12 Cruise Dining Room Tips, Tricks & Things You NEED to Know

Are you going on a cruise and wondering about the main dining room, what's included, and how to make your cruise dining experience the best possible? Here are the cruise dining room tips, tricks and secrets that you need to know!
In this video we go over how the main dining room works on a cruise and answer common questions. I also share 12 cruise tips for dining, cruise food, and cruise "rules" including the dress code and tipping the crew. Perfect for anyone going on a cruise for the first time, or avid cruisers who want to know what has changed in cruise ship dining recently.
RESOURCES I RECOMMEND
🛳 THE ULTIMATE CRUISE PLANNER 🛳
Get the Life Well Cruised ULTIMATE CRUISE PLANNER ($10 off for a limited time). The printable planner includes 47 pages of checklists, packing lists, shore excursion forms & more! here: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-...
___________________
Please note that this video is not sponsored. The links in this description are affiliate links, meaning that I will make a commission on purchases you make through my links, at no extra cost to you.
As Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
CRUISE ESSENTIALS
Over the door organizer: amzn.to/3Dx2m1N
Magnet hooks: amzn.to/3wZgj77
Magnet clips: amzn.to/37bNh9W
Travel luggage scale: amzn.to/3tIbzAX
Nautical carry on bag: amzn.to/2TH7L3T
Carry on bag w/ laptop section: amzn.to/3LCZBhC
Carry On luggage: amzn.to/3nN0Mkz
Packing cubes set: amzn.to/3wF1syG
Luggage set: amzn.to/3qgd8oj
Hanging toiletry bag: amzn.to/3Nb8fFY
No surge power bar: amzn.to/3NCRu7d
Cruise lanyards: amzn.to/3uNZBFb
Travel jewelry bag: amzn.to/2SY190s
Electronics organizer: amzn.to/3wpIvxK
Poo-Pourri: amzn.to/3vJCaM8
Passport holder wallet: amzn.to/3f6VqNW
Passport holder USA: amzn.to/3Dhgex9
Vaccine card protector: amzn.to/3wWyD12
Waterproof phone cases on lanyards: amzn.to/3iXCuT6
Mesh beach bag: amzn.to/3KQPCFe
Travel binoculars: amzn.to/3iRzO9P
Packing cubes set: amzn.to/3wF1syG
Travel alarm clock: amzn.to/3iYuYXN
Night light (motion sensor): amzn.to/33eMEqP
Laundry hamper: amzn.to/396Xe9y
TSA locks: amzn.to/3tExU2l
Snorkel Mask: amzn.to/3wrcBjz
Water shoes: amzn.to/3G14O1g
Lock box safe: amzn.to/3ibZkqQ
Towel clips: amzn.to/3b4cj9V
Towel bands: amzn.to/3b44EIR
Reef safe sunscreen: amzn.to/3rHUlRS
Lip balm w/ SPF: amzn.to/3wI7Bsn
Aloe vera gel: amzn.to/3BSz1gX
Laundry hamper: amzn.to/2YMyJtw
Crew thank you cards: amzn.to/3zIBSr1
Travel binoculars: amzn.to/3iWz4Q9
Travel hairdryer: amzn.to/3xOxndy
Cover up: amzn.to/3gO5T1Z
Travel fan: amzn.to/3uMc24t
Motion sensor light: amzn.to/3Dx276T
Collapsable water bottles: amzn.to/3tXCtVw
Bonine: amzn.to/3NE87zo
Seabands: amzn.to/3LxvLvt
Ginger candies: amzn.to/370LBzP
Cruise first aid kit: amzn.to/3uqRn4c
LUGGAGE TAG HOLDERS
Royal Caribbean: amzn.to/3tvNzB5
Celebrity: amzn.to/3JB36Fk
Norwegian: amzn.to/3JzGiFP
Princess: amzn.to/3wvgW8t
Carnival: amzn.to/3uhaUFM
HAL: amzn.to/3tz7tLs
ULTIMATE CRUISE PLANNER: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-...
More Items we LOVE @ Life Well Cruised Amazon Store: amzn.to/3QaoV29
__________________
FTC LEGAL DISCLOSURE - Some links found in the description box of my videos are affiliate links, meaning that I will make a commission on purchases you make through my links, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I personally use, like and trust.
___________________
*Business inquiries: please contact Ilana at [e-mail]
ABOUT ME
Hi! I'm Ilana! I live in Montreal, Canada with my husband Frank. We can often be found dreaming about and planning future cruises, ideally to hot and sunny destinations! I believe in having fun, being kind and that you are never too old, or too young, to live the life of your dreams!
Please note that I do not sell cruises on Life Well Cruised. This and all other videos are for entertainment purposes only. I share my own opinions, personal experiences and information with other cruise travelers, which I hope can be helpful. Please contact your travel agent or the cruise line directly for advice and any information specific to your booking.
___________________
Video/ Photo Credits:
RCCL
Princess Cruises
Celebrity Cruise Line
Music Credit: Surf Time by Lux-InspiraMusic

[@LifeWellCruised]

anning a cruise? Get The Ultimate Cruise Planner. It's a 47 page printable cruise travel planner with packing checklists, shore excursion planning forms and much more! ($10 off for a limited time). Here are the details: lifewellcruised.com/ultimate-cruise-planner

[@santa6710]

Carnival has a thing on the menu called did ya that stands for did you ever there is a lot of different things there to try. I do love but didn't know you could eat more than one course I do now

[@dianamills895]

Love the planner. I was surprise of what you need.

[@lindabrown-clark1024]

Got mine!! Looking forward to first cruise!

[@pj1953a]

Relax

[@michaeltoma1023]

In replacement of thank you, I often say 'how do you say 'thank you' in whatever country their name tag says they are from and then repeat it with their first name. 'Salamat Malvin! ' Even if you botch it up, they are always excited and happy.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s such a great idea!! Really love this tip (I’ll probably share it with others in a future video) thanks for mentioning it

[@paulready8897]

Great tip. It goes a long way when you speak a few words in your crew member’s language like good morning, hello, please, thank you etc. they will appreciate the fact that you are making an effort to learn their language and culture.

[@joykruczay]

OH, my secret is out! 😀 I keep a list of common words and phrases in many other languages, and the staff is tickled someone sees them for individuals.

[@remirez2k3]

im glad someone brought this up as i do so regularly even at the local food carts here in oregon where i live ...i have a special cart i go to now and then that the owner is from thailand (best thai cart in town) and we have had conversations learning about her home city learning bits of the language and just getting to know each other.

[@tinaacord7798]

This is awesome. I usually tip in cash on the last day over the prepaid tips, but this cruise (Oct'22) I'm writing out little thank you cards for those crew members that I feel made my cruise extra special. I had planned to utilize Google's translator to translate from English to their native language in my cards. Hopefully, Google does a great job & I'm not saying something wrong, lol And Ilana, because of one of your "gift suggestions" for crew members, I'm going to give a pair of really comfortable socks along with the card & cash!

[@lyngreen6525]

We have ordered dessert to go and take it back to our room on the way to a show

[@grumpyandvee989]

Regarding dress code: my hubby and I dress to the nines! Not for anyone else, but for us. I don’t care what anyone else is wearing. We rarely get to dress up on land, so we use this as an opportunity to do so and take some awesome pics!

[@lisalettenmaier6718]

We find out what night they might be taking pictures? Then we dress to the nines, have a dressy photo to take home and then go to the restaurant for our own special occasion! 🥰🥰

[@frecovery619]

Agreed

[@jturie]

Excellent point. At home, when we go to an expensive fancy restaurant, I do not wear jeans and flip flops. The main dining room of a cruise is equally fancy, so why wouldn't one do the same? I also wonder if the wait staff pays more attention to nicely dressed folks?

[@wanderingwithintention]

Yes! I want to dress up because I can! :)

[@jenniferbond7073]

I agree! We are going on our first cruise next year and we plan to dress formal on formal night! I plan to wear a mermaid gown, over the top I know but don’t care. I wanted to wear a mermaid dress for my wedding and frankly I was too fat, I’m in great shape now so why not? This will make it more special. 😀

[@crystalconnor4516]

I love food when I cruise. I don’t have to cook and there are so many choices😊

[@DaveM-FFB]

Funny true story. As we waited to board a ship on embarkation day long ago, we noticed a family with 3 unruly young kids, and I joked with my wife that they would be our table mates in the main dining room. Turns out THEY WERE our table mates. After the first night we got that changed. Ever since then we've had wonderful table mates. Lol

[@susanwhite2466]

I don't mind sharing a table with others and I always treat my wait staff and any other staff with kindness and respect, I'm a true believer in the golden rule.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Love that!

[@pauletteingulia3107]

What I found helpful was to order coffee the night before and that way I could have coffee while getting dressed and not hurry to breakfast and scare people because I had no makeup and eases me into the day. Took a few cruises before I figured that out!

[@estherd8984]

One thing we love doing is tipping random people other than our servers or cabin stewards, i.e., the person cleaning the restrooms, wipping the stairways, handrails, etc.

[@kstaffen-justlovescruising]

Another thing is that if you want to try something new you can always ask for that main as an appetizer. Or, that works too if you can't decide what you want 😉 As for dress, and this is just my opinion, but people need to consider that the staff is trying to make your experience special. You have cloth tablecloths, fine service, fancier place settings, etc. If people show up dressed like they are going tona fast food restaurant, that is actually disrespecting the atmosphere the dining room staff is trying to create. So be respectful. At home, restaurants have dress codes that they enforce. Just because the ships are not enforcing them (often for no reason other than to avoid a physical confrontation) that doesn't mean you can't meet them, at least, halfway. Like I said JMHO.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Great points

[@jennifermills2940]

I understand your take on the dress code but they may need to either let that go or start spelling out expectations. I would rather see some in shorts than a dress so short it shows much more than shorts. Same with tops. Some are so revealing but we allow that for women but not men.

[@kstaffen-justlovescruising]

@@jennifermills2940 I saw spell out expectations 😉I totally agree with you. Since I only sail on Princess, I haven't seen too much revealing wear on women, but I can imagine. We enjoy the elegance of the fine dining atmosphere, but we are also more traditional cruising type people. But, absolutely, it would be nice if 'appropriate' dress was enforced. Doesn't have to be fancy or over-the-top, but not 'going out clubbing' attire. Don't even get me started on string bikini's when there are children around lol

[@tinaacord7798]

I agree. The main dining room is an elegant dining venue and I believe that everyone should at least make an effort to dress. I would say casual smart If not at least cocktail attire. There are so many other dining options where if you don't feel like dressing up, go to those other dining options that are more casual. Then, for those nights that you do feel like dressing a little dressier then go to the main dining room and experience the beautiful ambiance of the main dining room. It is more than just a dining venue. It's part of the cruising experience. Again, this is just my humble opinion.

[@carolynsteele9929]

I hear that you can order as much as you want but you really should eat what you order and not be wasteful. I hate seeing people order double meals and then just leave it on their plate - cause it’s ‘free’. We should never waste food.

[@lupemendoza7413]

I agree.

[@mikatu]

yes, because the food that doesn't get eaten will be..... thrown away!

[@jean8976]

Agree

[@pj1953a]

Relax

[@Kdaddy13]

This is why I take collapsible storage containers. I am horrid at my eyes being bigger than my belly. This way if I can't sleep and get munchies... I have snacks and don't have to spend extra money.

[@garykrantz4131]

I take a picture of the name tag of the crew who go above and beyond. That’s a big help when filling out the after cruise questionnaire. The crew get recognized for their service by supervisors. Even though we prepay gratuities, we will give extra to waiters, servers and others who go the extra mile for us.

[@travelwithdebandnick]

We love the elegance and class of eating in the main dining room :) its like being in a 5 star restaurant on land :) my fiance was surprised when the waiter pulled out his chair and placed the napkin on his lap. I love the classiness of eating there and love dressing up :) makes me feel im eating somewhere special :)

[@missybertucci8997]

I totally agree with saying thank you to your server plus dressing accordingly for the night dining

[@sengamilne]

We are ALWAYS polite. We always make a point of thanking our wait staff after EVERY meal, before leaving the dining room. It shocks us how disrespectful some cruisers are.

[@ssnydess6787]

I learned about double ordering on my second cruise in the early eighties on Carnival. It was great! I was just into my thirties and on formal night myself and my posse were denied access to the main dining room because we weren't wearing ties. So we went back, got ties and coats and showed up in shorts! There were no rules then, so we had a huge laugh and fun!

[@harborspringsgirl]

My husband &I have always just enjoyed our wait staff.They are a lot of fun to talk to. To make their lives easier, we always give additional cash tips. It makes us happy too.

[@jamesbuttigieg2879]

Two things that I totally agree with you. Number one ,be polite to the waiters. Number two: if you don't want to dress up for dinner, then go and eat at the buffet or pool bar! Dressing up to dine in the main dining room is one of our highlights during a cruise.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s nice. Im sure it makes your evenings more special on a cruise I think we will have to get used to, at least on some cruises, that some people dress more, and some people less. Still dress how you feel best :)

[@Ladybug_62]

Totally agree

[@algray8389]

Hello James, I totally agree with both of the points. If you are going out to dine, you dress up. It is a date night. If you go for fast food or a buffet, come as you are, it is totally acceptable. On my last cruise, I was one of the few gentlemen wearing a tuxedo. While most men wore at least a suit jacket, many came up to me and informed me that they had wished they had brought their tuxedo. Many of the women and staff also came up and commented on our evening wear. It is a very special time, so why not celebrate. To the first point - Always, always, always be polite to the cruise staff.

[@slradogna]

Let it rest. If it is a highlight for you, please do dress up. If you don't want to see others and how they are dressed please close your eyes as you chew.

[@WebbyWunda]

So, you're saying the majority of guests - those who choose to follow the restaurant dress code - must cater to the few who refuse to do so. Dining with eyes closed is the solution ... What a nice attitude. Following a dress code shows courtesy and respect for other guests AND the staff. If someone is not willing to make the slight effort required to dress up a bit - even for the 'elegant' evening/s - there are plenty of other options available on board.

[@jaydub7386]

Ugh, I hate eating with strangers. It’s good to know that I can change tables.

[@druegillis1744]

Really love your enthusiastic videos! Being nice to the MDR waiters goes a long way to an enjoyable dining experience. On our last cruise, steak was not on the menu very often. When I could not find any entree that sounded good, I asked our waiter if it was possible to get a steak. He said “of course.” He actually got one from the steakhouse restaurant and I really was thankful. He took care of us the whole cruise with a smile and an occasional joke. On the last night, we all tipped him and there were smiles all around. Be friendly, smile and kind and you will find people will reciprocate.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Wow, that’s amazing! I guess it shows it never hurts to ask. Thanks for sharing:)

[@joykruczay]

When you don't ask, the answer is always no!

[@maryalice578]

The food on a cruise is one of my favorite aspects of cruising. I am a good home cook and we live in a rural area so when we go cruising, being served amazing food that I didn’t have to prepare is such a treat! I agree that this is the time to try something new. I’ve been lucky enough that I’ve never been disappointed by a cruise kitchen, but I know that if it happens I can easily replace my choice with another dish.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s great! Definitely a nice treat, especially when you are normally the cook at home

[@wisskier]

Truth! Even "cattle class" dining is out-of-this-world good on a cruise!

[@lantran8967]

What cruiseline would you recommend?

[@maryalice578]

@@lantran8967 the food on Celebrity is outstanding.

[@hbeinke88]

Order as many dishes as you can eat, but don't be like one person who I heard of who ordered everything on the menu. The head chef himself came out himself and said he wasn't doing that.

[@margaretgreen9204]

I can tell you that Princess is absolutely amazing about restrictive diets. Mom had may limitations because of some of the meds she took and because of diverticulosis. The Maitre D' would go over the next days menus with me and arranged for adjustments if there was something Mom wanted but which had ingredients she couldn't have. They also often made meals especially for her, off menu items. The chef in Sabatini's even created an entire menu just for her.

[@tpkyterooluebeck9224]

I wish more people would discuss cruising with food allergies! People tend to think that its just one item we can't have. My list is so ridiculous that I never really dared go on a cruise line (if I could afford it). They will mention Vegan and vegetarian, but what if you need that dish without: gluten, alcohol, onion, horseradish, aioli, spicy nightshades, paprika, shellfish, legumes, cauliflower, cabbage, cinnamon and definitely can't have cross contamination with poultry (except egg)? And what if you develop a more serious corn derivative allergy such that you really can't cheat anymore? Do they even do gluten free noodles that aren't corn noodles? Is gluten free bakery items corn flour or what flour do they use? Cruiselines don't tell you this on their webpage. I do best when the only obvious corn is corn starch, but in small doses in that I'm not eating this twice a day, or two days in a row. Yeah, having a chef accommodate me? I'd feel sorry for the chef! I'd say any staff cooking for me, deserves an extra pay rate! ROFL

[@lisalettenmaier6718]

I’ve read comments from different cruise lines and was shocked and amazed when people say they couldn’t find anything to eat that satisfied them! We’ve eaten at buffets and multiple specialty restaurant and have always enjoyed everything! I think people just want to complain! Great videos and you’re so helpful and happy! ❤️

[@ellenkirkpatrick7735]

On a recent family cruise we made a pact pre-cruise to try something for the table each night. We any time dining but liked our servers the first night and reserved that table for 7 each night. The server got into our "for the table" pact and brought other things for us to try. It was fun.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s great! Really love this

[@kellycz2877]

How fun!

[@thomaseberle2818]

We were at a table with a couple who were obnoxious to our servers. As much as we tried to make up for it, it impacted our service. Just be nice, people!

[@timothycollins3829]

Another tip I would add (which you sort of referenced), most ships will have alternative menus that are available. For example, a children's menu. It's usually simpler food, but can provide an option for smaller appetites. For example, on Celebrity the children's menu often includes a 4 Oz. Filet Mignon that is very good. Also, many ships will offer a full Vegan or Vegetarian menu and not just the single option available on the normal menu. Biggest point is to ask. The staff is always ready to help and will accommodate whenever possible. In terms of thanking crew, another great tip is to go to guest services and fill out a commendation card naming the crew member specifically. These comments get used by the managers and can be helpful in obtaining promotions.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Great tip! I actually never knew about a 4 oz steak option on the kids menu. I’d order it lol

[@traceymarshall5886]

Vegetarian/vegan food was not great on Royal Caribbean - I recommend Virgin Voyages for food....i cannot imagine sailing with any other cruise company after going with Virgin

[@robertbaty6939]

I occasionally order the banana split from the children's menu on Royal Caribbean.

[@johnphelps9788]

If you have special dietry needs talk to the Maitre De and explain what your requirements are. My wife requires a salt free diet and on our first cruise we mentioned it to the table waiter at dinner. He arranged for the head waiter to speak to us after our meal and he in turn assured us that it would be no problem to accommodate us. After each evening meal (whatever venue we were eating in) the head waiter would bring us a copy of the menu for each meal the following day. He would recommend which selections would suit and my wife ordered her meals accordingly. There were a number of other passengers being catered for in this way, as they catered for diabetic, vegan, gluten free etc. It was done with no fuss or bother, just a friendly chat with the head waiter before we left the table. We have done around 2 dozen cruises since on multiple cruise lines , (our last was 40 days from Australia to the UK pre pandemic) and each time we have had the same consideration from dining room staff. They will go out of their way to please you.

[@KathyInTheKitchen]

So much good info packed into this video. I feel like I just attended a masterclass in cruise etiquette and dining!

[@ducheau100]

One other tip I've found useful from my 10-15 cruises is that you get slightly better service during the traditional set time dining than the anytime dining. With the anytime dining there is a good chance you will have a different server each night especially if you don't show up at the same time. With traditional set time seating you get the same server and that server will want to build a relationship (and hopefully get an extra tip) with you and I've found the service is better and more personal. With anytime it is still good but not as.

[@ashleaspruce8185]

I love dress codes bc it’s one of the highlights in cruising , to me anyway😍. The waitresses made all the effort to dress neatly for the cruisers they’re serving so let’s all get dress beautifully and pretty and enjoy the food, service and the cruise that we earned hard back home where you came from!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Sounds wonderful

[@Magpieme98]

Ilana, thanks for such an informative video. My family just returned from an 8 night cruise and had the best time. We particularly enjoy the formality of dressing up a bit and having dinner in the MDR every night. We chose My time dining because we like the flexibility. On our first night, we were seated next to a couple and started chatting to them. We became friendly and had dinner with them every night after! The restaurant managers accommodated our request to sit together and kept the same table for us every night. We enjoyed getting to know our waiters a bit and learning about their lives. We also chose to eat in the MDR for lunch a few times and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@robertfoerster566]

I love the main dining! I try to get up a few days early to enjoy the quick sit-down breakfast when I can...I love buffets but love sit-down breakfast even better. Thank you!

[@dianehallwas6570]

I love the main dining room! Great service, wonderful food and a wide variety. I don't get out to eat at restaurants a lot so it is a real treat.

[@LifeWellCruised]

So nice!! Thanks for sharing

[@emg4454]

You were spot on with your tips and things you need to know. I only cruised on Carnival since I have been cruising. I eat in the MDR for breakfast and dinner, the staff does deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. They go out of their way to make you feel worthy dining with them. I always tip the morning when we leave the ship eating breakfast. Thanks for sharing your tips.

[@LifeWellCruised]

You’re right, and thanks for sharing the it’s a great idea to have breakfast in the dining room too

[@michaelj3971]

I've cruised a fair amount, but your tips were in depth and added nuance, so they are really helpful even for experienced cruisers. In addition to saying thank you (and the prepaid gratuities, which I like), I like to remember the names of any wait staff that is especially helpful. That makes it easy to add a commendation for them on the after-cruise feedback form. Really good video!

[@Clothed-with-His-Glory]

I’m going on my 100th cruise soon. A day count is 4.5 years at sea. Taking a first timer with me and I found your advice to be solid.

[@og1689]

IF YOU USE AUTOMATIC CRUISE GRATUITIES, YOU ARE NOT TIPPING THE CREW THAT GAVE YOU SPECIAL SERVICE, YOU ARE PAYING ALL CREW'S SALARIES WHICH IS THE CRUISE LINE'S JOB!

[@mpoulin]

I agree with not being late to the dinner if you're not on anytime dining with one caveat. My tip is to be a "little" late, as in a minute or two. If your dinner is at 6p, show up at 6:02p. You will see people lining up for 20 minutes before dinner, standing around, in a big crowd. I used to do that as well and it kind of reminds me of the old style muster drill (thank goodness those days are gone). Then the doors open and everyone charges inside. I've since realized that there's no point standing around. Have a drink or something, let everyone else stand around, then stroll right in a minute or two after. You're basically on time and you didn't spend 20 minutes a day, for 7 days (2 hours and 20 minutes of your cruise week) unnecessarily.

[@marilynfields8515]

Good advice! I never thought of that! 🙂

[@mikatu]

Or just arrive on time like any responsible person!

[@jeanselines106]

Best tip is to speak up if you are uncomfortable with your table in the dining room or the folks you are sitting with are making you uncomfortable. It happened to us once and when I told the maitre d' we could not sit with this one person he looked at us, shook his head and calmly said, "No one can." He then immediately changed our table.

[@clintmatthews3157]

If you have time , and if you have the second dining phase , lightly sample the early dinner buffet because it will have many of the menu items you will see at formal dining . That way you kinda know what is good and what is not so good when you order off the menu

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

What I have done previously, is to order two hors d'oeuvres, one main, and no dessert. But I have never thought to combine two mains. Now, thanks to you, I defiantly shall consider it.

[@kathyklump8616]

Dinner in the main dining room is the best any time of day. Great place to try new things!

[@kathyklump8616]

Yes. Main dining is the best. Love being treated so well and a great time to try new food. I also love the local cuisine choices offered.

[@LifeWellCruised]

You’re right. So nice

[@stuartmcnicol2914]

We choose anytime dining now. We used to choose late seating, often we would meet some very nice folks and end up chatting away the evening. It was nice not to feel any pressure to leave as there was not additional dining times. most of all relax and go with flow…enjoy yourself!

[@erikasenchanteddisney7629]

Your videos are so informational! Love them!

[@kimpetronick9789]

Can you request to have a table next to the window?

[@raisafrancisco7323]

Hi, Ilana! I just came back from my 2 NCL cruises, one to the Mediterranean n the Epic and one on Breakaway to the Caribbean. I used many of your tips from other videos like the asking cubes, the magnet hooks, and especially the Thank You cards for staff members. I have to say that I loved the for in the main dinning rooms as well as in the specialty ones. Thanks for your tips!

[@LifeWellCruised]

I’m so glad to hear your cruises went so well!!

[@Gardis72]

I'm thinking of booking NCL Breakaway on a fall cruise from NYC. How did you like it? Any worries about covid testing on board?? I fear that.

[@johnam1234]

Thanks for the info for cruise trip I hope to enjoy soon

[@georgeukr]

All great tips! Especially I appreciate you mentioned to ask to possibly combine two dishes to not waste food. I see it way too often when people are wasteful.

[@janicesimmons94]

This is my first cruise and I'm finding your videos very helpful so thank you!

[@Pljh1719]

Great video! We love the main dining room. Food has always been very good and trying new things is fun. Usually if I don't care for it my husband will eat it. We will order different things and then share. We enjoy dressing up for a couple of nights "formal nights" I really don't mind what other people do it's their vacation but for us it's fun , we are glad that the cruise s still do this.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Loved your comments

[@jennyfrblock]

I’ve only been on a Disney cruise. At the time I went it was just me & my 7yr old son. I’m glad they sat us with families with only 1 son. My son was able to bond every night with the boys & it gave me times to talk to an adult. I’m planning a family one for either Carnival or RC in late 2023.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That is great! Thanks for sharing

[@angelafenn7962]

Love your tips and suggestions! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks Angela!!

[@carolyntemplin488]

Ilana, I totally agree dressing nicely in main dining is respectful to all...and a nice touch for a beautiful night out

[@LifeWellCruised]

Seems we think alike on this :)

[@gorfette]

We were just on the HAL Nieuw Amsterdam and they were so generous with the dress code. We came back from and excursion wearing hiking shoes and comfy clothes and they let us seat with no hassle. I was so happy with them letting us come and go as we needed.

[@andygrant1974tricky]

Great tips and many thanks.

[@deborahreynolds630]

I love eatting in the main dining room! Got my daughter to try escargo and lobster as well as many other items we normally would not have had. Great opportunity and If you don't like something, the wait staff go out of their way to make sure you leave full and happy. We asked for a single vanilla ice cream for my four year old grandbaby and he brought her a banana split! Once they know your preferences, extra goodies just kind of show up! Also MDR has a great little breakfast steak so also good for breakfast

[@LifeWellCruised]

Loved reading your comments! What a great experience for everyone, including the kids!

[@brendaw.7597]

Great tips, thanks!

[@VomBethel]

Interesting video. Thank you for sharing your tips! We tried traditional dining on Royal Caribbean -- didn't like it at all. Having to eat the same time every night with the same people who we didn't know was just not for us. Sometimes we find the main dining room for dinner to be a bit "stuffy" and will opt for the buffet or an included casual restaurant. However, we do enjoy the food in the dining room and being served instead of serving ourselves. The staff is usually very accommodating to our requests and desires. Our tip: the main dining room for breakfast and/or lunch is a treat! It's a bit more casual than dinner and the food is usually really good.

[@joycerock1383]

Thanks for the tips!

[@michelesensenig7643]

Very helpful! Thank you! It has been 10 yrs since our last cruise and finally doing another this summer.

[@yomommagotass751]

It’s been awhile since I was on an RCL cruise, but I really enjoyed the conversations we had with other cruisers. We still talk to this day. We’ve been on NCL lately and wish this was an option

[@torycook1215]

Thanks 🙏. Well done 👍🏽

[@paulhaley5344]

great tip ,,,regarding special menu ,,during formal dress code at main dining room.. !

[@StyleWithCathyOver50]

Excellent advice! 😊

[@anavalente2226]

Hi 😊 Me and my mom are going to our first cruise in december 2022. My mom doesn’t know yet because it’s a surprise i’m going to make. So i’m learning a lot by your vídeos, thank you so much. Kisses from Portugal.

[@susanbritton-giza5054]

Nice video ! Thank you ! Dress well too ! It doesn’t take much 😍

[@annmariecrawford6958]

We enjoy most all meals in the MDR for breakfast lunch and dinner it's just such a pleasant way to enjoy a meal on vacation for us!

[@mercyrodriguez5780]

As usual a very good informative video!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks so much! I appreciate you watching

[@gene570]

Excellent advice regarding proper dress code.

[@JoanDarrin]

love all your videos...only am going to Alaska in Sept, wondering what to wear there thanks again

[@teresamagnusson8711]

Thanks for the tips. I usually just let the wait staff know of my allergies when I set down to eat the first day. We have a cruise booked so I'm going to take your tip and let them know now before I get there. They are very accommodating when it comes to food allergies. Thanks again for the tip.

[@LifeWellCruised]

You’ve done the right thing as well. If you have a severe allergy making sure the waiter knows too, is smart

[@ths3900]

Great tips. I really like the MDR. I hope this helps encourage others.

[@barbarashuster9029]

On three cruises where we had traditional dining we were so very lucky to have wonderful table mates! I'm even friends on Facebook with a couple. On our river cruise we sat with different people many nights, but when there's a 138 on board you get to meet so many different people so there's always somebody you have already met to eat with!

[@LifeWellCruised]

So nice!!

[@davidhurwitz2291]

On a Viking River cruise, I had the best lamb chops and the tastiest lobster Mac and cheese. Since the river cruises have less than 200 cruisers, the chef shops for local food in the visited ports. Everything tastes fresh.

[@rehannarose3343]

The MDR staff have always been the most outstanding staff members on any cruises we’ve taken. I still remember all of their names! We like to leave a little gratuity/thank you note at the end of our journey.

[@marilynfields8515]

As an avid cruiser and former travel counselor, I was already aware of the hints and tips you shared. However, I thought your detailed explanation was TERRIFIC! This is a MUST for first-time cruisers to watch and learn. Even experienced cruisers could use your advice. I especially liked that you reminded them to be polite. I've seen some really nasty people talking to staff. Some people think they're entitled, I guess. I have a couple of food allergies and you are correct about how they make sure your food is not contaminated. They usually will give me the menu for the next night's dinner so I can pick it out ahead of time. Also, I was given special desserts at times because of my allergies. So, I asked the server if they had the dessert on our following cruise. The chef made a special batch of it not just for me, but for the entire table and for the duration of the cruise. When you're nice to the staff, they often will go out of their way or do special things for you. We will request the same servers the next time we go on their ship. They are always so happy to see us! Personally, I love the traditional, main dining over anytime dining. I especially love getting dressed up for dinner. It makes it more exciting, I think. Thanks for sharing this video. Hopefully people will take your advice and have better etiquette. :-)

[@temmietaft2552]

I truly enjoyed this video. Thanks for sharing!!

[@LifeWellCruised]

Thanks for watching!

[@fsd34760]

Great advice ❤

[@seanconnor8026]

Thank you for your videos. I'm enjoying learning some of these tips. I'm taking my girlfriend on her first cruise for her 50th birthday in June 2024. She doesn't like to have me go out of my way for her so I figure just being very prepared to make things go smoothly so we can enjoy everything as much as possible will be nice for her. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.

[@wifarmboyhunting8782]

Thank for your videos. Going on first cruise. Your video have been a big help.

[@LifeWellCruised]

So glad this was helpful!

[@jennab8544]

This video was so helpful! I am going on my first cruise in August - Allure of the Seas! We are planning to have dinner at the MDR most nights. Thank you for all the tips!

[@LifeWellCruised]

I’m so glad it was helpful! Great cruise

[@travelwithdebandnick]

We do any time dining and always get a table for just my cabin ❤️

[@ashleeb8518]

I'm about to go on a carnival cruise and I read that you can order up to 3 entrees in the main dining room now, after that there is a surcharge. I like this rule. I'm sure it'll help with the amount of food people waste.

[@sofiaricalde757]

Thank you for all the great tips. We'll be cruising Alaska the first time with Holland, which is better open seating or traditional/ pick seating? Your help is appreciated

[@rheam5580]

Thanks for the info. Goin on a cruise next week. For table for 2, do you have to request it and call ahead or just ask when you get there?

[@PrettyJuls]

I’m enjoying your videos

[@pam7313]

Very good video. I found it helpful. Never thought to ask for 2 appetizers great idea

[@LifeWellCruised]

Great! Yes, we always think back to how it was common to have 4 courses when we started cruising so it was soup or salad, appetizer, main dish, dessert. When it changed waiters told us we could still order 2 appetizers, this was just a menu change

[@JohnHoganN8]

Love watching the changing dynamic on a shared table over the duration of a cruise but definitely not for us! Be nice to teach some folks how to eat properly with a knife AND a fork. Agree, miss the days of more formal nights on cruises .

[@susanlittle2890]

I love that I can change potato for rice if I want. They always try to accommodate menu changes.

[@inthegreatwide]

We are SO looking forward to the food on our upcoming cruise! It will be our first time on Norwegian and our first time eating at a specialty restaurant instead of just at the main dining room every night. I will say though that on our Royal Caribbean cruise, they did turn away a friend of ours for trying to wear sandals and a tshirt to dinner. He ended up just putting on a button-up shirt (unbuttoned though) over his tshirt and changed his shoes and that was fine.

[@papigrande1971]

Yes!!! Agreed dressing up for formal night just shows respect.

[@LifeWellCruised]

👌

[@rebeccapetts5702]

My first cruise was on carnival splendour, the included meals were amazing and there was something new to try every night like frogs legs and snails, the staff even practiced a different dance every day to entertain guests during their meal and remembered our names and what drinks we usually had with our meal !! Pizza to die for, guys burgers included, although the buffet was a bit of a let down especially compared to what I saw on the p&o pacific Explorer virtual tour. Cant wait to book with them just for the buffet/food court

[@virginieholmes813]

Bonjour, Ilana!! What great new news. I haven't been on ship in so long. Happy to hear one can opt for a single table. However, I, like you, have met some really wonderful people while sharing the dinner table. I do like that I'm able to let the maitre de table know if there is not not a table match. The excite-o-meter is rising. Whoot! Have a great day.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Hope you’re cruising soon! Lots of fun to look forward to 👏

[@Bee_licious92]

Thanks for this information. Very helpful for my cruise next month. I have a question. How many bottles of wine and can sodas could I bring on board?

[@evelynr.6835]

I always try to look at the menu before getting on board so I can decide if I need to book a specialty dining instead. This helps in making reservations around shows too.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Great idea

[@SigmaRho2922]

I was in the main dining room for the first six nights of my cruise to Alaska that happened in July 2023. The seventh night I had dinner at the Strathcona hotel in Victoria.

[@judithgolightly3131]

It is good to dress nicer for the formal or “evening chic” dinners in the main dining room, but you don’t have to wear a formal gown (unless you really want to). I usually take a nice pair of dress pants and a couple of different dressy tops to wear with these dress pants and that is sufficient for the dressy evenings.

[@deborahhymer9315]

I have ordered a second lobster tail without the accompaniments. A whole froup of us, 42, wore togas to main dining on our first night at sea. All were tasteful and everyone on the cruise got a kick out of it and would always ask us if we were part of the toga group. For formal night we did go all out. As a side, the cruise line was aware ahead of time about the togas.

[@denisepettke-price9913]

Very good information. I have severe allergies but I never wanted to bother anyone with it, I just eat what seems safe. And the suggestion to avoid the subject of politics is spot on!! Several years ago we were seated with 3 other couples in the dining room. They began talking politics (definitely not my opinions) and we just couldn't stand it. I did finally have to make a comment. They were shocked! We then got up and went to the buffet. It took several years before we ate in the main dining room again when we found we can eat alone.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Oh no! What a terrible experience. Btw, some cruise lines are partnered with Dine Aware and really take this seriously and will find ways to make sure you eat well, but safely

[@jodiwaterson8174]

On my very cruise, I wasn’t aware that you could order multiple items for dinner, now it’s one of my favorite secrets that I tell everyone so it doesn’t happen to them

[@JulieWallis1963]

My husband and I cruise frequently. We love the formal dining, but the two times we’ve taken our grandchildren, the children have really, really enjoyed the buffet. I guess it’s quite exciting for them to be able to pick and choose their food as they wish. My granddaughter Lilly even chose miso soup for her breakfast one morning.

[@ellafitzpatrick1856]

Could you please do a video of the key on royal Caribbean is worth it and the refreshment package thanks