There’s this funny little moment that happens on almost every cruise.
You sit down for dinner, you open the menu, and suddenly your brain goes “wait. Am I allowed to ask for stuff? Like…extra stuff?“
Because most cruises feel fancy, right? Especially in the Main Dining Room, and you don’t want to be “that person.”
But here’s the thing: cruise dining is way more flexible than people think. And waiters are used to special requests all day long.
Some things are totally free, and honestly, they make the whole cruise experience better.
1. Lemon wedges (for water, tea, fish… everything)
There are a lot of lemon people around. They like to put lemon in water, lemon on fish, lemon in iced tea.
If you want lemon, ask. Waiters can usually grab a little plate of wedges, and it feels weirdly classy.
2. A different table (because location matters more than people admit)
If your table is right next to the entrance, the waiter station, or the loudest family on the ship, you can ask to move.
Some people think it’s “rude” to request a different table, but it’s totally normal.
Just be chill about it:
“Any chance we could move to a quieter spot?”
They can usually make it happen. Obviously, if the ship is not at full capacity, there are free tables.
3. A table for two (even if you got assigned a big shared table)
Related to the previous point, some cruises love putting solo travelers or couples at big tables.
Sometimes it’s fun. Sometimes it’s a social experiment nobody signed up for.
If you’re not in the mood for forced small talk with strangers, ask if you could be seated at a smaller table.
PRO TIP: If you really want a small, private table, ask for one as soon as you board the ship or on the first evening. There is a better chance of getting one.
4. Extra bread and butter (or a different kind, if they have it)
This is such a simple one, but it matters.
Sometimes you get like two tiny butter packets for the whole table and a small basket of bread.
Ask for more. Or if you’re lucky, they might have a different option like whipped butter or different types of bread. Depends on the ship.
5. A side swap
Let’s say your entrée comes with a side you don’t care about. Like steamed carrots that, let’s be honest, taste like sadness.
You can often ask:
“Could I swap the side for fries?” or “Can I do extra veggies instead?”
Most of the time, it’s an easy yes. Especially on smaller ships and on some flexible cruise lines, and suddenly your dinner is exactly what you wanted.
6. Extra appetizers
Cruise menus are built for people who want to try stuff. You’re not stealing food.
If something sounds good, ask for it.
You could do: two different starters, the same starter twice, a starter and a soup if you can’t choose.
Your waiter will usually just smile and write it down.
7. Two main courses (yes, really)
This is the moment when people feel guilty.
Cruise dining rooms are used to it. Especially if you’re torn between two things.
Is it allowed? It absolutely was in the past, but then some people started taking advantage of it.
Nowadays, it’s still allowed, but some cruise lines apply a surcharge for a second or third entrée (usually $5 USD per extra entrée).
This currently happens on NCL and MSC (for the second main course) and on Carnival from the third main course onwards.
However, keep in mind that policies may change, so if you want to be sure, just ask the waiter if you can have a second main course at no extra charge.
8. Off-menu drinks
Waiters can usually bring things that aren’t written down, as long as it’s basic.
You can usually get:
- hot tea
- iced tea
- milk
- chocolate milk (sometimes)
- hot water with lemon
You can also ask for a bigger glass or extra ice.
9. A kids’ menu item (even if you’re not a kid)
Not every cruise line loves this, but a lot of them are fine with it.
If you want chicken tenders, plain pasta, or grilled cheese, you can usually find them in the kids’ menu.
It can be a good move, especially if you’re feeling a bit off, or you’ve been eating rich food for days, and your body is like please stop, I need something simple.
10. Your dessert served differently
This is such a small thing, but it can make dessert way better.
For example, you can ask for ice cream on the side instead of on top, sauce on the side, extra whipped cream, no garnish, etc.
It can be a smart thing to do, especially in some cases, such as asking for ice cream on the side when the cake is served hot.
11. Two desserts (or a dessert + cheese plate)
Still talking about desserts, you’ve probably noticed that dessert menus on cruises are designed to tempt people. And it works.
If you’re torn between two desserts, just ask for both. Or ask for dessert and the cheese plate if they have one.
Also, pro tip: if the dessert menu looks “meh” that night, ask your waiter what’s actually good. Sometimes they also have things that are not listed, like different ice cream flavours.
12. A quick “rush” service if you have a show or activity
Cruise dining can be quick, or it can be very relaxed.
If you have a show, trivia, a reservation, or you just don’t feel like eating dinner for 2 hours, tell your server at the start.
You can say something like:
“We’re on a little bit of a schedule tonight, any chance we can do a faster service?”
They’ll usually speed things up without making you feel weird about it.
13. A different waiter section
This sounds spicy, but it doesn’t have to be.
Sometimes the service is slow not because your waiter is bad, but because their section is overloaded. Or they’re covering extra tables. Or the dining room is just having one of those nights.
You can ask the host to switch sections. Just keep it polite and simple.
A quick little waiter tip (that makes everything better)
If you find a waiter you really like, just be nice and a little human.
Say hi. Remember their name. Compliment something small. Ask how their day is going.
Cruise crew work hard. And I swear, the whole dining experience becomes 10 times better when you treat them like actual people, not just service robots.
You can also leave a tip if you’d like. I’ve explained in this article why cruise ship workers prefer cash tips.
And don’t forget to have a look at the mistakes you should always avoid at the buffet!
