Yes. Meals are included on Princess Cruises ships, but not every restaurant or dining experience is automatically included in the standard cruise fare. Princess provides a wide selection of complimentary dining, including main dining rooms, buffet-style venues, and several casual food options. Specialty and certain casual restaurants may cost extra unless they are covered by a Princess package.
The exact restaurants, opening hours, menus, and charges can vary by ship and itinerary, so it is useful to understand what your cruise fare covers before sailing.
Your standard Princess cruise fare includes several places to eat throughout the day. Complimentary dining generally covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts, and selected casual food options.
Depending on the ship, included options can include:
Princess states that its main dining rooms offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner without an additional dining charge.
Yes. Breakfast is included in the cruise fare when you use complimentary dining venues.
You can generally choose between a sit-down breakfast in a main dining room and more casual options such as the buffet-style dining venues available on your particular ship. Princess also offers breakfast choices such as pastries, fruit, hot dishes, and other made-to-order or prepared selections.
For passengers who prefer a relaxed morning, the buffet-style venues can be convenient because they offer a broad range of food without requiring a formal dining experience.
Yes. Lunch in Princess's complimentary dining venues is included.
The main dining rooms provide sit-down lunch, while buffet-style venues offer a wider selection of casual foods. Depending on the ship, passengers may also find pizza, burgers, salads, sandwiches, desserts, and other snacks available during the day.
This means you generally do not need to purchase a separate meal package simply to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner during your cruise.
Yes. Dinner in the main dining rooms is included in your cruise fare.
Princess offers different dining arrangements depending on the ship and sailing. Guests may be able to select traditional dining, flexible dining, reservations, or walk-in options.
The complimentary dinner menu can include appetizers, soups, salads, main courses, and desserts. Princess also highlights dishes such as Italian pasta, international favorites, and its signature Love Boat Dream dessert among its dining offerings.
The exact list varies by ship, but Princess identifies several complimentary dining choices.
The main dining rooms are one of the primary places to enjoy included meals. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available on applicable schedules, with menus created by Princess's culinary team.
World Fresh Marketplace provides a changing selection of regional dishes, comfort foods, salads, vegetables, fruit, and desserts.
On some ships, similar buffet-style dining is offered through Horizon Court or The Eatery. Princess notes that venues vary by ship.
The International Café is another complimentary option, with selections such as breakfast items, pastries, snacks, and other light foods. Princess describes it as a 24-hour venue on its dining information pages, although individual offerings and availability can vary.
Princess ships also offer complimentary pizza options on applicable ships. Some ships feature fresh, hand-tossed Neapolitan-style pizza served by the slice.
Casual grill options are also available on many Princess ships, providing convenient food during the day without an additional meal charge.
Included dining can also cover desserts, pastries, and soft-serve ice cream. Princess lists options such as its Pastry Shop and Swirls ice cream among its complimentary offerings, although availability varies by ship.
Princess has specialty restaurants such as:
These restaurants generally have an additional charge when purchased separately.
However, a dining package can change what is included.
Princess states that, effective January 14, 2026, Princess Premier includes unlimited casual dining and specialty dining meals.
This can provide access to dining experiences that would otherwise carry an additional charge.
Princess Plus includes a set number of casual dining meals under the current package structure. Princess's current information states that Princess Plus includes four casual dining meals per guest per voyage.
Package benefits can change, so passengers should check the package terms applicable to their booking.
The simplest way to understand Princess dining is to divide it into categories.
| Dining type | Included in standard cruise fare? |
|---|---|
| Main dining room | Yes |
| Breakfast in complimentary venues | Yes |
| Lunch in complimentary venues | Yes |
| Dinner in main dining room | Yes |
| Buffet-style dining | Yes |
| International Café | Generally yes |
| Pizza | Yes, on applicable ships |
| Burgers and hot dogs | Yes, on applicable ships |
| Specialty restaurants | Usually additional charge |
| Certain casual restaurants | May have an additional charge |
| Specialty dining with Princess Premier | Included according to package terms |
Princess emphasizes that dining venues and charges can vary by ship, so passengers should check the specific ship's dining information before sailing.
Food being included does not mean every beverage is automatically included.
Complimentary dining can include certain standard beverages, but premium drinks, specialty coffees, alcoholic beverages, and other selections may require an additional charge or beverage package.
Princess offers separate beverage packages, and its Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages include different beverage benefits.
If you want specialty coffee, cocktails, wine, beer, or other premium beverages regularly, check exactly what your fare or package includes before boarding.
Room service availability and charges depend on the order and package.
Princess's published dining information states that a room-service delivery fee can apply, while guests with Princess Plus or Princess Premier can have the applicable delivery fee waived. Food and beverage surcharges may also apply to certain items.
Therefore, passengers should not assume that every room-service item is completely free simply because meals are included in the cruise fare.
Not necessarily.
Princess separates its dining into complimentary, casual, specialty, and experiential categories. Some casual restaurants may have an additional charge when you do not have a package covering them.
This distinction is important because "casual" does not automatically mean "free."
For example, Princess's current package information says Princess Plus provides four casual dining meals per guest per voyage, while Princess Premier provides unlimited casual dining under its package benefits.
For complimentary dining, you can generally enjoy meals throughout the cruise without paying separately for each standard meal.
However, individual restaurant rules, menu items, specialty venues, and premium selections can differ. A specialty restaurant may have a cover charge, while certain premium food or beverage selections may cost extra.
The important point is that your standard cruise fare gives you access to substantial complimentary food without requiring you to purchase a dining package.
Princess provides several dining arrangements.
Depending on your ship and sailing, you may have options for:
Princess's personalized dining system allows guests to customize dining times, including reservations for main dining rooms and specialty restaurants.
Availability depends on the ship, capacity, itinerary, and reservation times.
Children can eat at the complimentary dining venues included with the cruise fare.
Princess also provides family-friendly dining options and states that high chairs and booster seats are available in dining rooms. On request, staff can provide puréed food for young children.
Families should still check the specific ship's restaurant offerings because children's menus and dining arrangements can vary.
Yes. Princess provides options for passengers with dietary requirements and identifies vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, and other food choices within its dining information.
Princess also provides kosher meals prepared under Rabbinical supervision when properly requested.
If you have an allergy or strict dietary requirement, it is sensible to notify Princess before your cruise and speak with dining staff after boarding.
If your main goal is to avoid additional dining costs, you do not necessarily need a dining package.
Start with the main dining rooms, buffet-style venues, International Café, and other complimentary options available on your ship.
If you purchased Princess Plus or Premier, review the dining benefits before booking a restaurant separately.
Not every Princess ship has exactly the same restaurants. Check your ship's dining options before deciding where to eat.
If you have a dining package or plan to pay separately for specialty dining, Princess recommends making reservations early through the Princess Cruises app to improve your chances of getting your preferred restaurant, date, and time.
Before sailing, review:
This is particularly important because Princess states that dining venues, menus, operating hours, reservation times, and charges can vary by ship and itinerary.
Yes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available in complimentary dining venues as part of the cruise fare. Specialty and some casual dining options may cost extra.
Yes. Princess states that meals in its main dining rooms are included in the cruise fare.
Yes. Buffet-style dining such as World Fresh Marketplace, Horizon Court, or The Eatery is complimentary on applicable ships.
Princess includes pizza among its complimentary dining options on applicable ships. Specific locations and availability depend on the ship.
Specialty restaurants generally have an additional charge when purchased separately. Princess Premier currently includes unlimited specialty dining according to its package terms.
Under Princess's current package terms, Princess Plus includes four casual dining meals per guest per voyage, while specialty dining is included with Princess Premier.
Some standard beverages may be available with complimentary dining, but premium beverages such as alcoholic drinks and specialty coffees can require payment or a beverage package.
Room-service charges depend on the order and package. Princess has stated that applicable delivery fees are waived for guests with Princess Plus or Premier, while some food and beverage charges can still apply.
Yes. Princess offers food options for several dietary requirements and provides kosher meals when properly requested. Passengers with allergies or strict dietary needs should notify the cruise line in advance.
No. Dining venues vary by ship, and Princess states that menus, locations, operating hours, reservations, and charges may change depending on the ship and itinerary.
Meals are included on Princess Cruises ships, and passengers can enjoy a substantial selection of complimentary food without paying separately for every meal. Main dining rooms, buffet-style venues, and various casual food options form the core of the included dining experience.
The main distinction is between complimentary dining and additional-charge dining. Specialty restaurants and some casual or experiential venues may cost extra unless they are covered by a package such as Princess Premier.
For the most accurate information, check the dining options and package benefits for your specific Princess ship and sailing before departure, because restaurants, hours, menus, and charges can vary.
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