What Royal Caribbean Dining Really Costs Now
Royal Caribbean quietly changed three things about how dining works on its ships, and none of them made headlines. Here's exactly what changed, what it costs at the table, and the sourcing behind every number: Royal Caribbean's own dining materials, confirmed restaurant menu pricing, and firsthand cruiser accounts. THE THREE CHANGES: A $16.99 per-person charge (plus 18% gratuity) for a second lobster tail on Royal Night in the Classic main dining room, a fee that started as a Symphony of the Seas test in November 2022 and is now standard fleet-wide. New upcharges layered inside specialty restaurants guests already paid to enter: Giovanni's Table ($49.99 dinner / $29.99 lunch), Empire Supper Club on Icon of the Seas ($200/person full price, still $130/person even with the Ultimate Dining Package), and Chef's Table ($118/person full price, $59/person with a dining package). Royal Caribbean's own 2025 and 2026 dining materials now sort dining, entertainment, and activities into explicit included vs. chargeable tiers. It's a pattern, not a one-off. QUICK ANSWERS: Does Royal Caribbean charge extra for a second lobster tail? Yes: $16.99 per person plus 18% gratuity on Royal Night in the main dining room. The first tail is still free. Is Giovanni's Table extra on Royal Caribbean? Yes: $49.99 per person for dinner, $29.99 for lunch, on top of your cruise fare. Does the Ultimate Dining Package cover Empire Supper Club and Chef's Table? No. You still pay $130/person at Empire Supper Club and $59/person at Chef's Table even after buying the package. One figure in this video, a reported $45 tasting-menu upgrade at Giovanni's Table, could not be independently confirmed against a primary source and is flagged as such on screen. Everything else is checked against Royal Caribbean's own materials, confirmed menu pricing, or a firsthand account. Prices rotate by season and by ship, so check the current menu before you sail. Timestamps: 0:00-Intro 0:46- Where the Numbers Come From 01:53- The Upcharges 04:28- Premium Dining Extras 08:48- Charging You for More\ 09:38- The Real Numbers 13:48- So What Should You Do? 15:08- 4 More Mistakes Next Video