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Every modern cruise ship has at least a few specialty restaurants, venues where you pay an extra cover charge or a la carte prices for a more elevated dining experience than the included main dining room and buffet. Some of these restaurants are genuinely outstanding. Others are overpriced, underwhelming, and not worth skipping the free options.
This guide covers the best specialty restaurants across every major cruise line, gives you real pricing so you know what to budget, and tells you honestly which ones to book and which ones to skip.
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How Specialty Dining Works on Cruise Ships
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View on AmazonCover charge model: Most specialty restaurants charge a flat per-person fee ($25-75) that covers your full meal: appetizer, entree, dessert, and sometimes a welcome drink. This is the most common pricing model.
A la carte model: Some high-end venues (steakhouses, Japanese teppanyaki) price each dish individually, similar to a land-based restaurant. Expect $50-120 per person depending on what you order.
Dining packages: Most cruise lines sell a package that bundles multiple specialty restaurant visits at a discounted per-meal rate. These range from $80-250 per person for 3-5 meals.
Reservations: Always reserve in advance through the cruise line's app or website. Popular restaurants (especially teppanyaki with limited seating) sell out within days of boarding.
An automatic gratuity of 18-20% is added to all specialty dining charges on most cruise lines. For more details on tipping, see our cruise tipping guide.
Best Specialty Restaurants by Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean
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View on AmazonRoyal Caribbean has the largest variety of specialty dining options, especially on Oasis-class and Icon-class ships.
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View on AmazonWorth the Splurge:
Izumi Hibachi (teppanyaki): Cover charge ~$45-55. The theatrical cooking show, high-quality ingredients, and communal table atmosphere make this the most entertaining dining experience on any Royal Caribbean ship. Book early. There are only 8-10 seats per seating.
Chops Grille -- Cover charge ~$55-65. Royal Caribbean's signature steakhouse serves excellent cuts with classic sides. The filet mignon and bone-in ribeye are consistently outstanding. A true steakhouse experience that competes with mid-range land-based restaurants.
Wonderland (Quantum and Oasis class) -- Cover charge ~$50-60. A multi-sensory dining experience with imaginative courses, creative presentations, and a whimsical Alice-in-Wonderland theme. The food is secondary to the experience, but it is genuinely fun and unique.
Giovanni's Italian Kitchen -- Cover charge ~$30-35. Fresh pasta, wood-fired pizza, and Italian classics at a reasonable price point. Best value specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean.
Skip It:
Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade -- The food is standard sports bar fare (wings, burgers, nachos) at a premium price. You can get the same quality at the included Windjammer buffet or pool grill.
Johnny Rockets (older ships) -- A $13-15 cover charge for a diner burger and milkshake is hard to justify when the included dining options are solid.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian's Freestyle Dining concept means no assigned dining times and a wide variety of specialty options.
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View on AmazonWorth the Splurge:
Ocean Blue -- Cover charge ~$40-50 on newer ships. Fresh seafood in a relaxed setting. The raw bar, lobster tail, and daily catch preparations are excellent. If you love seafood, this is the best specialty restaurant on Norwegian.
Food Republic (Prima and Viva class): A la carte, ~$8-15 per plate. A fusion small-plates concept where you order from a tablet and dishes arrive as they are prepared. The variety is incredible: Korean fried chicken, sushi burritos, Thai curries, dim sum. Order 4-6 plates per person and share. One of the most innovative dining concepts at sea.
Le Bistro French Restaurant -- Cover charge ~$40-45. Norwegian's longest-running specialty restaurant. Classic French cuisine with tableside preparations (Caesar salad, cherries jubilee). Consistently good across the fleet.
Cagney's Steakhouse -- Cover charge ~$40-50. A reliable American steakhouse with generous portions and solid preparation. The cheesecake is outstanding.
Skip It:
Teppanyaki -- Cover charge ~$40-50. The concept is the same as Royal Caribbean's Izumi, but the execution on Norwegian tends to be less polished and the ingredient quality slightly lower. Still entertaining, but not the best version of teppanyaki at sea.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity is widely regarded as having the best included dining of any premium cruise line, which makes the specialty options a harder sell. But the best ones are genuinely excellent.
Worth the Splurge:
Le Petit Chef (Edge class) -- Cover charge ~$75-85. An animated dining experience where tiny projected chefs "cook" your meal on your plate via projection mapping before each course arrives. The technology is dazzling, the food is surprisingly good, and it is unlike anything else at sea. Book this once per sailing.
Raw on 5 -- A la carte, ~$5-12 per item. A sushi and raw bar with excellent quality fish, creative rolls, and a relaxed setting. Ordering 5-6 pieces of sashimi and a roll is an affordable specialty treat.
Fine Cut Steakhouse -- Cover charge ~$55-65. Celebrity's premium steakhouse with dry-aged steaks, excellent sides, and an impressive wine list. The quality genuinely rivals top-tier land-based steakhouses.
Skip It:
Le Grand Bistro -- The ~$45 cover charge is steep for French bistro classics that are not dramatically better than what you get in the included Normandie or Cosmopolitan restaurants. Celebrity's included dining is already so good that this feels like paying extra for a marginal upgrade.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival's specialty dining is designed to be affordable and fun rather than fine dining.
Worth the Splurge:
Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse -- Cover charge ~$48-55. Carnival's best specialty restaurant by a wide margin. Quality steaks, elegant ambiance (a genuine contrast to the rest of the ship), and generous portions. The lobster mac and cheese side is legendary among Carnival cruisers.
Bonsai Teppanyaki -- Cover charge ~$38-42. Carnival's teppanyaki is surprisingly good and more affordable than competitors. Limited seating means early booking is essential.
Cucina del Capitano -- Cover charge ~$18-22. Italian family-style dining with huge portions of pasta, chicken parm, and tiramisu. At under $20, this is the best value specialty restaurant on any mainstream cruise line.
Skip It:
Chef's Table -- Cover charge ~$80-95. A multi-course meal in a private dining room with a galley tour. The concept is appealing, but the execution is inconsistent across the fleet. At nearly $100 per person, expectations are high and not always met.
MSC Cruises
Worth the Splurge:
Butcher's Cut -- Cover charge ~$35-45. A quality steakhouse with South American-inspired cuts and preparations. Good value compared to competitors.
Ocean Cay -- Seafood specialty restaurant with fresh preparations and a Mediterranean menu. Cover charge ~$30-40.
Kaito Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar -- A la carte sushi starting at ~$5 per piece. The teppanyaki dinner is ~$40-50 per person.
Skip It:
Hola! Tacos and Cantina -- Mexican-inspired venue with a cover charge that is hard to justify given the quality of the included buffet options.
Princess Cruises
Worth the Splurge:
Crown Grill -- Cover charge ~$39-49. Princess's signature steakhouse is one of the best-value steakhouses at sea. The seafood tower appetizer is large enough to share.
Sabatini's Italian -- Cover charge ~$29-35. A long-running Italian restaurant with tableside pasta preparation and a multi-course format. Consistently rated highly.
Skip It:
Bistro Sur La Mer (by Emmanuel Renaut) -- Cover charge ~$29-35. While the Michelin-star chef's name is attached, the food does not consistently reach the level the branding suggests.
Dining Packages: Are They Worth It?
Every major cruise line sells dining packages that bundle specialty restaurant visits at a discount. Here is how to evaluate them:
When Dining Packages ARE Worth It
On cruises of 7 nights or longer where you plan to eat at 3+ specialty restaurants
When the package includes premium venues like steakhouses and teppanyaki (which have the highest individual cover charges)
During pre-cruise sales when packages are discounted 10-20% below onboard pricing
If the package includes drinks -- some lines bundle a few cocktails or wine with each specialty meal
When Dining Packages Are NOT Worth It
On short cruises (3-4 nights) where one specialty dinner is sufficient
If you are a light eater who will not take full advantage of multi-course meals
When the package locks you into specific restaurants that may not match your preferences
If the included dining is excellent (Celebrity, Viking, Oceania) and you are already satisfied with what is free
Package Pricing Comparison
Cruise Line | Package Name | Meals Included | Cost Per Person | Savings vs Individual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal Caribbean | 3-Night Dining Package | 3 meals | ~$100-130 | ~20-30% |
Norwegian | Specialty Dining Package | 3-5 meals | ~$100-170 | ~25-35% |
Carnival | Steakhouse Package | 2 meals | ~$80-95 | ~15-20% |
Princess | Dine My Way Plus | 3 meals | ~$90-120 | ~20-25% |
Celebrity | 4-Night Package | 4 meals | ~$130-170 | ~20-30% |
Pro Tip: Buy dining packages before you board. Pre-cruise pricing is almost always lower than what you will pay at the restaurant host stand on embarkation day.
Free Dining Venues That Are Actually Great
Before spending on specialty restaurants, make sure you have explored the included options. Several cruise lines have free dining venues that rival specialty restaurants in quality.
Celebrity Cruises: Included Dining
Celebrity's four complimentary restaurants (Normandie, Tuscan, Cosmopolitan, and Cyprus on Edge-class ships) rotate menus nightly and serve food at a level most cruise lines charge extra for. The quality gap between included and specialty dining on Celebrity is smaller than on any other mainstream line.
Royal Caribbean: Coastal Kitchen (Suite Guests)
If you book a suite on Royal Caribbean, Coastal Kitchen is an included restaurant with a rotating menu of seafood-focused dishes. The quality is specialty-restaurant level at no extra charge.
Norwegian: The Local Bar & Grill
A 24/7 pub-style restaurant included in the fare. The comfort food (fish and chips, burgers, chicken pot pie) is satisfying, portions are generous, and you can eat at any hour. Not fine dining, but excellent value.
Carnival: Guy's Burger Joint
No cover charge, no reservations needed. Guy Fieri's poolside burger spot serves legitimately good hand-smashed burgers with quality toppings. Many cruisers rate it above the Lido Marketplace buffet and even some specialty restaurants.
Holland America: Dive-In Burgers
Similar to Guy's Burger Joint, free poolside burgers that are surprisingly high quality. The hand-cut fries are a standout.
Princess: Alfredo's Pizzeria
Included with your fare, Alfredo's serves individual pizzas made to order with fresh dough and quality toppings. It is better than many of the paid pizza options on other cruise lines.
Reservation Tips
Book 30-60 days before sailing through the cruise line's app or website for the widest selection of times and venues.
Request a window table at booking if the system allows it. If not, ask the host when you arrive. Early seating (5:30-6:00 PM) gives you the best chance.
Avoid embarkation night for specialty dining. You are tired from travel, the kitchen is still getting into its rhythm, and the included dining room is typically excellent on night one.
The best nights for specialty dining: Sea days (no port fatigue) and the night before debarkation (when the main dining room is often less inspired).
Late cancellation: If you change your mind, cancel at least 24 hours in advance to avoid a no-show charge. Most cruise lines charge the full cover for no-shows.
Formal night opportunity: On formal nights, the main dining room pulls out all stops with lobster tails, prime rib, and other premium items at no extra charge. Skip the specialty restaurant on formal night and enjoy the upgrade in the included venue.
Hidden Gem Restaurants
These lesser-known options are often overlooked by first-time cruisers:
Hooked Seafood (Royal Caribbean, Wonder of the Seas and newer) -- A New England-style seafood shack in the Central Park neighborhood. Casual, affordable (~$25 cover), and genuinely delightful.
Indulge Food Hall (Norwegian Prima/Viva) -- Multiple food stations with different cuisines, all included in the fare. Think of it as an upscale food court. Quality is better than most specialty restaurants on other lines.
The Test Kitchen (Holland America, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam) -- An interactive culinary workshop where you help prepare and then eat a multi-course meal. Cover charge ~$50-60 but includes wine pairings and the cooking experience.
Remy (Disney Dream and Fantasy) -- A French fine dining restaurant that charges ~$100+ per person but is legitimately one of the best restaurants at sea. If you are on a Disney cruise and love fine dining, this is worth the splurge.
Quick Tips for Specialty Dining
Eat a light lunch on days you have specialty dinner reservations. Multi-course meals are generous, and you want to enjoy every course.
Ask your server for recommendations. They know which dishes the kitchen does best and which specials are worth ordering.
Specialty restaurants are quieter and less crowded than the main dining room. If you want a romantic dinner, book a specialty venue over the main dining room every time.
The complimentary desserts in the main dining room are available in specialty restaurants too. If the specialty dessert menu does not appeal to you, ask for the main dining room's chocolate lava cake. They will bring it.
If you have dietary restrictions, inform the restaurant 24 hours in advance. Specialty restaurant chefs are typically more accommodating than main dining room kitchens because they serve fewer guests per seating.
Final Thoughts
Specialty dining on a cruise ship is one of the best ways to improve your vacation, but only if you choose the right restaurants. As a general rule: steakhouses and teppanyaki are consistently the best value, Italian restaurants offer the most food per dollar, and French fine dining is the most hit-or-miss.
Do not feel obligated to eat at a specialty restaurant every night. The included dining on most modern cruise ships is genuinely good, and on some lines (Celebrity, Viking, Oceania), it is exceptional. Save your specialty dining budget for 1-2 standout restaurants per sailing, and enjoy the complimentary venues the rest of the time.
Compare dining options across all cruise lines, or explore our cruise guides for more advice on making the most of your sailing.
