[Cruise planning guides](https://cruise.do/guides/) / Boarding and life onboard

Boarding and life onboard

# Where to eat lunch on cruise embarkation day

By Cruise.do · Updated October 17, 2026

The short answer

Open your ship’s daily dining list after boarding and choose an included venue that is serving lunch. The buffet is one option; other choices depend on the ship and sailing. Pick by today’s opening hours, not a generic list of restaurants.

[Link to this answer ↗](#quick-answer)

## [Find the actual opening list](#find-the-actual-opening-list)

[Royal Caribbean lists both included and additional-charge dining](#source-rc-food), but a fleetwide restaurant page is not the lunch schedule for your ship. Look for the current daily programme, app opening hours or signs at the venue.

Check two things before walking across the ship: whether the kitchen is serving and whether the meal is included for your fare. A restaurant can be open for reservations without being open for lunch.

## [Let your bags help make the decision](#let-your-bags-help-make-the-decision)

If you are carrying large bags, a seated meal may be easier than moving between buffet counters. If children need food immediately, a nearby counter with a short queue may be a better choice than your preferred restaurant several decks away.

Keep one person with the bags while the others look at the menu. Agree where you will sit before anyone leaves to find drinks, especially when the group has not yet sorted out messaging.

## [A paid lunch can be a choice, not a rescue](#a-paid-lunch-can-be-a-choice-not-a-rescue)

Before paying for a specialty lunch, compare the menu and final price with an included option. It can be a pleasant way to start a celebration if everyone wants that meal. It is less compelling if you are booking only because the first buffet entrance looked crowded.

Ask whether a dining package applies to that lunch and whether anything you plan to order costs extra. Do not assume a dinner credit has identical lunch terms.

## [Leave the afternoon unhurried](#leave-the-afternoon-unhurried)

Eat enough to recover from the journey, drink water and leave time for safety check-in. If dinner is booked early, a lighter lunch may suit you better than a long tasting menu.

For food allergies, speak to restaurant staff before ordering or choosing buffet items. Save the line's dietary arrangements before travel, then confirm them onboard. A generic restaurant description cannot tell you whether a particular dish is suitable for your needs that day.

## Sources and verification

Public sources checked for the statements cited above. Planning examples are editorial suggestions; confirm current details for your booking.

- [Restaurants and dining options](https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-dining)Royal Caribbean · Checked 2026-10-17Included and additional-charge restaurant categories; availability differs by ship.

[Read the text version](https://cruise.do/guides/cruise-first-day-lunch/index.md) · [How we use sources](https://cruise.do/guides/how-we-check-cruise-information/)

Your next cruise, with Doki

## Take the next step with Cruise.do.

Explore your ship in Cruise.do and make a short list of dining questions for boarding day.

App Store: verified download link not yet available.

Google Play: verified download link not yet available.

[Check your ship and explore the app →](https://cruise.do/#coverage)

Designed for iOS and Android. New AI answers need internet; saved content and available downloads can be read offline.

## Keep planning

[Boarding and life onboardCruise embarkation day: what to do first →](https://cruise.do/guides/cruise-embarkation-day-timeline/)[Cabins, dining and costsIs specialty dining worth it on a cruise? →](https://cruise.do/guides/cruise-specialty-dining-worth-it/)