-person/per-day cost is ridiculous for this next one.  It's the most we've ever paid for a cruise, and it's just my wife and me..  Even more than when we took the kid for her 21st birthday, or when she was 11 and we took or on DCL.  Oh well, it's only money.   If we leave it to the kids, they'll waste it on frivolous things, so I might as well do that for myself.

[CanHardlyWait4NextYear]

26 minutes ago, bruzin_for_a_cruizin said:

I got you!

 

Total paid (incl. grat) was USD$788.16 for 4 people, or 197.04 per person for 7 nights. That's $28 per day and I never even had to set foot in the Windjammer.

 

As someone upthread said, calculate the cost of the UDP into your total cruise budget, and if it all rolls up into a number you can live with, sail with the UDP. I keep a spreadsheet for all my cruises to track costs and show me the end-cost per-person/per-day. This past cruise on Symphony, even with the UDP and drinks for 3 of 4 of us (youngest child is only 20) was my best priced cruise ever. 

First....Thank you very much!!!!

Second....Wow!!!! I'm so hoping for some good black friday deals. I know they are sailing full again so they might not be as motivated to give good deals, but I can still hope.

 

Again, really thank you for all the details. It helps paint a fuller picture.

[taglovestocruise]

10 hours ago, CanHardlyWait4NextYear said:

First....Thank you very much!!!!

Second....Wow!!!! I'm so hoping for some good black friday deals. I know they are sailing full again so they might not be as motivated to give good deals, but I can still hope.

 

Again, really thank you for all the details. It helps paint a fuller picture.

We are on Quantum OCT 3rd, 10 nights and six sea days. UDP is $211.00, that's $13.00 per meal which is about as low as I have ever seen it. 

[nferr]

 I paid about $230 for the UDP on my 11 night Anthem cruise in February which I think is a very good price for 11 nights and 6 sea day lunches plus embarkation lunch. And that included gratuities.  BUT I wouldn't do it again on that ship. I don't like sushi so it basically came down to Chops, Jamies, or Wonderland for every single meal. Only Chops and Jamies are open for sea day lunch. Just not enough restaurant variety on the Quantum class ships, and would think it's not any better on Freedom or Voyager class. I would definitely consider it again on the newer, larger ships that have way more specialty restaurant choices. 

[jcc1025]

On 9/8/2022 at 5:30 PM, Cruisingrampy said:

Im on a 4 day cruise coming up on the navigator have a specialty lunch and dinner booked just wondering if the specialty package is worth it or if the included places are good enough? Its about $340 for the package for the 2 of us

We were on the three day Navigator in August and are going back again in October. We have the dinning package and think it is worth the money if you are looking for a nice dinning experience each night and the food was very good. In addition, and they don't say this but some other locations like Playmaters lunch are also part of the package which is a fun place with some good food and service.  I am a Windjammer fan but on a cruise we like to have a special dinner experiece that these three offer and a couple of them are newer RCCL spots. We have also done Chiefs' Table a few times and in you just want to do one special meal would recommend it. Its a wine paring menue and many aimed at the more foodie fans but it is a great experience. Have a great cruise, it is a fun ship. 

[cruiselvr04]

It depends on price and ship.  Oasis class yes.  Quantum class maybe.  3 restaurants on a ship for 9 nights, probably not unless it’s really cheap.  For us that’s too much repetition.

 

Almost never if it’s above $30 pp per day.  

Edited September 14, 2022 by cruiselvr04

[mil76]

Three cruises this year on Navigator and we did UDP for all of them.  Regardless of the length of the cruise it was always about $30pp/day.  With the Diamond+ vouchers I don't need a drink package so this ends up being the only onboard spending we do other than the casino.  It's the "other" restaurants that make it worth it.  We had lunch almost every day at Playmakers, and rotated through Chops, Jamie's, Izumi and Hooked for Dinner.  

 

Then we went on Ovation last month and after we bought the UDP I asked for a menu in the pub and they informed us that anything outside of Jamie's, Chops, Izumi and Wonderland was not included in UDP.  They said on that class of ship UDP is not really UDP.  Ended up going to Jamie's for a burger for lunch almost every day.  They need to rename it Unlimited Specialties Package on those ships.

[aubreyc1988]

Hated the specialty dining package on Liberty. Thought the MDR was better, was shocked.

[bucfan2]

Purely subjective, and hope you get opinions that help you determine what's best for you.

 

Bottom line:  The price will fluctuate as necessary for the cruise line bean counters to know it's 'worth it'.

Edited September 14, 2022 by bucfan2

[Mum2Mercury]

On 9/8/2022 at 10:11 PM, BirdTravels said:

Nope. It is Royal’s ploy to get you to pay for something you already paid for in your cruise fare. 

Agree.  It's also something to satisfy the people who have an emotional need to "have the best".  

 

As I see it, the meals you'd get in the specialty restaurants might be a little step-up on vacation, but spending that same money at home to eat out on a night when you just don't want to cook is a big step-up.  

[Cruisingrampy]

So another question with the udp i see some saying playmakers is included but on the site it says al a carte is a 35 dollar credit. Just looking for.some clarification