A major cruise line, which carries millions of passengers per year, is set to introduce a new policy where passengers will be charged if they do not show up to their dinner reservations. Cruise ships have become floating megacities of entertainment and dining options, and it can be easy to get distracted by the shows, poolside fun and other things on offer on your cruise ship. But if you are cruising with Royal Caribbean in the future, you should make sure that these distractions don’t keep you from your dinner reservations.
The cruise line, which operates a fleet of nearly 30 ships, has introduced a new policy that will see customers charged for dinner reservations they have made but haven’t shown up for. The new policy applies to the onboard speciality restaurants, which are popular with guests and can book up quickly. According to reports from Travel Gossip, passengers will be charged $25 per person for a missed reservation, or a reservation that has been cancelled less than 24 hours prior.
Meanwhile, this charge doubles to $50 for those booked at Chef’s Table, Omakase, the Empire Supper Club, Izumi Hibachi/Teppanyaki, Lincoln Supper Club, and Royal Railway. For Celebration Table bookings, the fee charged is half of the overall experience’s cost.
However, the new policy will not affect Star Class and Dining Package bookings. According to Travel Gossip, Royal Caribbean commented: “A 24-hour cancellation period will be enforced for all speciality dining reservations and culinary experiences, excluding Star Class and Dining Package reservations.”
They added that the new policy was to ensure that passengers could enjoy its popular dining experiences, especially those with “limited capacity.”
The Daily Express has contacted Royal Caribbean for comment. Royal Caribbean currently operates 28 cruise ships, including Icon of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas.
Its ships offer an array of amenities and entertainment options, such as waterparks, pools, live performances, and a plethora of dining options.
The line’s newest ship, Legend of the Seas, took to the water for the first time last month. It weighs an impressive 250,000 tonnes and is bigger than the Titanic. It features a staggering 21 bars and 23 restaurants for passengers.