Chops Grille on Royal Caribbean typically costs $59–$69 per person for dinner, with lunch offered on sea days for around $25–$39 per person. Prices vary by ship class and sailing length.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Chops Grille is Royal Caribbean's flagship steakhouse, and it's genuinely good — but the price has crept up steadily over the past few years. What used to be a $45 splurge is now firmly in the $59–$69 range per person for dinner, and that's before you factor in drinks, gratuity, or the upsell pressure you'll feel the moment you sit down.
What Chops Grille Actually Costs in 2025–2026
Royal Caribbean doesn't publish a single flat price — it varies by ship class, itinerary length, and whether you're booking in advance online versus at the restaurant on embarkation day. Here's the real breakdown:
| Meal / Format | Price Per Person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dinner (standard booking) | $59–$69 | Most ships, most itineraries |
| Dinner (Oasis/Icon class ships) | $65–$79 | Higher demand = higher price |
| Sea Day Lunch | $25–$39 | Shorter menu, same quality |
| Chops + 1 More Specialty (package) | $79–$99 | Bundled with Giovanni's or Izumi |
| 3-Night Dining Package (includes Chops) | $109–$149 | Best per-meal value if you plan to eat out 3x |
| Unlimited Dining Package (UDP) | $29–$55/day | Worth it only on 7+ night sailings with heavy specialty dining |
Gratuity is not included in any of these prices. Budget an extra 18–20% on top, or roughly $10–$14 per person per dinner visit.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Key Factors That Drive the Price
Ship Class Matters More Than You'd Think On older Vision or Radiance-class ships, Chops Grille sometimes still runs closer to $55–$59. On Icon of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas, you're looking at the top of the range — $69–$79 — because Royal Caribbean knows demand is higher on those ships.
Book Online Before You Board Royal Caribbean's app and website frequently offer 10–20% discounts on specialty dining when you pre-book 30+ days out. I've seen Chops dinner drop to $52 per person through pre-cruise online booking. Don't wait until you're on the ship — the walk-up price is always the highest price.
Cruise Length Affects Package Math The Unlimited Dining Package (UDP) is priced per day. On a 5-night cruise at $45/day, you're paying $225 per person for unlimited specialty dining. If you'd only realistically eat at Chops once and maybe one other restaurant, you're better off paying à la carte. On a 10-night cruise, the math flips — especially if you're eyeing multiple Chops visits.
Crown & Anchor Status Discounts Diamond and above Crown & Anchor members sometimes receive specialty dining discounts (typically 10–20%) as status perks or during onboard promotions. Check your member benefits before paying full price.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
How to Get the Best Value at Chops Grille
1. Pre-book online, not on the ship. The embarkation day "special" at the gangway often sounds like a deal but rarely beats the pre-cruise online price for Chops specifically. Book through the Royal Caribbean app or website as soon as your cruise is ticketed.
2. Do lunch instead of dinner. The sea day lunch at Chops runs $25–$39 and features a condensed but still solid menu — you'll get the same prime beef quality for roughly half the dinner price. If your sailing has multiple sea days, this is the move.
3. Run the dining package math honestly. The 3-Night Specialty Dining Package is the sweet spot for most 7-night cruisers. At $109–$149 per person for three restaurants (including Chops), you're paying roughly $36–$50 per restaurant visit — a genuine discount versus booking each separately.
4. Watch for onboard sales. First sea day is when Royal Caribbean runs specialty dining promos. Deals of 20–30% off can appear, though availability at Chops fills up fast. Go early.
5. Skip the add-ons. The lobster tail upgrade, the tableside presentations, the premium desserts — they add up fast. The standard Chops menu (filet, ribeye, sides) is already excellent. Resist the upsell.
Is Chops Grille Worth the Price?
For most cruisers, yes — once per sailing. The USDA prime beef is legitimate, the service is a noticeable step above the main dining room, and the quiet atmosphere is worth something on a ship with 5,000 passengers. Where people go wrong is buying the Unlimited Dining Package thinking they'll eat at Chops every other night — few people actually use it enough to break even.
Best for: Foodies, anniversary/celebration dinners, anyone who finds the main dining room exhausting Skip it if: You're on a short 3-4 night cruise and prefer to spend that money on excursions
Want to see exactly how Chops fits into your total cruise budget before you sail? Run your numbers through CruiseMutiny — it breaks down specialty dining costs alongside every other onboard expense so there are no surprises on your final bill.