21 Tips for the Best Cruise Ship Main Dining Room Experience 

I almost hate to share this secret, because it may get overused and perhaps stopped. On one cruise, we got into a conversation with our main server about popular native dishes from their country. This is what they are all eating behind the scenes we found out. Russians, Filipinos, Indians, etc. The ship prepares all of their favorite, common comfort food for THEM. So we asked if we could try the dish he mentioned. He was proud to bring us some. "Some" he brought us a ton of his favorite native food. So each night, we asked the different servers if they would bring us some of their food to sample, and each one was very happy to do so, and it seemed the ship had given them the green light on this request in advance, if asked. So every night, we had a guest entree from the menu, as well as a dish or 2 of a more "exotic" foreign dish. They were all delicious and just made dinner just so much more memorable. We started skipping the bread and salads because we knew we'd have a big dinner. We got to try some dishes that very possibly we may have never had in our entire lives. Every dish was something we never had. Not your stereotypical American version food from those countries, but rather their "go to" dishes they'd eat at home often.

We usually cruise with family members and use traditional meal time. We do our own thing during the day but eat dinner as a family. We tell our teenage sons that they don't have to be "attached" to our hips all day but dining time is 5:30 so be at our table dressed appropriately at that time. Works for us!

I miss formal night where everyone dressed up! It was always enjoyable and everyone looked great!

Last year on Liberty, we were seated at an adjacent table to someone whose topics of conversation were very controversial and the complete opposite of our views. We talked to the dining room supervisor about moving our table, and they were on it. We were moved to the opposite side, table for two next to a window, and no one talking about the extermination of our fellow human beings.

Last year we did the My Time Dining, and we ended up having the same table and wait staff every night that we used the dining room. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this!

Just spent 2 weeks on Oasis. Ate all but 3 of my dinners in the MDR. One: due to excursion, two: show moved to 5pm and the third was last day. Enjoyed every meal. Got to try some items I would not normally choose but because they were featured that day, I tried it and enjoyed it. The food was delicious, warm to hot, and I was out of the MDR within 60 minutes most nights, and once, in 33 minutes. Be mindful that the larger the table, the longer it takes. During my 2nd week, I was able to sit by myself (solo cruiser this time). I did enjoy having the same servers of the set-time dining routine and they made an effort to know what I like: they always brought me a diet coke soon after I sat down. Was very disappointed to hear of Ben and David's experience on Symphony. All I can say is that my experience on Oasis last week and the previous one, was (the complete opposite) amazing.

We do the my time dining each night, but we request the same servers. We have never had to wait more than 5 to 15 minutes. We just got back from a five day on the Navigator and Vipin and Simon were absolutely fabulous. They anticipated our every need and were the best waiters we have ever had.

It’s something about Matt that always get me hyped to cruise! I haven’t been on a cruise or travel with my husband for a getaway since 2019 that is about to change very soon

I am not disagreeing with you Matt but in regards to formal nights on a cruise I do miss the old days when formal meant tuxedos or dark suits and gowns for women.

Just returned from my first RC cruise. Adventure of the Seas. I was only on cruise prior to this. Video is spot on. We did the buffet often, but the main dining room is fantastic. We made reservations and had no trouble getting in and seated. Waiter and Assistant Waiter were great. Food is excellent and you can order what you want from the complimentary list. We ordered two shrimp cocktails and two onion soups each time.

GREAT tips!! Also, with My Time, we've been able (with reservations) to request the same table/waiters. The Head Waiter for that area of the MDR came by on the first night and asked if we would like to keep the same table and waiters. It worked for us!

I love the main dining room! Would choose the MDR over Windjammer any day.

These are great tips. We have tried the specialty ones, but are now back to just the MDR for dinner as well as some breakfasts and lunches. We love the MDR because of the wait staff--we have made friends who we have run into on another ship in the future AND they remembered us. As you might guess we got outstanding service. We love learning about their homes and you are totally correct as to them learning our favorites. I almost always order more than one item; although usually not the entree. I have been viewing these videos recently as our countdown has begun for our next one in July and I want to make sure I haven't forgotten anything or nothing has changed i do not know. Thank you!

I really like the main dining! I love that the portions sizes are smaller. I always eat too much on a cruise.

We cruised with our little ones on Carnival and the food was much better than than the specialty dining or lido deck. Our kids actually enjoyed dressing up both nights having the same staff treat them like royalty just made it worth the dining experience. My daughter was able to order the steak from the main menu with a side of fries instead of the kids menu.

Just got off Serenade with a group of 12. I'm an extremely picky eater and all 12 of us have different tastes. Not one of us was disappointed in the MDR at all! Service and food were great as usual. The only hiccup was due to a very rude couple that stole one of our assigned tables for 6 and refused to be moved! They even yelled at my family members that arrived first. The staff did all they could but had to split us up that first night to avoid a bigger scene and ruin everyone's night in the vicinity. To apologize, they gave us all free champagne the next night and it wasn't even their fault. That's the kind of service that keeps people coming back!

Great idea re: the dining restrictions. I just put information about my bariatric/gastric surgery to the 'special needs' folks, and I'll also mention this to my server and the MDR supervisor.

Great video as always!! Love the segment at the 13:13 mark! That's one rowdy Chef's Table!

Thanks Matt! Good to know portions are small and we can order more than one Entree. We have My Time Dining on day 1, wanted to assess our experience. If Great we’ll Dine on Casual days for more intimate experience! I must say… your Video has really been helpful for me ( we are first time Cruisers) this is my Birthday trip. I must say, I feel that my experience will be smooth transition. See Some of you on Saturday on the Harmony ❤️🚢❤️

Oh my, that french onion soup looks divine!

I love all the tips...it helps to know all the changes since my last cruise 16 years ago

I've been looking at the food options for the MDR and I'm excited to try it especially new foods. Our cruise isn't until next year and I know the meal options can change in a year but at least I can get an idea of what to expect.

Stupid comment, but whoever the narrator is, they have a good voice. Some voices are no good for listening time and time again. His is the kind that is easy to listen to,

The way you did the drinks lol, I don’t know what’s included and not included cos you said it all in one sentence 😂

I cannot imagine ordering more than one of a course. Those portions already look more than sufficient. They all look very yummy though, Thanks for the tips.

Just came off the Independence of the Seas three day cruise. Found the new menus lackluster at best. The New York steak was super thin, maybe being 1/2 inch thick. Some of the meats we received were overcooked and dry. We had similar feelings about the buffet. The only thing that was consistently good was the grilled fish. This is not the pre-Covid RCL I remember.

You know something, my last two week cruise was in January and I got the unlimited specialty dining package. Me and my fiance never steeped in the MDR once. The food was so out of the is world at the specialty restaurants. We even made friends with a waiter at Jaime's on Anthem of the Seas.

Hi Matt, I am a woman (64) from Europe, with a severe chronic illness (muscle- connective tissue- and bone disease) and other diseases. I have a son (now 29) who also has the same muscle- and connective tissue disease and other diseases as well. So w would like a calmer ship with no little kids!! I love kids but with our problems we can not deal with the noise they make anymore, certainly not in the restaurants. And would love to have a 'promenade' with shops and so on the ship to. I would love to take a cruise someday for a longer period of time, with my son, but we can't stay in one room together 24/7. Reasons: we often cannot sleep at night because of the excruciating pain, but sometimes I need to be able to rest while he works (he has to take his laptop with him on a cruise because he is a self-employed author!!) and vice versa, for example: if I want to watch TV and he wants to rest. So a separate sleeping area would be ideal!! A twin bed, preferably in a separate room. I would really like a balcony (preferably shady, because I can't stand the sun! And the son has a sun-allergie!) so that he can work outside or I can read outside. And then enjoy seeing and hear the soothing waves!!! So an outside cabin with a balcony and separate sleeping area. On top of that, there are other problems too!! 1) Neither of us can stand for long, so queuing is hell for us! Like with the boarding!! And we can't move far either (if the room is far from the elevator, for example, that would be problematic!!). Is there a solution to such problems? 2) None of us have internet on our mobile phone/smartphone (not advisable for medical reasons (drowsiness!!))!! What to do about those apps that you should use for all kinds of things??? 3) Would love to have room service too, because sometimes we are in so much pain that we could barely move to go out to eat! But that would probably cost too much money. I am a (complete) vegetarian and my son also likes it, although he does like minced meat, haha. We love to have a wide choise in restaurants (buffet, Italian, as long as they have vegetarian food on their menu!!). 4) Neither of us has a driver's license, so we should be able to stay in a hotel really close to the port where the ship is docked, a very short distance away (because we can't walk far!!!). Or is there a solution for that too??? And then, some questions: - until what time can one eat something or order something via room service? - May people take a swim in the pool in the evenings or at night times (because in day time I can not stand the sun on my skin!! Turn into a dalmatian, so to speak.), So I like to swim when it's dark and a bit colder, even more than like cold ICE-water, btw; LOL!! BUT: Why do you want to take a cruise, you might ask? I love the sea: that smell, that air, that beauty, that power!!! Have been dreaming of taking a cruise for so long..... O yeah, my son and I do NOT smoke nor drink alcohol!!! We need to take lots of medication and that together with alcohol is a big NO GO!! And smoking with asthma would be very dumb, do you not agree ;-) So I hope it will come true one day 🤞🏻🤞🏻 XXXXXXXXXX Pinkie, warm greetings

icon of the seas is the best

This question goes out to all those who had a poor experience with the MDR food: did any of you choose to eat at the specialty restaurants after having such a bad experience in the MDR? And if you did, how was that food? Just curious, because my experience with the MDR was nothing but excellent, but that was last year (Symphony of the Seas). My experience with the specialty restaurants was even better than MDR.

Wait a minute, at 13:14, is that The Weekend Cruiser in the green shirt? It really looks like him.

Hey Matt, been subscribed for awhile now & although I haven’t done a RCL Cruise yet.. I do enjoy the cruise tips 👍 I’ve used the MDR breakfast tip on other cruise lines as well! Love the ease & less stress than the buffet ❤

GOOD TIPS, THE LAST ONE IS BANG ON!!!

We did my time dining for years pre-Covid and it worked great. Same waiters on most nights and could book anywhere from 6 to 7:30 and be seated immediately. No more! There is no longer a dedicated floor and staff for my time dining. The earliest you can reserve my time dining is 6:45. Our table is usually not available at 6:45 because the first main dining is not finished. They basically squeezed a third dining time between early and late. We’ve experienced this on many cruises and ships since Covid. We called and changed all dining to early seating until this is resolved, which probably will never happen now with reduced staff.

As far as we are concerned Royal Caribbean has the best food!!😊😊

My wife and I loved our recent cruise (Serenade of The Seas) out of Tampa. This video brings back some wonderful experiences!

We always choose My Time Dining and have found that we always get the same table with the same wait staff. No need to book early or late seating in order to get the same experience.

1:04 iced tea is included for free as well 🙌. However, I always get the soda 🥤 beverage package when I go on cruises and I always make good use of it.

Also if you like more seasoning that the typical mid westerner from say BFE Kansas, bring some spices. The food can be extra bland. I love traveling to foreign countries and ordering the local food so my plate has found tourist spots serve up bland food in hopes of not offending Karen from Ohio (or wherever). If you're Mexican or Indian and traveled to spots like Disneyland you'll know what I'm talking about.

On two cruises I had used the dining room. The first one I used 6 out of 7 nights. The second one I used it the first 3 nights then the buffet for 3 nights and solarium bistro the last night.

I kept waiting to hear "UP NEXTTT" 😅

The steaks in the main dinning are great, but of course the specialty steakhouse restaurants are even better.

Love this, thank you!! So excited for my two cruises booked!

Now one thing they could do to save plenty of money without affecting the service or the quality of the food would be the slow the ship down by one or two knots you would save a lot of people doing that in the tons

My brother cruised on Oasis OTS a couple months ago & had little positive to say about the current state of the MDR. Slow service, small portions, very limited choice & cold food. Staff cuts are affecting everything.

Is that Brandon The Weekend Cruiser in green shirt at 13:14?!

Fooooooood🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 Thank you!

Enjoy trying new dishes in the MDR.

went on our first RC cruise last year. we have been on 10 DCL cruises and the difference was amazing. RC you are a passenger, DCL you are a prized possesion. never again RC

My daughter just got off the freedom of the seas (nursecon) and she said the service was horrible. Their first round of drinks came after they finished eating. And some of them were wrong (chocolate martini was curdled)

been to spectrum. not bad. but MDR menus very very limited. rather eat windjammer

Good video, thank you❤

I just got off Ovation of the Seas. Service was great BUT food quality was poor. In fact it was the first cruise I have sailed that food quality was poor. RC is definitely trying to save money. The beef is a much poorer quality, often being very tough. RC has changed from butter to a butter mixture spread. We did complain and the waiter had butter at our table every night. Another item that is certainly lower quality is salad dressing which was watery and tasteless. I am ok with the new menu if they would bring the quality up.

All your tips are wonderful. I travel solo would very much like to hear one tip per vlog geared for solo travelers. Like, would a solo traveler be seated at a single table or with a grroup.

We returned from Rhapsody of the seas out of Barbados 9th-16th April after 16 cruises on rccl we did not have one good meal in the main dining room the worst food we have ever experienced a very repetitive menu.I’m afraid we will never sail with rccl again

This counts for most cruise lines.

I try to do the earliest traditional dining on every cruise. But the last few cruises I've been having the same problem every time. I put traditional timing, but it keeps being switched to my time? Had anyone else had the same thing happen to them?

Nothing before 8:15 is available for reservation with my time ☹️

We were on Odyssey in January and didn't eat in the MDR once because it was our honeymoon and we had specialty dining. Specialty dining definitely was delicious, BUT we ate in the Windjammer several times (and every time for breakfast) and were plenty pleased with it. We found plenty of things we loved even in the Windjammer. We also loved the pizzas and the sandwiches. I'm honestly not sure if we will want to eat much in the MDR when we go on Freedom in Oct, but mostly because it seems like such a time sink! Anyone else feel like its a time sink? Like you spend so much time in the MDR that you could be at the hot tub or shows?

For starters….I love your blog…..1st time on Royal. On embarkation day …will the main dining be open for service? Or is it just the Windjammer are your only choices on embarkation ?

I was recently on the Wonder of the Seas with my wife and family. Here's the best tip of all regarding the main dining room. Don't set your expectations high and you won't be disappointed. Definitely have a backup plan because you will need it. We are long time Royal Caribbean cruisers and are extremely disgusted with the food in the main dining room. HORRIBLE would be putting it mildly. New cruisers may not feel the same way because they have nothing to compare it to, but will still be disappointed. The food on Royal back in the day was second to none in the sea. In fact, it was one of the things that set them apart from other cruise lines. Not anymore, actually they have gone backwards. The food was mostly bland, cold and tasteless. They cover up cheap pieces of meat with nasty tasting gravy. Royal has bee overbooking the ships and this doesn't help the service in the dining room. It has definitely changed to a get em in and get em out atmosphere. The deserts look pretty but have NO taste. They took away the apple blossom which was the best dessert they had and also changed the warm cookie, garbage now. Forgot to mention that I got food poisoning on the ship and lost two days of my cruise. We are only a couple of cruises away from the next tier level but not excited about cruising on Royal anymore. Sometimes change is bad and they missed the boat with this one.

We just got off a 15 night cruise and thought the food was excellent.

It really bothers me to see people coming to the main dining room on formal night with shorts and flip flops on. I understand that people have a right to wear what they want to wear but if it's formal night and you don't want to dress formally then go somewhere else. There are other places to eat on the ship that don't care how you are dressed.. I just wish that people would respect the dress code.

Does anyone know what the recommended daily tip is per passenger? I know there are normally 4 crew members that receive it. (Waiter, Asst. Waiter, Head Waiter, and Cabin Steward)

Lots of whining going on here…News Flash, folks! The MDR isn’t Gourmet Restaurant quality! If food isn’t prepared well, be pleasant but firm and you’ll generally get things resolved just fine

Hi :) we are cruising on quantum in march next year :) it is our first royal carribean Cruise :) i was just wondering how soon do they put the exact menus for the cruise on the app? Is it just a few days before the cruise or weeks or earlier? We can see a menu currently but i dont think it's correct as it's the same menu every night with no theme.

Matt, if ONLY the food looked like the pictures you are showing in the video and was HOT we wouldn't have a problem with Royal Caribbean BUT they have literally gone downhill since reopening after the pandemic!!

Thanks for the information! If I choose traditional dining, can we decide to not show up on a particular evening and try to make a reservation for my time dining? or if we can’t make a my time dining reservation (because we chose traditional dining already) can we walk in and simply not show up for a particular night in the main dining room? Or is that rude?

I wonder if when they go to Spain the sale for hurricane season here in the United States do they change up the breakfast is two bit more of the European crowd

13:15 Is that The Weekend Cruiser? 😂

I have just booked my first cruise on icon of the seas and I am wondering if I purchase the non alcoholic drink package, if I am eating in the main dining room and want a coke with my dinner do I need to take the cola freestyle cup with me?

So on lobster night since I don’t eat shell first can I order two entrees? One being the lobster and then say a steak. Slide the lobster over to my wife (for her to enjoy a second one). Or will they charge us extra for that?

Are there any links to sample menus for the included restaurants, such as Windjammer and others?

1:00 why did you combine all the drinks into one? is this a guessing game of which one is included and extra?

We are booked on Icon and was wondering when you said some items are chargeable in the main dining room, will it state that on the menu?

Im gonna be real honest. We are booked on the Wonder leaving on June 11. The new “theme” menu does not look very appealing. I see a lot of fried foods and pasta. Living in Texas and having access to great Tex-Mex, I already foresee that night as a specialty dining night. Im also seeing a lot of “carbs” in these theme style meals……i.e. cheap fillers. I told my wife we will just need to be open-minded and choose wisely on the nights that we are in the main dining room.

Random question. Are there protein shakes available on the cruise ship for after a workout or meal replacement?

Great Video! I love the tip about ordering off of the kids menu! I’ve always had the palate of a child 😂, so I’m happy to know I have MORE options if I don’t like the “adult food”.

Do you make reservations for breakfast and lunch in the main dining or just go? We have dining package. Should we still get MyTime dining in case we eat there a few nights?

Did that menu show Escargot on MEXICAN NIGHT/

You mentioned we get a complimentary lobster tail on the second formal night? Why is it the second formal night I’m so confused lol will they tell us it’s complimentary?

I do not like the fact I need to say this...none of the food looked really appetizing to me...That is disappointing as I prepare for my very 1st cruise. There are so many changes...no all night buffets like I use to hear about in the past...people are dressed so casual...I love dressing up, which I still plan on doing...I am excited about my cruise...but I need to get the old days of a cruise out of my mind.

We only asked once to get an extra entree

One tip that I always recommend people when it comes towards cruising do not snap your fingers when it comes to the servers or people cleaning up things. I’ve seen my fair share of people on cruise ships, snapping their fingers at the workers, and demanding the service when that’s not the real proper way of doing it and when people do that I find it very disrespectful and rude, so do not snap your fingers. It’s absolutely rude and disgusting behaviour and that’s all I’m gonna say. These workers already have enough on their plate and what to do and they don’t need somebody snapping their fingers and trying to get their attention when they have a lotta things on their plate so don’t snap your fingers I just think it’s very bad behaviour and I just don’t like seeing that.

How soon are they posting the menus? We sail in three weeks, and there are still no menus in the app.

Are shorts and a t ok for kids in the main dining room on non formal nights?

Does Johnny Rocket still offer free breakfast?

Great job RCB ! Thank you ! 🤓

My wife and I actually found having the same wait staff a bit of a distraction. They wanted to talk the whole time and we couldn’t enjoy each other’s company because of it. I felt like I was forced to be friendly and was my only complaint with the main dinning room.

I really really don’t appreciate the new menus. I tend to get queasy at night now as I’m getting older and almost always just have the French onion soup for dinner. Now that we can’t have it every night it’s a serious disappointment. Sometimes it’s the little things they really get you. I know most people don’t care, but my kids and I actually ate off the classics menu every night 😢

We always tell the waiter that we will order dessert later.

Warning: DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO ON AN EMPTY STOMACH!

I see the pdf's of the new menus online - but how would I know what nights are going to be what menu? 9 Night Eastern Caribbean and Bermuda Cruise on Liberty of the Seas out of Bayonne Asking so I know when to book speciality dining - Thanks!

Ben and David just posted a video about the new menus and their horrible experience with extremely long waits and cold food.

My family is going on our first cruise ever. Does anyone know if you miss your dining time due to being in the port can you still show up and wait for a table. Also if you ate at the main dining room and maybe didn’t enjoy the selections can you go over to the buffet after ? Sounds crazy but I was wondering

SLOWLY PRONOUNCE ROYAL CARIBBEAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im thinking of skipping a day at port. I have the unlimited dining package. Will I be able to get lunch somewhere on the boat while at port?

Does anyone know where after noon tea is held on quantum?? How much it cost and what food they have for it?

I am seeking a recommendation for a travel agency to book my future Royal Caribbean cruise? Thanks in advanced

Is milk included as a complementary drink?