carnival cruise food quality

Best cruise food: These are the 6 cruise lines with the best food at sea

My mouth is watering just thinking about writing this story. As I sit here and recap all the lines I think are worthy of inclusion under the title of "best cruise line food," it's apparent how much cruise ship meals have evolved.

In the early days of cruising, travelers could only choose between set seating in the main dining room or a trip to the buffet for a more casual experience. These days, passengers are spoiled for choice, with some of the world's largest vessels offering dozens of options each.

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Among the staggering number of cuisines are pizza and burgers, sushi, steak, Italian, French, Indian, Mexican, Asian-fusion and diner fare, to name a few. Toss in partnerships with big names like Thomas Keller, Jacques Pepin, Matt Lambert and Guy Fieri, and you've got a recipe for dining success.

Nearly everyone who cruises looks forward to the food. Whether your palate is completely unsophisticated, or you're searching for a highbrow epicurean experience, this list rounds up the best cruise lines for food.

Note: These are my favorite cruise lines for food, listed in alphabetical order.

Carnival Cruise Line

Warning: I'm about to make a lofty and controversial claim. Carnival Cruise Line has the best all-around food of any mainstream cruise line. The food quality is even more surprising because its fares are some of the industry's lowest.

In addition to a pleasant variety of cuisine in its ships' onboard buffets, passengers will find delicious options on the main dining room menus daily. (One of the best-kept secrets is the line's Indian cuisine. If you don't see it on the menu, ask.)

Sure, Carnival has added-fee dining in the way of steak and seafood, but in terms of free fare, Carnival has the most impressive array of alternative dining options for which you won't have to shell out anything extra. In particular, I give special nods to Guy's Burger Joint by Guy Fieri; the BlueIguana Cantina, which offers Mexican food; Big Chicken, Shaquille O'Neal's chicken eatery; and Pizza Pirate or Pizzeria del Capitano (depending on the ship), which are renowned for their simply drool-worthy pies.

However, if you're in the mood for a splurge, you can't go wrong with a visit to Emeril's Bistro, which serves New Orleans-style a la carte items in partnership with chef Emeril Lagasse; Rudi's Seagrill, a seafood restaurant that's the brainchild of chef Rudi Sodamin; or Bonsai Teppanyaki.

Holland America Line

Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that Carnival's sister brand Holland America is also tops when it comes to offering some of the best cruise dining. The line largely shies away from the flashy bells and whistles of other cruise lines. (You won't find zip lines or roller coasters on board.) Instead, its focus is on providing solid core amenities like a wide variety of truly talented musicians and, of course, food that stands out.

Everything I've ever eaten in the main dining room has been utterly delectable, and you absolutely can't beat grilled cheese sandwiches or pea soup from the complimentary Grand Dutch Cafe on the line's newest ships.

Chef Rudi Sodamin's quirky but tasty creations also make an appearance at the Sel de Mer seafood restaurant, where you can try steak, seafood, fish, duck and lamb dishes, as well as vegetarian options. The whimsical food faces you'll see on your plates are an added bonus. Meanwhile, Pinnacle Grill has some of the best steaks I've ever eaten on a ship (or on land, for that matter), and if you enjoy Asian cuisine, Tamarind is definitively worth the extra cost.

Further, HAL's food isn't just tasty; it's fresh and fairly sourced, too. The line has worked with James Beard Award-winning chef and Culinary Council member Ethan Stowell to create a series of special menu items for its Alaska voyages. The dishes use sustainable and certified Alaskan seafood sourced through a partnership with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and certification by Responsible Fisheries Management.

Oceania Cruises

Upscale cruise line Oceania packs a ton of restaurants onto its small ships, but you won't find a bad option in the bunch. Whether you value dining variety and tasty meals or you truly are a food snob, Oceania will surely come through with a win. How could it not with Jacques Pepin and Giada De Laurentiis contributing to the menus? Even better, all but the fanciest wine-paired special meals are included in the fares.

The line's smallest ships offer two specialty dining venues — a steakhouse and an Italian restaurant — in addition to the Grand Dining Room, with its expansive international menus, and the Terrace Café, a high-end buffet serving sushi, French cheeses and gourmet ice cream. Its largest vessels feature four reservations-only restaurants, adding in French, American and pan-Asian, depending on the ship.

Oceania puts just as much attention to detail — and deliciousness — into its smaller venues. Waves Grill on the pool deck goes beyond cheeseburgers to salmon sandwiches and Wagyu beef burgers. Its afternoon tea is a marquee event, with waiters wheeling carts of goodies through the observation lounge. On Vista , you can start your day on a high note at Aquamar with multiple types of avocado toast and freshly made juices blended with therapeutic spices. Its evening pizzeria is not to be missed, not only for the Italian-style pies but for the enticing burrata menu.

Finally, real gourmands looking for the ultimate dining experience can pay extra for wine-paired dinners that rival the most luxurious feast you've had on land — or a more expensive cruise line. Oceania puts so much stock in these meals that the line has built intimate dining rooms into its ships, reserved exclusively for these foodie events.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

To me, truly great food balances top-notch ingredients, impeccable flavors and creative presentation in such a way that makes even the pickiest of eaters happy. Too often, I've found myself at chichi restaurants that use weird ingredients (read: animal organs I wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole), focus on looks over taste or make portions so tiny that they leave my stomach rumbling. Of all the lines I've sailed, luxury brand Scenic checks all the right boxes — a balance of the former with none of the latter.

From simple foods like eggs at breakfast in the buffet to the absolutely next-level chef's table I experienced on expedition ship Scenic Eclipse — a vessel with an impressive number of dining options given its size — the food was tasty and well-prepared.

But that doesn't mean it wasn't creative. For example, the chef's table offered up candied foie gras (or, in my case, candied date) lollipops and cured meat made to look like cigars with ash — but it wasn't a case of form over function. The flavors were spot-on, and substitutions were available for picky eaters like me and a vegetarian travel companion.

Somewhere in between the no-reservations buffet and the invitation-only chef's table lie equally impressive reservation-required options like Koko's Sushi (don't miss the homemade cotton candy), Night Market teppanyaki and French restaurant Lumiere, which somehow managed to win over even this notoriously anti-French-cuisine cruiser.

Seabourn Cruise Line

Luxury brand Seabourn Cruise Line serves outstanding food in all of its venues, including The Restaurant main dining room and The Colonnade buffet, both of which switch up their menus each day. Even the cafe found at the central hub of Seabourn Square — part lounge, part customer service area — is excellent, as are nightly casual menu options, served outdoors on most ships.

Beyond that, the line's small-ish vessels don't have a ton of additional options, but what they lack in number, they make up for in sheer quality.

A prime example is Earth and Ocean, a dinner experience at The Patio (found at The Grill on some ships), served alfresco. Enjoy a selection of both land and sea options bursting with flavor and served with flare. Examples might include Belgian endive salad, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, rib-eye steak, seafood bouillabaisse, baked Camembert and a salted caramel gelato sundae. Whatever you do, don't miss the homemade breadsticks.

Also, look for the new Mediterranean restaurant Solis debuting on ships this year.

Another luxurious standout is Seabourn's popular "caviar in the surf" event, held once per cruise. Waiters wade into the water at a beach while passengers are ashore and serve caviar and other accompaniments from trays. (On cold-weather voyages, the event is set up on tables on one of the outer decks instead.) Note that you can also order free caviar at any time of day if a craving strikes.

Virgin Voyages

When Virgin Voyages debuted, it did away with the traditional main dining room experience and, instead, added nearly a dozen restaurants that rival the ambience, quality and creativity of any upscale eatery on land. It also eschewed the idea of a traditional cruise buffet and replaced it with a food court. Additionally, it has gone out of its way to cater to dietary restrictions, with plenty of choices for vegetarians, vegans and cruisers who are gluten-free.

All of the options are included in the price — except for a new dinner theater experience on Resilient Lady — which represents a terrific value without sacrificing quality. Having partnered with famed chefs — including Matt Lambert of New York's The Musket Room; Sohui Kim of Insa, The Good Fork and Gage & Tollner in New York; and Silvana Salcido Esparza of Barrio Café in Phoenix — the line offers cuisine that runs the gamut from Mexican, Italian and steak selections to Korean barbecue, vegetarian-focused fare and even molecular gastronomy.

As for the line's new dinner theater option, it's not just a feast for the eyes. The food is fabulous, too, featuring intriguing dishes with an Indian flare that are seasoned just right.

Feeling like something more casual? Passengers can enjoy nearly round-the-clock personal pizzas, happy hour mezze platters, ice cream scoops and diner snacks like soft pretzels, hot dogs and candy — all complimentary. For something casual but more substantial, they can head to The Galley, a collection of food court-style counters serving diner grub, noodle bowls, paninis, salads, tacos, grab-and-go sushi and desserts, among other bites.

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Carnival Food Review – EVERYTHING I Ate During my Cruise: (Photos and Menus)

If you are taking a Carnival cruise you might be wondering what the food will be like. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included at no extra cost on a Carnival cruise.

I’ve just disembarked Carnival Magic and in this post we will look at everything I ate in the main dining room, buffet, Guys Burger Joint and other restaurants. Menus are also provided.

Buffet – Included

The buffet on the Carnival Magic was open from early in the morning until late at night, it is split into two separate sections.

Breakfast was served 7am – 12pm. Lunch 12pm – 2.30pm and dinner 6pm-9.30pm.

“Meals are served buffet-style, with an array of pastas, steaks, prime rib, grilled chicken, specialty salads and desserts along with a daily Chef’s Special.”  Carnival Cruise Line

Below are some examples of my buffet meals. All of the food in the buffet is free and unlimited.

There was always a large selection of cakes available and cookies too.

I found that the quality of the food in the buffet was good but I did find that the options were often the same on multiple days.

We usually ate breakfast in the buffet and although I am not a big buffet fan, there were lots of choices. I mostly had bread and fruit.

We didn’t ever see any drinks waiters in the buffet so I’m not sure if this service is offered within the buffet. If it was, they never approached us.

Within The Buffet Was a Deli

At the larger end of the buffet, there was a deli that served sandwiches and wraps throughout the day. This would often be open even if the main buffet was closed.

The deli was open 11 am – 11 pm .

There were a couple of vegetarian options but no markings on the menu to say which were vegetarian.

Carnival do have a separate team that deals with allergies and intolerances but it was a shame that this information was missing from a lot of the menus.

I often had to ask the waiters if a dish was vegetarian which could have easily been avoided had the information been on the menu.

My favourite thing to have at the deli was the mozzarella and tomato sandwich.

There were often lines for the deli and I did feel bad for the crew trying to make the sandwiches as fast as they could! The crew were always incredibly friendly and polite.

The deli also offered fries and chocolate chip cookies.

My main concern with the buffet was the lack of hand washing and hand sanitisation.

On most cruise lines you’ll have to wash your hands before you enter the buffet but this wasn’t the case on my Carnival cruise, there were no sinks by the doors and no crew member ever told me to sanitise my hands.

As guests all share the tongs I would usually get my food, sit down and then sanitise my hands before picking up food.

Main Dining Room – Included

Guests can either choose fixed dining, where you have the same table at the same time each night or flexible dining. We opted for flexible dining and it worked very well.

There was only one large main restaurant offering flexible dining but sometimes we would be sat on the upper level, and sometimes lower.

I preferred sitting on the upper level as it felt as though the tables for 2 had more space. Downstairs the tables for 2 were often so close together that it felt like you were sharing a table.

This is pretty common on cruise ships!

I was very impressed with the quality of the food in the main dining room. I hadn’t expected amazing things from Carnivals food but we were always very happy with our meals.

The service was great and we never had to wait long for anything.

Below on the left is the always-available vegetarian Indian dish which I had a couple of times. On the right is the Carnival chocolate cake which was very tasty. It was gooey in the middle and always warm.

Below is the menu as it appeared on my phone. We weren’t given physical menus during our cruise and instead scanned the QR code on our phones.

If you don’t have a phone Carnival do have some physical copies of the menu but I never saw any guests using these during our cruise.

There was no allergen or dietary information on the menus which sometimes did make it difficult to know which dishes were vegetarian. You’d think it would be obvious, but it isn’t always.

On some cruise lines you’ll find that there are specials in addition to whats on the menu, we didn’t find that on our Carnival cruise.

The fried mozzarella seen below was my favourite starter.

I was very happy to see a Tofu steak on the menu one evening, this was the only time I ever saw any and there weren’t usually any sources of protein other than cheese in my vegetarian dishes.

The staff were always happy to change dishes slightly or to put together something off-menu if there’s something you’d prefer.

Caesar salad was always available as a starter as you’ll find on most cruise lines.

It is possible to order a starter as a main or a main as a starter if you’d prefer.

There aren’t any limits on how many courses you can order, so if there are multiple things that take your fancy, order them all!

Many people order a couple of starters and a couple of mains. The waiters are very used to it.

Other Included Food – Guy’s Burger Joint

In addition to the food in the buffet and the main dining room, there was freshly made pizza and burgers served on the pool deck.

The poolside grill is called Guys Burger Joint and it was created by Guy Fieri.

For the first 5 days of the cruise I believed that there were no vegetarian options at Guys Burgers because there was no vegetarian burger on the menu.

I had resigned myself to a life of eating fries but when I did ask, they actually had veggie burgers!

They added one to the grill and freshly cooked it for me. I added onion rings and cheese and lots of other toppings (seen below right).

It was AMAZING I just wish I knew about it earlier in the cruise!

My partner Jono who eats meat said that the Guy’s Burgers he had were good, no better than the poolside grill on other cruise lines, but good.

Other Included Food – Blue Iguana

Also on the pool deck, there is a Burrito and Taco restaurant called the Blue Iguana.

Here you can create your own burritos and they are freshly made while you wait.

I had a rice and beans burrito and it was amazing. It may have been my favourite thing that I ate during the cruise. It was full of flavour and a great lunch.

Below are the topping that you can add to your burrito.

Soft tacos are also available.

Other Included Food – Pizzeria Del Capitano

At the back of the ship there is a pizzeria where you can get freshly made pizza either by the slice or the pie.

The pizzeria was open 9am – 4am.

We would often go to the Pizzeria at night to pick up a pizza and a drink from the bar that was nearby, both were near our cabin so we would take these back to our room.

You are always allowed to take food from the buffet or any of the pool side restaurants to your cabin. Carnival don’t let you take food from the main dining room to your room, but everywhere else is fine.

Ocean Plaza Café (Extra Cost)

I spent very little extra during this cruise but the little bit of money that I did spend I spent on doughnuts at the Ocean Plaza Cafe.

The cafe was incredibly popular, especially on sea days.

Each of the doughnuts below cost $3, plus taxes.

Carnival are an American cruise line so taxes aren’t included in the prices that you see.

Both doughnuts weer good, but incredibly sweet. I shared them and even half was more than enough.

Would I Recommend Carnivals Food?

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food on my Carnival cruise, particularly in the main dining room.

I did find the vegetarian options lacking compared to other cruise lines, but all the vegetarian food I had was good.

I particularly enjoyed the deli within the buffet, my burger from Guy’s Burgers and the cookies that were available most of the time in the buffet.

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Complete Guide to Carnival Specialty Restaurants (Costs, Food, and More)

If you’re heading on a Carnival cruise, you likely know that you should bring your appetite. From the moment you step on board until you leave on debarkation day, there is food available all over the ship.

In other words, you will never go hungry.

But you might be overwhelmed by the amount of choices you have on the ship. In fact, Carnival Horizon — one of the line’s Vista-class of ships — has more than a dozen places to eat something on the ship. Carnival’s Mardi Gras has even more.

Many of those are free restaurants, like Guy’s Burger Joint , the buffet, and the main dining room. But Carnival has a number of specialty restaurants on each ship as well.

These specialty restaurants are for an additional charge, but are highly popular. They offer a place to sit and dine, often in a calmer and quieter atmosphere than the main dining room.

As well, specialty restaurants have different flavors and types of food. Whether you want Asian, BBQ, seafood, Italian, or a hearty steak you don’t have to hope the dining room or buffet is serving it. Simply pick the restaurant you want to eat there instead.

Specialty Restaurants on Carnival Ships

Note: Not every specialty restaurant listed here will be on every Carnival ship. Newer and recently remodeled ships will be more likely to have all the venues below…

Guy’s Pig & Anchor BBQ One of the most popular specialty restaurants on Carnival ships has to be Guy’s Pig & Anchor BBQ. A relaxed BBQ joint, it also brews its own beer. For lunch you can eat for free, but in the evenings they charge for meals. You can get most of your smoked meat favorites, including brisket, chicken, pulled pork and even ribs. Unlike some other paid restaurants, this one charges by the item. It’s about $8 for an entrée, $4 for an appetizer. A full rack of baby back ribs will set you back $12.

• Menu: BBQ; ribs, chicken, pork, sausage, salmon
• Cost: A la carte (~$8-12 for an entrée)

Cucina del Capitano Think of a classic Italian restaurant (complete with the red and white tablecloth) and you have a good idea of what to expect at Cucina del Capitano. The atmosphere is usually a little darker and more intimate, making it ideal for “date night.” During the day you can actually eat pasta here for no charge. In the evening it turns into a specialty Italian restaurant and serves a full menu. If it’s an Italian classic, you’ll find it on the menu. That includes everything from meatballs to spaghetti to chicken parm, along with some more unique dishes porcini rubbed beef short ribs.

• Menu: Italian; pastas, calamari, pork chops, veal, salads
• Cost: $15 per adult

Ji Ji Asian Kitchen Looking for your Asian food fix while at sea? This restaurant is it. It’s a classic high-end pan-Asian restaurant with the atmosphere you’d expect in an Asian theme, along with an open kitchen. On the menu you can get your favorites like slow-braised pork belly, pot stickers, Kung-Pao chicken, and sweet & sour shrimp. There are also a number of dishes with unique twists like Singapore chili shrimp. While most dishes have meat, vegetarians will also find a number of items to eat here.

• Menu: Pan-Asian; pot stickers, Asian chicken/shrimp dishes, spring rolls, noodles, etc.

Steakhouse Going by different names on different ships, places like Nouveau, Nick & Nora’s, and The Pinnacle all have one thing in common — they are the steakhouse on the ship. And if you’re wanting a meal that you’ll remember on your cruise (and the possibility that you will be too full to eat for the rest of the trip), then you’ll want to make a visit. It’s perhaps the most decadent menu across any restaurant. You’ll get hearty appetizers like shrimp cocktails or pork belly, followed by steak (including filet mignon), lobster, or lamb. Don’t forget the cheesecake for dessert.

• Menu: Steak; steaks, lobster, salads, crab cakes, potatoes, fish, lamb
• Cost: $38 per adult

• Menu: Seafood; shrimp, lobster, clam strips, fish
• Cost: A la carte

Bonsai Sushi A casual and relaxed sushi restaurant, Bonsai is a fun place to grab a bite of your favorite rolls. California rolls, spicy tuna, tempura rolls ($5-7 per roll), even bento boxes ($10) or noodle bowls ($7). They are all here. We also like that the location on at least some Carnival ships offers great people watching from your table. Sitting just off a main pathway on the ship, you can enjoy your sushi and watch the people go by. Want to sit outside? The restaurant on the Horizon offers some outdoor seating.

• Menu: Sushi
• Price: A la carte

Bonsai Teppanyaki While it’s not on many ships (just Carnival Horizon, Panorama, and Mardi Gras include it), Bonsai Teppanyaki makes a memorable meal. It’s hibachi-style where the chef performs a show for an entire table while also cooking a delicious meal. The fare is Asian-themed, including your choice of meat (or tofu) cooked up with fried rice and stir-fry.

• Menu: Asian; salmon, lobster, shrimp, chicken, steak, tofu, fried rice, vegetables
• Cost: $32 per person

The Chef’s Table If you consider yourself a foodie, then The Chef’s Table might be the ultimate experience for you. It’s the most exclusive dining on the ship — only about a dozen people can eat at a time. That’s because you get a personalized meal with one of the ship’s master chefs. Before you even eat there is a champagne reception and tour of the ship’s galley. From there, you’ll be cooked up a meal that varies based on what the chef and seasons dictate. For that reason there is no set menu… but you can be sure it will be tasty.

• Menu: Varies
• Cost: $75-95, depending on the ship

Emeril’s Bistro 1396 Making its debut on Carnival Mardi Gras, Emeril’s Bistro 1396 is celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse’s first restaurant on a cruise ship. It features tons of Cajun and creole favorites. That includes po-boys, gumbo, jambalaya, fried oysters, and more. Essentially, you can think of it as a trip to New Orleans onboard the ship. (The restaurant is located in the ship’s “French Quarter” section, after all.)

• Menu: New Orleans cuisine

Rudi’s Seagrill Another specialty restaurant making its debut on Carnival’s Mardi Gras, Rudi’s Seagrill is the work of Chef Rudi Sodamin. As you’d guess, it focuses on seafood in a fine-dining atmosphere that’s still approachable and not too stuffy. It’s open only for dinner and costs a decent amount, but offers a memorable place to have a meal. After all, many dishes are presented as a “face” that’s looking back at you. (Yes, really.)

• Menu: Seafood

Are Carnival’s Specialty Restaurants Worth It?

One of the biggest questions people ask is if the specialty restaurants are worth the extra cost. After all, if you’re already paying a lot of money to take a cruise — and many food items are already included — why bother paying extra for different meals?

If you are a frugal cruiser looking to save money, then you’ll likely think that the specialty options aren’t worth the extra money — especially if taking a shorter cruise. On a 3-5 day cruise, there are plenty of free options to eat, including pizza, tacos, burgers, the buffet, and the main dining room. These can keep you satisfied without spending extra.

If you like to let loose on your vacation or are taking a longer trip, then it’s our opinion that dining a couple of times at a specialty restaurant is well worth the money.

For one, they offer different flavors than you’ll find at other restaurants on the ship. When you’re tired of eating a lunch buffet, having the option to have some BBQ or Italian is great. Second, the quality and freshness of the food is the best on the ship. Finally, if you enjoy dining in a quieter atmosphere with fewer people, then specialty restaurants offer that sort of intimacy. They are never as crowded as you’ll find in the free locations.

What’s Included in My Meal?

If you order at an a la carte restaurant, you know exactly what you’ll get — whatever items you order and pay for. Other restaurants that have one set price and an open menu. In this case, you will get an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert. If dining with another person, it’s a great opportunity to share items and try different things since you will each get your own starter, meal and dessert.

Drinks are not included. You have to pay for those just like if you were to visit the bar. Those with beverage packages can have them included for no extra free. If you don’t have a beverage package, then you’ll pay bar prices.

Do I Pay Gratuities at Specialty Restaurants?

As with all food and beverage services, you’ll pay gratuity for dining at specialty restaurants. The only question is if it is included in the headline price. Some restaurants such as the steakhouse include the tip amount in the price. Others, such as Bonsai Teppanyaki or a la carte restaurants you will be paying an additional 18% on top of the bill. Given that it’s customary to tip between 15-20% in a traditional restaurant, this figure isn’t out of line.

But you should know that while you are already being charged gratuity for dining at free restaurants (the charges automatically included at the of the cruise), you have to pay extra charges for dining at the specialty dining venues. It’s only a question of if it is already included or not.

What’s the Dress Code at Carnival’s Restaurants?

While it might seem that you need to get all fancied up to go to a specialty restaurant, that’s not always the case. Higher-end venues like the steakhouse or Chef’s Table follow the ship’s dress code for the evening. So if it’s formal night, you’ll want to dress up a bit.

Other restaurants, including Bonsai Sushi and Guy’s Pig & Anchor have “cruise casual” dress codes. That means you can dress down, but no swimsuits or tank tops are allows.

Should I Make Reservations?

If the specialty restaurant you want to eat at accepts reservations, then you should absolutely sign up as soon as you can. This gives you the most options for dining times. Note that some restaurants — such as Bonsai Sushi — don’t take reservations. You simply show up and get seated. If you don’t have a reservation at a restaurant, you can try to eat anyway. The staff will seat you if they have space.

Specialty restaurants on Carnival seem to be hit or miss — not in terms of food, but in terms of popularity. Anecdotally, we’ve noticed that some seem to stay busy while others, have smaller crowds. You can use this to your advantage to find a place to eat without a wait. It also helps to go during off hours.

Have more questions about dining on Carnival? Let us know in the comments below.

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Hi, Specialty dining restaurant names on the newest Carnival ship Celebration? Cost? How many days roughly does reservations for specialty dining open up before a cruise. Reservations for main dining?

You can find specific ship info for Celebration here:

https://www.carnival.com/cruise-food/?shipCode=CB&icid=icp_explr_shp_celebration_022322_lp_hyp_dining

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Houston Food Finder

We tried the food on a carnival cruise ship, and here’s what we thought.

Green Tea Cupcakes from Bonsai Sushi on the Carnival Breeze. Photo by Tori Rock.

Recently, I took a cruise from Galveston onboard the Carnival Breeze. Sailing for Cozumel, my companion and I played in the sun and enjoyed the boat’s nightlife (can’t praise “Piano Matt” enough for evenings spent singing along to the classics). However, what most interested me about our cruise was the plethora of food available. From sushi to steak, if you were hungry for it, you could find it in one of the restaurants. 

Lido Marketplace : On the Lido Deck, there is a food-court-style cafeteria with two buffet areas and menus that rotate throughout the day. Continental Breakfast service opens at 6:30 a.m. with pastries , cereal and fruit options, and a full-service spread that includes an omelet station that opens an hour later. The lunch and dinner services are expansive, with an assortment of buffet counters offering comfort food , deli counter , Mongolian stir-fry and more. Late at night, the Lido Marketplace offers a snacking station . One thing I cannot stress enough no matter what time you are dining: try the bread . It’s fresh, and the taste is just delightful, no matter if it’s a bun or a slice.

Guy Fieri Restaurants : Fans of the Food Network celebrity can get a taste of his creativity via two on-boat restaurants: Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que and Guy’s Burger Joint . The latter is on the Lido Deck and serves burgers and fries in a buffet-style line for dining at area tables or taking back to your deck chair. Toppings include the standards — lettuce, tomato, bacon, and onions — and more. Find Pig & Anchor outdoors on Deck Five across from the Ocean Plaza and Alchemy Bar. It offers cruisers options such as round of beef , smoked andouille sausage and Blue Ribbon Chicken in Fieri’s flavor-packed style.

Pizza Pirate : Satisfy cravings for pizza any time night or day at this pizza stand on the aft side of the Lido deck. The 24/7 menu just has two categories: pizza and salad. There are five types of pizza — Margherita, Funghi, Pepperoni, Quattro Formaggi (four cheese) and Prosciutto — and two salads. Stop by before or after visiting Liquid Nightclub or attending the late-night shows.

Dining Room Dinners : There are two formal dining rooms on the Breeze called Blush Restaurant and Sapphire Restaurant. Every guest is assigned to one of these large dining rooms for dinner, whether you choose early dining, late dining or “your time” dining. Each serves identical dishes each evening from a three-course menu that includes your choice of an appetizer, entrée and dessert. The menus rotate nightly, and the main course options include a vegetarian Indian dish served with lentils. My favorite on this four-day cruise was the Steak Ale and Cheese Soup, which was filling and well-seasoned.

The major highlight in these evening dining venues is Carnival’s famous molten chocolate cake . It is sweet, decadent, rich and dreamy, and it’s served alongside cooling vanilla ice cream . It is available nightly alongside other classic desserts such as crème brulée and Baked Alaska .

Bonsai Sushi : The Breeze is also equipped with a sushi restaurant on Deck Five. Bonsai Sushi offers an additional-cost menu with appetizers, sashimi, rolls, sake and more. Guests at this restaurant simply check the boxes next to their menu choices and sit back to enjoy. This restaurant features two unique dessert options: green tea cupcakes and yuzu custard . 

Seafood Shack : Carnival’s Seafood Shack is a New England-style eatery serving dishes such as clam chowder, lobster BLTs and snow crab . Open for lunch and dinner, this seaside restaurant is located on the Lido Deck (Deck 10, aft). 

BlueIguana Cantina : Cruisers can enjoy a taste of Mexico midship on the Lido deck at this lively cantina. Find it across from the Red Frog Rum Bar and Blue Iguana Tequila Bar. The made-to-order menu includes tacos , burritos and a salsa bar , with specials for breakfast and lunch. 

Cucina Del Capitano : Nestled above the Lido Marketplace midship on Deck 10, this swanky, wood-decked space offers diners a casual Italian meal at lunch and, for an additional fee, a high-class pasta dinner in the evenings. The menu is inspired by the Italian heritage of the ship’s captains and officers. It features favorites such as minestrone soup , Nonna’s Meatball and biscotti with gelato . 

Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse : Meat-loving Texans will love this onboard steakhouse. For an additional cost, it offers cowboy steak , filet mignon and New York strip steaks , along with other steakhouse favorites. There are seafood dishes, soups and salads, too, and a variety of appetizers. Try a plate of escargots bourguignonne or broiled lobster tail , and finish off your meal with a Chocolate Sampler or Caramelized Washington Apples .

Room Service : We couldn’t resist the luxury of (included!) room service, and ordered a variety of breakfast plates on our third day at sea. The night before, the steward left a door hanger in our room on which we could fill out each item we wanted, and we chose a couple of breakfast sandwiches , toast , bagels , coffee and orange juice . The food came hot and fresh, packaged in airline containers to keep the contents at temperature.

As two cruisers who don’t drink alcohol, my sail-buddy and I spent some time hunting through the ship’s offerings in search of the perfect by-the-ocean beverage. Carnival impressed us again and again, with delightful bartenders eager and willing to make our mocktail dreams come true. We started with fruit punch in bar glasses, made more festive with a dash of grenadine. Limelight Lounge served us perfect virgin piña coladas , and the bartenders at Alchemy Bar embraced our challenge by creating a fabulous purple concoction with pomegranate and lemon. Liquid Nightclub came through, too, with delicious virgin mojitos to quench our thirst while we danced the night away. 

Having sailed on other cruise lines in the past, I have to say that Carnival goes above and beyond when it comes to serving up fun. From our first day of massages and spa treatments to our late nights dancing in the club and lunging for the best seats at the piano bar, we had four days of nonstop entertainment. Cozumel was amazing, too, with beautiful weather and nice beach resorts to relax the day away. Our boat was relatively quiet this time, with precautions in place that kept cruisers and staff safe in each other’s company. (Carnival currently requires either proof of vaccination or a medical exemption to sail.)

If you’re looking for a vacation that’s all-inclusive and relatively cheap during the winter, Carnival is the way to go. The weather was beautiful, and aside from a rocky morning at sea, we couldn’t have enjoyed ourselves more. 

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Quality has dropped a lot the last couple years IMO. Breakfast has not changed much, lunch is still ok but a few things have dropped, but the dinner is way down on quality.

You described what is available but offers no opinions on it?

I see some opinions! That said, this is not “restaurant criticism.” Otherwise, with the number of onboard restaurants, this article would be 5,000 words and no one would finish it. We also didn’t pay Ms. Rock to try every place onboard (or anything towards her expenses, actually). If you’re curious about something specific, please ask. I’m sure she’s happy to give you more detail.

If you’re interested in us providing formal restaurant criticism, you can help us give writers dining budgets by sending advertisers our way or supporting our work through Patreon. It’s a significant cost for any publication. https://www.patreon.com/houstonfoodfinder

• Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Food Quality Very Subpar

By solinar , December 27, 2021 in Carnival Cruise Lines

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Took our 7th Carnival cruise on 12/18 on the Valor out of New Orleans. It has been 5 years since our last Carnival cruise. We had a good time (excellent service, boat was nice, excursions fun) but the food was just awful. I have been on a diet, and I weighed the day I left and they day I got back and I lost 1/2lb over the 5 day cruise.

• Same cookies every night (overcooked chocolate chip, a sandy, double chocolate at the deli). The cookies were BAD. I have 3 kids (6,11,16) and only one would eat the cookies and the other two are the sugar addicts and said they were horrible.  One night they had brownies at the dining room for desert, and two kids ordered them, ate one bite, and asked if they could have something else. The brownies looked like dry crumbly cake.
• All of the food was super bland. No flavor, no salt. Upon reflection, my wife and decided that dinner at a local cafeteria would have been a better option than the food offered at the dining room and Lido on every night.
• The Lido buffet was the exact same food as the dining room every night, just served in pans. Its been 5 years, but I don't recall this ever being the case before.
• The specialty dining options were all pretty good (Guys burgers were great, Deli was good, Seafood was good, Steakhouse was very good but not great), but there are only so many times you can eat them before they get old with the same menu all the time.

The staff was wonderful. It seemed like everyone was very appreciative to be back at work. The food quality was just very subpar, and very disappointing; so much so that I doubt we will do Carnival again unless I see evidence on the boards that their food gets a big upgrade.

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I think the cookies are subjective.  I actually enjoyed the chocolate chip cookies as I prefer them really crispy.  I didn't enjoy the cookies from the deli as they were a little softer.  My brother in law loved the chocolate chip cookies and ate a plateful every day.  

I don't think I ever ate the cookies on my previous cruise. 

MsTabbyKats

@solinar One of the reasons I like Carnival is that I know I won't gain weight.

DH and I are "buffet people".  Except for breakfast, there is just about no variety and not good.  The food in the MDR was almost inedible (so back to the buffet for us). The sandwiches at the deli left a lot to be desired.  Guys Burgers were good (I only eat burgers if nothing else is available).

But the one thing they had that was good was cakes in the lunch buffet.

Color me crazy, but I am thoroughly unimpressed with Guy's Burgers.  I preferred the old seaside grill.  There was real flavor there.

ColeThornton

39 minutes ago, solinar said: I have been on a diet, and I weighed the day I left and they day I got back and I lost 1/2lb over the 5 day cruise.

Not sure if that's supposed to be a good or bad thing.  🙂

Food is subjective because we found the food to be quite good on our recent Legend sailing. To the best of my recollection they have always offered the same things on lido that are in the MDR. We didn't try the cookies so can't comment on those.

I didn’t particularly enjoy my vista food. The included food at least. I found myself deciding to book specialty restaurants the last two nights because I really didn’t enjoy any of my MDR dinners.   

In the deli the Buffalo chicken sandwich they cut the chicken breast in half so you had more bun than chicken. There was a chicken bone in my southwest chicken wrap. The Reuben was great.   

Steakhouse and JiJi’s were great. Guys was good. BBQ was good. I’ve never been a fan of this pizza version or blue iguana. 

I think Carnival's food is delicious, by and large. Each to their own.

On our two Glory cruises this year we found the MDR food to be very good. The rest varied a lot. For example on our first cruise Guy's was good. On our second Guy's wasn't good. The Lido buffet was sub-par both times. I think that has a lot to do with there being less people on board (about 50% first cruise and 65% second) and thus batches of food sitting out longer. Until supply chain issues are fixed I think we are going to find the food will vary ship to ship, venue to venue, sailing to sailing. I think they have to take what they can get in the way of supplies right now.

I noticed someone mentioned the cakes being good and that is a wonderful example of different folks have different tastes. We found the cakes pre-covid to be not to our taste. They, in our mind, don't really have cakes. They are all layers of cake and icing with too much icing. These last two cruises it was even worse. Whereas in the past I could separate the icing from the cake and actually eat some cake, now the cake layer is incredibly thin - about a quarter inch - followed by about a half inch of icing - followed by a quarter inch layer of cake, etc. and it is impossible to separate the cake from the icing. When I was a kid I would have loved all that sweet but not so much now.

CruisingAgain

I agree with mz-s.  The food on our November Horizon cruise was great. I gained 6 pounds for an 8 day cruise.  There were a few things I didn't like at dinner but with app, entree and dessert it was good that I didn't finish everything.  And you can always order something else. My favorite time tho is lunch ... Guy's, deli, pizza, burritos, seaday brunch .... all are great and there are never enough days to try it all.

Top_of_the_Cube

Having cruised in late October on the Vista, wife and I found the food to be a positive part of our overall great experience on board.  We are not foodies, but I think we have a good grasp on taste, texture, and temperature.  Not everything we ate was a winner, but the servers were quick to trade out when we didn't like something.

We haven't eaten at the buffet in a long time.  I am not opposed to the Marketplace, but there are so many other options that I prefer more.

A word about the pizza.  I am a big fan, mainly because I love the crust.  I may be a minority on this, because at home when I am with a group sharing a pizza, I always get voted down on the type of crust we order.

ultrafighter

I also wasn't wowed by the food on the Breeze in mid November.  Still plenty of good stuff to find, but nothing I had was amazing.

Their soup game in the MDR was on point, though.   👍

17 minutes ago, Top_of_the_Cube said:   A word about the pizza.  I am a big fan, mainly because I love the crust.  I may be a minority on this, because at home when I am with a group sharing a pizza, I always get voted down on the type of crust we order.

Love the pizza on Carnival. Much closer to the real deal you get in Naples than most. Perhaps the only better pizza is from Alfredo's on some of the Princess ships.

2 hours ago, Don Kehote said: Color me crazy, but I am thoroughly unimpressed with Guy's Burgers.  I preferred the old seaside grill.  There was real flavor there.

Couldn’t agree more

crewsweeper

I've always found the food on Carnival subjective and depending upon what gets ordered.  We try to skip the MDR and Lido buffet as much as possible.  But at both careful selection counts.  Specialty dining for dinner is better than MDR.  Blue Iguana over Guys.  And on the new Mardi Gras, Street Eats and the Serenity Salad Bar are the way to go for lunch time, except for the Lido gelato and the cakes over cookies.

31 minutes ago, Bases5 said: Couldn’t agree more

And I couldn't disagree more.  In my view, Guy's burgers are still some of the best I have ever had. Anywhere.  Way superior to any other fast food burgers, such as In and Out. And better than burgers on other cruise lines, including Johnny Rockets on RCCL (which we had to pay extra for!!).  And no degredation in the quality of Guys from pre to post  COVID, at least on the Carnival Panorama.

Do wish Carnival had kept the Indian lunch counter.  But that is another topic.

3 minutes ago, Calnev1 said: And I couldn't disagree more.  In my view, Guy's burgers are still some of the best I have ever had. Anywhere.  Way superior to any other fast food burgers, such as In and Out. And better than burgers on other cruise lines, including Johnny Rockets on RCCL (which we had to pay extra for!!).  And no degredation in the quality of Guys from pre to post  COVID, at least on the Carnival Panorama.   Do wish Carnival had kept the Indian lunch counter.  But that is another topic.

We had the opportunity to eat at a land based Johnny Rockets on our way to a Carnival cruise a few years ago and I was underwhelmed by the burger that I had. Nice atmosphere and all, but I am more about the food than the atmosphere. I was prepared to hate Guy's because of all of the people that hyped it up, but found it to be a pretty darned good burger for being included in the cruise fare. We love to grab one as a snack after getting back onboard after an excursion.

For chain burgers I prefer McDonald's, Steak 'n Shake, Freddy's, Johnny Rockets, and Fuddruckers over Guy's.  The only compliment I can give Guy's is that it is better than Burger King, but that doesn't take much.

Eat to cruise the mass-produced food don't cruise to eat the mass-produced food. It's been that way for a long time. 

29 minutes ago, Tiger0613 said: For chain burgers I prefer McDonald's, Steak 'n Shake, Freddy's, Johnny Rockets, and Fuddruckers over Guy's.  The only compliment I can give Guy's is that it is better than Burger King, but that doesn't take much.

I honestly think that the thing everyone *really* likes about Guy's is the toppings bar.  Otherwise, it's just a patty.  There's nothing inherently special about a griddled burger unless it makes me hear Smash Mouth in my head when I take a bite of that donkamole smothered meatsplosion.

KmomChicago

7 hours ago, sparks1093 said: Food is subjective because we found the food to be quite good on our recent Legend sailing. To the best of my recollection they have always offered the same things on lido that are in the MDR. We didn't try the cookies so can't comment on those.

So good on Legend last week. Chopsticks, deli, and Good Eats all nummy in the buffet. Guy’s tasty. Incredible fresh brewed “Americano” coffee each morning, decent options in the MDR overall with some hits and some misses. Had so many options I never got to Blue iguana but it’s always been good in the past. 

I do agree desserts, cakes and cookies are somewhat weak on both Carnival and RCI, sometimes bland or poor textures, but chocolate melting cake is always good, cheesecakes are usually fine, and there’s still always way too much food available. 12 cruises and still haven’t gone hungry for a single minute. 

HappySails4U

8 hours ago, icft said: On our two Glory cruises this year we found the MDR food to be very good. The rest varied a lot. For example on our first cruise Guy's was good. On our second Guy's wasn't good. The Lido buffet was sub-par both times. I think that has a lot to do with there being less people on board (about 50% first cruise and 65% second) and thus batches of food sitting out longer. Until supply chain issues are fixed I think we are going to find the food will vary ship to ship, venue to venue, sailing to sailing. I think they have to take what they can get in the way of supplies right now.   I noticed someone mentioned the cakes being good and that is a wonderful example of different folks have different tastes. We found the cakes pre-covid to be not to our taste. They, in our mind, don't really have cakes. They are all layers of cake and icing with too much icing. These last two cruises it was even worse. Whereas in the past I could separate the icing from the cake and actually eat some cake, now the cake layer is incredibly thin - about a quarter inch - followed by about a half inch of icing - followed by a quarter inch layer of cake, etc. and it is impossible to separate the cake from the icing. When I was a kid I would have loved all that sweet but not so much now.

We sailed on the Mardi Gras in late October and we found Mississippi Mud cake in the Lido.   OMG what a find !!!  The cake was warm, moist and lots of nuts!   We looked for this again on our remaining days but unfortunately this was a one and done !

12 hours ago, Don Kehote said: Color me crazy, but I am thoroughly unimpressed with Guy's Burgers.  I preferred the old seaside grill.  There was real flavor there.

Totally agree those are the worst burgers at sea.

Our November cruise on the Radiance,   I found the free food to be horrible.   They weren't even trying.  Guys was good.  Shaq chicken was fair.  Deli was nasty and service was painfully slow.  The Mexican place was not Mexican.   Buffet was repulsive with limited offerings.  MDR food was tasteless and poorly executed.   On the other hand the specialty venues were terrific .   I guess the trained staff works there. No more Carnival for us.

9 hours ago, BlerkOne said: Love the pizza on Carnival. Much closer to the real deal you get in Naples than most. Perhaps the only better pizza is from Alfredo's on some of the Princess ships.

I disagree. I have a house south of naples. Carnival pizza is not anything like naples or anywhere in italy for that matter. I had some on MSC that was good though. Almost like my 5'2" italian grandma's pizza. Hers was better of course.  To each their own. Somebody needs to eat carnivals pizza. It just will not be me.

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Royal caribbean vs. carnival: quick comparison chart.

Decide which line is best based on costs, food, onboard entertainment and other key factors.

Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Line have quite a bit in common.

Trying to choose between Royal Caribbean and Carnival for your next cruise? Check out the comparison chart below, then read on for more details.

Winner: Royal Caribbean

When it comes to fleet size as well as the features available on cruise ships, Royal Caribbean has an edge over Carnival Cruise Line. That's because Royal Caribbean already has 28 ships in operation, including its incredible Oasis Class, Quantum Class and Quantum Ultra Class ships. Oasis Class vessels like Allure of the Seas , Symphony of the Seas , Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas are some of the largest in the world – and Royal Caribbean Group is constantly rolling out new, even bigger cruise ships with better amenities and new features. For example, the new Icon of the Seas (scheduled to debut in 2024) plans to have the largest water park at sea, the largest swimming pool at sea, and a range of over-the-top cabins and suites for families of all sizes.

Meanwhile, Carnival currently operates 25 different vessels with a few more on the way. Newer ships like Carnival Celebration and Carnival Venezia aren't as large and grand as Royal Caribbean ships, nor are the brand-new vessels the company is planning for late 2023 and 2024. For example, the new Carnival Jubilee that is set to begin sailing later in 2023 will have 15 passenger decks and capacity for up to 6,631 guests, compared to 18 guest decks and 7,600 passengers on Icon of the Seas.

Read: The Largest Cruise Ships in the World

SBW-Photo | Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Comparing cabins across cruise lines as a whole isn't an easy feat, mostly because companies tend to offer larger suites and cabins with a better layout on their newer ships . You'll therefore likely have a nicer cabin on one of Carnival's newest vessels compared to an older ship from Royal Caribbean, and of course the opposite is also true. Cabin sizes and layouts also vary widely across the vessels of both brands, and that's true even for basic interior, ocean view and balcony cabins.

That said, Royal Caribbean still comes out ahead in this category, since the line boasts more square footage in some of the most basic cabins as well as more over-the-top luxury accommodations, especially for families.

As an example, most inside cabins on Allure of the Seas feature 172 square feet of space, whereas Carnival Celebration's inside cabins are slightly smaller at 158 square feet. Meanwhile, the largest suites on Celebration are the Carnival Excel Presidential Suite, with 1,120 square feet of space including the balcony, and the Carnival Excel Aft Suite, which has 861 square feet of interior and balcony space. Compare those options to the Sky Loft Suites on Allure of the Seas, which feature 1,132 square feet across the room and balcony, and the spacious two-bedroom AquaTheater Suites with 1,595 square feet including the balcony.

Book a cruise on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Winner: Tie

Food options vary widely across vessels within any cruise brand, and this is especially true with Royal Caribbean and Carnival. For example, older ships from both cruise lines offer fewer specialty dining options overall along with the main dining rooms and buffet options cruisers come to expect, whereas newer ships from both lines feature a lot more unique and innovative options.

When you view the cruise dining options from both lines, you'll quickly find that both Carnival and Royal Caribbean pull out all the stops when it comes to food. For example, Carnival ships include a range of eateries from large and expansive buffets to main dining rooms to unique offerings like Big Chicken, Guy's Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina. Meanwhile, specialty dining on Carnival vessels features options like teppanyaki, Emeril's Bistros at Sea and Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse.

Royal Caribbean ships feature convenient buffets and main dining room experiences, as well as included options like pizza kitchens, noodle bars and casual fast food. Specialty dining on Royal Caribbean ranges from the brand's Chef's Table experience to Johnny Rockets' burgers and shakes to innovative fine dining at Wonderland.

Drink packages

Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer drink packages that cruisers can purchase as part of their vacation to get a more all-inclusive feel . Then again, the value of these packages depends on how much you drink over the course of your trip. Also note that the cost of drink packages across all cruise lines can vary depending on the ship, itinerary, travel dates, length of trip and more.

Royal Caribbean comes out slightly ahead in this category because the line offers three tiers of drink packages for guests with different needs. Choose from the Classic Soda Package; the Refreshment Package, which includes soda along with coffees, juices and even milkshakes at Johnny Rockets; and the Deluxe Beverage Package, which adds in beer, cocktails and wine by the glass. Meanwhile, Carnival offers just two different drink packages: the Bottomless Bubbles package, which covers soft drinks and juice, and the Cheers! drink package, which adds in spirits and cocktails, beer, wine by the glass, specialty coffee, energy drinks and more.

Read: Cruise Drink Packages: Your Options by Cruise Line

Onboard activities

Analyzing onboard activities across cruise lines isn't always easy – you really have to break down this category by ship for a true comparison. When you do that with Carnival and Royal Caribbean, you'll find that both lines offer fun activities for all ages, from onboard water parks to hosted games, casinos and more.

That said, Royal Caribbean does take things up a notch in this category, especially on the line's newer ships. Some Royal Caribbean vessels offer escape rooms, surf simulators, zip lines, game shows and over-the-top water parks with incredible slides for thrill-seekers. For example, Freedom of the Seas boasts huge onboard waterslides, glow-in-the-dark laser tag, mini-golf and more. Don't forget about Icon of the Seas with its massive water park and pool offerings in the works. Meanwhile, standout activities on Carnival ships include Family Feud Live, onboard water parks and the thrilling SkyRide.

Compare Royal Caribbean cruises on GoToSea .

Live entertainment

The quality of cruise ship entertainment varies widely based on the quality of the talent booked for individual ships. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer their share of live music and entertainment, including performances by bands and singers, karaoke, and piano bars. Meanwhile, both lines also boast their own theaters on every vessel, which often feature Broadway-style shows, singing and dancing, comedy acts, and more.

Royal Caribbean comes out ahead in this category since its vessels feature award-winning musicals like "Hairspray," "Mamma Mia!" and "Cats." The open-air AquaTheater on Oasis Class ships also wows guests with incredible diving feats, stunts and aerial acrobatics. Some Royal Caribbean ships even have onboard ice skating performances and ice games.

Explore cruise deals on  GoToSea .

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Kids programming

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line

Winner: Carnival

Both cruise lines have kids clubs that cater to younger guests of all ages, with each one offering supervised care so parents can drop the kids off for some alone time or a quiet dinner on the ship. However, Carnival stands out slightly in this category due to the six different clubs offered across the fleet for children and teens between 6 months and 17 years old. Carnival also offers supervised Night Owls services for kids 11 and younger, which lets parents get out and have some late-night fun for an extra charge.

Royal Caribbean offers four kids clubs for children ages six months to 12, along with a separate club for tweens and teens . Supervised child care is available for free during the day, and you can opt for paid care after hours as well.

Read: The Top Cruises for Babies and Toddlers

Adults-only offerings

Both cruise lines offer their share of adults-only spaces and things to do, from onboard casinos to luxurious spas to bars that offer cocktails and live entertainment at all hours of the day and night. Carnival and Royal Caribbean also offer adults-only areas on some of their ships.

On Carnival, for example, cruisers will find the Serenity Adults-Only Retreat for sailors 21 and older with extra space and comfortable chairs for relaxation, along with its own bar nearby. On many Royal Caribbean vessels, on the other hand, the onboard Solarium for ages 16-plus has its own pool and extra space to find peace and quiet.

Carnival's Serenity relaxation area is included for guests. While Royal Caribbean's Solarium is typically also included, on certain sailings there is restricted access by fare class.

Read: The Top Adults-Only Cruises

Shore excursions

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Shore excursions offered by cruise lines are largely operated by third-party companies and are often the same across brands. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean boast a broad selection of excursions in destinations around the world, from snorkeling and scuba tours in the Caribbean to city tours, horseback riding, cooking classes and more.

Both cruise lines offer private and custom tours you can book through your ship as well.

Compare cruises on GoToSea .

Private island experiences

Royal Caribbean and Carnival each have their own private island in the Bahamas , which is included in most itineraries to this part of the world. These private islands provide a fun beach escape for families to enjoy, whether you want to relax in the sun or take part in some of the available activities.

Royal Caribbean's private island, called Perfect Day at CocoCay, is the more impressive option due to everything it includes: a heart-thumping water park, its own wave pool, a zip line, a hot air balloon experience and overwater bungalows you can book for the day, among other offerings. Meanwhile, Carnival's Half Moon Cay has a unique beached pirate ship to explore – but fewer amenities overall.

Note that both private islands have plenty of beach space for guests to spread out and relax, as well as restaurants and bars. You can also book excursions on both private islands, which include activities like snorkeling and water sports.

Read: The Top Cruise Line Private Islands

Comparing costs across cruise lines can be tricky since fares and available sales vary throughout the year, as well as based on the vessel booked, the cruise itinerary, the number and age of travelers, and more. To get an idea of who wins on price, we looked for two similar cruises on comparable ships from Carnival and Royal Caribbean, then priced out an option for a family of four with two children ages 8 and 10. For the purpose of this comparison, we used seven-night eastern Caribbean cruises on Carnival Celebration and Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, both of which began sailing in 2022.

The Carnival Celebration itinerary from Miami stops in Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico ; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands . By comparison, the Wonder of the Seas sailing leaves from Port Canaveral, Florida, with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten ; San Juan; and Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.

The chart below shows the total cost (including taxes and fees) for a family of four in January 2024 in both an ocean view and a typical balcony cabin across both cruise lines. Note that, for the purpose of this comparison, we selected the least expensive room option in each category.

Read: How Much Does a Cruise Cost?

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer who has covered cruises and other family travel for more than a decade. She has cruised more than 30 times across most of the major cruise lines and has ventured on itineraries around the world. Johnson used her personal experience and research expertise to curate this cruise line comparison.

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Cucina del Capitano menu: What to expect when you eat at Carnival Cruise Line's Italian restaurant

C ucina del Capitano, Carnival Cruise Line 's Italian restaurant, is a cruiser favorite. It offers a delightful, cozy spot to gather over a delicious meal, and there's something for just about everyone — from the biggest foodie to the pickiest eater — on the menu.

Here's a guide to what you can expect when you dine there, including what's on the menu, how much it'll cost you and a list of ships where you can find this eatery.

For more cruise guides, news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

What is Cucina del Capitano on Carnival cruise ships?

Cucina del Capitano, which translates to "Captain's Kitchen" in English, is the Italian restaurant found on nearly one-third of Carnival's ships . It first rolled out on Carnival Magic in 2011, after the line decided to poll its Italian captains for their favorite recipes from home. From there, the Cucina del Capitano menu was born.

The restaurant offers delicious food options for cruisers who are hungry for traditional Italian dishes like pasta, chicken Parmesan and tiramisu that they can chase with a post-dinner limoncello.

Related: Carnival cruise food: The ultimate guide to restaurants and dining on board

While the decor and ambience can vary from vessel to vessel, the restaurants feel cozy, with family photos from the fleet's captains on the wall. You'll either be seated at a table with a red-and-white checkered tablecloth that makes you feel like you're sitting down to a backyard cookout or in a cozy alcove that makes the experience feel more like you've stepped into an Italian family's dining room for a big meal.

On most ships, the restaurant functions like a typical specialty restaurant . However, on Excel Class ships, the venue was designed as an overflow restaurant to take some of the pressure off of the main dining rooms during peak times. The restaurant is open to everyone, but only passengers with Your Time Dining — which allows cruisers to dine anytime they wish between 5 and 9 p.m. — can have dinner at Cucina del Capitano anytime during opening hours. Cruisers with set-seating dining are only allowed to eat there after 7:45 p.m.

Reservations are recommended.

Cucina del Capitano menu

Meals at Cucina del Capitano are broken into four categories or courses: starters, soups and salads; mains and pastas; sides; and desserts. Captain-recommended favorites are noted on the menu.

You might choose to start with cured tuna, meatballs, deep-fried shrimp, minestrone soup or a caprese salad. For your main course, try linguine with clams, spaghetti carbonara, grilled fish, veal marsala, a pork chop or captain-favorite chicken Parmesan. You can also opt for steakhouse fare — including filet mignon, surf 'n' turf or a grilled lamb chop — for a $23 surcharge.

For your sides, pick from roasted broccoli and cauliflower, lentils, spinach or crispy potatoes.

If you still have room for dessert, options include an apple pastry, frozen lemon tarte, baba (Italian rum cake) or tiramisu, a captain favorite. You can also order specialty coffees and digestifs, including limoncello, amaretto, sambuca, grappa and more.

A selection of wine (red, white and rose) and beer costs extra unless you have a drink package that covers your beverage choice.

A children's menu is available for kids 11 and younger. Selections include spaghetti with meatballs, fish sticks, chicken fingers, and macaroni and cheese, with a choice of either cannoli or lemon sherbet for dessert.

Additionally, six of the 11 ships that have Cucina del Capitano feature a free Captain's Pasta Bar option for lunch. The menu includes a choice of linguini, penne or farfalle, as well as sauces like tomato, Alfredo, white clam and meat sauce, as well as butter. Additional mix-ins include Italian sausage, chicken strips and a plethora of vegetables. Want something more hearty? You can also choose lasagna, and don't forget to toss in a side of Caesar salad or bread.

Note: Menu examples were accurate at the time of publication, but they are subject to change without notice.

Cucina del Capitano prices

Pricing is a bit confusing, as it varies according to ship.

On the line's newest Excel Class ships , Cucina del Capitano is free for all passengers during their first visit to the restaurant. Additional visits are $8 per person. The only exception is Carnival Jubilee ; every visit is free during the ship's inaugural season. After that, it will share the same pricing as Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras .

On the other eight ships that have the restaurant (see below), the cost is $24 per adult. Kids 11 and younger can dine for $11 from the children's menu.

Selections from the menu's steakhouse section will incur a fee of $23 per item. Alcohol costs extra unless you have a beverage package that covers it. An 18% gratuity will be added (except to free meals), and a $5 surcharge will apply for every main course after the first two per person.

The Captain's Pasta Bar, which is offered for lunch only on select ships, is complimentary.

Which Carnival ships have Cucina del Capitano?

Cucina del Capitano is available on the following Carnival ships:

• Carnival Breeze
• Carnival Celebration
• Carnival Horizon
• Carnival Jubilee
• Carnival Magic
• Carnival Panorama
• Carnival Radiance
• Carnival Sunrise
• Carnival Sunshine
• Carnival Vista

Of the 11 ships that have Cucina del Capitano, the following have the Captain's Pasta Bar for lunch:

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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

• Cruise Podcast

Carnival Jubilee 2024 Review + Cruise News [Podcast]

Doug Parker

• April 28, 2024

In this episode of Cruise Radio, Doug Parker and Richard Sims discuss the latest cruise news, including a fatal shuttle bus accident and missing persons. They also talk about passenger behavior affecting cruise staff and new dining options on Norwegian Cruise Line ships.

A guest recounts his positive experience on the Carnival Jubilee, from a smooth embarkation to diverse dining and entertainment. He notes the effective smoke-free areas, the busy atmosphere on sea days, and his family’s enjoyment of the kids’ club and excursions.

He offers tips for new cruisers and commends the ship’s friendly crew, ending with a recommendation for the cruise.

Timestamps:

• Tragic Accident at Popular Cruise Port (00:01:36)  Discussion of a tragic accident involving a shuttle bus plowing into pedestrians at the port of Honolulu.
• Missing Crew Member (00:03:00)  Details about a crew member from the Holland America ship Rotterdam who jumped overboard and the subsequent search efforts.
• Passenger Missing in Cozumel (00:03:58)  Updates on a passenger named Brad Solomon who went missing after disembarking from a cruise ship in Cozumel, Mexico.
• Carnival Cruise Line Publicly Shaming Passengers (00:06:00)  Carnival Cruise Line’s response to passengers abusing the privilege of dropping off luggage in their staterooms before they are ready.
• New Thai Restaurant and Vegetarian Options on Norwegian Cruise Line (00:09:32)  Introduction of a new Thai restaurant and a vegetarian restaurant on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima class ships.
• Review of Carnival Jubilee Cruise (00:14:06)  A guest’s review of his seven-night Western Caribbean cruise aboard Carnival Jubilee.
• Trip Insurance (00:13:04)  A brief discussion about the importance of having trip insurance for plane, road trip, or cruise travel.
• Smooth Check-in and Boarding (00:15:23)  The guest describes a smooth and quick check-in process and boarding experience.
• Impressions of Carnival Jubilee (00:16:08)  The guest shares positive impressions of the ship’s appearance and amenities.
• Interior Cabin Experience (00:16:48)  The guest discusses the interior cabin’s location, amenities, and quietness.
• Dining Options and Experiences (00:18:11)  The guest provides an overview of various dining options, including the buffet, burger joint, and specialty restaurants.
• Main Dining Room and Lobster Night (00:21:54)  The guest talks about the main dining room experience and lobster night.
• Big Chicken and Specialty Dining (00:23:25)  Details about the location, menu, and quality of food at the Big Chicken and specialty dining venues.
• Teppanyaki and Steakhouse Experience (00:24:28)  The guest shares experiences and quality assessments of dining at the Teppanyaki and Steakhouse restaurants.
• Carnival Kitchen Class (00:26:03)  The guest describes their experience and cost of participating in an ice cream-making class at the Carnival Kitchen.
• Entertainment on Board (00:27:17)  The guest discusses the comedy shows, production shows, and other entertainment options on the ship.
• Casino Area and Smoke Situation (00:29:03)  The guest inquires about the smoke situation in the casino area.
• The casino experience (00:29:10)  Discussion about the casino’s smoking and non-smoking sections and the segregation’s effectiveness.
• Crowds and congestion (00:29:31)  The impact of sailing at full capacity on the ship’s crowded areas during sea days.
• Kids club and activities (00:30:59)  The guest’s son’s experience in the kids club and their activities on board.
• Excursions and ports of call (00:31:48): This is a Detailed description of the excursions in Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Mahogany Bay.
• Debarkation process (00:35:26): This is an Explanation of the debarkation process using the Hub app and the efficiency of the vacation.
• Onboard experiences (00:37:19)  Efficiency and wait times for services and tips for first-time Carnival Jubilee sailors.
• Highlights and parking (00:39:26)  The guest’s cruise highlights and their parking experiences in Galveston.
• Final thoughts (00:40:37)  Overall recommendation and positive feedback about the Carnival Jubilee experience.

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• Russia Rivers Cruise Ports

Moscow (Russia)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Russia Rivers

Local Time 2024-04-29 04:58

Moscow is a Volga River cruise port, Russia's capital and largest city (population over 12,2 million, metro 17 million). Moscow City covers a total area of approx 2610 km 2 (970 mi2). By population, the city is ranked the world's 14th largest. Moscow is one of the Russian Federation's all 3 federal cities - together with St Petersburg and Sevastopol .

Being Russian Federation's capital, Moscow is a major economic, political, scientific and cultural center, as well as Europe's biggest city.

According to Forbes 2013, Moscow has been ranked as the 9th most expensive city in the world by Mercer and has one of the largest urban economies, being ranked as an alpha global city according to Globalization and World Cities Research Network. It is also one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the world according to MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index. Moscow is the northernmost and the coldest megacity and metropolis on the Earth. It's home to Ostankino Tower, the tallest free-standing European structure; the Federation Tower, the tallest European skyscraper; and the Moscow International Business Center. 

Moscow is situated on Moskva River in the Central Federal District of European Russia, which makes it the most populated inland city in the world. Moscow city is well known for architecture, particularly its historic buildings like Saint Basil's Cathedral. With over 40% of its territory covered by greenery, it's one of the greenest capitals and major cities in Europe and the world. Moscow is the seat of power of the Russian Government, being the site of Moscow Kremlin, a medieval city-fortress that is now the residence of the President of Russia. Moscow Kremlin and Red Square are among the several World Heritage Sites in the city. 

Moscow has 2 passenger terminals, North River Terminal (Rechnoy vokzal) and South River Terminal. The regular ship routes and cruises along Moskva and Oka rivers are used mostly for entertainment. North River Terminal (1937-built) is currently the main hub for long-range routes along the river. There are 3 freight ports that serve Moscow.

In late-July 2021 the city announced plans to incorporate a fleet (unspecified number) of fully electric passenger ferries into its public transportation network from summer 2022, the goal being to reduce the dependence on cars.

• The boats are designed with length ~22 m (72 ft), passenger capacity 42, modern amenities (Wi-Fi, USB charging points, tables for working commuters), spaces for storing scooters and bicycles.
• Moscow Transport confirmed that two routes (with max daily capacity ~16,000 passengers) have already been mapped out.
• Passengers will be able to pay via bank cards, the city’s Troika card (smart card for travel by any public transportation) or biometric payment cards. Those with monthly/yearly public transit tickets will use the boats at no extra cost.
• The new electric ferry service is up to 5 times faster (in comparison to other city public transports) and ~2 times faster than by car.

Moscow cruise terminal

Moscow's cruise terminal is called North River Terminal or River Station  ("Rechnoy Vokzal" / "речной вокзал").

The terminal was opened in 1937 and is one of 2 passenger terminals (the other being South River Terminal) of the city's river transport. North River Terminal is the main hub for long-range (including cruise) shipping routes. 

South River Terminal (above photo) was opened in 1985.

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Moscow - user reviews and comments

Flotilla Radisson Royal

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Flotilla Radisson Royal - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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• What to Expect

How To Eat Healthy On a Cruise

By Ian Eckstein

Carnival cruises are known for delicious onboard dining options – and many feel the wide variety of available foods is one of the best parts of a cruise vacation.

However, many people who go on a cruise want to continue a healthy eating lifestyle. Fortunately, Carnival provides numerous dining options for those who want to eat healthy cruise food. Here are some suggestions of where to eat healthy for breakfast, lunch and dinner while on vacation.

Healthy Breakfast Options

Dining Room Breakfast

The Dining Room Breakfast has a wide variety of breakfast options. If you want to eat something healthy, simply let the chef know how they can modify a plate to your liking. Whether that means a veggie omelet with hot oatmeal and turkey bacon, or simply extra veggies, the chefs are there to accommodate.

Seaday Brunch

Seaday Brunch has something for everyone. If you’re craving a fresh fruit platter with cottage cheese, grilled salmon filet, or simple scrambled eggs with toast, you’ll find it here.

Healthy Lunch Restaurants

Fresh Creations

You’ve never seen salad like you’ll see it at Fresh Creations . This salad bar offers dozens of ways to make a healthy and delicious salad. Best of all, you can go back for seconds without feeling guilty!

Bonsai Sushi

If you want something with a little more protein than a salad, head over to Bonsai Sushi for expertly prepared and incredibly fresh sushi. Choose from a wide variety of options from crab to sashimi.

Healthy Places to Eat Dinner

The Chef’s Table

The Chef’s Table is a popular option for those who want a truly gourmet experience. While there are lots of decent options on this menu, the chefs also specialize in a number of healthy options. The small-portion sizes of each dish helps that calorie count down as well!

The Carnival Deli

If you want something simple and straightforward for dinner, The Carnival Deli is the place to go. Offering a wide variety of sandwiches, you can tell your chef exactly how you want your sandwich prepared. If you’re looking to stay on the healthy side, keep the cheese and sauces light and have them pile on the veggies.

Tips for Eating Healthy

As the food recommendations above suggest, it’s surprisingly easy to eat healthy on your cruise vacation. Here are a few tips to make sure you enjoy eating healthy on a cruise without feeling deprived!

Eat Lighter (and smaller) Meals

Make a point of eating lighter meals at least some of the time. This might mean choosing fish over steak or not grabbing that fourth piece of bacon! Whatever lighter means to you, try to keep it in mind for at least one or two meals each day.

Eating half portions is a great way to eat the foods you want without overindulging. If you want to try this tactic out, simply pick out whatever dish your heart desires, then ask the restaurant to give you a half portion. You’ll still get to eat delicious food, but it will only have half as many calories as it originally would have!

Start Buffets with Piles of Veggies and Lean Protein

Buffets and diets don’t typically go together, but if you’re smart about it, you can eat healthy – even at a buffet.

When filling your plate, make sure to pile it high with fruits and veggies first, followed by some lean protein. Once you’ve done that, you won’t have too much room left on your plate — but you can feel free to fill the remainder with whatever decadent options you feel like enjoying.

Avoid Snacking Between Meals

Since many of the food options are all-inclusive, it can be tempting to eat all throughout the day. If you want to be as healthy as possible, you should try to avoid snacking between the main meals. Save those calories for the expertly prepared dishes at the restaurants listed above!

Choose Light Drinks When Possible

It’s a vacation, so of course you’re going to have some drinks. If you want to make healthy drink choices, simply choose lighter drinks when you can. This might mean a light beer, a diet soda or unsweetened tea. Make sure to have at least one indulgent drink on your cruise though!

Truly Savor Each Meal

One of the best ways to stay healthy on a cruise is to truly savor each and every bite of your meals. By taking the time to fully appreciate your food, you will eat slower and be less inclined to go for seconds (or thirds).

While eating healthy on your cruise is certainly an admirable goal, it’s important to also remember that you are on vacation ! Don’t be afraid to indulge a bit more than usual — after all, you aren’t on a cruise most of the year!

Related articles

Healthy habits.

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