I Spent $50 To Eat At 3 Cruise Ship Restaurants To Find The Best Value

I challenged myself to go on the most important cruise ship on this planet and spend lower than $50 to eat at three eating places.

I used to be impressed after I ran throughout a latest Royal Caribbean pre-cruise sale that introduced the value down of 1 restaurant simply $9.

Specialty eating is sort of common, but additionally tends to be costly. Nevertheless, if you recognize when to guide, there are offers available.

For my latest 4-night showcase crusing on Star of the Seas, I used to be in a position to eat at three completely different eating places and have a meal at each for lower than $50.  This is how I did it.

Pier 7

I got here up with this eating problem after I noticed Pier 7 going for simply $9 for brunch.

It’s normal that the value of a specialty restaurant for lunch would price lower than dinner. I feel it is as a result of there’s much less demand for a sit down meal on a busy sea day.

Pier 7 is the an informal sit-down restaurant proper in the midst of the kids-only Surfside neighborhood. 

It prices additional to dine right here for adults, however is complimentary for youths underneath the age of 12.

Royal Caribbean describe the meals as, “California-inspired dishes,” and I actually like that there are completely different meals you will not normally discover elsewhere on the ship.

For $8.99, I used to be in a position to order one merchandise from “Board Bites”, one merchandise from “Wave-Using Entrees” and one dessert.  

I attempted the Pier 7 salad, though I remorse not going with the Buddha Bowl as a substitute.

I wasn’t within the temper for breakfast, so I had the Surfer’s Membership sandwich.

Dessert was the Caramel Waffles, and it was so decadent.  I in all probability would have skipped dessert, however since I acquired it included, why not.

I paid $9 for a meal that is listed as $25 if purchased a la carte, or two dishes for a flat $15 price.  

Izumi

Not solely do I really like Izumi, but it surely’s now the most well-liked Royal Caribbean specialty restaurant by quantity. So I felt I used to be in good firm to decide on this.

The pre-cruise sale listed dinner for $23.99, and I jumped on it since it will depart me some respiration room on value for my third restaurant and since you do not have to twist my arm to dine right here.

Similar to Pier 7, you have got the selection of ordering off the mounted value menu or going a la carte.

Mainly you may order meals as much as $40 in worth, both with one small plate, two massive plates, and dessert; or simply choose and select what you need as much as $40. 

So with the sale, that is an extra $16 in worth. 

I picked:

Miso soup (included with the mounted value menu)Tofu ginger saladSpicy crispy tuna rollChef’s sushi selectionChocolate lava cake

That is plenty of meals for simply twenty 4 {dollars}, and positively very satisfying too.

It is price mentioning I might have had a good cheaper meal if I went to the Izumi sushi window.

This can be a to-go window, the place you may order just a few completely different sushi rolls.

The sushi choices embrace a alternative of two rolls, plus edamame or seaweed salad. You may discover each sashimi and nigiri rolls to select from. After which you may both eat it in Central Park, or take it elsewhere on the ship, resembling your balcony!

For those who want dessert in your meal (I will not inform your mother), in addition they have amazingly decadent bubble cones too!

Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen

With about $17 left in my funds, I had plenty of good selections for my third dinner.

I used to be truly impressed by what number of cheap meal selections I had that will match with a $17 funds:

Burger at PlaymakersGiovanni’s Wine Bar meals menuTrellis Bar

I checked out every of the menus, however went with Giovanni’s as a result of I might squeeze in two issues and likewise take pleasure in air con (sorry Trellis Bar).

You might not be conscious, however you may go to the wine bar at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen with out a reservation and order off the bar menu.  There is a sub collection of meals objects from the restaurant menu out there.

I used to be in a position to order the Giovanni’s Home Salad and the Margherita Pizza for simply $15 whole.

I normally order the salad after I dine at Giovanni’s, as a result of I like the combination of greens and light-weight, but tasty dressing.  It is one of many few non-carbs on the menu, so I will embrace it.

I really like the pizzas at Giovannis and I feel they’re vastly underrated.

The pizzas Royal Caribbean serves at Giovanni’s have been truly created by Renato Viola, who’s considered one of Italy’s finest Grasp Pizza Cooks on this planet. 

If you end up in South Florida, take a look at Mister O1 Pizza, as a result of it is the creation of Renato’s works and you’ll order the identical pizzas (plus many extra) as you’d discover on Royal Caribbean ships.

Pre-planning pays off

My $50 problem is the results of a easy, but efficient technique: pre-book your cruise and do your analysis.

It is wonderful what number of reductions and offers you may get by merely reserving prematurely and researching what’s out there in your cruise.

I used to be extra impressed I might get costs this low for each Izumi and Pier 7, contemplating it is a model new ship.

It additionally helps this problem to be on a ship that has plenty of restaurant selections, which is a bonus of larger and newer Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

Ultimately, I ate at three eating places for about $48 and every was a respectable meal. It was an effective way to take pleasure in plussed up eating with out breaking my funds.