Royal Caribbean ships feature a diverse variety of cuisine, including Japanese-style sushi and hibachi

Izumi Sushi and Hibachi is a popular specialty restaurant found on most, but not all, ships.

For an extra cost, cruisers can enjoy fresh sushi, quality sashimi, or teppanyaki-style cooking, all within an elegant environment with quality service and input from trained chefs.

Read more: How does specialty dining work on Royal Caribbean?

So which Royal Caribbean ships have Izumi? How much does it cost, and how can you book a meal there?

What is Izumi Sushi?

Izumi is a classy, contemporary-style restaurant decorated in dark reds, greys, browns, blacks, and exposed metal. Rice paper and bamboo elements also add to the Japanese ambiance.

Fresh sushi is served in rolls on white and red plates, alongside tasty appetizers and drinks.

Izumi is located on the following ships:

• Adventure of the Seas 
• Allure of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Brilliance of the Seas
• Explorer of the Seas
• Grandeur of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Icon of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Jewel of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas 
• Oasis of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Quantum of the Seas
• Radiance of the Seas
• Rhapsody of the Seas
• Serenade of the Seas
• Spectrum of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Vision of the Seas 
• Voyager of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas

Izumi sushi menu

The Izumi sushi menu is the same for lunch and dinner with no price difference. The menu for Izumi sushi is priced a la carte, meaning you pay per dish.

It's important to note Izumi on Quantum Class ships do not offer the entire menu found on other ships because they lack a full kitchen.

The menu lists starters as complimentary, with options such as vegetable fried rice and green salad with ginger dressing. 

There are signature rolls, which come in pieces of 8 and cost $13 total. These include tasty roll such as the Rainbow Roll, a spicy crispy tuna roll, and the crispy Philly roll. 

Chef’s signature rolls come at a higher price ($15 for 8 pieces), and include even higher-grade sushi such as the champagne lobster roll.

The sushi menu also offers an assortment of sashimi and a chef’s sushi selection, each listed at $17 for 8-12 pieces.

Bowls and soups are also available—spicy miso ramen, poke bowls, chicken teriyaki, and more. All of these range in price from $14 to $20.

The dessert options shine: crispy sesame balls for $5, assorted mochi ice cream for $6, green tea ice cream for $5, and chocolate lava cake for $5.

There is also an alternative option where you can pay one price—either separately or as part of a dining package—and get a pre-fixed amount of food included.

The price onboard is $34.99 per adult and $10.99 per child (for children between the ages of 6 and 12). Kids between the ages of 0 to 5 eat free.

The food included in the fixed-price option has varied over the years, but it currently includes:

• 1 small plate (e.g. a small serving like miso soup, tempura, or pork gyoza dumplings)
• 2 large plates (varying between sushi, rolls, or ramen bowls)
• 1 dessert (such as mochi ice cream)

Our team has tried the a la carte and fixed price options, and we recommend sticking with the a la carte options and skipping the fixed price offering because the sushi rolls are half sized with fixed price.

What is Izumi Hibachi?

Select ships also have Izumi Hibachi, a separate, teppanyaki-style area of the restaurant. This popular, fun dining experience features a chef who cooks food in front of the guests, cracking jokes and creating a personalized dining experience.

Sometimes referred to as “Japanese steakhouse,” the dining experience places guests in a communal table for an exciting, funny performance along with their live cooking. 

The hibachi area has three main cooking tables, each with a flat iron grill surface. The tables are surrounded by chairs, with each table seating about eight people.

If you book Izumi Hibachi with a party of less than eight, you can expect to be seated with other cruisers for the night. 

The following ships have Izumi Sushi and Hibachi:

• Allure of the Seas 
• Freedom of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Icon of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas

On Icon Class and Oasis Class ships, Izumi is split into two, with a sushi side and a hibachi side. They are separate, including separate reservations and availability. On other ships, hibachi and the sushi exist in the same large space.

The hibachi side often books up more quickly, because of its limited amount of tables and high demand.

The hibachi experience makes for a fun, unforgettable evening, perfect to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or just your latest cruise.

Izumi hibachi menu

This fixed-price option allows you to choose a variety of proteins for your entree.

Complimentary starters include vegetable fried rice and green salad with ginger dressing.

The classic option costs $45.99 for adults, allowing you to choose between chicken breast, beef tenderloin, and tiger shrimp.

Read more: How much does Royal Caribbean specialty dining cost?

The premier combo, on the other hand, costs $49.99 and offers combinations of meat: beef tenderloin and tiger shrimp, chicken breast and tiger shrimp, New York steak and chicken breast, and sea scallops with lobster.

A choice of dessert also comes with the meal: mochi ice cream, green tea ice cream, chocolate lava cake, or crispy sesame balls.

What is Izumi omakase?

Available only on Utopia of the Seas, Izumi omakase is a chef-driven Japanese dining experience.

The Omakase table is a communal dining experience, where six people are seated together across a rather large wood table. Yes, you will be seated with strangers.

The menu has eight courses, and each comes with a drink pairing.

The cost is $129.99 per guest, and it's an eight course meal that includes food and alcohol pairings. If you have the Unlimited Dining Package, there is a $59.99 surcharge. There is no kids pricing.

Where can I find Izumi in the Park? 

Royal Caribbean’s new ships have a brilliant concept on board: Izumi in the Park.

The specialty venue takes advantage of the beautiful, peaceful Central Park neighborhood located on Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas.

Izumi is so popular that the cruise line wanted to move it to a more high-traffic area, rather than tucking it in the corners.

Alongside the typical Sushi and Hibachi sections, Izumi in the Park also has sushi to-go options and ice cream bubble cones.

The photogenic space is the perfect easy-to-find, quick, and tasty meal.

Read more: I tried Royal Caribbean's new chef-driven Japanese restaurant, and it was a food journey that surprised me

When is Izumi open?

Izumi sushi is typically open for dinner between 5:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M. Reservations are recommended, especially on larger ships, as the popular venue can fill up fast.

The sushi venue is also open for lunch on select sailings and ships, usually available between noon and 1:30 P.M.

Izumi Hibachi also opens for dinner at 5:00 P.M., but it stays open just a little later to accommodate the longer meals, closing at 9:30.

Izumi in the Park is open for lunch and all the way into the evening, opening at 11:00 A.M. and not closing until 10:00 P.M.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the dress code at Izumi?

Royal Caribbean's website advises that attire should be smart-casual.

For women, this can be blouses, skirts, or pants. Men should wear long pants such as jeans or chinos, and lightweight blazers.

Do I need to make reservations?

Reservations are recommended. Cruisers can call the restaurant from their stateroom phones, or simply walk in on embarkation day.

The online Cruise Planner also provides the option to book restaurants before the sailing begins.

Is there a kid's menu?

Yes, Izumi has a kid's menu. It includes smaller ratios of quality sushi, teriyaki, and more.

Newborns to kids aged 5 years old eat free.

Can I use my dining/drink package at Izumi?

Yes, you can use dining packages such as the Ultimate Dining Package or the 3-night dining package. 

Drink packages are also valid at Izumi.

Royal Caribbean introduced plenty of new features on Icon of the Seas, including a walk-up sushi window.

Sushi has been an incredibly popular dining choice on Royal Caribbean ships ever since the first Izumi location opened on Oasis of the Seas in 2009. Demand for Japanese cuisine has never only increased since then, and Royal Caribbean wanted to make it easier than ever to enjoy it with its newest cruise ship.

Icon of the Seas began offering cruises in January 2024 and one of the revamped venues anyone that has cruised a lot with Royal Caribbean will notice is the new look to Izumi.

Royal Caribbean moved Izumi to the Central Park neighborhood, offering a high-traffic location in one of the most sought-after areas of the cruise ship for guests looking to dine out. Central Park has traditionally been a combination of dining and entertainment, and Izumi is now located across the path from Royal Caribbean's most well-known specialty restaurant, Chops Grille.

Izumi's rise in popularity isn't based on just luck.  Izumi Master Chef Travis Kamiyama has over 30 years experience working in Japanese cuisine, and he provided the inside story of how adding a new and convenient way to get sushi came to be on Icon.

Being given prime real estate is validation to the fact Izumi is a popular and profitable idea, "After 14 years of blood, sweat and tears, we made it. We landed in Central Park. Yeah, so that's a big deal."

"I think the consistency and becoming iconic," he said in talking about Izumi's popularity.

"And it was all by, you know, guests raving about it and all the numbers showing it. And that's what it was all about. It was all purely proven."

Read more: An inside look at how Royal Caribbean's Izumi restaurant went from concept to success

Sushi and bubble cones to go

At the walk-up window, there's two types of food you can order.

The sushi options include a choice of two rolls, plus edamame or seaweed salad. You'll find both sashimi and nigiri rolls to consider.

Rolls are served in a container so you can take it anywhere on the ship. There are tables nearby in Central Park, or you could take it back to your cabin to enjoy.

There's also bubble cones, which has ice cream served in sweet, eggy bubble waffles that are crisp on the outside and cakey on the inside.

They're photogenic because of the toppings you'll get with it, and they're kind of like a milk shake meets ice cream cone.

There are five flavors: 

1. Cookies & Cream
2. Rainbow mochi & mocha
3. Beach Umbrella
4. Chocolate Thrill
5. Strawberry Bliss

Chef Kamiyama says Cookies and Cream is the top seller so far, with chocolate thrill and the strawberry bliss right behind it.

In describing the bubble cone, it's more than just another ice cream choice, "It is basically a hot waffle that's bubbly. And then we put a soft serve of ice cream, vanilla or chocolate, which is much creamier than the ones you get for free. And then we have different toppings on top."

Seven years in the making

Royal Caribbean worked on Icon of the Seas for over 7 years. It's what the cruise line calls a "white paper ship", meaning they started with a blank slate and came up with ideas for what they wanted onboard.

One of the overarching initiatives on Icon of the Seas is easy access to food with grab-and-go choices. You'll find this at restaurants like Pearl Cafe or Park Cafe. Likewise, adding an easy sushi option was identified, but it was not going to be easy, "they figured that the most demanding grab and go was sushi."

Royal Caribbean had experimented with offering pre-packaged sushi a few years ago with the Izumi Express concept. On select ships, there was sushi available on the Royal Promenade, but the Izumi in the Park sushi window goes well beyond that.

Chef Kamiyama indicated they wanted a blend of food that would appeal to the cruising market and based their decisions on what was already selling well at Izumi.

One of the biggest Izumi locations yet

Not only is Izumi located in a new area, it's also one of the biggest locations Royal Caribbean has built yet.

"To have finally almost 70 seats on an Icon class or the future Oasis six, that's a huge win for me and for the guests as well," Chef Kamiyama said of the size of Izumi on Icon of the Seas.

For Japanese cuisine lovers, you'll find sushi, hibachi, ramen, mochi and more. 

The restaurant is divided up between a sushi section and the teppanyaki dining, along with the adjacent sushi window.

What to try if you're new to Japanese food

If all this Izumi talk sounds like you want to try it, I asked Chef Kamiyama what he would recommend to a newbie.

"You can't go wrong with the gyoza dumpling... and then also the chicken karaage," were the first two recommendations he had.

As for sushi, he also recommended the salmon lovers roll or the spicy tuna roll as good choices.

We heard from our readers that Royal Caribbean's specialty sushi restaurant, Izumi, changed the portion sizes for sushi rolls ordered from the prix fixe menu. 

For a set price, you can pay once and get a certain amount of food included. The fixe menu costs $34.99 per person before the added 18% gratuity and includes one small plate, two large plates -- which can be a combination of sushi rolls, assorted sashimi, or rice and noodle bowls --, and a single dessert. 

When you purchase food from the menu à la carte, that means you are paying for each item that you order. You can opt to get one appetizer and large plate, one large plate and dessert, or just one large plate! In other words, you have more freedom when you order à la carte.

The size of the sushi rolls used to be the same no matter if you were ordering from the fixed price menu or à la carte; you would always get 8 pieces of sushi. Now, however, Izumi is only serving 4 pieces per roll ordered from the prix fixe menu. You still get the standard 8 if you pay for each roll individually. 

Royal Caribbean never announced a policy change, but readers reported it; that is why we tested it out! After speaking with Izumi wait staff, it is clear the fixed price menu has changed the sushi portion sizes.

Let's talk about the changes to the sushi at Izumi and why you are better off ordering from the à la carte menu.

Half sized portions

(Pictured is the new half portion of the crispy spicy tuna roll from Izumi ordered from the prix fixe menu)

If you order from the fixed price menu, you will receive a half portion of any sushi rolls (i.e., 4). 

If, for instance, you order a crispy spicy tuna roll and rainbow roll, you will get 8 total pieces, not 16. Unless, that is, you opt to pay for each roll à la carte. 

(Pictured is the full sized portion of the crispy spicy tuna roll from Izumi)

The prix fixe menu used to be a no brainer. An appetizer, 16 pieces of sushi, and dessert for less than $35? It does not get much better than that! Even if you opted to mix and match and get an ramen bowl and one sushi roll, you were still getting your money's worth.

What has not changed at Izumi?

(Pictured are the pork gyoza dumplings from Izumi)

As of February 2023, the appetizer, bowl, and dessert portions have not been changed when you order from the prix fixe menu.

(Pictured is the tofu-ginger appetizer salad from Izumi)

In other words, you will get the same size for everything else on the menu, no matter if you order from the fixed price menu or à la carte. The only thing that has changed is the amount of sushi served from the prix fixe menu versus à la carte.

Is the prix fixe menu at Izumi worth the cost?

(Pictured is the new half portion of the snow crab California roll from Izumi ordered from the prix fixe menu)

If you want to enjoy sushi on your cruise vacation, Izumi is always worth it! You are probably better off just ordering à la carte, though.

If you want an appetizer, 8 pieces of sushi, and a dessert (i.e., what you would get if you stuck with the prix fixe menu), 9 times out of 10, a smarter decision will be to order everything separately. 

Let's price out a few mock orders to see how the pricing compares to the prix fixe menu. 

The first order consists of the pork gyoza dumplings ($8), crispy Philly roll ($13), and chocolate lava cake ($5). These three items total $26. In this case, the fixed price menu is not worth it; you would save about $9 by ordering each item individually and still get the same amount of food. 

The second order is for the shrimp firecracker spring roll ($9), champagne lobster roll ($15), and assorted mochi ice cream ($6). Again, it is not worth it, as you would end up saving about $5 if you ordered à la carte versus defaulting to the prix fixe menu. The total for these three menu items is $30. 

(Pictured is the new half portion of the crispy spicy tuna roll from Izumi ordered from the prix fixe menu)

What if you want more than one kind of sushi roll? Well, that gets a bit tricky. You can stick with the new half portions on the fixed menu or pay extra to get two full sized rolls. 

If you would rather have 16 pieces of sushi and skip the appetizer and dessert, you can get two rolls for under $30. In fact, one crispy spicy tuna roll and one Izumi spider roll only costs $26. 

Over indulging in food is common on cruises, so do not feel like you have to get a three course meal at Izumi. If all you are hungry for is some sushi, save the extra money and just order the two rolls!

Of course, if you just get two rolls of sushi that means you will not get an appetizer or dessert. If you do want all three courses, you will spend more than the $34.99 that the prix fixe menu costs; however, you would be getting double the amount of food. 

(Pictured are the old portions of the snow crab California roll and spicy crispy shrimp roll ordered from the prix fixe menu) 

Choosing to order à la carte means that you will get the full sized portions of sushi, an appetizer, and dessert for about $5 to $10 more, depending on what your selections are. 

The shrimp & vegetable tempura appetizer ($11), rainbow roll ($14), snow crab California roll ($13), and crispy sesame balls ($5) costs $43 altogether. By paying only $8 more than the prix fixe menu, you would get double the amount of sushi. If you are looking to splurge on a specialty dining meal or just really like sushi, this makes more sense than settling for the half portions. 

One instance in which the prix fixe menu will still be worth it is if you are not a fan of sushi and looking to get two items from the "bowls and more" section. Each bowl costs at least $13, meaning that if you were to order the seaweed wakame salad ($7), yaki udon ($19), spicy miso ramen ($13), and green tea ice cream ($5), you would spend about $9 more, or $44 total, if you did not use the fixed price menu.

Similarly, if you want a sushi roll and bowl, rather than two of each, the prix fixe may be worth it if you do not want a full sushi roll in addition to a ramen or udon noodle bowl! Depending on your hunger level, the four pieces might be just enough. 

(Pictured is the new half portion of the snow crab California roll ordered from Izumi's prix fixe menu)

Before you decide whether or not you should order from the fixed price menu, you should discuss your options with your travel party. Would anybody be willing to split a few different rolls? Do some people strongly dislike sushi? Would you be okay with an appetizer and single sushi roll, rather than the three course meal? What's best for one group may not be what is best for another! 

My favorite specialty restaurant on any Royal Caribbean ship is Izumi, and you really do not have to twist my arm to convince to dine there.

From their incredible rolls, to the famous hibachi experience, to the hot rocks, there is lots to love about the Izumi menu.

While I have yet to find a suitable "hibachi at home" alternative, I was able to get the recipe for a newer menu item that I enjoy ordering on nearly every sailing, simple poke deluxe with soy sriracha marinade.

While this may not bring the whole Izumi experience to your home, it will provide the next best thing!

Poke Bowl Ingredients

Serves 1

1. 4 ounces Tuna, cut 1/4" thick
2. 4 ounces Salmon, cut 1/4" thick
3. 2 ounces Seasweed Salad
4. 1 teaspoon Masago, smelt egg
5. 2 ounces Avocado, cut 1/4" thick
6. 1/4 ounce Cucumber, julienned
7. 1/8 ounce Cilantro, chopped
8. 1/8 ounce Jalapeno, sliced thin
9. 1/2 ounce red onion, chopped
10. 2 teaspoons soy sauce
11. 1 teaspoon Sriracha Chili Paste
12. 1 teaspoon Sesame oil
13. 1/8 ounce chili pepper, dried
14. 1 sprinkle roasted white and black sesame
15. seed, or furikake as option
16. 4 ounces Sushi rice, or brown sushi rice

Suggested music while preparing your Poke Bowl

• Buddha Lounge Music and Chill Out Bar Songs

Poke Bowl Instructions

Sushi Rice Instructions

1. 5 cups California rose sushi rice measured and washed 5 times in cold water - strain 5 minutes.
2. Cook with purified 5 cups of water for 35 minutes in rice cooker.
3. Mix 3/4 cup of sushi vinegar (3/4 rice vinegar, 4 TBSP sugar, 1 tsp salt - dissolved) 
4. Use plastic large bowl to mix all together with spatula while fanning & cooling rice; let rice sit 5 minutes each side.

Poke Bowl Assembly Instructions

1. Mix the sauces and seasonings together and put to side
2. Mix the chopped Tuna and Salmon with chopped cilantro, masago, onions, avocado with the marinade
3. Place the mixed poke towards the back of the bowl
4. Neatly place the tossed fish and ingredients elevating the dish
5. Top off with Cilantro Sprig and julienned cucumber

Royal Caribbean has quietly begun including Izumi Hibachi with the Unlimited Dining Package.

Royal Caribbean's website now lists both Izumi sushi and Izumi hibachi as included with the specialty restaurant packages.

Up until recently, the hibachi was never officially included with the dining package, although some guests had luck using it on a case-by-case basis.

Izumi's hibachi is a fun and creative experience, where your chef cooks your food in front of you with a splash of entertainment thrown in.

Izumi Hibachi is available on a number of ships, including Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Independence of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas.

Grab your chopsticks and wasbi, because we have a brand new video all about my favorite foods at Izumi on Royal Caribbean.

Izumi is Royal Caribbean's signature Japanese specialty restaurant, and it has become a real favorite across the fleet.  Their menu offers a lot of fantastic choices, and I am sharing my top picks in this video.

And if you love this video, we have lots of other great cruise videos to watch on our Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel!

By the way, have you subscribed yet? Be sure to subscribe to our channel and never miss a single video!

So check out the video and then let us know: What is your favorite thing to order at Izumi?

Guests looking to dine at Izumi can choose from a new option prior to their cruise that allows them to enjoy prix-fixe menu.

This new option is available to book via Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site and is not available onboard.

The prix-fixe menu includes:

• 1 Miso Soup
• 1 starter
• Choice of one 1 Signature Roll or a flavorful bowl of Ramen.
• 5 pieces of your favorite type of Sashimi or Nigiri
• 1 dessert 

The cost online appears to be $49.99 per person.

Are you planning to try Royal Caribbean's signature sushi specialty restaurant, Izumi? We are big fans of Izumi across Royal Caribbean's fleet for the inspired menu, fresh ingredients and wide selection.

While the entire Izumi menu offers some intriguing choices, here is a quick look at a few of my top choices for ordering at Izumi on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Izumi Ryu Futomaki roll

If you are looking for a sushi roll to satisfy any appetite, then the Izumi Ryu Futomaki roll is sure to fill you up quickly.

This massive roll is one of the Chef's Signature Rolls, and it is a tempura fried mashup of sushi goodness.  It is comprised of assorted sashimi, scallions, scallions, spicy aioli, cream cheese, wakame salad, house ginger teppan dressing and a spicy chili thread.

Not only is this a giant sushi roll, it is also a deeply satisfying roll and the kind of thing to order when you really want a filling meal.  It is also a great value if you have a specialty dining package.

Tuna wasabi

One of Izumi's strengths are the great assortment of starters, and the Tuna Wasabi carpaccio is something I can order each time I visit Izumi and never tire of trying. 

The tuna wasabi is a simple, yet delectable appetizer.  It is also very light, which means you are not going into your main course already feeling full. 

Fresh tuna sashimi and a slice of jalapeño make for a brilliant contrast in flavors.  There is just enough kick from the jalapeño to compliment the tremendous tuna flavor.  Any tuna lover will relish this app.

Hot Rock

Izumi offers some of the best sushi at sea or on land, but it also has a really good option for those that do not like sushi (crazy, I know).  The hot rocks have become a staple of so many Izumi locations and it is as fun to cook as it is to eat.

Hot rocks are essentially a rock slab heated up to 575°F and served with raw meat and vegetables that you can cook at your table.  The hot rocks are available on all Vision, Radiance and most Voyager class of ships (with the exception of Adventure of the Seas) have hot rock and sushi. Quantum Class ships have sushi, hot appetizers and noodles. Oasis class have Hibachi and sushi. Mariner and Independence are the other 2 Izumis with mostly Hibachi.

The appeal of the hot rocks is more than just "something to order if you do not like sushi."  Freshly cooked steak, surf & turf, skewers and more are available to try and the result is a wonderful entrée.  Even as a sushi lover, I cannot help but take a few bites when my wife orders one of these.  

Mixed poke taco

Izumi updated its menu not too long ago and added a few new items, including the mixed poke taco.   Of all the new choices, these are my favorite for the great crunchy texture combined with excellent chopped sashimi.

Tuna, albacore (known also as the longfin tuna) and octopus are chopped up and mixed together with a few other complimentary ingredients to create an inspired take on a Mexican favorite. The mixed poke tacos are great for sharing too. 

If you prefer less carbs, or simply more of this dish, try the Poke Bowl, which is essentially the same ingredients as the taco, minus the shell.

DX Sushi Combo

If your goal is to find the one option on the Izumi menu that offers the best value, the DX Sushi Combo is the choice for you.

Simply put, the DX Sushi Combo offers the most sushi for the dollar on the menu.  8 pieces of nigiri, 2 tamago and 8 pieces of spicy tuna roll for $16. 

While the value is good, the sushi is even better and it has become my go-to sushi dish of choice.

Overall

I will admit that I am terribly biased when it comes to Izumi.  I love Izumi and will go there no matter what is on the menu, because I find so many great choices. 

The highlighted choices here are wonderful options, but I encourage you to seek out other items on the menu.  The soups & noodle dishes offer great non-sushi choices, and the signature rolls menu alone offer some fan favorite choices.

Have you been to Izumi on a Royal Caribbean ship? Share your favorite menu item with us in the comments below!