Whether you’re heading out on your very first cruise or you’ve racked up more sea days than you can count, there’s a good chance you might be making some main dining room mistakes without even realizing it. Cruise lines have changed things up quite a bit over the last couple of years, and those changes affect how you plan, dine, and get the most out of every meal on board.
From simple etiquette slip-ups to things that can genuinely cost you money or a frustrating wait in line, these are the cruise dining mistakes worth knowing about before you sail. I’m also throwing in some of my favorite tips and tricks along the way, because knowing what not to do is only half the story.
The Basics That Still Trip People Up
Mistake #1: Assuming the Main Dining Room Isn’t Included
This one catches a surprising number of first-time cruisers off guard. Many people board assuming that only the buffet or casual options like poolside burgers and pizza are part of their fare. The main dining room is absolutely included on every major cruise line, and it’s one of the real highlights of cruising.
There is a caveat worth knowing, though. Over the last couple of years, some cruise lines have started adding a few specialty items to the main dining room menu at an upcharge.
Think surf and turf, lobster tail, or premium dishes that sit alongside the standard menu. These are optional, and there is still plenty of great food included, so don’t let that catch you off guard.
For a full breakdown of what’s covered on specific cruise lines, check out posts like what’s included on Princess Cruises and what’s included on a Carnival cruise.
Mistake #2: Skipping Dining Reservations
Most cruise lines offer traditional dining at set times like 6:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m., but a lot of cruisers prefer the flexibility of open or “anytime” dining. Here’s the thing: open dining doesn’t always mean walk right in whenever you feel like it.
Many cruise lines still recommend using the reservation system, either before your cruise through the app or once you’re on board. Without a reservation, you could end up in a long line with everyone else who decided 7:00 p.m. sounded good. Booking a time, even a loose one, makes the whole experience so much smoother.
Mistake #3: Judging the Entire Cruise by the First Night
This is a big one, and I hear it come up in reviews all the time. Someone goes to the main dining room on embarkation night and has a chaotic, disorganised experience, then writes off the dining room for the rest of the cruise. Don’t do that.
Embarkation day is genuinely the most challenging day for the crew. Thousands of guests are boarding, finding their rooms, and heading to dinner all at once. The turnaround from a previous sailing and the start of a new one creates a level of chaos that simply doesn’t reflect the rest of the week.
One strategy I’ve personally started using: book specialty dining on the first night of the cruise. This sidesteps the embarkation chaos entirely, and there are often great deals available that first evening too.
Once you’re past night one, the main dining room tends to settle into a lovely rhythm. You can find some great tips on cruise specialty dining to make the most of that first evening.
You’re Missing Out on Breakfast, Lunch, and Brunch
Mistake #4: Only Going to the Main Dining Room for Dinner
A lot of cruisers only ever visit the main dining room for dinner and never discover how good it is for breakfast or lunch. This is such an easy way to upgrade your cruise experience without spending a cent more.
Main dining room breakfast is not just a sit-down version of the buffet. The food is made fresh to order, and you can make special requests. If you see pancakes on the menu and you’d love blueberry or banana pancakes instead, just ask. That’s the kind of flexibility you get when you’re being served rather than loading a tray in a queue.
On sea days, many cruise lines also offer a sea day brunch in the main dining room, which is worth seeking out. It’s an elevated combination of breakfast and lunch options that feels like a real treat mid-cruise.
MSC cruises does this particularly well with their Tour de Brunch, and Carnival is well known for their sea day brunch offering.
Smart Tech and App Tips
Mistake #5: Not Checking the Cruise Line App Before You Go
Before heading to the main dining room each evening, take a moment to check the menu on the cruise line’s app. Many cruise lines post their dining room menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it’s a genuinely useful tool for planning your day.
Holland America in particular offers one of the best menu previews of any cruise line. By checking ahead, you can decide whether the main dining room menu appeals to you that evening or if it’s a good night to use a specialty restaurant credit or try something different.
Things You Can Ask For (But Rarely Do)
Mistake #6: Not Asking for Off-Menu Items
Here is one of my favorite cruise dining secrets: you can often get items that aren’t on the menu at all. Chicken noodle soup is one of those things that rarely appears on any printed menu, yet most cruise ship kitchens will make it if you ask. It’s simple, comforting, and often surprisingly good.
A cheese plate is another great example. On many ships this appears later as a dessert option, but if you ask for it as an appetiser at the start of the meal, your waiter can usually arrange it. Fruit plates, sorbet, and a scoop of ice cream are also easy requests that your waiter is happy to accommodate.
One tip that a lot of seasoned cruisers swear by is asking for Indian food. Even when it’s not on the official menu, many of the chefs on board cook excellent Indian and Asian dishes. In fact, several cruise lines are actively adding rotating Indian dishes to their main dining room menus, so it’s always worth asking.
For more insider tips like this, the cruise dining secrets post is well worth a read.
Mistake #7: Not Knowing About the Extra Entree Charge
This is a recent change that has caught some cruisers off guard. A few cruise lines, including MSC, have introduced a charge of around $5 for additional main dishes beyond your first. On Carnival, a third main dish comes with that same $5 charge.
There’s still more than enough food to eat well, and you can order as many appetisers as you like. Ordering two or three appetisers instead of a main dish is something I personally love doing, especially when there are interesting options to try.
If you order a dish and genuinely don’t enjoy it, though, just let your waiter know. Most cruise lines, including MSC, will replace it without question or charge.
The cruise dining secrets post has a full breakdown of which cruise lines now charge for additional entrees and how to navigate it smartly.
Group Dining and Dietary Needs
Mistake #8: Assuming Large Groups Can All Sit Together Without Planning Ahead
If you’re travelling in a group of 10, 15, or more, don’t assume that everyone can simply show up and be seated together. Cruise ships are often accommodating between 3,000 and 6,000 passengers, and organising large group seating takes advance coordination.
The key steps: make sure your bookings are all linked together before the cruise, and go down to speak with the Maitre D on embarkation day. The Maitre D will do their best to find a solution, but it’s much easier when you bring it up early rather than showing up hungry with a group of 20 people expecting a single long table.
Mistake #9: Not Informing the Cruise Line About Dietary Restrictions or Allergies
Cruise lines take dietary restrictions and food allergies very seriously. During galley tours I’ve been on, it’s always impressive to see the dedicated allergy prep sections, the separate equipment, and the systems in place to prevent cross-contamination.
That said, the system only works if they know about your needs. Let the cruise line know through your booking or travel agent before you sail, and speak with the Maitre D or a supervisor on board as a follow-up. Your waiter will usually ask as well, but don’t wait to be asked. Bring it up proactively.
For those with specific dietary needs, there is often a completely separate menu you won’t even see unless you ask. When I sailed on Carnival recently, I was genuinely impressed by the variety of options on the vegan and allergen-friendly menus, which closely mirrored what everyone else was having.
Dining Pace, Dress Codes, and Etiquette
Mistake #10: Assuming Dinner Always Takes Two Hours
Dinner in the main dining room can take an hour and a half to two hours if you’re relaxed and not in any particular rush. A lot of cruisers assume that pace is fixed, but cruise lines have actually been responding to feedback and adding options for faster dining.
Carnival’s Express Dining is a great example of this. It’s rolling out across the entire Carnival fleet and allows guests who book Your Time Dining to choose a faster multi-course experience that wraps up in under an hour.
On Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess and Star Princess, the Americana Diner offers a more casual sit-down dinner experience with a quicker pace than the main dining room.
Even without these formal options, you can always let your waiter know at the start of the meal that you’d like expedited service, perhaps because you have a show to get to. You can even ask for your appetiser, main course, and dessert order to be taken all at once.
Mistake #11: Not Following the Dress Code
Cruise lines vary quite a bit when it comes to dining room dress codes, but it’s worth paying attention to the guidelines for wherever you’re sailing. On some cruise lines, including Celebrity Cruises, shorts are not permitted in the main dining room in the evening, and guests wearing them have been turned away at the door.
Smart casual is the standard on most mainstream lines, which means clean, presentable clothing rather than beachwear or overly casual items. If you’re sailing with Celebrity, their Evening Chic nights call for something a little more dressed up.
Either way, checking the dress code ahead of time saves you the awkward moment of being redirected to the buffet on your first night out.
Mistake #12: Missing These Simple Etiquette Tips
A couple of small etiquette things that make a real difference. If you have traditional dining with a set seating time, please show up on time. Your waiter has planned the evening around specific seatings, and arriving late affects not just your table but the whole service flow. If you’re on traditional dining but have plans elsewhere that evening, a quick call to the dining room to let them know is a thoughtful thing to do.
Here’s a lesser-known one: when you’re ready to order, close your menu. It’s a simple, universally understood signal that lets your waiter know you’re ready, and it can genuinely shave a few minutes off your wait time.
And finally, ask your waiter what they recommend. Your waiter sees what comes back to the kitchen uneaten, hears the feedback from dozens of tables each week, and knows which dishes are genuinely popular versus which ones sound better than they taste. Their recommendation might be the best dining tip you get all cruise.
Don’t Skip the Main Dining Room Entirely
Mistake #13: Defaulting to Specialty Restaurants Every Night
I love a specialty restaurant as much as anyone, and we usually do two or three specialty dinners on a seven-night cruise. A few years ago, though, I’ll be honest, the main dining room had started to feel less exciting, and we were eating there less and less.
What I’ve noticed more recently is that food quality and presentation in the main dining rooms are genuinely improving. We’ve seen this on Celebrity Cruises, on Princess Cruises, and most recently on Carnival as well. MSC has also turned things around significantly compared to reviews from a few years ago.
If you’ve been avoiding the main dining room based on an experience from three or four years ago, it’s worth giving it another look. Cruise lines have been listening to guest feedback, and the results show on the plate.
Final Thoughts
The cruise main dining room is one of the real gems of a cruise vacation, and getting the most out of it comes down to a little planning and knowing what to expect. Make your reservations, check the app, communicate your dietary needs, and don’t let a chaotic first night put you off.
There’s something genuinely special about being seated, served a beautifully presented multi-course meal, and having a team of people looking out for you for an hour or two each evening. Whether you’re on your first cruise or your thirtieth, the main dining room is still very much worth your time.
I’d love to know what cruise dining tips or mistakes you’d add to this list. Drop them in the comments below and happy cruising!