Sofia_Reyes
Moderator
Princess Cruises Dining and Drinking Guide: Ship-Specific Menus, Specialty Restaurants, and Beverage Package Breakdown by Class
I've sailed with Princess Cruises more than a dozen times across their entire fleet, and I can tell you this: their dining program is one of the most underrated in the industry. While everyone talks about Norwegian's freestyle dining or Royal Caribbean's specialty venues, Princess quietly delivers consistent quality, excellent wine programs, and ship-specific menus that actually change throughout your cruise. But here's the catch — not every ship is created equal, and the beverage packages can either be a steal or a money pit depending on your drinking habits.
Let me break down exactly what you're getting on each ship class, where to eat, what to avoid, and which beverage package makes sense for your wallet.
Understanding Princess's Dining Philosophy
Princess operates differently than most cruise lines. They don't have one standardized "dining experience" across the fleet. Instead, each ship class has its own menus, specialty restaurant lineup, and kitchen setups. The Sun-class ships (Sun Princess, Dawn Princess) have completely different restaurants than the Grand-class (Grand Princess, Golden Princess), which are different again from the newer Royal-class (Royal Princess, Regal Princess).
This matters because if you sail the same itinerary on two different ships, your dining experience will vary dramatically.
Main Dining Room by Ship Class
Grand-Class Ships (Grand Princess, Golden Princess, Diamond Princess, Emerald Princess)
The main dining room on Grand-class ships is the Michelangelo or Da Vinci Dining Room, depending on the ship. You're looking at a formal room with elegant décor (though it's been refreshed somewhat since these ships debuted in the early 2000s). Seating is typically assigned, but you can request changes.
The menus rotate every seven days with four different dinner concepts:
- Elegant Night: Formal evening with a classic five-course menu. Think filet mignon, rack of lamb, or pan-seared salmon.
- Chef's Showcase: Creative, seasonal offerings that highlight the dining team's skills. This is where you'll see unexpected flavors and presentations.
- Italian Night: Regional Italian cuisine. Risotto, fresh pasta, osso buco — genuinely well-executed.
- Casual Dining Night: BBQ, prime rib carving station, or comfort food. Lower-pressure environment.
Honestly? The food quality is solid but not extraordinary. You're getting consistent, well-prepared dishes, but you won't be blown away. The real advantage is the wine pairings — I'll get to those in a moment.
Royal-Class Ships (Royal Princess, Regal Princess)
The newer Royal-class ships operate under a completely different dining model. Instead of a traditional main dining room, you have the Majestic Dining Room, which is larger, brighter, and more modern. But here's the significant change: Princess implemented a "guaranteed seating" system where you can dine at any time during the dinner window (typically 5:15 PM to 10:00 PM) without a fixed reservation.
This sounds great in theory — it is, if you're someone who likes flexibility. But if you enjoy the social experience of dining at the same table with the same people every night, you won't get that consistency.
The menu quality on Royal-class ships is noticeably better than Grand-class. Portions are generous, and the culinary team shows more creativity. The five-course rotations are similar, but you'll notice more premium proteins and refined techniques.
Sun-Class Ships (Sun Princess, Dawn Princess)
These older ships have the Atrium Dining Room, a smaller, more intimate space. Menus are traditional (not as rotation-heavy as the Grand-class), and while the food is fine, it's definitely a step down from what you'll find on newer ships. If you're sailing these vessels, don't expect culinary fireworks — expect reliable, straightforward cruise ship dining.
Specialty Restaurants and Where to Book Them
This is where Princess Cruises actually shines. Their specialty dining program is exceptional, and here's what you're getting:
Steakhouse (Ship-Wide, $29 per person)
Every Princess ship has a steakhouse, typically called the Steakhouse by Chef Massimo or simply the Specialty Steakhouse. Filet mignon, ribeye, lamb chops, lobster tail. The portions are massive, the beef is high-quality, and the sides (truffle mac and cheese, loaded baked potato) are genuinely indulgent.
Pro tip: Book this on formal or elegant nights. You'll dress up, and it feels like a special experience. The dining room has sophisticated ambiance without being stuffy.
Italian Specialty Restaurant ($19 per person)
Called Sabatini's on most ships. This is an à la carte Italian restaurant with handmade pasta, risotto, fresh seafood. Quality varies by dining time — if you go early (6:00 PM), it's quieter and more attentive. Going at 8:30 PM? Expect a busier atmosphere.
The truffle ravioli is exceptional. The lobster tail pasta is the signature dish. Don't skip the tiramisu — it's made daily and is genuinely one of the best desserts on the ship.
Asian Fusion Restaurant ($19 per person)
Most ships have a pan-Asian restaurant (names vary: Bayou Café or Izumi). Sushi, wok-fired dishes, Korean bbq concepts. Quality is respectable but not remarkable — think mid-range Japanese restaurant, not fine dining. The sushi chef is competent, but don't expect the precision you'd get in a standalone sushi bar.
French Specialty Restaurant ($29 per person — Royal-class only)
The Royal-class ships have a French restaurant called Bistro Sur Mer. This is newer to the fleet (introduced with Royal Princess in 2013, expanded on Regal Princess). Small, intimate, with elegant presentation. Escargot, duck confit, beef en croûte, sole meunière.
This is genuinely the best specialty restaurant on Princess ships. Reservations book up fast — I recommend booking the moment you board.
Seasonal Specialty Venues
Some ships have rotating specialty venues depending on the itinerary. Caribbean cruises sometimes feature a Caribbean-themed restaurant. Alaska cruises include seafood-focused menus.
Beverage Packages: The Real Cost Breakdown
Here's where I'm going to be brutally honest with you: Princess beverage packages are expensive, but they might be worth it.
Signature Beverage Package ($17.95 per person per day)
This is the entry-level package (2026 pricing). Includes:
- House wine (by the glass, in the main dining room)
- Select spirits and cocktails
- Beer (domestic and some premium options)
- Non-alcoholic beverages (soft drinks, coffee, tea, juice)
The reality? You're getting decent-quality house wine and basic cocktails. If you're someone who drinks 3-4 beverages per day, this breaks even. If you drink more, it's absolutely worth it. If you drink less? Skip it.
Premium Beverage Package ($27.95 per person per day)
Step up to premium, and you're adding:
- Premium wine selections (still not the top-shelf, but solid bottles worth $20-$40 in a restaurant)
- Premium spirits (Ketel One, Grey Goose, top-shelf bourbon)
- Specialty cocktails from the bar's premium menu
- Access to the wine bar's full wine list (at a per-glass cost, but discounted)
- Premium beers
If you're a wine drinker or a craft cocktail enthusiast, this is the package that makes sense. I typically go with premium because I enjoy good wine with dinner, and the package pays for itself in 4-5 days.
Ultimate Beverage Package ($39.95 per person per day)
This is everything — premium wine, spirits, beer, juice, coffee, soft drinks, and access to Sabatini's specialty restaurant without the per-person charge. You also get specialty coffee drinks (lattes, cappuccinos) included.
Here's my honest take: Unless you're a very heavy drinker or you plan to visit Sabatini's and other specialty restaurants multiple times, the Ultimate package doesn't make financial sense. The jump from Premium to Ultimate is $12 per person per day, which only makes sense if you're regularly drinking $12+ worth of beverages.
Wine Package (Separate from Beverage Packages)
If you only want wine (not cocktails or beer), Princess offers a wine-specific package at roughly $14.95 per person per day. This includes wine in the main dining room and a $5 discount on wine bar purchases.
Smart move? If you're a wine drinker who also drinks wine at specialty dinners, this is a no-brainer. You're essentially getting 2-3 glasses of decent wine per day.
Beverage Package Gotchas
Before you buy, know these limitations:
- Excludes premium wines: The top-shelf wines (reserve list) are still extra. So are bottles of wine — packages are per-glass only.
- Specialty restaurant alcohol: At Sabatini's and the steakhouse, beverage packages do apply, but you're paying the per-person restaurant fee on top. So $19 for the restaurant + $17.95/day for the package.
- Room service drinks: Mini-bar items and room service beverages are not included, even with the Ultimate package.
- Casino drinks: If you're at the casino, packages cover beverages while you're gambling, but specialty cocktails at the casino bar cost extra.
- Specialty coffee drinks: Only included on the Ultimate package. Standard coffee is always free.
How to Book Princess Specialty Dining
Book early. I can't stress this enough. Specialty restaurants fill up, especially on 10+ day cruises or popular itineraries (Caribbean, Alaska). You can book specialty dining before your cruise through your travel provider or through the Princess Cruises app once you board.
Recommendation? Use your AI concierge at CruiseVoices to help you plan not just which restaurants to book, but also which beverage package makes sense for your specific cruise. They can factor in your drinking preferences, your planned specialty dinners, and your budget.
The Buffet and Casual Dining Reality
Princess still operates a traditional buffet on most ships — the Horizon or Lido Buffet. It's decent. Not amazing, but reliably good. You'll find made-to-order stations (omelets, pasta, stir-fry), a salad bar, dessert station, and regional specialties depending on your itinerary.
Honest assessment? The buffet is better on newer ships (Royal-class) than older ships (Sun-class). The queues are also shorter on Royal-class because the buffet is larger and more efficiently designed.
Casual dining venues like the Trident Grill (pizza, burgers, hot dogs) are fine for lunch, but I wouldn't plan a special dinner there.
Specialty Dining by Ship Class: Quick Reference
Royal-Class Ships (Best Overall Dining)
- Majestic Dining Room (best quality main dining on the fleet)
- Steakhouse by Chef Massimo
- Sabatini's Italian
- Bistro Sur Mer (French — exceptional)
- Asian Fusion restaurant
- Specialty coffee bar (part of Ultimate package)
Grand-Class Ships (Solid, Traditional)
- Da Vinci or Michelangelo Dining Room
- Steakhouse by Chef Massimo
- Sabatini's Italian
- Asian Fusion restaurant
- Seasonal specialty venues (varies by ship)
Sun-Class Ships (Basic but Reliable)
- Atrium Dining Room
- Steakhouse by Chef Massimo
- Sabatini's Italian
- Limited additional specialty dining
My Real Recommendation
If you're cruising Princess, here's how I approach dining:
- Book one specialty dinner per week — either the steakhouse or Sabatini's. Skip the rest.
- Get the Signature or Premium beverage package depending on your drinking habits. Don't overthink it.
- Try the buffet once — it's actually better than you'd expect on Royal-class ships.
- Hit the main dining room 4-5 times per week. The food is consistently good, and it's included in your cruise fare.
Princess dining isn't about cutting-edge culinary innovation. It's about consistency, variety, and excellent value. You know what you're getting, and you're getting it reliably across the entire fleet.
Do you have Princess dining questions specific to your upcoming cruise? Join the conversation at the Princess Cruises forums — share your favorite specialty restaurants, ask about beverage package experiences, and get real recommendations from cruisers who've sailed every ship in the fleet.