Dining Hacks: Get the Most from the Included Restaurants

Because the restaurants are included, you can be adventurous. Here are the tricks regulars swear by.

• At Extra Virgin, ask for half-portions of pasta so you can try more of the menu in one sitting.

• At The Wake, ask to see both the brunch and dinner menus — and don't be shy about an extra side or serving.

• At The Test Kitchen, the vegetarian menu is a highlight even for meat-eaters, and longer sailings sometimes have a second menu.

• Walk-ups work more often than people expect, especially early or late in the dinner window — and the new in-app Virtual Dining Queues make waiting painless.

• Book what you can before you sail, then fill in on board as tables open up all week.

The mindset that unlocks Virgin dining: treat it like a food city you get to explore, not a set of upcharges to ration.

Want a suggested dining plan for your sailing? Tell us your tastes and we'll map it out. Ask The Cruise Boys®.