Meal upgrades: seafood nights and special dinners
The resort offers a paid seafood night or special dinner, and you wonder if it adds much.
A meal upgrade is worth it when it gives you something your package meals do not, such as a place, a menu or an occasion you care about. It is less worth it when it repeats what you already have, with a higher price. The way to judge is to put the upgrade next to your included dinner and ask what is different.
Start with what your package already covers. Our guide to what an island full-board package includes and excludes explains the baseline, and the cost calculator adds the upgrade to the total.
What kinds of dinner upgrade are there?
Most fall into three groups. Resorts name them differently, so ask what is meant.
| Type | What it usually means | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Seafood night | A themed dinner with a seafood focus, often a buffet or barbecue | Menu, number of dishes, whether seafood is priced by weight |
| Set dinner | A fixed menu in the restaurant | Courses, drinks, the table position |
| Private or beach dinner | A table set apart, sometimes with decoration | Venue, weather backup, minimum guests |
Never assume what is served. A name on the quote is not a menu.
How do you compare an upgrade with your package meal?
Put the two side by side, and list what changes.
- What does your package dinner include? Buffet, set meal or choice from a menu?
- What does the upgrade add: a better menu, a different place, more dishes or an occasion?
- What is the extra charge per person, and what is the total for your group?
- What is lost if you skip your included dinner that night?
If the answer to number 2 is vague, ask for details before you pay.
What should you check about price and portions?
Some seafood dinners are priced by weight or by market price, which means the total can change. Ask whether the price is fixed for the night, or whether it depends on what you order.
Ask what service charge and tax are added. Our guide on package taxes and service charge shows where they appear.
What about drinks and the weather?
Drinks are often extra, so ask which are included and which are charged. For an outdoor dinner, ask for the plan if rain or wind arrives.
A good answer is specific: an indoor table, a different night or a refund. A vague answer is a reason to ask again.
What should you ask the resort?
- What is on the menu, and is it a buffet, a set menu or choose-as-you-go?
- Is the price per person, and does it include drinks, service charge and tax?
- Is there a minimum number of guests?
- Where is the dinner, and what is the weather backup?
- What is the cancellation rule if I change the night?
A better fit if…
An upgrade may be a better fit if:
- the dinner is part of an occasion, such as an anniversary.
- you enjoy seafood and want a specific menu.
- your package dinner is a basic set meal.
Skipping the upgrade may be a better fit if:
- your included dinner already suits you.
- you would rather spend on an outing.
- the details are vague.
For decorations and surprises, see honeymoon decoration add-ons: what is real.
What is the next step?
Write down the upgrade, the price per person and the questions above. Send it to the agency and ask for answers in writing before you decide.
Common questions
What is a seafood night upgrade?
It is usually a themed dinner, sometimes a buffet or a barbecue, with a seafood focus, offered for an extra charge. What is served varies by resort and by day. Ask for the menu, the number of dishes and whether it is a set menu or a buffet.
Is a special dinner the same as a honeymoon dinner?
Not necessarily. A special dinner may be a set menu in the restaurant or a table with decoration on the beach. Ask exactly where it is, what is served and whether decoration or music is included.
Are drinks included in a meal upgrade?
Do not assume so. Ask whether soft drinks, water, tea, coffee or alcohol are included, and whether service charge and tax are in the price. Our guide on full board and drinks shows what to read.
What happens if the weather spoils an outdoor dinner?
Ask for the backup. A good answer names an alternative venue, a reschedule to another night or a refund. Ask for it in writing, because rain can affect outdoor plans.