When planning a Royal Caribbean cruise, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make—besides choosing the perfect cabin and itinerary—is how you want to dine. Royal Caribbean offers a huge range of specialty restaurants, from steakhouse dining and teppanyaki shows to Italian classics and seafood feasts. But with all these dazzling options comes a major question: Are dining packages cheaper when purchased pre-cruise, or is it worth waiting until you board?
This long, detailed guide breaks down everything you need to know. You’ll learn why pre-cruise purchases almost always offer better savings, how Royal Caribbean prices their dining packages, whether last-minute deals exist, and how to get the maximum value on your next sailing.
Let’s uncover the truth behind pricing—and help you save money, time, and stress.
Royal Caribbean offers multiple dining packages, most popularly the Unlimited Dining Package (UDP) and 3-Night or 5-Night Dining Packages. But how these packages are priced—and how much they can change—often confuses first-time cruisers.
Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, meaning the cost of dining packages can rise or fall depending on the ship, sailing date, demand, and onboard restaurant capacity. This dynamic pricing affects both pre-cruise and onboard rates.
Sail date (peak seasons cost more)
Ship class and restaurant selection
Supply and demand
Specialty restaurant popularity
Number of sea days
Promotions available in the Cruise Planner
Once on the ship, prices generally become higher because there is:
Limited inventory
High demand from undecided guests
Last-minute purchase pressure
Royal Caribbean knows many guests don’t make dining decisions until after boarding, so onboard rates reflect that urgency.
The straightforward answer: YES, dining packages are almost always cheaper when purchased pre-cruise.
Royal Caribbean frequently discounts packages on the Cruise Planner—especially during major promotional periods like Black Friday, Blue Lagoon Sale, Weekend Deals, and seasonal promotions. These discounts rarely exist onboard.
Royal Caribbean cruisers consistently report the following trends:
Unlimited Dining Package: $60–$99 per person per day
3-Night Dining Package: $89–$139 per person
5-Night Dining Package: $139–$179 per person
Specialty Lunch Deals: $19–$35
Unlimited Dining Package: Often $10–20+ more per day
3-Night Dining Package: Typically $20–40 higher
5-Night Dining Package: $30–60 higher
Individual restaurant prices: Rarely discounted
In many cases, onboard prices can be 15–40% higher. On expensive ships like Icon Class, the difference can be even more dramatic.
Royal Caribbean offers sales only on the Cruise Planner, not onboard.
Pre-cruise purchases encourage early planning and reduce venue congestion.
The cruise line uses discounts to incentivize early revenue.
The result: If you buy early, you save more.
Though rare, there are a few exceptions worth knowing.
While uncommon, Royal Caribbean may offer limited-time onboard promotions such as:
First-day lunch discounts
Buy-one-get-one discounts at select restaurants
Port day lunch promos
Specialty coffee or dessert bundle offers
However, these deals do not affect full dining package pricing. They apply only to individual restaurants or lunch-only specials.
Onboard discounts sometimes appear:
On less popular routes
On older ships with many empty specialty venues
During rainy itineraries where fewer guests want outdoor activities
But even then, the price difference is minor compared to pre-cruise savings.
Even with dynamic pricing, there are smart strategies to guarantee the lowest possible rate. Let’s explore them deeply.
The easiest trick is to monitor your Cruise Planner weekly. Royal Caribbean runs promotions regularly, often without announcing them ahead of time.
Black Friday & Cyber Monday
Labor Day sale
Summer sale
Anniversary sale
Weekend flash sales
A smart traveler secret:If a dining package drops in price after you purchased it, you can cancel and rebook instantly.
Royal Caribbean allows this with no penalty.
Log in to your Cruise Planner.
Check the new package price.
Cancel your existing purchase.
Rebuy immediately at the lower price.
This ensures you never miss a better deal.
Depending on your eating style, the Unlimited Dining Package isn’t always the smartest option.
Don’t want to eat specialty every night
Prefer a balanced mix of Main Dining Room + specialty
Want predictable scheduling
Want maximum dining flexibility
Want to try many restaurants
Are sailing on Oasis, Quantum, or Icon Class
Love unlimited sashimi, steak, pasta, and premium desserts
Value depends on your preferences—so choose wisely.
Many cruisers buy dining packages but don’t use them effectively – resulting in missed meals, wasted money, and lost opportunities.
Once you get onboard, go to any specialty restaurant and make all reservations at once.
Specialty restaurants fill up fast
Prime dining times (6–8 PM) book early
This prevents long wait times and scheduling conflicts
This gives you the most value because:
You spend more time onboard
You can enjoy longer, leisurely meals
You avoid peak moments
Some specialty venues offer much cheaper lunch menus with the same quality food.
Chops Grille
Jamie’s Italian
Giovanni’s Kitchen
Hooked Seafood
Izumi Sushi
Many restaurants allow sharing plates with dining packages, including:
Playmakers wings & sliders
Giovanni’s pizzas & pasta
Izumi rolls
Jamie’s antipasti
This helps you try more dishes without paying extra.
Yes. Pre-cruise prices are consistently lower than onboard rates.
Yes. You can cancel and repurchase at the new price anytime before your sailing.
Rarely, but specialty restaurants do fill up. Booking early prevents frustration.
Often, yes—especially for lunch or port-day specials.
If you love food variety, premium dining, and unique experiences, dining packages offer excellent value.
So, are dining packages cheaper pre-cruise? Absolutely—yes, nearly every time. Royal Caribbean rewards guests who book early with lower prices, better availability, and access to exclusive Cruise Planner promotions. While occasional onboard specials exist, they almost never beat pre-cruise deals—especially for the Unlimited Dining Package or multi-night bundles.
If you want the best value:
Buy early
Monitor sales
Reprice when needed
Make reservations as soon as you board
With these strategies, you’ll enjoy world-class dining at a fraction of the cost.
Bon voyage and happy feasting!
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