royal caribbean alaska cruise indian food

Which Cruise Lines have Indian Food?

Cruise lines often offer a wide variety of foods from around the world, but many are still left wondering which cruise lines have Indian food available. Indian food is a commonly requested food among cruisers and these requests have been implemented by many cruise lines. You can most likely find some type of Indian food on your next cruise, not matter what cruise line you go on! Keep reading to find out which cruise lines have Indian food and where to find Indian food on each cruise line!

Does Carnival Cruises Have Indian Food?

Fans of Indian food will be happy to hear that Carnival Cruise offers a large selection of different Indian foods. You can find Indian food options in the Main Dining Room every night. If you don’t see the Indian food options on the menu in the Main Dining Room, just ask your server! There is always Indian food available, even if it is not visibly apparent on your menu.

Some Carnival Cruise Line ships offer a specialty restaurant dedicated entirely to Indian food called Masala Tiger. Enjoy authentic Indian food cooked in traditional clay ovens at 1000 degrees Fahrenheit at Masala Tiger! Try out Indian food like Tandoori Chicken or Fish, Beef Kebabs, or Naan with Sweet Chutney!

Want to Feed your Culinary Curiosity for your next Cruise? Click Here!

Does Royal Caribbean Have Indian Food?

You can always find Indian food on your next Royal Caribbean cruise, no matter which cruise ship you are on! Find Indian food on Royal Caribbean ships in the Main Dining Room daily as well as the Windjammer Cafe. The Windjammer Cafe is the name of the buffet on Royal Caribbean, meaning you can have all the Indian food you want from the buffet. Royal Caribbean may offer some of the best Indian food mentioned on this list, but we’ll leave it up to you to make that decision for yourself!

It is worth noting that most of the Indian food on Royal Caribbean is vegetarian, which can be both a pro and a con. If you like vegetarian food, then you have larger selection! If you like Indian food, you are limited to mostly vegetarian Indian dishes. That being said, Royal Caribbean has been implementing many more meat based Indian dishes, so don’t feel like there are only vegetarian Indian dishes!

Does Norwegian Cruises Have Indian Food?

If you’re looking for Indian food on your next Norwegian Cruise, you are in luck! You can often find a wide variety of different types of Indian food on the buffet on Norwegian Cruises. In fact, there is usually an entire section of the buffets on Norwegian Cruises dedicated entirely to Indian food! From curry to chutney, there is sure to be some Indian food on the buffet on Norwegian Cruises for you to try out. The large variety of Indian food available on Norwegian Cruises is second to naan! Bad puns aside, we highly recommend trying out the Indian food available on the buffet on your next Norwegian Cruise.

Additionally, Indian food is also available in the Main Dining Room. Occasionally you can find Indian food offered as one of the specialties on the main menu in the Main Dining Room!

Does Disney Cruises Have Indian Food?

If you’re craving curry while cruising with Captain Mickey, don’t fret as you can find Indian food on your next Disney cruise! Like with the other cruise lines mentioned on this list, you can request Indian food in the Main Dining Rooms on Disney Cruises. Also similar to other cruise lines featured on this list, you have to ask your server to see the what Indian food is available as it is not usually printed directly on the regular menu. I had the chicken curry on my most previous Disney cruise and I strongly recommend giving it a try if you are a fan of curry!

Click Here to Learn More about Food Available on your Cruise!

Does Princess Cruises Have Indian Food?

Indian food enthusiasts will be pleased to discover that you will find no shortage of Indian food on your next Princess cruise. You can find a wide variety of different Indian foods available in the buffet on your next Princess Cruise. Like with Royal Caribbean, the Indian food on Princess Cruises is often vegetarian but there are often still meat-based Indian dishes available. You may be able to request Indian food in the Main Dining Room on your next Princess Cruise but you will have to ask the cruise ship staff ahead of time.

Does Celebrity Cruises have Indian Food?

Fitting with the pattern shown by other cruise lines on this list, Celebrity Cruises do have Indian food in specific locations. As you might have guessed, the first location with Indian food available is the Main Dining Room. You may have to ask your server to see your options for Indian food in the Main Dining Room. The second location you can find Indian food may be getting predictable as well, you can also usually find Indian food on the buffet on your next Celebrity Cruise.

Indian food has grown in popularity to become a common staple on the majority of cruise lines. No matter what cruise line you choose for your next vacation, the odds are in your favor that there will be some form of Indian food available for you to enjoy! As a general rule of thumb, you can commonly find Indian food on most cruise lines in either the Main Dining Room or the Buffet, and often in both places! While Indian food on cruise buffets is typically widely available, you may have to ask your server for the Indian food menu while you are in the Main Dining Room on a cruise. Let us know which cruise line you think has the best Indian food!

Click here to learn about other foods available on your cruise!

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Monday, July 13, 2015

Dining on the high seas: our royal caribbean alaska cruise food and drinks.

4 comments:

I'd need six of those scallops!!! And the view :-)

Those scallops were pretty good, although I'd say the scenery was definitely a lot more interesting than the food.

When I was researching cruises to take the kids on it was mentioned in a few different articles that Indian and SW Asian food is common in the lunch buffet due to a large number of the cook staff are from that part of the world.

That's probably why it was pretty good too. The staff on the ship was very international, but the food servers in particular were mostly Indian. Interesting.

Royal Caribbean food: The ultimate cruise guide to restaurants and dining on board

Cruise food and cruise fun go hand-in-hand. Gone are the days when your only food choices were a main dining room and a buffet venue. Royal Caribbean ships are loaded with options — some that are included in your cruise fare and some that cost extra. From the largest ship in the fleet to the smallest, the choices are mind-blowing — especially for new-to-Royal cruisers.

But even if you've sailed with Royal Caribbean in the past, you need a food guide to keep up with what's available on which ship. Sometimes, you want to repeat a dining experience you had on a previous cruise. Other times, you'd prefer to try a new eatery. Knowing which food choices a ship has might impact which ship you pick.

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Good examples are the Italian restaurants across the fleet. Do you know the difference between Giovanni's Table and Giovanni's Kitchen? How do the Jamie's Italian restaurants stack up to either of the Giovanni's? And do you know which ship is the only one in the fleet without an Italian restaurant? (Answer: Enchantment of the Seas.) I don't know about you, but I've gotta get my pasta fix when I cruise.

Then there are Royal Caribbean's food secrets. Okay, maybe they aren't actual secrets, but there are things to eat on board that aren't highly publicized. You need to be in the know to seek them out.

Let's start with a list of all the places you can snag a bite, and which ships they are found on. After that, I'll run through some of the most frequently asked questions about Royal Caribbean food.

150 Central Park

Fixed price; dinner

150 Central Park serves six-course dinners featuring meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes accompanied by produce that is "locally sourced" and harvested at peak flavor. Menu examples include beef tenderloin, halibut, venison and cauliflower steak. The location in the Central Park neighborhood , surrounded by live plants, adds an ambience not found on most cruise ships.

Available on: Allure , Harmony, Oasis, Symphony, Utopia, Wonder of the Seas

Aquadome Market

Included; all-day dining

Icon of the Seas introduces a five-station food hall serving five types of mac and cheese, Asian and Mediterranean bowls, salads and sandwiches and custom crepes. It's located adjacent to the AquaDome, and its long hours means you can grab a bite before or after an acrobatic AquaTheater show.

Available on: Icon of the Seas

Included and a la carte options; all-day dining

Basecamp is a fast-casual snackery within the Thrill Island neighborhood. Things like hot dogs and warm pretzels are complimentary, while comfort food options like burgers, cheese curds and chicken waffle bites cost extra. Covered outdoor seating is available.

Boardwalk Donuts

Included; snacks

Freshly topped and decorated doughnuts line the glass cases at this one-of-a-kind restaurant. It makes a fun spot to snag an early morning pre-breakfast bite.

Available on: Allure of the Seas

Cafe @Two70

Just outside the entrance to the Two70 entertainment space, this eatery often goes unnoticed by many cruisers. It's an ideal spot to grab a sandwich or a bowl of the day's soup. Breakfast goodies include pastries and even burritos — perfect before you dash out on your day's adventures.

Available on: Anthem, Odyssey , Ovation, Quantum, Spectrum of the Seas

Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruise ships and itineraries

Cafe Latte-tudes

Included and a la carte; snacks

This is the in-house specialty coffee hot spot on the line's smaller ships. Coffee drinks cost extra but are included in beverage packages; cookies, bite-sized pastries and even sandwiches are complimentary. Some ships also have a nearby ice cream parlor with scoops and cones available for purchase.

Available on: Brilliance, Enchantment, Grandeur , Jewel, Radiance, Rhapsody, Serenade, Vision of the Seas

Cafe Promenade

Similar to Cafe Latte-tudes, Cafe Promenade is exactly what it sounds like — a coffee counter with grab-and-go snacks. Specialty coffees and teas cost extra, and most snacks are complimentary, though a few fancier options are extra-fee. Some ships also have a drink station nearby serving the usual array of complimentary hot and cold beverages like tea, lemonade and drip coffee.

Available on: Adventure, Allure, Anthem, Explorer, Freedom, Harmony, Independence , Liberty, Mariner, Navigator, Oasis, Odyssey, Ovation, Quantum, Symphony, Utopia, Voyager, Wonder of the Seas

Celebration Table

Want to host your own dinner party onboard? Reserve this private dining room for 12 and enjoy a catered meal featuring a fixed-price menu of American, Italian, Asian or seafood dishes. It's located inside Hooked Seafood in the AquaDome neighborhood.

Chef's Table

Most ships in the fleet offer a Chef's Table experience on select nights of select sailings. Reservations are required for a private gourmet dinner with wine pairing hosted by a chef and sommelier for a small group. It is a night and a meal you will remember.

Available on: Adventure, Allure, Anthem, Brilliance, Enchantment, Explorer, Freedom, Grandeur, Harmony, Independence, Jewel, Liberty, Mariner, Navigator, Oasis, Odyssey, Ovation, Quantum, Radiance, Rhapsody, Serenade, Spectrum, Utopia, Vision, Voyager, Wonder of the Seas

Chops Grille

Fixed price; dinner plus lunch on sea days

Royal Caribbean's specialty steakhouse is available fleetwide. The Chops Grille menu leans heavily toward prime beef cuts, but also includes chicken, lamb and seafood. The atmosphere is warm and relaxed, and the food delicious. Sides are served family style, and you'll want to try several.

Available on: Adventure, Allure, Anthem, Brilliance, Enchantment, Explorer, Freedom, Grandeur, Harmony, Icon, Independence, Jewel, Liberty, Mariner, Navigator, Oasis, Odyssey, Ovation, Quantum, Radiance, Rhapsody, Serenade, Spectrum, Symphony, Utopia, Vision, Voyager, Wonder of the Seas

Coastal Kitchen

Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner

Coastal Kitchen is a restaurant exclusive to suite guests and upper-tier members of Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor loyalty program . Though it's styled like a main dining room, serving three meals a day with menus that change daily, the experience is on par with specialty dining, both in service and food quality. It's an ideal alternative to the main dining room for those who are eligible to dine here.

Star and Sky Class suite guests can dine in Coastal Kitchen for breakfast, lunch and dinner; Sea Class suite guests can come for dinner if space is available. Pinnacle-level loyalty members can also eat here at any mealtime, space permitting.

Available on: Allure, Anthem, Harmony, Icon, Oasis, Odyssey, Ovation, Quantum, Symphony, Utopia, Wonder of the Seas

Cupcake Cupboard

A la carte; hours vary

The name of this sweet treat eatery tells you almost everything you need to know. Stop by for extra-fee cupcakes when you're craving sugar. Alternatively, look for decorating classes to join and cupcake kits to purchase, so you have everything you need to return home and bake your own goodies.

Available on: Freedom and Liberty of the Seas

Desserted Milkshake Bar

A la carte; snacks

Here's an idea that's long overdue on a cruise ship – custom milkshakes overflowing with sweet treats like brownies, cookies and popcorn. Adults can upgrade to boozy versions.

Dining Room

Included; breakfast, lunch (sea days) and dinner

The main dining rooms can get a little confusing on a fleet as varied as Royal Caribbean's. Most ships have one large, multideck dining space that serves complimentary meals, but the venue's name varies by ship. Quantum Class ships have four separate dining rooms, each with a different name.

On all ships, one deck or area is reserved for guests with assigned early and late dining times, with the remaining area set aside for those participating in the flexible My Time Dining plan. All guests order from the same menus, which are standard for breakfast daily and change each day for lunch (when it's open) and dinner.

Available on: All ships

Related: Royal Caribbean cruise ship classes, explained

Included; hours may vary

If gourmet hot dogs topped the way you want them is your idea of the perfect lunch or snack, pop in at the Dog House. There are too many choices to try them all on a single cruise.

Available on: Allure, Anthem, Harmony, Mariner, Oasis, Ovation, Quantum, Radiance, Spectrum, Symphony, Utopia, Wonder of the Seas

El Loco Fresh

From breakfast burritos to heaps of nachos and cheesy quesadillas, this Mexican-themed eatery is a quick and filling spot to grab a bite during the day. Pool wear is allowed since this is basically an outdoor restaurant. On four ships, it's located near the pool. The five Oasis Class ships with an El Loco Fresh have it closer to the sports court than the pool, but on all ships, eating here can save you from having to get dressed to go inside for food at the Windjammer.

Available on: Allure (Wipe Out Cafe), Freedom, Icon, Navigator, Oasis, Odyssey, Symphony, Utopia, Wonder of the Seas

Empire Supper Club

When Royal Caribbean says "dinner and a show," the line really means it. This intimate, multicourse dinner features live jazz performances and drink pairings. The experience is one of a kind, but the cover charge for dinner is one of the highest at sea.

English Pub

When I mentioned "secret food," the English pubs were what I had in mind. The pubs on each ship have different names, but the atmosphere is always warm and welcoming. Not every pub serves snacks, but definitely ask if you don't see a food menu. What you find to munch on might turn out to be one of the highlights of your cruise. Smoked cheddar ale soup and deep-fried apple pie with Nutella are top of mind for me.

Available on: Adventure, Allure, Anthem, Brilliance, Explorer, Freedom, Harmony, Icon, Independence, Liberty, Mariner, Navigator, Oasis, Odyssey, Ovation, Quantum, Radiance, Serenade, Star, Symphony, Utopia, Voyager, Wonder of the Seas

Fish & Ships

Included and a la carte; lunch

Grab a basket of deep-fried deliciousness (fish, shrimp and chicken) near the pool for a quick lunch or a snack between afternoon activities. Only the lobster tails cost extra.

Available on: Independence and Ovation of the Seas

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen

Fixed price; lunch (select days) and dinner

From a prime cut filet mignon to pizza, Royal Caribbean's second generation of its classic Italian food restaurant serves up an excellent meal. The service is always gracious and the portions generous.

Available on: Freedom, Icon, Odyssey, Utopia, Wonder of the Seas

Giovanni's Table

Royal Caribbean's original Italian restaurants feature a traditional mix of pastas and meat or seafood entrees. The differences between the two Giovanni's are subtle. Lasagna and pizza are available at the Kitchen, but not at the Table. The best eggplant parm I've ever had is only available at Giovanni's Table, as is a gigantic platter of osso buco.

Available on: Adventure, Allure, Brilliance, Explorer, Grandeur, Independence, Jewel, Liberty, Oasis, Radiance, Rhapsody, Serenade, Vision, Voyager of the Seas

Related: 35 Royal Caribbean cruise tips and tricks that will make your voyage better

Hooked Seafood

From chowder to mussels to whole Maine lobster, Hooked is where you get your seafood fix on select ships. Personally, I'd go for the lobster mac and cheese, but you do you.

Available on: Icon, Navigator, Symphony, Utopia, Wonder of the Seas

Royal Railway — Utopia Station

We'll know more once Utopia of the Seas launches, but this new restaurant sounds more like a Disney ride, taking you on a culinary journey as if you were inside a luxury railcar — while you're sailing at sea. Windows will display scenes from various destinations, and the menu items will be inspired by those regions of the world.

Available on: Utopia of the Seas

A la carte; lunch and dinner

Across the fleet, Izumi manages to take on several different looks. On Quantum Class ships, it's got a sidewalk sushi bar feel. On other ships, it's a quiet enclave tucked away on the top deck. Wherever you find it, it's the place to be for sushi and Japanese-American fusion eats.

Available on: Adventure, Anthem, Brilliance, Explorer, Grandeur, Jewel, Navigator, Odyssey, Ovation, Quantum, Radiance, Rhapsody, Serenade, Spectrum, Vision, Voyager

Izumi Hibachi & Sushi

A la carte and fixed price; lunch and dinner

On select ships, Izumi also includes a fixed-price teppanyaki option with your choice of beef, chicken, shrimp or a combination of proteins as your entree. Sit around the cooking surface and watch the show from your entertaining chef. Alternatively, you can order sushi along with a selection of hot Japanese dishes a la carte.

Available on: Allure, Freedom, Harmony, Icon, Independence, Mariner, Oasis, Symphony, Utopia, Wonder of the Seas

Izumi in the Park

A la carte; all-day dining

Icon and Utopia of the Seas have more takeaway food options than any other Royal Caribbean ships, including a to-go window passing out sushi at a la carte prices. You'll find the venue in Central Park, next to the main Izumi restaurant.

Available on: Icon and Utopia of the Seas

Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver

Royal Caribbean's third Italian option features a Tuscan-inspired, celebrity-chef-curated menu that is a bit more modern than either version of the Giovanni's restaurants found on other ships. You can still find a luscious lasagna, but the menu holds surprises like crispy squid and pan-roasted salmon.

Available on: Anthem, Harmony, Mariner, Navigator, Ovation, Quantum, Spectrum, Symphony of the Seas

Johnny Rockets

Fixed price; all-day dining

Johnny Rockets is the original specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean ships. Its juicy burgers, fries and shakes have become a beloved part of Royal Caribbean food culture. It's a well-kept secret that the apple pie is hands down the best on board any ship afloat. You'll pay a flat fee per person to dine there, but beverages, such as the venue's famous shakes, cost extra (unless they're included in your drinks package).

On Oasis Class ships, you can enjoy a complimentary breakfast of eggs, omelets, breakfast sandwiches and pancakes at Johnny Rockets.

Available on: Adventure, Allure, Anthem, Explorer, Freedom, Harmony, Independence, Liberty, Mariner, Navigator (Express), Oasis, Symphony, Utopia, Wonder of the Seas

La Patisserie

Looking to put a French twist on your vacation, regardless of your cruise destination? Here's your chance to indulge in French pastries (for purchase) paired with luscious coffees or tea. Think macarons and artisan chocolates that are a step above the complimentary snacks at Cafe Promenade. Order cake or cheesecake by the slice or pick up a whole cake to share with the gang. The best secret here is that you can order your coffee or hot cocoa with a shot of chocolate liqueur.

Available on: Anthem, Ovation, Quantum, Spectrum of the Seas

If you're looking for a poolside snack, you'll find right-sized bites in the form of sliders, pizza, taquitos and sweet treats at Mini Bites.

Available on: Harmony of the Seas

Included; Breakfast and lunch

The Park Cafe is home to the Royal Kummelweck Roast Beef Sandwich, which has garnered serious social media buzz. I hear about people who rush to Park Cafe on embarkation day to start indulging in their Kummelweck binging. Look for other deli treats, paninis and hot pizza in most Park Cafe locations along with fresh fruit, salads and desserts. At breakfast, you'll find grab-and-go options and a bagel bar.

The Park Cafe is found in Central Park on Oasis and Icon Class ships and near the solarium on smaller ships. On those vessels, the venue's location allows you to spend long luxurious hours poolside with plenty of snacks nearby.

Available on: Allure, Brilliance, Enchantment, Grandeur, Harmony, Icon, Oasis, Radiance, Rhapsody, Serenade, Symphony, Vision, Wonder of the Seas

Icon of the Seas' new take on the Royal Promenade coffee-and-snack shop is a winner. Comfy seating with stunning ocean views makes it an ideal spot to hang with friends as you munch your way through a sandwich or tartlet. Specialty coffee and teas are available for a charge. The Pearl Cafe is open around the clock, so you can grab a snack at any hour.

A la carte; breakfast, lunch and dinner

The concept here starts with California beach food like fish tacos or shrimp tostadas, then adds the coolest three words to ever be combined in the English language: "All Day Brunch." When you wake up at noon craving breakfast food, head to the Surfside neighborhood for favorites such as pancake platters and smoked salmon eggs Benedict. As befitting a family-friendly specialty restaurant, kids under 12 dine free.

Playmakers Sports Bar

A la carte; lunch, dinner and late night

It's crazy that the Playmakers menu is still somewhat of an unknown for many Royal Caribbean cruisers. Perhaps those who know work hard not to spread the word. Expect gourmet burgers, wings and, yes, truffle fries. Or pop in after a night of clubbing for a sweet treat like a sundae or the infamous Campfire Cookie topped with melted marshmallows and Nutella.

Available on: Freedom, Icon, Independence, Mariner, Navigator, Oasis, Odyssey, Symphony, Utopia, Wonder of the Seas

Related: The best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for every type of traveler

Portside BBQ

Whether you go for a platter of ribs or a sandwich dripping with sauce, expect an abundance of flavors from the Deep South. And don't skimp on dessert – you really can't eat barbecue without finishing it with nanna pudding, y'all.

Available on: Oasis of the Seas

Fixed price; lunch and dinner

Billed as "modern Mexican" cuisine, Sabor offers up guacamole, empanadas and a variety of tacos, quesadillas and sides. Save room for flan or churros for dessert.

Available on: Allure, Harmony, Liberty of the Seas

Samba Grill

Samba Grill is similar to the Brazilian steakhouses you've visited on land. You choose starters from an appetizer station, followed by your choice of meats (including chicken) carved tableside. The chocolate layer cake makes a delightful finish to your meal — if you still have room left after all that meat.

Available on: Allure and Radiance of the Seas

Solarium Bistro

Included, with a la carte extras; breakfast, lunch and dinner

Tucked away inside the Solarium, the Bistro is a multipurpose food space. Complimentary breakfast and lunch minibuffets are served here, making the venue a quieter option for those meals. No reservations are required.

Dinner, on the other hand, though still complimentary, is by reservation only and is a combination of buffet and table-served dishes, with a menu focused on healthy Mediterranean options. As in the main dining room, a handful of optional charged items are on the menu (upgraded steaks and lobster). Children are allowed to eat in the Bistro, even though the Solarium has a minimum age of 16.

Do not be surprised to discover that the space is not always available during your cruise. Apparently, its location means it has its own kitchen, making it ideal for private functions where food sourcing is important. I've heard of its being used exclusively on some cruises by gluten-free and kosher groups.

Available on: Allure, Anthem, Harmony, Oasis, Odyssey, Ovation, Quantum, Symphony, Utopia, Wonder of the Seas

Sorrento's Pizza

Whether you're looking to grab a slice or a pie, Sorrento's Pizza is your pizza go-to spot on more than half the fleet. You can order a custom pie or choose from what's on hand. Seating specific to Sorrento's is fairly limited on some ships, but shared dining space is usually somewhere nearby. It's not open 24/7 but doesn't shut down until well after midnight.

Available on: Allure, Anthem, Freedom, Harmony, Icon, Independence, Liberty, Oasis, Odyssey, Ovation, Quantum, Spectrum, Symphony, Utopia, Wonder of the Seas

If you're screaming for ice cream, Sprinkles is Royal Caribbean's go-to for soft-serve ice cream in multiple flavors.

Available: Fleetwide

Freestanding Starbucks locations serve the same drinks and snacks you can find in land-based outlets. You can use your Starbucks gift cards (if you bring them onboard) and your Starbucks app to order and pay at these locations. You'll earn Starbucks stars for purchases but cannot redeem them.

Other Royal Caribbean cafes might serve Starbucks-branded beverages, but they are operated by Royal Caribbean. In those locations, you can only pay for drinks with your Sea Pass card (including via either the Refreshment or Deluxe Beverage Package) or a coffee card purchased onboard.

Stand-alone Starbucks locations available on: Allure, Harmony, Icon, Mariner, Navigator, Oasis, Odyssey, Symphony, Utopia of the Seas

Sugar Beach

You can purchase colorful candies, fudge and cupcakes at Sugar Beach.

Available on: Allure (Candy Beach), Icon, Independence, Oasis, Symphony, Utopia, Wonder of the Seas

Surfside Bites

Surfside Bites is the place to grab kid-favorite finger food on the fly. Think popcorn chicken, hot dogs and churros.

Surfside Eatery

Surfside is Royal Caribbean's new family-friendly, stay-all-day onboard destination with multiple pools and attractions. Surfside Eatery provides a place for families to sit down to a meal without leaving the neighborhood. The buffet serves three meals daily with dishes for both kid and grownup palates.

Though both Odyssey and Spectrum have an Izumi Sushi location, Teppanyaki is a separate Japanese steakhouse located on Deck 14 on these two ships. Choose from either a single protein or a combo for the fixed-price meal, similar to Izumi Hibachi. Appetizers are priced a la carte.

Available on: Odyssey and Spectrum of the Seas

The Bamboo Room

The Bamboo Room is another onboard bar with somewhat secretive bar snacks — including Hawaiian barbecue sliders and coconut crab bruschetta. Don't miss this treat if you're sailing on Mariner of the Seas, the only ship in the fleet with this venue.

Available on: Mariner of the Seas

Included; all day dining

The Grove is the exclusive sun deck snack bar for Sky- and Star-tier suite guests on Icon of the Seas. The venue serves upscale Mediterranean mezes (small dishes) in an outdoor setting.

The Mason Jar

Fixed price; brunch and dinner

If you're looking for an out-of-the-ordinary brunch or dinner on board the newest Oasis Class ships, the Mason Jar is your spot. The atmosphere is relaxing, the menu is deeply Southern and the iced tea (sipped from Mason jars, of course) is sweet. Expect shrimp and grits, barbecue and fried chicken.

Available on: Wonder and Utopia of the Seas

The Spare Tire

Royal Caribbean brings a food truck-themed eatery poolside for handheld favorites like burgers and fries.

Trellis Bar

Say yes to upscale bar bites Icon of the Seas' version of this Central Park watering hole. Snack on mac & cheese poppers or truffled french fries while you sip your wine or commit to a meal with a drink with options like steak bites, Chops dry-aged burger and a chicken Caesar salad.

Vintages is home to another secret bar snack menu you might not know about. Expect bruschetta, olives, meat platters, seafood bites and other tapas, served from 5 p.m. until they're gone.

Available on: Allure, Anthem, Freedom, Harmony, Independence, Liberty, Oasis, Ovation, Quantum, Symphony of the Seas

Vitality Cafe

Included; breakfast and lunch

Located next to the spa and workout facilities on select ships, Vitality Cafe is what you would expect to find in such a health-oriented spot. Custom-blended fruit and veggie smoothies and protein shakes cost extra but are included in the Deluxe and Refreshment beverage packages. On some ships, the cafe also serves fruit cups and granola bites to get you through your workout.

Available on: Allure, Harmony, Icon, Oasis, Symphony, Utopia, Wonder of the Seas

Windjammer Marketplace

Expect an extensive multistation buffet with ample choices for everyone. In addition to the food, complimentary beverages include drip coffee, various hot teas, hot cocoa, milk, lemonade, punch and iced tea. Soft drink machines are available for those who have bought beverage packages. Larger ships have a bar within the Windjammer and servers rotate regularly.

The menu is described as "imaginative" as befits a restaurant inspired by "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Expect a multicourse dinner experience featuring food that is deconstructed, reconstructed and otherwise created to generate an entertaining gourmet meal.

Available on: Anthem, Harmony, Odyssey, Ovation, Quantum, Spectrum, Symphony, Wonder of the Seas

Royal Caribbean food: Frequently asked questions

How does the main dining room work?

At booking, you are offered a choice between traditional times designated as early or late, or flexible dining called My Time Dining , allowing you to show up anytime during restaurant open hours.

Do I need reservations for dinner in a specialty restaurant?

Waiter-served, extra-fee restaurants — whether fixed price or a la carte — typically require reservations. On the rare occasion when a ship is sailing at lower than full occupancy, you might find you can walk up during nonpeak hours and be seated at a specialty restaurant without a reservation. Those opportunities are the exceptions. Better to make a reservation to ensure you get the time slot you prefer.

What do "a la carte" and "fixed price" mean on Royal Caribbean ships?

A la carte pricing refers to restaurants where the food is individually priced. You only pay for the dishes you order. An entire menu might be individually priced, or you might only see a few items with prices on an otherwise complimentary menu.

Fixed price indicates that dining at the restaurant has a single cover charge for the full meal. This may also be stated as "Prix Fixe." You will generally choose an appetizer or salad, an entree, sides and a dessert. Beverages other than tea, coffee and water are an added charge unless specifically stated that they are included.

What beverages are included with my cruise fare?

Drip coffee, tap water, hot and iced tea, milk, and one or more flavored drinks like fruit punch or lemonade dispensed from drink machines. All other beverages may be purchased individually or you can buy a beverage package to pay for unlimited drinks in advance (fine print applies). Read our complete guide to Royal Caribbean drink packages for details.

Is there room service and what does it cost?

Room service is available in all cabins. Continental breakfast, including coffee, pastries, fruit and cold cereal, is free. Hot breakfast, lunch, dinner and all snacks incur a delivery charge of $7.95 plus 18% gratuity. The food itself is mostly complimentary, but selected dishes are priced a la carte.

How do specialty dining packages work?

To reduce the cost of specialty dining, you can buy a three- or five-restaurant package or an unlimited dining package. Some sailings also offer a combo option of Chops plus one other restaurant. These are all available for purchase in the cruise planner before your sailing. The unlimited package allows you to dine at any specialty restaurant each night of your cruise, plus lunches where they are available.

Can children eat in the specialty restaurants on board?

Most Royal Caribbean specialty restaurants cater to children with special menus and reduced prices. There are a few examples where children are allowed, but not catered to. Empire Supper Club is an example of that. The line states that children under 12 are allowed, but the experience is designed "for adult guests."

Does Royal Caribbean charge extra for lobster?

Lobster tails may be ordered any night of the cruise at Chops Grill or for an extra charge in the main dining room. Only one lobster tail is included when complimentary lobster is served in the dining room as part of the menu. Additional lobsters are charged to your bill.

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Even at sea, the aromatic delight of Indian food is unmistakable. Cooked at over 1000 degrees in our traditional clay oven, Masala Tiger serves up a wide variety of signature Indian delights that are uniquely spiced, yet delicately flavoured. Enjoy tandoori chicken or fish with cumin pilaf, succulent beef kebabs, or dip hot naan bread into sweet chutney, all straight from the tandoor. Here, you’ll always find an arousing array of vegetarian options made from fresh produce. Add in some masterfully seasoned side dishes and your first bite will transport you — like naan other — straight to the heart of India.

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Home » Cruise » Royal Caribbean » NEW! Royal Caribbean Main Dining Room Menus

NEW! Royal Caribbean Main Dining Room Menus

NEW! We have the Royal Caribbean main dining room menus for 2023 showcasing the new 7-day restaurant menus now on all Royal Caribbean ships.

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Recently, Royal Caribbean completely revamped its main dining room menus. These new dining room menus were launched earlier this year and can now be found on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships . If you want to know what’s for dinner (and breakfast and lunch), we have copies of all these Royal Caribbean Main Dining room menus.

Royal Caribbean Main Dining Room Menus 2023

BRAND NEW VIDEO REVIEW OF THE NEW ROYAL CARIBBEAN MAIN DINING ROOM MENUS!

Royal Caribbean Main Dining Room Breakfast Menu

Currently, the main dining room breakfast menu on Royal Caribbean has not changed. It still contains a number of classic breakfast options. Among the specialties are French Toast and the breakfast burrito, along with other standard options like cereal, eggs, and continental items.

The dining times on Royal Caribbean ships do vary slightly based on ship and itinerary.

For breakfast, the main dining room typically opens between 7 AM and 8 AM and stays open for about 90 minutes. So, it typically closes between 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM.

Breakfast Menu

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Royal Caribbean Main Dining Room Lunch Menus

On most itineraries, the main dining room hosts lunch on sea days and later port arrival days. On a typical 7-night cruise, this usually means lunch occurs twice in the main dining room.

Similar to breakfast, these options have not changed with this latest menu update. Thus, these menus still offer classics selections, with spaghetti Bolognese, the Royal Chicken sandwich, and steak frites on both days.

Likewise, sit-down lunch in the main dining room is available for an hour and a half on sea days and late port of call days. Typically, the main dining room is open for lunch from about 11:30 AM to 1 PM.

Lunch 1 | Lunch 2

Royal Caribbean Main Dining Room Dinner Menus

Unlike breakfast and lunch, the Royal Caribbean main dining room menus for dinner are considerably different from the previous version of menus.

Now, these new Royal Caribbean main dining room menus are themed. Each night, there is a new central focus across the starters, entrees, and desserts.

Welcome Aboard Dinner | A Taste of France | A Taste of Italy | A Taste of the Caribbean | A Taste of Mexico | The Royal Night | Bon Voyage

The rotation might change based on your itinerary, but all cruises should start with the Night 1 Welcome Aboard dinner.

For our 7-night Western Caribbean cruise, our remaining rotation included A Taste of France on Night 2, which was the first formal night. Then, the menus followed with a Taste of Italy on Night 3, Taste of the Caribbean on Night 4, and Taste of Mexico on Night 5.

Day 6 was our second formal night, so we had the Royal Dinner, featuring lobster tail and other typical formal night menu items.

Finally, Night 7 was the Bon Voyage dinner. Thankfully, these new menus did feature the wife’s favorite final meal, the Autumn Turkey Dinner.

Of note, the main dining room still offers two dining options, traditional dining or My Time Dining.

With traditional dining, there is an early seating around 5:30-6 PM and a late seating around 8-8:30 PM. Cruisers with traditional dinner have the same table assignment and waitstaff throughout the cruise.

With My Time Dining, cruisers can dine at a different time each night and/or with a different table configuration. Royal Caribbean does allow guests to pre-make reservations for each evening with My Time Dining. These guests will have a separate line from those without reservations when entering the dining room. Of course, cruisers can walk up to the host without reservations to request a table when hungry as well.

Dining hours for My Time Dining are typically around 6:45 PM to 9 PM each night.

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No More Classics on the Menu

As mentioned above, the new menus now feature themes. Although, this does not mean that all menu items align with the new name. For instance, while the Taste of the Caribbean menu offers a jerk seasoned pork chop, it also has a pesto tagliatelle dish.

Another big change is the removal of the nightly classics menu. While the rest of the menu always rotated, these standard selections used to stay the same all cruise.

Previously, the classics menu consisted of 6 starters, like Caesar Salad, shrimp cocktail, and escargot each night. Cruisers could opt for one of 4 classic entrees as well, including roasted chicken, a NY strip steak, and herb-crusted salmon. Finally, there were six classics for dessert, like apple blossom a la mode or the royal chocolate cake.

Those selections no longer exist on these new menus. Overall, this means that each night the menu is over 30% smaller, giving cruisers fewer options. Previously, the older menus offered 28 selections each evening– this included 10 starters, 9 entrees, and 9 desserts. Now, the menus include 6 starters, 7 entrees, and 6 desserts.

However, even though Royal removed the classics section, many of these dishes still appear on the new menus on various nights.

For instance, cruisers can enjoy shrimp cocktail on four evenings. Likewise, escargot is now available on three occasions: the Welcome Aboard, A Taste of France, and The Royal Night menus. Further, Spaghetti Bolognese was available three times.

Salmon was offered on three nights as well. With only a few other fish-centric dishes, it felt like there needed to be more seafood options though. Further, the cheese plate, one of our staple starters for the table, was gone from the menu completely.

Although, Harmony of the Seas did offer a grilled chicken option each evening. This option was a substitute for that evening’s featured poultry item, like chicken marsala or the autumn turkey dinner.

New Additions to the Royal Caribbean Main Dining Room Menus

While some items have been removed from the Royal Caribbean main dining room menus, there have been some new menu items added. Now, there is a featured vegetarian option each evening, like the spring pea and asparagus risotto or the stuffed red bell pepper.

Also, each evening features an Indian dish. This was a great addition for me. I enjoyed the aromatic chicken saag and the shrimp jalfrezi.

Many of the other menus items will be familiar to Royal cruisers, they are just on different nights/themed menus. The Welcome Aboard dinner still includes prime rib, and the second formal night (The Royal Night) still has the hallmark lobster tail. In 2023, additional lobster tails beyond the first one will cost $16.99 each.

While all these changes might sound like bad news, it really wasn’t in our opinion. When compared to our last Royal Caribbean cruise on Navigator of the Seas in December 2022, we actually thought the food preparation was much better.

For instance, the pork chop was a thick cut with plenty of spicy seasoning. The prime rib was perfectly roasted to a medium rare, served juicy and warm.

Further, we were big fans of the new themed approach, including the new Taste of Mexico and Taste of Caribbean options.

Typically, we are not impressed with main dining room desserts. However, of the new options, I did like the peanut-caramel bar on the Welcome Aboard menu. The Italian hazelnut-chocolate cake was essentially a lava cake with sliced hazelnuts. Of course, you can’t go wrong with the warm apple cobbler either.

Finally, one of the announced reasons for these menu changes was to make dinner more efficient. With fewer menu items, the galley can cook up better prepared items that can be served quickly.

While this sounds good in theory, our table of 4 was never out of the main dining room in under 90 minutes. Yes, we did eat solid three course meals each night, with a few rounds of drinks. So, we might be atypical, but the dining room seemed to function like any other Royal Caribbean cruise.

Overall, while there were fewer options, we did enjoy the new Royal Caribbean main dining room menus, even Heidi who is a picky eater. The new selections offered some great, and much needed, diversity. Food quality was improved, and the overall preparation was a notch above what we have come to expect from Royal Caribbean.

While we have heard much negative feedback, we have to disagree based on our recent experience from Harmony of the Seas. Of course, this could be partially related to the novelty of the menu items; however, we suggest you go into your next Royal Caribbean cruise with an open mind and test out some of the new main dining room menu options.

Have you tried the new Royal Caribbean main dining room menus yet? Do you agree with our assessment of these new offerings? Drop us an anchor below to share your thoughts on these recent dining changes.

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We have sailed on Royal with the NEW menu. There have been a lot of cutbacks in the name of efficiency. To cut waste a table of two gets two pats of butter and three rolls. While the staff is ready to get more when asked the service does suffer. MY Time Dinning does interupt the flow of service. There was a constant push to rate then 10 0ut of 10, every night. Portions also seem smaller. The whole idea is to make service similar to larger ships, who due to number of passengers can not provide the ROYAL service we have come to know. Room stewards have more rooms and thus service was cut in half (once a day). Refrigerators have been replaced with coolers. Lights only work when you are in the room. While this may save energy, returning to a hot room is an issue. Everything is on the app, I miss the Compass, the digital app takes added effort.

Agreed. New menu was not very good. Always enjoy the food on Royal. Not so much with this menu change. Probably will not be going on this cruise line again

I dislike the new menus very much. There is no question that the new menus are done to reduce costs now to speed up service. Also Royal has removed the vegan menu. My wife is a vegetarian not a vegan but enjoyed reading the menu to have additional options every night. Now they have one or two vegan options at most but she doesn’t always like them. As Royal’s ships get bigger and bigger the options get fewer and the service goes down

Sorry..the new menu was terrible!!

If you are gluten-free and a vegan, is there anything to eat on the menus?

I hate the new menus and I am diamond member and have recently went on carinval and they accomdate gluten free had so many options including French toast

I’ve been on Royal and Carnival, among others. I liked the options much better on Carnival than Royal.

We tried the new menus. Ours was a 5 night cruise, so the Royal dinner was not offered – so no lobster. The French and Italian night was good, but the Mexican and Caribbean nights were too spicy for us older guests – and without the standard offered each night, we were really disappointed with those two nights dining.

I totally agree. Not having those additional options really limits you if you don’t like any of the “theme” dishes. We just came back from a 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Harmony and for two nights, Mexican and Caribbean themes we had to eat in the Windjammer. Dishes were too spicy. I hope some changes are made or we may have to rethink our loyalty to Royal Caribbean.

We went on royal Caribbean symphony of the seas in January 2023. They did not tell us they had change the menu. We have been on the same ship in July of the previous year. We were a gas that they were charging for the second tiny tiny lobster. We got shrimp cocktail once in the seven days. We don’t particularly care for spicy food so they had jerky and spicy things on the menu. I felt the menu was similar to what I would cook at home and every day meal not on a fancy cruise I was very disappointed, and we have no longer booked any trips with them after 27 years of cruising we have stopped working with Royal Caribbean the other thing they did we asked for a large table. They put us at a table with a family with seven children we’re in our 70s, we asked for a table with adults and they put us by our self. Finally, on the third day we were put in a table of what we call rejected adults who had the same experience. Most of these cruisers had been cruising for 40 some years and were high on the perks list . Many of them said it would be their last trip on Royal Caribbean. I did book a trip on Celebrity this past week for January and did investigate the menu prior to the booking so let’s see how this goes. We also did a princess cruise last winter and they have stopped letting you sit at the same table every night. It’s first come first serve every night and wait in line, which wasn’t too good. The entertainment and Royal Caribbean was better than Princess but it was repetitious . There were some nights on the cruise ship, symphony that there was nothing to do.

Sounds like Royal has joined the airline industry in a “race to the bottom.” So disappointing. How about raising prices a few dollars a night and keeping a higher level of service? There are really no other options for long distance travel than flying. There are plenty of other options for vacations besides cruising. Unfortunately we already have our next two cruises booked with Royal. I read someone’s comment that they are going to try Celebrity. Although we have enough points to “transfer” to Celebrity, we won’t be doing that since it is owned by Royal.

As Diamond Club Members and 41 cruises The new menu is a joke. I can have Italian at Carrabba. It’s all about recouping the monies From COVID. Cutting back to make a buck. And not to mention they now give us 4 drinks Not 5 on our sea pass card. What next? Very disgusting. I hope others agree

Very disappointing in new menus Just trying to cut back to make a buck. We can have Italian, Mexican at home The meals are too spicy to us older cruisers Need to change. Not acceptable. Have 40 cruises with RC and will be changing

DB & The Princess

Welcome Aboard! We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. We took our first cruise vacation together 13 years ago and have been hooked ever since. Follow along as we share our travel tips, cruise reviews, information on ports of call, and the latest cruise news to help you plan the ultimate cruise vacation. Are you ready to embark on your journey to “sea the world, one port at a time”?

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• Royal Caribbean International

Indian Food (Oasis)

By HummerMan3 , July 26, 2018 in Royal Caribbean International

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122 days until my Oasis of the Seas adventure! I searched and haven't seen many recent threads on alternative MDR menus. Do they still have a "secret" curry menu available to those who ask? The regular menu doesn't seem to have anything to satisfy my palate. Also, on 7 night cruises, what night are the curries typically served in Windjammer?

Thanks in advance!

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Speak to your waiter or headwaiter. There are normally a couple of Indian entrees available to choose from each night.

last year I was on the Grandeur and didn't see any Indian dishes on the menu. I asked and the head waiter brought me something the next night.

taglovestocruise

Odd story of varied Indian dishes on board. Last Oct. we were on the 15 night Independence TA. First night in MDR the maitre d came along and stoped at the table and gave his little welcome aboard spiel and went off to the next group. Next day at lunch in the windjammer he was walking around the tables and stopped to say hello as he remembered us from the last night. Asked him if there were Indian curry dishes available in MDR at night that I could try as a appetizer. He asked me what I would to try. I had no answer but said nothing weird or fishy. He said he would send something the next night. For the next 14 nights, except for specialty dining nights, a plate of something curry or a type of soup showed up. Something different each time. Maitre d was from India which might of helped in food selections.

Looks like you got some answers regarding MDR. Since you mentioned Windjammer also, I'll share my experience.

Typically the buffets has a veg curry as well as rice and dal at lunch every day. There may be a meat curry or something else south Asian in addition. Dinner there was always a meat curry in addition to that. Pickles, chutney, etc really seems to vary from ship to ship. Unlike most other items in the buffet where they have the same offerings in multiple locations, the Indian food is only in one place, but always the same place.

I'll also add that in my Alaskan cruises, they also offered Indian style dishes at breakfast buffet as well. Can't say if this is true of other cruise locations or not since I wasn't looking for it.

Thanks everyone!

dream2cruise

We asked about the Indian items when we were on Oasis for Thanksgiving 2017. I tried several Indian meals throughout the cruise as an alternative to the traditional menu. Every thing was delicious.

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With commitment from Royal Caribbean, Alaska Railroad advances $137M plan to revamp Seward dock

Children play by the Resurrection Bay coastline in Seward as as the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Radiance of the Seas departs on June 22, 2018. The ship traveled Southeast Alaska toward its destination, Vancouver. (Marc Lester / ADN)

The Alaska Railroad is making a new push to replace its aging cruise ship dock in Seward with a larger one that can handle much bigger ships.

The $137 million plan also calls for construction of a 60,000-square-foot terminal that is much larger than the current one, railroad officials said. The effort will require the Legislature to approve the railroad’s plans for issuing bonds. If the funding process is approved, the project should be completed before the 2026 cruise season, railroad officials said.

The plan is backed by an unusual 30-year commitment from Royal Caribbean Group, which will essentially act as an anchor tenant while other cruise lines will also use the dock, the railroad said in a statement this month.

The effort comes as Alaska prepares for another big summer of cruise ships.

A record 1.7 million cruise passengers visited Alaska last year, said Jillian Simpson, president of the Alaska Travel Industry Association.

About 190,000 cruise guests last year used Seward as their port of call, she said. The picturesque town of 3,000 sits at the head of Resurrection Bay.

This summer, the number of cruise passengers coming to Seward is expected to fall, the railroad said. Norwegian Cruise Line is transitioning its ships from Seward to Whittier, where a new cruise port is being completed.

[Previously: Tiny Whittier debates an Alaska Native corporation’s proposal for a second cruise ship dock ]

The railroad hopes the new dock will attract more cruise lines to Seward, president Bill O’Leary said in a statement from the railroad. He said maintenance is an increasing challenge for the current dock, which was built in the mid-1960s and is nearing the end of its useful life.

Seward Mayor Sue McClure said many people in town seem to support the railroad’s plans and the idea of more tourism in the future. “I don’t hear a lot of outcry that we’ll be overrun with tourists,” she said in an interview.

The Viking cruise ship Orion is docked in Seward on May 12, 2022. Seventy-six cruise ship dockings are planned for 2022. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Many cruise guests already hop on buses or the train to depart Seward for other destinations in Alaska, she said. But if larger ships and new cruise lines arrive, that would mean additional tourists sticking around Seward to visit attractions like the Alaska SeaLife Center and Kenai Fjords National Park.

That would help many businesses, she said.

Also, the larger terminal will better support community events that take place there in winter, she said. And the city hopes to provide electricity to the ships so they no longer run their engines while waiting in port. That will cut emissions and provide revenue to Seward through the local electric utility, she said.

“I can’t speak for the city council, but I feel this is all so far positive,” she said.

Changes to plans

The plans to replace the dock date back to at least 2019.

The railroad secured legislative bonding authority for $60 million in 2022 in an initial effort to pay for a new dock with minor improvements to the existing terminal, railroad officials said.

Sharply rising inflation and labor shortages led to higher construction costs and made project timelines uncertain, said Meghan Clemens, a spokeswoman for the railroad. That caused the railroad to rethink its plans, she said.

Other important changes also came about.

A new business, The Seward Company, provided an unsolicited proposal to the railroad in the fall, offering to build the project and fund construction, the railroad said. The company presented a new design for the large terminal and a new dock. It also secured the commitment from Royal Caribbean Group for the proposal.

Under the plan, the Alaska Railroad will buy the new dock from The Seward Company once it’s complete, issuing bonds to help pay for it. Also, $30 million from “internal funds generated through port improvement fees assessed to current Seward dock customers,” will help pay for it, the railroad statement said.

A computer rendering of the proposed dock. The Alaska Railroad is pursuing a $137 million plan to revamp its old cruise dock in Seward, after Royal Caribbean Group committed to a 30-year use of the new dock. (Rendering courtesy of The Seward Company)

The railroad is now seeking an additional $75 million in bonding authority from the Legislature for the project, atop the $60 million in authorization it already holds. The project faces extra costs now compared to two years ago because of higher prices and the additional expense of building a much larger, new terminal, Clemens said.

The debt will be “solely an obligation of the railroad and not that of the state,” the railroad said in its statement. Authorizing legislation in both chambers has moved to the Finance committees after clearing the Transportation committees, Clemens said.

Royal Caribbean Group has committed to providing revenue for 30 years based on passenger fees associated with the equivalent of 140,000 guests a year, said Mickey Richardson, chief executive of Port of Tomorrow, which owns The Seward Company.

Royal Caribbean last year brought about 70,000 guests to Seward.

The increase in guests will happen over time after the new dock is built, Richardson said.

Richardson formerly worked on other cruise dock projects in Alaska for Huna Totem Corp., a Southeast Alaska Native corporation, including the new cruise dock and terminal in Whittier that’s being completed.

“Tourism is a bright spot in the Alaska economy, so it makes sense to add infrastructure for tourism,” Richardson said.

Jason Davis, president of Turnagain Marine, an Anchorage-based firm that will build the Seward dock project, said plans calls for construction of a 750-foot floating dock.

It will be the largest floating dock in the state, he said. The old dock would be demolished late next year, with no disruption to service before the new dock is built, he said.

The dock will be able to support Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class ships, which carry more than 4,000 guests, about double the number of guests many cruise ships bring to Seward.

A floating dock will be safer than a fixed dock for passengers getting on and off ships, Davis said. It will rise and fall in tandem with the ship, eliminating concerns like the need to use steep ramps.

An Alaska Railroad train car idles in Seward on Monday, July 4, 2022 with a Norwegian Cruise Line ship behind. (Emily Mesner / ADN)

‘The more the merrier’

Preston Carnahan, regional vice president for Royal Caribbean Group, said the 30-year commitment to the cruise port is unprecedented in Alaska.

Royal Caribbean Group “remains strongly committed” to the future of Seward and the state, Carnahan said in the statement from the railroad.

Business owners in Seward said more cruise visitors in the future would be a positive step for the economy, though the level of support for the plans was mixed.

Scott Reierson, who owns Seward Adventure Lodge and a surfing charter business in Seward, said more tourists will generally be good for businesses in town.

But he said there needs to be a responsible plan to ensure Seward receives adequate revenues for the extra strain more visitors will put on city services, such as roads, water and sewer.

“I don’t know if it’s an absolute win-win for the town, but it’s hard to find a win-win in anything,” he said.

Dorothy Urbach, with Urbach’s Clothiers, said the idea of more cruise guests is “wonderful.”

“The more the merrier,” she said.

More summer visitors in Seward can help extend the tourism season, since travelers sometimes decide to return to Seward in winter.

“It means more businesses will be open,” she said of the plan.

Alex DeMarban

Alex DeMarban is a longtime Alaska journalist who covers business, the oil and gas industries and general assignments. Reach him at 907-257-4317 or [email protected].

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BEST PLACES TO EAT FOR FREE ON A CRUISE

Published on May 23, 2019

When you’re on vacation, what you eat is just as important as the places you visit and the memories you make. Whether it’s dishes that represent the local flavor of the destinations you’re sailing to, or just the feeling of siting down to enjoy an amazing meal with your loved ones, great food enhances any experience.

On Royal Caribbean, variety is never an issue — you’ve got tons of options to choose from at every turn. But two complimentary favorites that you’ll find on every ship are the Main Dining Room and the Windjammer Café — known as Windjammer Marketplace on select ships. Both serve breakfast, lunch and dinner complimentary with your cruise fare, but each has its own vibe and advantages. Whether you’re after a quick and casual bite to eat in between deck-side thrills or an upscale night out with your partner in adventure, here’s a guide to help you decide which cruise restaurant will best cater to your culinary cravings and how to maximize your experience at each.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR GOODNESS ON-THE-GO: WINDJAMMER

Pressed for time or just want to fuel up without any fuss? Head to Windjammer . It’s set up as a complimentary self-serve buffet, which means you can be in and out as quickly as you like if you’re hurrying to get to your next activity onboard. That said, you’re welcome to stay a while if you prefer — every Windjammer in the fleet offers lots of seating near windows that look out over the pool deck and the ocean, making this fast-casual dining option a fan-favorite spot to unwind and soak up the breathtaking sea views. You can hang out as long as you want and try as many dishes as you like, so go ahead and grab seconds — you know you want to.

IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THINGS CASUAL & KID-FRIENDLY: WINDJAMMER

Windjammer is also the better bet if you’re trying to grab a bite without getting all dressed up. While Royal Caribbean doesn’t require a formal dress code in the Main Dining Room, Windjammer is still the more casual complimentary dining option of the two and a perfect choice for both adults and families with small children. But though you might be dining comfy in a t-shirt, the food is still dressed to impress no matter what time of day you choose to stop by. Come breakfast, lunch or dinner, you’re in for a sprawling buffet of tantalizing and beautifully displayed global flavors.

IF YOU’RE IN THE MOOD FOR FANCY FEASTING: THE MAIN DINING ROOM

Maybe you want to treat your special someone to an elevated date night at sea. Or maybe you’re celebrating a special occasion. Sometimes it’s just nice to take your family dinner to the next level — and there’s no better place onboard to do that than the Main Dining Room . The largest dining venue on most our cruises, the Main Dining Room delivers a traditional multi-course dinner experience in a beautiful upscale setting with a dedicated wait staff — all included in your cruise fare. Dinner here is meant to be savored. The menu spotlights international dishes with several rotating options, and you can order as many of each as you like. There’s also a kids’ menu offering finger foods like burgers, pizza and chicken fingers. The recommended style of dress for dinner in the Main Dining Room is resort casual, so think sun-dresses, nice slacks, blouses and collared shirts. And on formal night, you can always dial it up a notch.

IF THERE’S A PICKY EATER IN YOUR PARTY: BOTH

If you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, don’t worry — both Windjammer and the Main Dining Room will help you find something delicious that works for you. The menu in the Main Dining Room is completely customizable to suit different tastes and needs — you can request modifications on any dish that catches your eye, or even ask the chef to surprise you based on your preferences. On the other hand, Windjammer offers an extensive range of options from morning to night. At breakfast, you’ll find stations serving up everything from custom fluffy omelets to indulgent treats like muffins, pastries and sweet breads — not to mention fresh fruit and just-pressed juices. At lunchtime, expect comfort food like burgers, sandwiches and salads, plus rotating international options like Asian stir-fry, Caribbean-inspired entrees, Indian specialties and more. Dinner serves up just as much delicious diversity, with carving stations, vegetarian spreads and a decadent assortment of deserts.

IF YOU WANT TO BE WINED AND DINED: THE MAIN DINING ROOM

Like Windjammer, the Main Dining Room will usually set up a self-serve buffet area during breakfast and lunch for guests who are on-the-go. But the key draw of eating here is the option to order off the menu and enjoy personalized service from a world-class wait staff while you taste your way through a wide variety of gourmet goodness — like heavenly French toast and waffles, golden hash browns sizzled to perfection, hearty home-cooked oatmeal, and eggs prepared just the way you like them with all your favorite classic breakfast sides. For an additional charge, you can also opt to take part in the Bottomless Galley Brunch and start your day off with unlimited bubbles. In the Main Dining Room, every meal comes with the VIP treatment.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO ARE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED FOR WINDJAMMER OR THE MAIN DINING ROOM?

You don’t need reservations to dine at Windjammer, which is convenient if you like to play your day by ear rather than stick to a schedule. Peak hours are between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. for breakfast and between 7 and 8 p.m. for dinner — but remember there are other dining options open during these times, like the Main Dining Room.

Breakfast and lunch in the Main Dining Room are first-come first-serve, so no reservation needed. If you’re joining for dinner, you have two options: traditional dining, or My Time Dining. If you go with traditional dining, you’ll be assigned either an “early” dinner seating between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. or a “late” seating between 8 and 8:30 p.m. You can choose your preference when you book your cruise.

If you opt for My Time Dining, feel free to arrive whenever you like during the venue’s open hours. You’re welcome to walk-in, or you can make a reservation in advance if you want to avoid waiting for a table during peak dinner hours.

*Hours may vary by ship and are subject to change. Check your Cruise Compass for accurate hours of operation.

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