Meals on arrival day and departure day
You want to know which meals count on the first and last day of your island package.
The first and last days of an island package usually carry fewer meals than the days in between, because the meal count starts and ends with your boat times. A package called three days two nights does not mean three full days of food. Ask the resort for the first and last meal that count, then count the rest yourself.
Our guide on full board on islands covers the meal plan in general, and the jetty connection planner helps you place your own boat times.
Why do the first and last days look short?
Check-in often starts in the afternoon and check-out often falls in the morning. The boat times sit on either side. Between them, a meal can fall outside the window you are on the island.
The package label counts calendar days. The kitchen counts meals served while you are there.
That mismatch is the reason to build your own count. Read check-in and check-out times beside this page.
How do you build a meal ledger?
A meal ledger is a simple table of every meal in your stay, marked as included, not included or unknown. It takes a few minutes and removes guesswork.
- Write each date of your stay down the left.
- Add breakfast, lunch and dinner across the top.
- Mark the meals that fall before your arrival or after your departure as not included.
- Mark the meals the resort confirms as included.
- Mark any meal you are unsure about as unknown, and ask about it.
- Count the included meals, then compare with what you expected.
Here is a small example for three days, two nights, arriving on a lunchtime boat and leaving on a morning boat.
| Day | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (arrive) | Before arrival | Unknown | Included |
| Day 2 | Included | Included | Included |
| Day 3 (leave) | Included | Departed | Departed |
This is a made-up example to show the method, and your own pattern will differ. Notice that day one lunch is unknown. That is exactly the line to ask about.
Which questions settle the gaps?
Ask the resort to confirm each of these in writing:
- Which is the first meal that counts on arrival day, and what time is the kitchen open?
- Which is the last meal that counts on departure day?
- If my boat arrives after lunch, is lunch packed, swapped or lost?
- If my boat is delayed by weather, how are meals handled?
- Is a packed meal available for a long departure journey?
- Are drinks and snacks included in the first and last meals?
For late arrivals specifically, read mealtimes on islands. For children and a long wait at the jetty, ask for simple food to be ready.
What about the budget?
A missing meal at either end is a small cost that is easy to forget. Add an allowance for it. If lunch on arrival day is not included, price a simple lunch at the jetty or the resort and add it to your plan.
Our island trip cost calculator lets you add those extra meals, and a la carte dining outside the package shows how to price them.
A better fit if…
A package that clearly lists the first and last meal may be a better fit if you want no surprises, especially with children.
A package that is vague about arrival and departure meals may still work if you plan to eat before the boat and bring snacks.
Write your ledger, ask the resort to confirm it, and keep the reply with your booking.
Common questions
Which meals are included on arrival day?
It depends on the package and the check-in time. Some start with lunch, some with dinner, and some with the afternoon tea. Ask the resort for the first meal that counts, in writing, and compare it with your actual arrival time.
Which meals are included on departure day?
Often breakfast, and sometimes lunch if your boat leaves later. Ask for the last meal that counts and what time the boat leaves, so you know whether a meal falls in the gap. Write the answer down next to your boat time.
Can a missed meal be swapped or refunded?
Sometimes it can be swapped for a packed meal, and sometimes it simply lapses. Ask for the rule before you pay, and ask whether it applies to boat delays outside your control. A written rule is easier to rely on than a spoken one.
Does three days two nights mean three days of meals?
Not necessarily. The label counts days on the calendar, while meals are counted from the first to the last included meal. Always ask for a meal-by-meal list, and count the meals yourself. This one list prevents most surprises.