Cunard Dropping Free Room Service for Specific Staterooms
One of the best perks of luxury cruising is having free room service, any time of day. Slept in and missed breakfast? Just call room service. Hungry after a long afternoon excursion? Pick up the phone. Need a late-night snack? It’s a cinch.
But that has changed for cruisers staying in a Britannia stateroom on Cunard’s fleet of four ships.
In a notice sent to passengers and confirmed by Cunard’s customer service, the cruise line is rolling out charges for room service delivered after 10 a.m. aboard its ships.
While breakfast ordered before 10 a.m. will remain free of charge, all other room service requests will now be priced individually, according to Cunard’s signature supplement pricing structure.
That means guests ordering from the Day Menu or Late-Night Menu can expect charges ranging between $2.50 and $6.50 per item.
In addition, there will be a new cover charge for brunch and afternoon tea items ordered through room service.
“Yes, that is correct for Britannia stateroom guests,” a Cunard representative confirmed in a direct message shared on social media. “We’ll be extending the signature supplement pricing structure for all room service dishes available after 10 a.m.”
The change applies to Britannia-class staterooms, which include the cruise line’s standard cabins category and the slightly elevated Britannia Club. These encompass inside cabins, oceanview cabins, and balcony cabins.
Passengers booked in higher-tier accommodations, such as Princess Grill or Queens Grill, will continue to receive complimentary 24-hour room service, including the newly refreshed Queen Elizabeth.
However, the new service policy has created confusion for some passengers.
As of June 2, 2025, Cunard’s website still states that 24-hour room service is included for all stateroom categories: Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill, and Queens Grill.
Despite that, some guests have received notices directly from Cunard detailing the change.
“We are writing to inform you of a change in our room service on board,” the letter begins. “Across the fleet, we are introducing new charges that will apply to room service dishes after 10.00am in Britannia grade staterooms.”
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The letter reminds passengers booked in Britannia that “breakfast, lunch, and dinner in your main dining room” are included.
“And of course, you’re welcome to dine at the buffet where you’ll find a selection of dishes through the day and into the night, all included in your fare.”
The buffet is also included in the cruise fare, so passengers aren’t losing out dining. They’ll just have to pay more if they want it delivered to their cabin.
By contrast, guests in Princess Grill and Queens Grill suites receive additional in-suite dining services and access to exclusive Grills venues on board.
Amenity Levels by Cabin Tier
The change isn’t a surprise, especially as more and more travel benefits are being stripped from standard services across the industry, such as the case on flights.
All Cunard guests, no matter the stateroom category, receive in-room refrigerators, tea and coffee making, Satellite TV, and embarkation welcome, and dining.
However, Britannia guests do not get additional perks like a pillow menu, or priority embarkation and disembarkation.
For a slightly higher price, passengers can book a Britannia Club stateroom, which provides an elevated version of amenities, including open-seat dining versus the set table and time Britannia guests receive.
It’s the Grill staterooms that get even more. The top-tier, Queens Grill cabins, for example, gives its guests a complimentary mini bar, Champagne, and priority tender services.
In early 2024, Cunard informed guests it would be raising gratuities automatically included for dining and hotel services, including room service.
While free room service aboard ships is becoming more difficult to find, Viking, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea, and Oceania Cruises are still offering 100-percent complimentary room service included in fares.