The Inside Scoop on Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas Dining Options
When it comes to cruising, I think we all know that while we’re there for the fun, we’re also there for the FOOD.
I recently took one for the team (😉) and cruised Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas JUST so I could share my take on the dining options included with my cruise fare.
So keep reading to get my take on this ship’s many dining options!
Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Dining Explained
First, you should know that every Royal Caribbean ship has at least three onboard dining options that don’t incur additional costs.
There are many dining options to choose from onboard any Royal Caribbean ship. However, most of them will incur an up-charge.
Each ship has a Main Dining Room and the Windjammer, which offers buffet style dining.
Additional dining options vary by ship, and you can purchase a specialty dining plan before your cruise.
But even without the speciality dining plan, you can make a reservation and dine in any specialty restaurant; you simply pay for what you order–exactly like you would at any restaurant.
Included Dining Options on Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas
Below is a list of the available dining options included with your standard fare on the Mariner of the Seas.
You can eat at any of these eateries without paying additional fees:
Main dining room (open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Windjammer (open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Café Promenade (open 24 hours)
Dog House (open for lunch and dinner)
Arctic Freeze (open afternoons and early evenings)
Continental Breakfast (room service)
Keep reading for my thoughts on each of the above dining options. 👇
Main Dining Room
First impressions? This is a huge restaurant. On Mariner of the Seas, it spans three floors!
It’s also the busiest restaurant on the ship, so if you’re looking for a quiet, intimate dining experience, you might want to splurge on one of the other restaurants.
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Main Dining Room offers multi-course meals. And while reservations are not required, I strongly recommend them, especially for dinner.
The food is excellent! My son and I ate here for dinner each night and for breakfast a few times as well.
We have nothing but rave reviews about the selection, quality, and taste of the dishes.
However, I did feel a bit rushed during our meals, probably due to the sheer volume of guests patronizing the restaurant.
Again, this dining option is included in your cruise fare. However, there are menu items, such as lobster or filet mignon, that incur extra fees.
Windjammer
The Windjammer offers buffet-style dining, but you are not allowed to serve yourself. This is a great option for quick service, and no reservations are required.
The best feature of this dining option is the number of options, so if you have a picky eater, this is the perfect spot for them!
Food options include burgers and fries, pasta, a wide selection of meats from the carving station, curry, and so much more.
As for the food–it was okay! It didn’t knock my socks off, but it hit the spot when we needed a quick, filling bite to eat.
Café Promenade
Café Promenade is the ship’s 24 hour dining spot.
The food here is pre-made and refreshed throughout the day.
Selections include half sandwiches, wraps, small salads, pastries, cookies, fruits, and other desserts.
I wouldn’t consider what’s offered here to be enough for a filling meal. Instead, these quick bites and snacks hit the spot when I need something to hold me over until dinner.
Dog House
Dog House is a hotdog stand located on the pool deck.
It’s open for lunch and dinner and offers everything from classic hotdogs to chicken sausage and bratwurst–plus all the toppings you could ever ask for.
Dog House is perfect for days at sea when you want to spend as much time by the pool as possible!
Arctic Freeze
Another Pool Deck option, Arctic Freeze offers soft serve frozen yogurt. But be warned: it’s only open a few hours in the afternoon and evening.
Continental Breakfast
Breakfast delivered to your room? Yes please! And the best part: you won’t incur additional charge for this room service.
How it works:
Each day, fill out the door card in your stateroom to select what you’d like for breakfast the next day as well as when you’d like it delivered. Hang the card on your door each night and the rest is taken care of!
Items on this menu include coffee, tea, juice, cereal and milk, bagels with cream cheese, toast, fruit, pastries, and yogurt.
And while you can order things such as eggs, pancakes, bacon, and hash browns, you will see a room service delivery fee of $7.95 per room.
But don’t worry–the menu card clearly indicates which items are complementary.
The continental breakfast option is for guests who enjoy lingering in their staterooms or who want to enjoy breakfast on their balconies.
Related: The Truth About Guaranteed Staterooms
Final Thoughts
Overall, I was pleased with the dining options on Mariner of the Seas!
Here’s a quick recap:
Every Royal Caribbean ship has at least three onboard dining options that don’t incur additional costs.
Mariner of the Seas includes the following dining options at no extra cost to guests:
Main dining room (open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Windjammer (open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Café Promenade (open 24 hours)
Dog House (open for lunch and dinner)
Arctic Freeze (open afternoons and early evenings)
Continental Breakfast (room service)
Look, cruising can be expensive. The cruise fare alone can be pricey!
So it’s important to know what your dining options are so that you can plan accordingly.
And if you need help with planning, reach out! I’d love to help you plan the perfect cruise vacation.
Simply fill out my quick and easy travel quote request form to get started.
And tell me, have you ever sailed with Royal Caribbean? Share your experience with me in the comments!