Princess Cruises Hike the Prices of Specialty Dining by 22-33%
In the early days of cruising, your dinner options were limited to the buffet and the main dining room. Over time, cruise lines have diversified their offerings, adding a wide range of specialty restaurants for an extra charge. Originally, these venues came with a small supplemental fee, but recently, the prices have climbed to match or even exceed those of restaurants on land, even though meals are already included in your cruise fare.
Now, Princess Cruises is significantly raising the prices of all its specialty dining venues, with increases ranging from 22% to 33%.
Specialty Dining Prices Increase on April 15
As of April 15, Princess Cruises raised the cover charge for the following restaurants:
- Crown Grill
- Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria
- Churrascaria Brazilian Grill
- The Catch by Rudi
- Umai Teppanyaki
- Umai Hot Pot
- Makoto Ocean
- Butcher’s Block by Dario
- Love by Britto
Previously, most of these restaurants charged $45 per adult. Now, across much of the fleet, the price has increased to $55 per adult and $27.50 per child. That’s a 22% increase for adults.
Interestingly, the price for Love by Britto has actually decreased from $79 to $55, aligning it with the other venues.
Remember, all specialty dining charges are also subject to an automatic 18% gratuity.
Even Higher Prices on Newest Princess Ships
On Sun Princess and Star Princess, the newest ships in the fleet, specialty dining prices are even higher. On those ships, the cover charge is now $60 per adult and $27.50 per child, a 33% increase compared to the original $45 fee.
Additionally, Princess has confirmed that all specialty dining charges are now subject to an automatic 18% gratuity.
Previously Booked Dining Not Affected
If you’ve already booked and paid for a specialty dining reservation, your pricing is locked in and will not be impacted by the increase.
Princess Premier Package Still a Value
Princess Cruises offers two add-on packages that bundle amenities like drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and dining. The Princess Premier Package—the top-tier option—includes unlimited specialty dining throughout the sailing. That package still costs $90 per person, per day and is not affected by the recent price hike.
Specialty Dining Prices Are Rising Across All Cruise Lines
Unfortunately, Princess isn’t alone—specialty dining prices are going up across the cruise industry. Sister cruise line Carnival now charges $52 for its Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse. Over on Royal Caribbean, the cost of Chops Grille varies depending on the sailing, with dynamic pricing ranging from $39 to $65 per person. Celebrity Cruises takes a similar approach with its Fine Cut Steakhouse, where pricing can range from $39 to $69.
Is It Still Worth It?
With the cost now rivaling land-based restaurants—plus an added gratuity—it’s more important than ever to weigh whether these meals add enough value to your cruise.
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