Yes. Meals are included on Holland America Line ships as part of the standard cruise fare. Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and multi-course dinner at included dining venues, along with options such as Lido Market, Dive-In, snacks, afternoon tea, and complimentary 24-hour room service.
However, not every restaurant or food item onboard is automatically included. Holland America Line also offers specialty restaurants and certain premium food and beverage choices for an additional charge. Understanding the difference can help you budget properly before your cruise.
Your cruise fare covers a variety of everyday meals throughout your voyage. Holland America Line states that its cruise fare includes dining and entertainment.
Generally, included dining covers:
The exact restaurants and food selections can vary by ship and itinerary, so it is useful to check the dining options for your specific vessel before sailing.
Several popular Holland America Line dining venues are included in the standard cruise fare.
The Dining Room provides multi-course meals with table service. Menus include classic dishes, destination-inspired selections, seafood, vegetarian choices, and desserts.
Holland America Line describes the multi-course dining experience as included in the cruise fare. Basic non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary during meals, while alcoholic beverages and specialty coffees can cost extra unless covered by a beverage package.
Guests may have the option of flexible dining or traditional assigned seating, depending on the sailing and dining arrangements.
Lido Market is the ship's casual dining marketplace and provides a broad selection of food for different meals.
It can be particularly convenient when you want to eat without spending time in a formal dining room. Holland America Line lists Lido Market among its included dining options.
Dive-In, located on the Lido Deck, is a casual option known for burgers, hot dogs, and other poolside-style food.
It is listed by Holland America Line as a complimentary dining option.
Holland America Line offers complimentary 24-hour room service, although selected items may have an additional charge.
This means you can order food to your stateroom at different times of day, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts.
Meals are not limited to the three main meal periods. Holland America Line also lists afternoon tea, ice cream, late-night snacks, salads, comfort foods, and international cuisine among its onboard food choices.
Usually, specialty restaurants are not included in the basic cruise fare.
Holland America Line identifies specialty dining as restaurant dining outside the main Dining Room and says these venues are subject to supplemental charges.
Examples include:
Availability differs between ships, so passengers should check their specific ship before making dining plans.
Holland America Line's Have It All package can include specialty dining in addition to the dining already covered by the standard cruise fare.
According to Holland America Line, the number of specialty dining nights included depends on cruise length:
| Cruise length | Specialty dining included with Have It All |
|---|---|
| 4–9 days | 1 night |
| 10–20 days | 2 nights |
| 21+ days | 3 nights |
Availability can vary by ship.
The package also includes other benefits, such as a Signature Beverage Package, Wi-Fi Surf Package, and shore excursion credit.
Some beverages are included, but not all drinks are free.
At the main Dining Room, basic non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary. Alcoholic drinks and specialty coffees generally cost extra unless you have an applicable beverage package.
This distinction is important because passengers sometimes assume that having meals included means drinks are automatically included too.
Depending on the venue and service:
A beverage package can change how these charges work during your cruise.
Holland America Line offers complimentary 24-hour in-room dining, but some selected items carry an additional charge.
The menu can include:
This can be useful if you prefer eating privately in your stateroom or want breakfast delivered before an early shore excursion.
Yes. Breakfast and lunch are included at applicable complimentary dining venues.
Passengers can choose from options such as the main Dining Room, Lido Market, and other included casual dining venues depending on the ship. Holland America Line specifically lists breakfast, lunch, and multi-course dinner among its onboard meals.
The available venues and opening hours can change by ship and sailing.
Yes. Dinner is included in the standard Holland America Line cruise fare when dining at included venues such as The Dining Room and Lido Market.
The Dining Room offers multi-course meals, while Lido Market provides a more casual alternative.
You do not need to purchase a specialty dining package simply to have dinner onboard.
No.
You can eat your regular meals without paying an additional restaurant charge when using the included dining venues.
Extra charges generally arise when you choose:
This is why checking the dining information for your particular ship is worthwhile before booking specialty restaurants.
For the shipboard portion of your cruise, the cruise fare includes dining at the applicable complimentary venues throughout the voyage.
This does not mean every meal, restaurant, or food item is included. Specialty restaurants and selected premium items can carry additional charges.
For Holland America Line cruisetours, the situation can be different because a cruisetour combines the cruise with land travel. Holland America Line notes that dining is included on the cruise portion, while land-portion meal inclusions depend on the specific dining plan and itinerary.
Meals are included during the cruise portion of a Holland America Alaska sailing.
However, if you book an Alaska cruisetour that includes land travel, do not assume that every meal during the land portion is included. Holland America Line provides separate dining-plan information for its Alaska cruisetours.
This distinction is important when calculating your total vacation budget.
Holland America Line offers flexible As You Wish Dining, allowing passengers to choose how and when they dine rather than being restricted to one dining arrangement.
Depending on the dining venue, you can choose:
The Dining Room may offer both flexible open dining and traditional pre-set seating options.
Holland America Line provides meal options that can accommodate different dietary needs, including vegetarian selections. The main Dining Room menus include vegetarian choices, and the cruise line advises guests with special meal requirements to provide advance notice where appropriate.
If you have an allergy or medically necessary dietary restriction, it is sensible to notify Holland America Line before sailing rather than waiting until you board.
The exact selection varies by ship, but complimentary dining can include:
| Food option | Included? |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Yes |
| Lunch | Yes |
| Main Dining Room dinner | Yes |
| Lido Market | Yes |
| Dive-In | Yes |
| Basic room service | Yes |
| Afternoon tea | Yes |
| Late-night snacks | Yes |
| Specialty restaurants | Usually no |
| Alcoholic beverages | Usually no |
| Specialty coffee | May cost extra |
| Premium food items | May cost extra |
Holland America Line's current dining information confirms that offerings vary by ship, so passengers should verify the venues available on their particular sailing.
A few simple steps can make your cruise budget easier to manage.
Different Holland America ships have different dining venues. Review your ship's current dining information before sailing.
Do not assume that every restaurant onboard is included just because regular meals are part of your cruise fare.
Some venues offer both included and additional-charge items. Look for pricing information before ordering premium selections.
Food may be included while your wine, cocktail, beer, or specialty coffee is charged separately.
If you already expect to purchase specialty dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, and shore excursions, compare the package benefits with the individual costs for your particular cruise. Holland America Line currently lists specialty dining, a beverage package, Wi-Fi, and shore excursion credit among Have It All benefits.
Meals at the cruise line's included dining venues are covered by the cruise fare. Specialty restaurants and selected premium food and drinks can cost extra.
Yes. Breakfast is among the meals available onboard as part of the cruise dining experience.
Yes. Lunch is included at applicable complimentary dining venues, subject to each venue's operating schedule.
Yes. Multi-course dinner in the main Dining Room and casual dining options such as Lido Market are included in the cruise fare.
Holland America Line provides complimentary 24-hour in-room dining, although selected items may have an additional charge.
Generally, no. Specialty restaurants have supplemental charges unless your booking includes a benefit such as specialty dining through Have It All.
Basic coffee and tea can be complimentary with meals, while specialty coffees may carry an additional charge.
Not automatically. Alcoholic beverages generally cost extra unless you have a qualifying beverage package.
There are food options throughout the day, including regular meals, snacks, late-night options, and 24-hour in-room dining. Exact availability depends on the ship and venue schedule.
Yes. Have It All includes a specified number of specialty dining nights based on cruise length, with availability varying by ship.
Meals are included during the cruise portion, but land-portion meals depend on the specific cruisetour and dining plan.
Meals are included on Holland America Line ships, making the cruise fare cover a substantial selection of everyday dining. Passengers can enjoy breakfast, lunch, multi-course dinner, casual meals at Lido Market, Dive-In, snacks, afternoon tea, and complimentary 24-hour in-room dining.
The main thing to remember is that included dining and specialty dining are different. Restaurants such as Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto, Morimoto by Sea, and selected other specialty venues may charge an additional fee.
For travelers comparing cruise costs, checking what is included in the standard fare—and whether a package such as Have It All fits their plans—can give a much clearer picture of the total cost of a Holland America Line vacation.
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