Calling the cabin phone to order a midnight snack may soon be optional on Royal Caribbean ships. The cruise line is developing a way for guests to place room service orders directly through its app, with the feature expected to roll out sometime in 2027.
Royal Caribbean International Senior Vice President of Food and Beverage Linken D'Souza shared the news during a travel agent webinar, describing ongoing behind-the-scenes work to "rethink how guests can order room service through the app." He noted that additional details would be shared in early 2027. The app upgrade would let guests order from anywhere on the ship — not just from the cabin phone — and could also help non-English-speaking travelers navigate the process without a language barrier.
The timing makes sense given how thoroughly the app has already taken hold among Royal Caribbean's passenger base. CEO Jason Liberty noted at a recent earnings call that more than 90% of guests now use the app, a fivefold increase in monthly active users since 2019. He also hinted that broader app improvements are coming in early 2027, focused on more personalized dining, entertainment, and destination recommendations.
Room service currently costs $7.95 plus an 18% gratuity per order, with no limit on how much food can be ordered for that flat charge. A complimentary breakfast option also remains available. It's worth noting that Royal Caribbean briefly tested in-app food ordering back in 2019 aboard Symphony of the Seas, and sister brand Celebrity Cruises experimented with app-based room service ordering on Celebrity Beyond earlier this year — so the concept has been in the works for a while.
Details and reporting on this development come from Royal Caribbean Blog.
