What Food is Included on Carnival Cruises: Your Ultimate Guide

Carnival Cruise is renowned for its vibrant ambiance, entertaining activities, and above all, a wide variety of delectable cuisine. If you’ve chosen Carnival Cruise for your next adventure, you might be curious about what’s on the menu and what’s included in your fare. The abundance of culinary delights offered ensures everyone’s taste is catered to, and most of these are part of your package.

Check out our related article, Can you bring wine on a Carnival Cruise?

Two mainstays on a Carnival Cruise are the formal main dining room and the Lido restaurant for a more casual setting. The main dining room offers an exquisite dining experience featuring a three-course menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On the flip side, Lido restaurant serves buffet-style meals for all three main meals of the day. Importantly, both are part of your cruise fare, meaning unlimited food without extra charges.

Beyond the primary dining options, Carnival Cruise extends its offerings to specialty restaurants, casual eateries, quick bites, unique dining experiences, and room service. While these could attract an additional fee, they promise a distinctive dining experience that you should indulge in at least once during your cruise.

Food on Carnival Cruise: An Overview

• Carnival Cruise assures a multitude of dining options, ranging from formal to relaxed settings.
• Most dining experiences are included in your cruise fare, while some specialty restaurants and unique culinary adventures may incur an additional cost.
• Carnival Cruise offers a broad spectrum of food choices, from fast food, snacks, room service to exclusive celebrity chef collaborations.

Exploring the Main Dining Options

Carnival Cruise Line presents its guests with diverse dining alternatives. Among the favorites is the Main Dining Room, a sit-down restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It offers a constantly changing menu of delights like steak, roasted duck, scallops, and prime rib, ensuring a different meal every day.

Simultaneously, for those who enjoy a more laid-back dining ambiance, Carnival Cruise Line offers the Lido Marketplace. This buffet-style restaurant serves all three meals and remains open 24 hours, providing an anytime dining option. The food choices are abundant, including pizza, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and more, along with international cuisines.

Specialty Restaurants: An Epicurean’s Delight

Carnival Cruise introduces a variety of specialty restaurants to satiate every food enthusiast’s cravings. Not included in the standard cruise fare, these dining options invite an additional fee. However, the gourmet experience delivered by these restaurants justifies the additional cost.

The Steakhouse is one such specialty restaurant, known for its refined atmosphere and a menu boasting steakhouse classics. Another one worth exploring is Cucina Del Capitano, an Italian restaurant offering a cozy setting and traditional Italian fare. For an unparalleled dining experience, the Chef’s Table is an exclusive offering featuring a multi-course meal prepared by the ship’s head chef.

Specialty Restaurant Quick Look

• Steakhouse – Premium steakhouse experience
• Cucina Del Capitano – Authentic Italian flavors
• Chef’s Table – Exclusive gourmet experience curated by the head chef
• Other options – Sushi, Asian cuisine, BBQ, and more

The Carnival Cruise dining experience is diverse, ensuring there’s something for everyone. The additional cost for the specialty restaurants is compensated by the exceptional culinary experience they offer.

Room Service

If you prefer to dine in the comfort of your own room, Carnival Cruise Line also offers room service. This is a great option if you want to have a quiet, private meal or if you’re feeling tired after a long day of fun activities. Room service offers a variety of food options, from sandwiches and salads to pizza and dessert. Keep in mind, however, that while some items are complimentary, others may come with an additional charge.

Celebrity Chef Collaborations

In an effort to provide guests with a diverse and exciting culinary experience, Carnival Cruise Line has also partnered with several celebrity chefs to create unique dining experiences on their ships.

One such partnership is with Guy Fieri, a well-known chef and television personality, who created Guy’s Burger Joint and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que. Both eateries are very popular among guests and offer a unique twist on classic American cuisine.

In addition, Carnival has collaborated with Chef Rudi Sodamin, who designed the culinary offerings at the Rudi’s Seagrill specialty restaurant. At Rudi’s, guests can enjoy a variety of seafood dishes in an elegant dining environment.

Carnival Cruise Line’s collaboration with these celebrity chefs helps to elevate the dining experience on their cruises, providing guests with unique and memorable culinary experiences.

Dining on a Carnival Cruise can be a delightful experience with a wide variety of food options available. Whether you’re looking for a formal dining experience, a quick bite to eat, or an exclusive meal prepared by a celebrity chef, there’s something for everyone on a Carnival Cruise. With all of these options, you’re sure to find the perfect dining experience to suit your tastes and needs.

The table below highlights all the free food options for every Carnival Cruise ship.

Ship Name	Free Food Options
Carnival Breeze	BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls
Carnival Conquest	BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls
Carnival Dream	BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls
Carnival Ecstasy	BlueIguana Cantina, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls
Carnival Elation	BlueIguana Cantina, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls
Carnival Fantasy	BlueIguana Cantina, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls
Carnival Fascination	BlueIguana Cantina, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls
Carnival Freedom	BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls
Carnival Glory	BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls
Carnival Horizon	BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse, Guy’s Burger Joint, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls
Carnival Imagination	BlueIguana Cantina, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls
Carnival Inspiration	BlueIguana Cantina, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls
Carnival Legend	BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls
Carnival Liberty	BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls
Carnival Magic	BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Lido Marketplace, Main Dining Room, Pizzeria del Capitano, Swirls

Dining Costs and Gratuities

Paid Dining Options

While there are plenty of complimentary dining options aboard Carnival Cruise ships, the cruise line also offers a variety of paid dining options for guests who want to try something different. Some of these options include: 

• Steakhouse: Carnival’s on-board steakhouses are a must-visit for meat lovers. Offering a mouthwatering selection of premium cuts, this is the perfect place for a romantic dinner or a special celebration.
• Bonsai Sushi: This sushi spot serves up a variety of sushi rolls, sashimi, and other Japanese favorites.
• Seafood Shack: For a taste of New England on the high seas, the Seafood Shack serves up fresh seafood favorites like clam chowder, lobster rolls, and fried shrimp. 
• Cucina del Capitano: A homage to Carnival’s Italian roots, Cucina del Capitano serves up hearty Italian dishes like lasagna, chicken parmigiana, and spaghetti carbonara.

Regardless of your food preferences, there is a dining option for everyone on board a Carnival Cruise ship. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite to eat, a formal dinner, or a late-night snack, you can find it on a Carnival Cruise.

Whether you’re a foodie or just looking for a delicious meal while on your cruise, Carnival Cruise Line offers a wide variety of dining options to satisfy any palate. With casual and formal dining options, fast food and snack options, room service, and a wide variety of beverages, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Add in unique dining experiences, celebrity chef collaborations, and a range of complimentary and paid options, and you’re sure to have a culinary journey to remember on your next Carnival Cruise.

When it comes to dining on a Carnival cruise, there are plenty of options available to suit all tastes and budgets. However, it’s important to note that while many dining options are included in the cruise fare, some do come with an additional cost.

Complimentary Dining Options

Carnival offers a variety of dining options included in your cruise fare:

• Main Dining Room: Serving a three-course dinner nightly, with breakfast and lunch also available.
• Lido Marketplace: A buffet-style restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Guy’s Burger Joint: A poolside burger bar offering mouthwatering burgers and fries.
• BlueIguana Cantina: A Mexican-inspired eatery serving delicious tacos and burritos.
• Pizza Pirate: A 24-hour pizza delivery service.

In addition to these options, several specialty dining options are available for an additional fee. These include:

Specialty Dining Options

Restaurant	Cuisine	Cost
Fahrenheit 555	Steakhouse	$38 per person
JiJi Asian Kitchen	Asian	$15 per person
Bonsai Sushi	Sushi	A la carte pricing
Cucina del Capitano	Italian	$15 per person
The Chef’s Table	Multi-course	$95 per person

Note that these prices are subject to change and may vary depending on the ship and itinerary.

Gratuities and Tips

Like many cruise lines, Carnival adds a daily gratuity fee to your onboard account to cover tipping for the ship’s crew. The current rate is $14.50 per person, per day for standard staterooms, and $15.00 per person, per day for suites. This fee is automatically added to your onboard account. However, if you wish to adjust the amount or remove the charge, you can do so at the Guest Services desk.

Dining Etiquette and Dress Code

Dining on a Carnival cruise has its own etiquette and dress code norms.

Dress Code

Carnival’s dress code policy varies depending on the type of dining experience:

• Cruise Casual: Appropriate attire includes shorts, jeans, sundresses, and casual skirts or pants. This is the standard dress code for the main dining room.
• Cruise Elegant: Required on one or two nights during the cruise, depending on the length of the sailing. Examples of appropriate attire include suits, tuxedos, cocktail dresses, and evening gowns.

Please note that while the dress code is enforced in the main dining rooms, it is not required in other dining venues on the ship.

Dining Etiquette

When dining on the cruise, keep in mind the following:

• Be on time: If you have a specific dining time, please arrive punctually.
• Be courteous: Say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to your servers, and respect other guests.
• Use utensils correctly: When in doubt, start from the outside and work your way in.
• Wait for everyone to be served: It’s polite to wait until everyone at the table has been served before beginning to eat.
• Don’t waste food: Be mindful of portion sizes and avoid ordering more than you can eat.

By adhering to these guidelines, you can ensure a pleasant and enjoyable dining experience on your Carnival cruise.”

Frequently Asked Questions