Food menus

Carnival Food Menus

Enjoy the great food on Carnival cruise ships!

One of the greatest joys of a Carnival cruise is the abundance of delicious, complimentary dining options available throughout the day, ensuring no passenger could possibly go hungry. The primary source of free food is the vast, sprawling buffet, offering a rotating selection of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items from various international cuisines, served cafeteria-style.

For a more traditional and elegant experience, the Main Dining Room offers seated service with an à la carte menu that changes nightly, featuring appetizers, entrees, and desserts that are all included in your cruise fare.

Beyond these main venues, Carnival offers numerous specialty eateries that are free of charge. Guy’s Burger Joint, a passenger favorite, serves custom-built, hand-smashed burgers and seasoned fries.

For authentic Mexican fare, the Blue Iguana Cantina offers made-to-order burritos and tacos with a fresh salsa bar.

Shaqs Big Chicken serves up delicious fried chicken sandwiches and baskets, providing a satisfying comfort meal.

The Carnival Deli is perfect for a quick bite, offering classic sandwiches and wraps.

Coastal Slice provides simple, fresh pizzas, while Beach Buns offers wraps and sandwiches near the pool area. Fresh Creations, found on some ships, offers customizable salads and healthy bowls.

For barbecue lovers, Guy’s Pig & Anchor BBQ (lunch only, dinner is often a paid option) serves up smoked meats and classic sides.

Masala Tiger offers various Indian selections on specific ships. Additionally, Carnival’s complimentary Pizza venue is typically open until midnight, providing quick, freshly baked pies. Street Eats offers a rotating daily selection of grab-and-go international snacks, and the Captains Pasta Bar, often available during lunch in Cucina del Capitano, allows guests to build their own custom pasta dishes.

The culinary experience on a Carnival cruise can be significantly enhanced by exploring the variety of specialty dining venues available for an additional charge.

These paid options offer unique menus, intimate settings, and elevated cuisine that go far beyond the complimentary offerings.

For lovers of Asian cuisine, Bonsai Sushi offers an à la carte menu of fresh sushi, sashimi, and rolls in a contemporary setting.

For a more interactive meal, Bonsai Teppanyaki provides a dinner and a show experience where skilled chefs prepare your meal right at your table with dazzling flair.

Chibang! offers a fusion of Mexican and Chinese specialties, allowing guests to choose from two distinct menus.

The popular Italian venue, Cucina del Capitano, serves family-style portions of classic Italian-American dishes in a warm, welcoming environment.

Steakhouse enthusiasts can indulge at Fahrenheit 555, a sophisticated venue serving prime cuts of beef, fresh seafood, and gourmet appetizers with an elevated level of service.

For a focused barbecue experience, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse (dinner service) is a paid option offering authentic, slow-smoked meats and southern sides in a rustic pub setting.

Guests seeking global flavors can try Jiji Asian Kitchen for an exotic culinary journey through Asian favorites.

Seafood lovers have several excellent options: Rudi’s Seagrill provides a contemporary fine dining experience specializing in fresh seafood creations, while the casual, outdoor Seafood Shack offers à la carte options like lobster rolls, fried shrimp, and steamed seafood by the bucket.

On select ships, Emeril’s Bistro 1396 features a menu of New Orleans-inspired cuisine from the famed chef Emeril Lagasse.

For those interested in culinary instruction, Carnival Kitchen offers hands-on cooking classes for an immersive experience.

Finally, the ultimate dining splurge is the Chef’s Table, a highly exclusive, multi-course dinner hosted by the Executive Chef, featuring unique dishes, wine pairings, and a behind-the-scenes galley tour, offering the most intimate and refined experience onboard.

Included (NO CHARGE)
Beach Buns
Big Chicken
Blue Iguana Cantina
Breakfast Shack
Carnival Deli
Chicken Shack
Coastal Slice
Fresh Creations
Guy's Burger Joint
Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ
Lido Marketplace
Lucky Bowl
Main Dining Room (MDR)
Masala Tiger
Miami Slice
Mongolian Wok
Pizza Pirate
Pizzeria del Capitano
Room service*
Sea Day Brunch
Street Eats
Swirls Ice Cream
Tandoor
The Captains Pasta Bar

Specialty (EXTRA CHARGE)
Bonsai Sushi
Bonsai Sushi Express
Bonsai Teppenyaki
Carnival Kitchen
Coffee Bar
Chibang!
Cucina del Capitano
Emeril's Bistro 1396/1397
Fahrenheit 555
Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast
Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse & Brewhouse
Java Blue Cafe
Jiji Asian Kitchen
Pizza Delivery
Red Frog Pub
Red Frog Pub & Brewery
Room Service*
Rudi's Seagrill
Seafood Shack
Steakhouse
Steakhouse Selections in MDR
Sushi at Sea
The Chef's Table
Thing 1 & Thing 2 Breakfast

Dining Times

When you book your cruise, you will need to choose a dining time. This will be the time you are allowed to eat in the main dining room. If you miss your assigned dining time, you cannot join another dining time. You will need to eat at a specialty restaurant, or at the buffet. You definitely do not want to miss dinner in the main dining room though.

Assigned Dining

You may choose between early seating which you must go to the dining room at 5:30pm, or late seating which you must go to the dining room at 7:45pm. If you choose assigned dining, you need to be to the dining room at your assigned time within a 10 minute window. You will be assigned the same table every night and will likely sit with strangers. You will also have the same wait staff each night. The assigned dining room is typically the aft dining room.

Anytime Dining

This concept is the same as a land based restaurant. You can show up any time between 5:30pm and 9:00pm to eat, whenever you get hungry. You can still have the same wait staff each night if you want them, you can still sit with strangers if you wish or you can sit with just your family. You can also have dinner with your friends one night if you wish, as long as they have anytime dining as well. The anytime dining room is typically the fwd dining room.

Anytime Dining Check In

With anytime dining, you simply open The Hub app and click “Request a table”. Once your table is ready, you will get a notification that your table is ready, your table number and you go down to the dining room and to your table.

Guests cruising on the Excel Class ships are able to enjoy some of Carnivals specialty dining options for free at dinner. This includes Cucina del Capitano, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse and Chibang! These venues are alternative options to the main dining room.

Guests with Your Time Dining can eat dinner at the above mentioned restaurants any time during their nightly open hours.

Guests with traditional time dining (Early/Late) are allowed to eat at the above mentioned restaurants after 7:30pm