What the Unlimited Dining Package actually covers
- Meals you can have: Lunch (on sea days) and dinner in specialty restaurants, with the flexibility to visit multiple venues in a single evening subject to availability.
- Beverages: Not included, but you’ll usually get 40% off bottles of wine under $100 and 20% off bottles over $100 when dining in specialty restaurants.
- Courtesy reservation: After you buy UDP, Royal will place a “courtesy” reservation for Day 1 (or Day 2) at a specialty venue/time; you can change it once onboard.
- Dynamic pricing: UDP price varies by ship/sail date—check My Royal Cruise/Cruise Planner for your exact sailing.
Included specialty restaurants (varies by ship)
Examples on current lists include: Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, Giovanni’s Table, Hooked Seafood, Izumi (Sushi), Izumi Hibachi, Jamie’s Italian, Wonderland, Sichuan Red, Samba Grill, Sabor, Johnny Rockets, and Johnny Rockets Express.
Surcharges you should expect (per person, per visit)
Some premium experiences are in the package but add a surcharge, e.g. Chef’s Table ($49.99), Empire Supper Club ($130), Izumi Hibachi/Teppanyaki ($15), Izumi Omakase ($59.99), Royal Railway ($49.99), Wonderland by DaDong ($24.99).
Heads-up: Availability and exact options vary by ship; premium cuts/special items may carry additional up-charges even at included venues.
The “Daily Extras”: Walk-ups & A-la-Carte Spots
Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
- What you get with UDP: A food credit commonly reported as $20 per person, per day at Playmakers. This covers a good chunk of wings, sliders, nachos, etc. (drinks are separate). Many cruisers report it’s once per day at that venue. Policies can vary by ship.
Johnny Rockets (Diner) and Johnny Rockets Express
- Sit-down Johnny Rockets is listed as included with UDP (menu structure may be cover-charge or a-la-carte depending on ship).
- Johnny Rockets Express (the quick-service counter) is also listed under UDP’s included venues on Royal’s current FAQ.
Practical take: On ships with Express counters near the pool/boardwalk, you can typically use your UDP benefit there instead of (or in addition to) the seated diner, subject to daily/transaction limits at a-la-carte spots.
Izumi in the Park (walk-up window)
- Not typically included in UDP. Royal’s venue list doesn’t call this out as included, and published UDP terms referenced by experienced cruisers specifically note “Izumi in the Park” is not valid for UDP. Expect modest a-la-carte prices if you want a quick sushi roll or bubble cone there.
Izumi Sushi (the sit-down restaurant) vs. Izumi Hibachi
- Izumi Sushi (sit-down): Covered by UDP, but ships commonly implement either a prix-fixe or a set food creditmodel for a-la-carte ordering.
- Izumi Hibachi/Teppanyaki: Included with UDP but expect a small per-person surcharge (commonly ~$15).
How the a-la-carte credits work (the $20 question)
- At a-la-carte venues (notably Playmakers and often Izumi Sushi when ordered a la carte), UDP typically gives a per-person food credit (commonly $20/day).
- Reports suggest some crews will combine credits for guests on the same check (e.g., couples/families), but this is at the venue’s discretion and can vary by sailing. Always ask nicely.
Pro Tips to Max Your UDP Value
- Pre-planning = power. As soon as you board, stop by any specialty host stand and map out your week. On some recent sailings, guests have been able to pre-book UDP slots in My Royal Cruise before sailing—if you see that option, use it; if not, book onboard Day 1.
- Stack your day: It’s totally reasonable to do lunch at a specialty (on sea days) and dinner somewhere else—or even a progressive dinner (appetizers at one venue, mains at another) if there’s space for walk-ups. You’ll usually be allowed one active dinner reservation per evening; additional stops are space-available.
- Aim for hard-to-get venues first. Book Hibachi, Wonderland, Empire Supper Club (surcharge), and Chef’s Table (surcharge) early; these sell out fastest.
- Leverage the wine discount. If you prefer bottles with dinner, that 20–40% bottle discount adds real value across a week.
- Know what’s not covered. Premium cuts/special menus, certain “exclusive” experiences, and walk-up Izumi in the Park are outside UDP. Keep a small snack budget for those.
- Use the quick-service angles. Johnny Rockets Express (listed as included) can be a clutch pool-day lunch; Playmakers becomes an easy “second stop” snack with that daily credit.
- Sea-day lunches are gold. Don’t waste them—build them into your itinerary early in the cruise so you’re not scrambling on the last sea day.
Is UDP worth it?
Do a quick math pass for your sailing:
- If you plan one specialty dinner every night plus a sea-day lunch and a Playmakers snack, UDP usually beats buying à la carte—especially once you factor the bottle-of-wine discount. If you’ll only do 2–3 specialty meals total, a smaller dining package (e.g., 3-Night) can be the better value.
Quick FAQ
Can I visit more than one specialty in a night?
Yes—UDP allows multiple specialty visits in an evening as space allows, though you’ll typically hold one dinner reservation and do any extra stops as walk-ups.
Does UDP include drinks?
No, drinks are separate. You do get bottle-of-wine discounts at specialty venues.
Is Playmakers really $20/day with UDP?
That’s the commonly reported credit (per person, per day) on recent sailings; always verify onboard because policies can vary by ship/itinerary.
Is Izumi in the Park included?
No—treat it as an extra-cost walk-up snack spot (not covered by UDP).
What about Johnny Rockets Express?
It’s currently listed as included under UDP’s restaurant list.
Final verdict
If your cruise style is “try it all”—a hibachi night, a fancy steakhouse, a whimsical Wonderland meal, plus Playmakers snacks and sea-day lunches—the Unlimited Dining Package can be a huge win. Lock in the tough reservations early, use your daily a-la-carte credits wisely, and treat Izumi in the Park as a fun paid extra between meals.