Speciality dining on Liberty of the Seas is all about whether you want to pay extra for something different from the included restaurants. You don’t need speciality dining to eat well onboard. The main dining room, Windjammer, El Loco Fresh, Sorrento’s, Café Promenade and several snack options are already included in your cruise fare.
But if you want a steakhouse meal, Italian food, teppanyaki, sushi, a tasting menu or a casual diner-style meal, Liberty of the Seas has several paid options to choose from.
The main Liberty of the Seas speciality dining venues are Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi Teppanyaki and Sushi, Chef’s Table and Johnny Rockets. This guide explains where they are, what they serve, what changed after the refit, and how to decide whether paying extra is worth it.
Watch My Liberty of the Seas Dining Guide
If you want to see the restaurants and menus onboard, you can watch my full Liberty of the Seas dining guide here. The video covers included dining, speciality dining, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and late-night food, but this article focuses specifically on the extra-cost dining options.
What Is Speciality Dining on Liberty of the Seas?
Speciality dining means the restaurants and dining experiences that cost extra on top of your standard cruise fare. On Liberty of the Seas, the speciality dining options include Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi, Chef’s Table and Johnny Rockets. These are separate from the included restaurants and casual food venues.
You don’t need to use speciality dining to eat well on Liberty of the Seas. The included dining options are enough for most passengers. Speciality dining is more about variety, a different setting, or a more specific type of meal. For example, you might book Chops Grille for a steakhouse dinner, Izumi for teppanyaki, or Giovanni’s Table for Italian food.
What Speciality Restaurants Are on Liberty of the Seas?
The main speciality dining options on Liberty of the Seas are:
Chops Grille on Deck 11.
Giovanni’s Table on Deck 11.
Izumi Teppanyaki and Sushi on Deck 4.
Chef’s Table.
Johnny Rockets on Deck 12.
There are also smaller paid options around the ship, such as the Ice Cream Parlour, Cupcake Cupboard and speciality coffees, but this guide focuses on the main paid dining venues.
Does Speciality Dining Cost Extra on Liberty of the Seas?
Yes, speciality dining costs extra on Liberty of the Seas. Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, so the price you see can vary depending on your sailing, when you book, and whether there are any offers in the Cruise Planner or Royal Caribbean app.
That means it’s better to check your own sailing rather than relying on one fixed price. You may be able to book individual restaurants before you sail, once onboard, or as part of a dining package.
Royal Caribbean also sells dining packages, including smaller multi-night packages and the Unlimited Dining Package. These can change the value depending on how many speciality meals you actually use.
I’ll cover the Unlimited Dining Package separately because it works differently from simply booking one restaurant and needs its own explanation.
Liberty of the Seas Speciality Dining Menus and Downloadable PDFs
If you want to look through the speciality dining menus before you sail, I’ve added them as downloadable PDFs below. These include menus for Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi, Chef’s Table and Johnny Rockets .
Menus and prices can vary by sailing, so use these as a guide rather than a guarantee for your exact cruise.
Chops Grille on Liberty of the Seas
Chops Grille is Royal Caribbean’s classic steakhouse. On Liberty of the Seas, Chops Grille is located on Deck 11, just before you reach the Windjammer.
This is one of the best-known speciality restaurants across the Royal Caribbean fleet, and it’s the place to consider if you want a more traditional steakhouse meal. The menu usually includes starters, steaks, seafood, sides and desserts.
Chops is more of a proper sit-down evening meal than a quick casual option. It works well if you want one meal during the cruise that feels more special than the main dining room or buffet.
On some sailings, Chops Grille may also open for lunch on embarkation day or sea days. This can be a quieter alternative to the Windjammer if you want to avoid the first-day buffet rush or have a more relaxed sea day lunch.
It does cost extra, so I’d treat Chops as an optional upgrade rather than something you need to book.
Is Chops Grille Worth It on Liberty of the Seas?
Chops Grille is most worth considering if you specifically want a steakhouse meal. It’s a better fit if you want a quieter setting, a more premium feel, or a break from the included dining options.
It’s probably not essential if you’re happy with the main dining room and Windjammer, especially if you’re only onboard for a short cruise. If you’re only booking one speciality restaurant, Chops is the safest choice for people who like a traditional steakhouse experience.
Giovanni’s Table on Liberty of the Seas
Giovanni’s Table is the Italian speciality restaurant on Liberty of the Seas. It’s also located on Deck 11, close to the Windjammer and Chops Grille.
Giovanni’s serves Italian-style food, including pasta, meat dishes, seafood, starters and desserts. It’s also a paid restaurant, so it isn’t included in your standard cruise fare.
Giovanni’s can be a good option if you want something different from the main dining room or buffet, but still want a proper sit-down meal rather than a casual snack venue.
One thing to be aware of is lunch availability. Giovanni’s Table may sometimes open for lunch, but on my back-to-back Liberty cruise, I was onboard for nine days and it didn’t open for lunch during my sailing.
So I wouldn’t rely on Giovanni’s being available at lunchtime. Check the Royal Caribbean app once onboard to see whether lunch is offered on your specific sailing.
Is Giovanni’s Table Worth It on Liberty of the Seas?
Giovanni’s Table is most worth it if you want a relaxed Italian meal and a change from the included restaurants. It may appeal if you like pasta, Italian-style starters, meat dishes and a quieter setting than the buffet.
I wouldn’t book it just because you feel you must pay for speciality dining. I’d book it if the menu appeals to you and you want that type of meal.
If you’re comparing Chops and Giovanni’s, Chops is more of a steakhouse experience, while Giovanni’s is better for Italian-style dining.
Izumi Teppanyaki and Sushi on Liberty of the Seas
One of the biggest speciality dining changes after the Liberty of the Seas refit is the addition of Izumi. Izumi is on Deck 4 and replaced Sabor, which used to be the Mexican speciality restaurant in this area. This gives Liberty of the Seas a very different paid dining option after the refit.
At Izumi Teppanyaki, the chef cooks in front of you at the table, so the meal is part food and part entertainment. This is the kind of restaurant that works well if you want more of an experience rather than just a standard sit-down dinner.
You can also go to Izumi for sushi, so it isn’t only about the teppanyaki tables. That gives you another option if you like Japanese food but don’t necessarily want the full hibachi-style meal.
Because Izumi is new after the refit, it’s one of the speciality dining venues I’d expect people to be especially interested in on Liberty of the Seas.
Is Izumi Worth It on Liberty of the Seas?
Izumi is most worth it if you want the experience of teppanyaki or you specifically enjoy sushi and Japanese-style food. It’s different from the main dining room, Chops and Giovanni’s because it’s not just about the meal. The teppanyaki side is more interactive, with the chef cooking in front of you.
That makes it a good option for a special evening, a group meal, or if you want something more memorable than another sit-down restaurant. However if you’re not interested in teppanyaki or sushi, it may not be the best value for you.
Chef’s Table on Liberty of the Seas
Chef’s Table is Royal Caribbean’s more premium speciality dining experience. This is usually a paired multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings, so it’s much more of a special occasion meal than a regular dinner option. It’s aimed at people who want a longer food and wine experience.
Chef’s Table is normally one of the most expensive dining options onboard, and it won’t suit everyone. It’s not the kind of venue I’d book casually just because I wanted dinner. It’s better if you specifically want a premium tasting menu experience and are happy to spend more.
Is Chef’s Table Worth It on Liberty of the Seas?
Chef’s Table is most worth it if you want a special occasion meal and enjoy wine pairings. It’s not the best option if you just want a different restaurant for dinner, because it’s usually a longer and more expensive experience.
If you’re trying to decide how to spend your speciality dining budget, I’d only choose Chef’s Table if the tasting menu format is something you really want. For most passengers, Chops, Giovanni’s or Izumi will be more straightforward speciality dining choices.
Johnny Rockets on Liberty of the Seas
Johnny Rockets is on Deck 12 and is very different from the other speciality dining venues. It’s a casual American-style diner rather than a formal evening restaurant. You’ll usually find burgers, fries, onion rings, milkshakes and classic diner-style food.
Johnny Rockets costs extra, so it isn’t included in your standard cruise fare. It works well if you want something fun, casual and different from the Windjammer, Sorrento’s or El Loco Fresh. It can also be useful for lunch or a relaxed meal during the day, depending on the opening hours on your sailing.
Is Johnny Rockets Worth It on Liberty of the Seas?
Johnny Rockets is worth considering if you like diner-style food and want something casual. It’s not really comparable with Chops, Giovanni’s or Izumi because it serves a completely different purpose. It’s more of a fun extra than a special occasion meal.
I wouldn’t say you need it, especially because Liberty of the Seas already has included casual options like El Loco Fresh and Sorrento’s. But if you specifically want burgers, fries and milkshakes in a diner setting, it may be worth it.
Speciality Dining for Lunch on Liberty of the Seas
Some speciality restaurants may open for lunch on Liberty of the Seas, but this can vary. Chops Grille may open for lunch on embarkation day or sea days.
Johnny Rockets may open from around noon and stay open later into the evening, depending on the sailing. Giovanni’s Table may sometimes open for lunch, but it didn’t during my nine days onboard, so I wouldn’t rely on it. Izumi and other speciality dining times should be checked in the Royal Caribbean app once onboard.
If you’re interested in speciality lunch, check availability early in the cruise. Lunch can sometimes be quieter and may suit people who don’t want to use speciality dining for dinner.
Speciality Dining and the Unlimited Dining Package
Royal Caribbean sells dining packages, including the Unlimited Dining Package and smaller multi-night packages. These can sometimes make speciality dining better value if you know you want to eat in several paid restaurants. But they’re not automatically worth it for everyone.
You need to think about how many meals you’ll realistically use, which restaurants are available on your ship, whether lunch is included on sea days, and how easily you can get reservations.
I’ll cover the Royal Caribbean Unlimited Dining Package separately, because it deserves its own guide. I’ll also have a Liberty-specific review of whether the Unlimited Dining Package was worth it on Liberty of the Seas, based on how it worked in practice.
Do You Need Speciality Dining on Liberty of the Seas?
No, you don’t need speciality dining on Liberty of the Seas. The included food options are enough for most passengers.
You can use the main dining room for sit-down dinners, the Windjammer for flexible buffet meals, El Loco Fresh for casual food near the pool, Sorrento’s for pizza, Café Promenade for snacks, and continental room service breakfast if you want a quieter start.
Speciality dining is best used to add variety, not because the included dining isn’t enough. If you’re on a shorter cruise, you may not need any speciality dining at all. If you’re on a longer sailing, booking one or two paid restaurants can be a nice way to break up the routine.
Which Liberty of the Seas Speciality Restaurant Is Best?
The best speciality restaurant on Liberty of the Seas depends on what you want.
Choose Chops Grille if you want a steakhouse meal.
Choose Giovanni’s Table if you want Italian-style dining.
Choose Izumi if you want teppanyaki, sushi or a more experience-led meal.
Choose Chef’s Table if you want a premium tasting menu with wine pairings.
Choose Johnny Rockets if you want a casual diner meal.
There isn’t one best choice for everyone. The best value comes from choosing the restaurant that matches the type of meal you actually want.
Tips for Booking Speciality Dining on Liberty of the Seas
Check prices in the Cruise Planner before you sail, because Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing and offers can change.Look at the menus before booking so you know whether the restaurant suits you.
If you’re interested in Izumi Teppanyaki, book early because experience-led dining can be popular. If you want Chops for embarkation day or a sea day lunch, check availability as soon as you can.
If you have a dining package, make reservations early once onboard so you have a better chance of getting the times you want.
Don’t book speciality dining every night unless you really want to. The included options are good enough to mix in across the cruise.
Is Liberty of the Seas Speciality Dining Worth It?
Liberty of the Seas speciality dining can be worth it, but it depends on how you cruise. It’s worth considering if you want a quieter meal, a more specific type of food, or a dining experience that feels different from the main dining room and buffet.
Chops is the safest option for a steakhouse meal. Giovanni’s works well if you want Italian food. Izumi is the most interesting option after the refit because it gives Liberty a newer teppanyaki and sushi venue. Chef’s Table is more of a premium special occasion meal. Johnny Rockets is a casual paid extra.
But you don’t need to pay for speciality dining to enjoy the food onboard. For most people, I’d use the included options for most meals and choose speciality dining once or twice if the menu and experience genuinely appeal to you.
Useful Liberty of the Seas Dining Guides
If you’re planning where to eat on Liberty of the Seas, these guides may help next.
My Liberty of the Seas dining options guide gives a full overview of what’s included, what costs extra, and where to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and late-night food.
My guide to the Liberty of the Seas main dining room explains fixed dining, My Time Dining, the Deck 3, 4 and 5 dining rooms, table assignments, dining times and how the dining room works.
My Liberty of the Seas Windjammer guide covers the buffet opening times, breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, busiest times, where to sit, and includes a downloadable PDF of the Windjammer evening meal themes.
My Liberty of the Seas breakfast options guide explains where to eat in the morning, including the Windjammer, main dining room, Café Promenade, room service and suite breakfast options.
My Liberty of the Seas lunch options guide covers El Loco Fresh, Windjammer, Sorrento’s, Café Promenade, main dining room lunch and paid lunch options.
My Liberty of the Seas dinner options guide explains the evening food options, including the main dining room, Windjammer, Sorrento’s, Café Promenade and room service.
My Liberty of the Seas snacks and late-night food guide covers what’s open between meals, what’s included, and where to get food after the Windjammer closes.
FAQs: Liberty of the Seas Speciality Dining
What speciality dining is on Liberty of the Seas?
Liberty of the Seas speciality dining includes Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi Teppanyaki and Sushi, Chef’s Table and Johnny Rockets.
Is speciality dining included on Liberty of the Seas?
No, speciality dining costs extra unless it’s covered by a dining package you’ve purchased.
Is Chops Grille on Liberty of the Seas?
Yes, Chops Grille is on Deck 11 on Liberty of the Seas, near the Windjammer.
Is Giovanni’s Table on Liberty of the Seas?
Yes, Giovanni’s Table is on Deck 11 on Liberty of the Seas, close to Chops Grille and the Windjammer.
Does Liberty of the Seas have Izumi?
Yes, Liberty of the Seas has Izumi on Deck 4. It was added after the refit and replaced Sabor.
Does Liberty of the Seas still have Sabor?
No, Sabor was replaced by Izumi after the Liberty of the Seas refit.
Is Johnny Rockets free on Liberty of the Seas?
No, Johnny Rockets costs extra. It’s a paid American-style diner on Deck 12.
Is Chef’s Table available on Liberty of the Seas?
Chef’s Table is usually offered as a premium speciality dining experience, but availability can vary, so check the Royal Caribbean app or Cruise Planner for your sailing.
Do you need to book speciality dining in advance?
It’s a good idea to book speciality dining in advance or early once onboard, especially if you want popular times or are using a dining package.
Is speciality dining worth it on Liberty of the Seas?
Speciality dining can be worth it if you want a different setting, a specific type of food or a more special meal. But it isn’t essential because the included dining options are enough for most passengers.
Useful Cruise Items to Consider
These are a few simple items that can make your cruise on P&O Arvia more comfortable and help you stay organised onboard.
I personally use variations of these when cruising, and they’re all practical rather than essential.
Magnetic hooks Perfect for extra storage in your cabin
Packing cubes Keep your suitcase organised
Cruise luggage tags Protect your tags at the port
Travel Extension Lead UK For charging multiple phones, cameras, and laptops
Toiletry organiser Great for small bathrooms
You can also browse my full Cruise Essentials list for more useful items I use or recommend for cruise holidays.
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