How do meals work on a cruise

So we checked in with the major cruise lines for the on what happens behind the scenes on a romantic Caribbean jaunt. Here's what we dug up:. On the 2,passenger Carnival Freedom, for instance, it takes workers in kitchens to parlay pallets' worth of food into thousands of meals worthy of fine restaurants. Cunard spokesperson Jackie Chase makes a similar point by using the famous liner Queen Mary 2 as an example. She describes the management of the vessel's typical "turnaround day" in port as comparable to "checking out the entire Plaza Hotel in New York after breakfast, having the entire kitchen re-stocked during the morning with up to 20 trucks offloading goods at the hotel , changing every bed linen and towel, checking in the entire hotel during the afternoon, and holding a state banquet in the evening.

Predicting passenger tastes is the first challenge. Companies analyze guests' dining patterns to suss out trends and plan menus. Trends can vary by season, route, and type of passenger. Case in point: When Europeans outnumber Americans on a Cunard ship, lighter wines such as Riesling and pinot noir are ordered more often than bolder varietals, such as Shiraz and Chardonnay, which tend to be favored by many of us Yanks.

The next hurdle is to transfer supplies from pier to ship. Many cruise lines offer a flexible dining room option that allows you to arrive whenever you want and sit at a different table every night. On most of our cruises, my husband and I chose the flexible option, but then arrived for dinner at the same time each night anyway.

Most recently, we chose the first seating of the traditional option and that worked well. Our family of four had our own table that overlooked the lower levels of the dining room. Guests are expected to dress up for the dining room. For men, think slacks and a collared shirt.

For women, slacks or a dress. That said, I saw plenty of my fellow passengers in nice shorts and tees in the dining room on our last cruise with Royal Caribbean. I was a little worried about how my kids ages 10 and 12 would like the long dining room meals, but they loved it. They loved ordering whatever they wanted and being treated like VIPs.

We enjoyed family conversations about all the fun we'd had that day. I confess that we allowed them to play on electronic devices or take a quick walk in the hallway between courses to keep them happy. There was a kids menu on our Royal Caribbean cruise, which stayed the same every day. It featured traditional kid favorites like hamburgers, nuggets and mac n cheese. Kids had the option of ordering from the kids' menu or regular menu. Room service is included in the price of most cruises, though your cruise line may charge extra for certain hours or menu items.

Once my kids figured out how to get room service through our television, they ordered snacks nearly every day. The cheese plate was their favorite room service item. Most big cruise ships now have several specialty restaurants, in addition to the buffet and dining room. These usually specialize in a particular fare like pizza, ice cream, international cuisine, premium brands or fine dining.

Some specialty restaurants are included in the price of your cruise. The quick-service pizza restaurant was a huge hit with my kids. Our Tip : Onboard fitness classes are occasionally cheaper than their land-based equivalents and a good way to burn off those extra cruise calories. However, teachers can be hit or miss, so value can vary greatly. Check out our picks for the best cruises for fitness. Free : Main pool use including loungers and hot tubs , water slides and splash play areas are open to all passengers.

Royal Caribbean's FlowRider onboard surfing and many adult-only pool or sun deck areas like Celebrity's Solarium or Carnival's Serenity are also worth checking out for gratis.

Our Tip : You can usually find out-of-the-way sun deck space for free or make use of the balcony you already paid for. Check if you are on a ship with one of the nine best sun decks. Free : Group activities for 3 to 17 year olds during the day are often provided through your ship's onboard kids clubs. For a Fee : In-cabin babysitting , group late-night babysitting after 10 p.

Our Tip : Parents, treat yourself to a night or two of evening entertainment instead of whispering to each other in your cabin while the kids snooze. Find a Cruise. Cruise Tips. You may also like Dismiss. Royal Caribbean's Sovereign-class Ships. New Cruise Ships Carnival Cruise FAQ. Princess Cruises FAQ. What's Included in Your Cruise Fare? Home First Time Cruiser Fee vs.

Fee vs. Dress codes on cruise ships vary by cruise line and by evening — many cruises feature one or more formal nights. Some cruise lines enforce the dress code and may offer to bring out a suit jacket for the gentleman. Others apply the dress code only sporadically, though some upscale cruise lines will turn you away from dinner if your attire is not up to snuff. On most nights, "resort casual" is the rule. See Cruise outfits: What to wear on each cruise line.

Formal dining has given way to casual dining on most cruise lines in recent years. Traditionally, cruise lines set aside one evening on a 7-night cruise for a formal night, when people dress in evening wear. On lines such as Princess, Cunard, Crystal, Seabourn and Silversea, you'll see quite a few men don tuxedoes on formal night, while most wear dress slacks and a sport coat. If you wear slacks and a dress shirt you'll be OK. If you've ever enjoyed al fresco dining on a cruise ship — having breakfast, lunch or dinner on deck on a sunny day — you know what a glorious treat it is.

Dining options you'll find on board. The dining options below are available on most of the mainstream cruise lines. So check to see which of these are included on the cruise you're considering:. Here are some items that are typically not included with the cruise fare: alcoholic drinks, soft drinks on some cruise lines — soda is included in the price on Disney sailings and dining at specialty restaurants.

Special packages are often available for guests to purchase that include alcoholic drinks, soft drinks or specialty restaurants. Don't forget: Even though you can order two entrees and three desserts or help yourself to a midnight buffet or wolf down double cheese bacon burgers, resist the temptation but go ahead and order a couple of decadent desserts. We know friends who put on 5 pounds during a weeklong cruise — because they don't pace themselves and they don't exercise. Stay active on your cruise: Go on long walks on shore.

Hit the gym or spa. And show some restraint. Cruiseable team The Cruiseable editorial team consists of award-winning travel writers, cruise bloggers and journalists.