My husband and I just scheduled our first RC cruise on Independence of the Seas for August this year. Since we are going without the kids, husband wants to get the unlimited dining package. I have a questions though. My understanding is that the a la cart places like playmakers and izumi you are given a certain limit on how much is covered and anything over you still need to cover. Is the amount given just for that restaurant per day? Or overall per day? So say the limit is $30 and we do playmakers for lunch and Izumi for dinner. Is it $30 for playmakers and $30 for Izumi? Or is it only $30 for the two combined? I’m just trying to figure it all out for planning purposes.
Hi Atilley,
Congrats on your first RC Cruise!
Regarding the Unlimited Dining Package for your cruise.
You'll receive $35/pp towards a meal at Fish and Ships, $20/pp for Playmakers per meal. So if you do fish and ships for lunch on a sea day and dinner on the same day you would get $35/pp each meal.
You'll be able to eat at Izumi, which has a prix fixe menu, for a $10/pp up-charge that will be billed to you when you eat there.
Chops, Giovanni’s Table, and Johnny Rockets are included no charge.
You also have access to all complimentary venues (Main dining room, Windjammer, Sorrento's, etc..)
Chef's Table, Wine Paring meals, Mystery Dinner Theater Meals are not included.
Any restaurant you eat at that has up-charge items (Seafood tower at chops for example) will not include up-charge items. You will have to pay for them at the menu price.
Also, in theory based on the wording of the dining plan, you could eat at Chops for dinner and then go to Playmakers for second dinner, but your mileage may vary.
You get dinners every night and lunch on sea days included. Royal will book you a courtesy reservation for your first night, and you won't be able to book restaurants before your cruise. However, when you board the ship you can go to any specialty restaurant or they will likely have a table in the promenade where you can go and make all your reservations for the entire cruise. If you do this when you board you will very likely be able to get your restaurant and time of choice for every day.
Hope that helps and have a great cruise!