Independence of the Seas dining guide: Fish & Ships, Giovanni’s and free food
Plan Independence of the Seas meals with Fish & Ships, Giovanni’s Table, Chops, Izumi, included dining and a practical specialty-food budget.
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Independence of the Seas makes it easy to confuse a casual-looking food outlet with an included one. Fish & Ships, Playmakers and Johnny Rockets each need their own menu check. The Main Dining Room, Windjammer, Café Promenade and Sorrento’s provide the basic included plan, so extra spending should buy a meal you specifically want.
This is a ship where a simple combination can work well: convenient included lunches, ordinary served dinners and one targeted treat. Choose between a steakhouse, Italian meal or Japanese dining experience without assuming you need the restaurant count of a newer mega-ship to have a varied cruise.
What matters for your decision
- Fish & Ships is on Independence, but verify the charge beside each item on the current menu.
- The ship lists Giovanni’s Table, Chops Grille and Izumi Hibachi & Sushi as its main specialty choices.
- Do not import Coastal Kitchen or an Icon-class food hall into an Independence dining plan.
Which restaurants are included on Independence of the Seas?
The Main Dining Room and Windjammer are the foundation for full meals. Café Promenade and Sorrento’s help when a sandwich, snack or pizza slice is sufficient. Fish & Ships has had item-level differences in what is included, and Royal’s current marketing categorizes the venue separately; ask for the current menu before treating the whole counter as complimentary or paid.
The table covers principal venues. Confirm hours and access in the official ship information. Drinks, premium dishes and delivery may cost extra even where standard food is included.
| Venue | Food and occasion | Cost / access |
|---|---|---|
| Main Dining Room | Served dinner and scheduled daytime service | Included base menu |
| Windjammer | Buffet meals | Included |
| Café Promenade | Sandwiches and snacks | Included food; specialty drinks separate |
| Sorrento’s | Pizza by the slice | Included |
| Fish & Ships | Poolside fish-and-chip-style food | Confirm included items and supplements |
| Giovanni’s Table | Italian meal | Extra charge |
| Chops Grille | Steakhouse | Extra charge |
| Izumi Hibachi & Sushi | Japanese dining and grill experience | Extra charge |
| Playmakers | Sports-bar food and game setting | Extra charge |
| Johnny Rockets | Burgers and diner food | Extra charge |
| Chef’s Table | Hosted multi-course experience | Separate paid booking |
| Sugar Beach | Sweets and ice cream treats | Extra charge |
Fish & Ships and Playmakers need different value tests
Royal’s Independence page highlights Fish & Ships beside the pool. The location is its practical advantage: a snack can fit into a pool afternoon without changing the entire day. The menu is still the authority on charges. If your desired item carries a supplement, compare it with a nearby included meal rather than assuming a casual counter must be the cheapest option.
Playmakers works best when watching a sporting event is part of the reason to sit down. Paying for wings, burgers or other bar food may be worthwhile for that shared occasion. If no one wants the game and the only goal is a quick meal, Café Promenade or Sorrento’s may solve the problem more economically. The setting should earn the extra spending.
The ship’s Italian restaurant is Giovanni’s Table. It is not the Italian Kitchen concept seen on some other Royal ships. Use the correct menu when checking children’s options, sharing dishes or dietary preferences. A recommendation based on a different Giovanni’s venue can otherwise set the wrong expectations before you even board.
Which meal is worth booking first?
If one person is celebrating and wants a conventional steakhouse evening, start with Chops. For a group that enjoys Italian food and a longer shared dinner, inspect Giovanni’s Table. Izumi’s hibachi format is a useful meal-and-entertainment option, but confirm whether you are booking the grill or sushi dining and check how any package applies to that choice.
For a lower-cost cruise, there is no need to reserve a specialty restaurant every night. Build variety through the Main Dining Room’s changing menus and different daytime formats. Then spend selectively on a cuisine or setting the included plan does not provide. The decision is easier once the group agrees whether food, atmosphere or convenience is the priority.
Build a dining plan around the actual sailing
On embarkation day, check the posted lunch venues rather than assuming every counter opens immediately. If you want to use the pool, locate Fish & Ships and its menu at the start of the afternoon, while keeping Windjammer as an alternative when open. For evenings with a show, leave a comfortable margin after specialty dining so the meal does not become a race.
A shorter sailing reduces the number of dinners available to use a package. Count the meals you genuinely want to buy, not the maximum the package advertises. Keep at least one evening flexible for a late port return or a change in appetite. Independence’s simpler restaurant plan can be an advantage when you want less administration and more unplanned time.
Reservations, menus and the total food budget
If you have a food allergy, contact the cruise line before departure and discuss preparation with the dining team before ordering. Our cruise dietary-needs guide explains what to confirm.
Compare departure dates and cabin fares on CruiseGem’s Independence of the Seas page, then add the optional meals and drinks you actually plan to buy. Use the resulting trip total to compare sailings.
Your decision checklist
- Open the current Independence of the Seas venue list and save the restaurants you want
- Check the daily opening times before leaving for an excursion
- Match every paid meal to a specific reservation and all-in price
- Confirm any package exclusions and cabin-based restaurant access
- Tell the dining team about food allergies before ordering
- Keep one convenient included option as a backup
Questions travelers ask
Can I eat on Independence of the Seas without paying for specialty restaurants?
Yes. The Main Dining Room, Windjammer, Café Promenade food and Sorrento’s provide an included-food plan. Check Fish & Ships at item level, and expect separate charges at the ship’s specialty restaurants and paid snack venues.
Which Independence of the Seas restaurant should I book first?
Choose Chops for a steakhouse celebration, Giovanni’s Table for Italian dining or Izumi hibachi for a more interactive meal. Reserve the format the group wants rather than buying a package first.
Should I assume every Fish & Ships item is included?
No. Inspect the current menu for included choices and separately charged selections. A venue can offer an included meal while still selling premium items.
Official sources and further reading
Sources checked September 20, 2026. Explore the original policies, destination guidance and provider information behind this article. Each description explains what you will find at the source.
- Royal Caribbean: Independence onboard experiencesVerified ship dining roster.
- Royal Caribbean: Fish & ShipsVenue and item-level menu check; no blanket free-food claim.
- Royal Caribbean: Giovanni’s TableCorrect Italian concept for Independence.
- Royal Caribbean: Onboard dining optionsRoyal Caribbean's overview of included dining, specialty restaurants and other onboard dining experiences.