carnival cruise line cake

Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake

May 3, 2024

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Have you tried the Carnival Cruise Line Warm Chocolate Melting Cake? It is the most popular dessert on the cruise. But, now you don’t have to hit the high seas to indulge in this decadent chocolate melting cake at home.

Ingredients in Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake

How we got carnival cruise line’s recipe, reader reviews of this recipe, baking tips for chocolate melting cake, frequently asked questions, more decadent chocolate cake recipes, how to make carnival chocolate melting cake.

• Carnival Chocolate Melting Cake Recipe

Carnival’s famous melting chocolate cake is the most popular dessert on a Carnival Cruise. The rich, chocolate cake has a warm, pudding-like chocolate center that is to die for! If you don’t believe me, see all the rave reviews from our readers in the comments below. On a Carnival cruise, I always order this decadent dessert. It is served in individual greased ramekins that are the perfect size for one serving. Our chocolate cake recipe tastes just like the original recipe (because it IS the original recipe!) but you can make it in the comfort of your own home. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dusting of powdered sugar or whipped topping.

This is one of the easiest chocolate desserts to make, and yet it looks and tastes super fancy! It resembles a lava cake, with a delicious melted chocolate mixture in the center. Here’s what you need:

• Dark chocolate chips – use any chocolate chips you like, but I find the dark or semi-sweet chocolate really enhances the luxurious flavor.
• Butter – melted butter, about cube and a half.
• Eggs -four large or five medium eggs. Make sure the egg mix is at room temperature before adding the next ingredients.
• Sugar – about ¾ cup white, granulated sugar
• Vanilla extract – not a lot: just ⅛ teaspoon
• Flour – a quarter cup
• Optional toppings: ice cream, whipped cream, powdered sugar, strawberries, caramel sauce, raspberries, other fresh berries, nuts.

Our sister, Elise, just got back from a cruise to the Caribbean with her family. As soon as she stepped on land she called me and said, “We need to figure out the recipe for the Melting Cake they served on the ship. It was the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had!” Literally, moments later I was on the phone with GET AWAY TODAY   telling them about my sister’s cruise. To my amazement they said, “We have the recipe for that cake! A couple of our cruise specialists got the recipe from their last cruise!” I am not even kidding, that same day I went and got the ingredients to make it. Let me tell you – it was fabulous! We are sharing this ACTUAL recipe with you! You can enjoy this delicious cake anytime!

“Holy cannoli, this is delicious. I’m hesitant to admit that I’ve made it three times this week… but you all deserve to know. I didn’t have ramekins so I put the batter in muffin tins and reduced the time to 10 minutes. I thought it’d make for better portion sizes but my husband and I ended up eating three at a time anyways. Thank you for this life changing recipe, but darn you for making me come face to face with my lack of self control. Five stars for sure.” BEKAH

“Chocolate lovers! Hear me and make this recipe. You will not be sorry.” JAYNE

“It is the best thing I ever had ever! It is so good I had it every night on my cruise recently. I highly recommend it! Sinfully delicious! Yum!” CHARLENE

Do not overbake! It is supposed to be spongy and cake-y on top but gooey and melty in the middle.

Check, check, check . After 14 minutes, be sure to keep checking it. You don’t want it to be cake-y all the way through, nor do you want it to be too runny.

Toothpick test. Use your good judgement for doneness because oven temps and elevations are different for everyone. If you are worried about it, keep doing the “toothpick test” every minute or so. If you put the toothpick all the way down to the bottom and the bottom half of the toothpick DOESN’T come out clean, you did it right.

Yes! You can substitute gluten free all-purpose flour in this recipe. The rule of thumb I use is substitute the flour 1:1 and add one teaspoon of xanthan gum.

We wouldn’t recommend it. They are much better when they are warm out of the oven.

A melting cake or lava cake is a cake prepared in ramekins where the outer layer of the cake is baked, but the center of the cake is not set. Instead, it is a warm, hot fudge-like center.

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• 7 ounce Ramekins

Ingredients

• ▢ ¾ cup dark chocolate chips
• ▢ ¾ cup butter
• ▢ 4 eggs, room temperature
• ▢ ¾ cup sugar
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ ¼ cup flour
• ▢ powdered sugar, for dusting
• ▢ ice cream, for serving
• ▢ whipping cream, for serving

Instructions

• You’ll need 4 (7-ounce) ramekins to make these, not a regular cake pan. 
• Watch these babies closely. Do not overbake! The cake is supposed to be spongy and cakey on top but gooey and melty in the middle, the consistency of pudding, not too runny. If you put the toothpick all the way down to the bottom and the bottom half of the toothpick doesn’t come out clean, you did it right.

Nutrition Information

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As I mentioned earlier, I was on the phone with GET AWAY TODAY trying to book a last-minute vacation for my family and they told me this month (October) is National Cruise Month! That is why Get Away Today was so gracious to share this Carnival Cruise recipe with us. If you are looking for a fun place to go on vacation or if you are even just thinking about going on vacation, check out the deals they can get you! 

By the way, can I just say I LOVED working with them on booking our vacation for next month? They definitely make you feel like a VIP no matter what your budget is! You can call them personally and they will answer any and all of your questions and give you EXPERT advice. They will help you find the perfect vacation for you and your budget. It makes me feel more special saying that I have a “travel agent” rather than saying “I found a deal online”. They can find better deals than what you can find on other travel sites and you can actually talk to a real person to structure your vacation. Call them. Tell them Favorite Family Recipes sent ya! And tell them how much you love this chocolate cake!

We also use GET AWAY TODAY for booking Disney Vacations and Universal Studios.

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About the author

Erica Walker

Erica lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Jared, an attorney, and her three beautiful girls. Beyond the world of recipes, she loves adventuring with everything from kayaking, to cruising, to snowboarding and taking the family along for the thrill ride.

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I haven’t made it yet. When I was on a cruise over 10 years ago the chef got me the recipe. I lost it. I do remember it called for 11 eggs! I remember that because it seemed an odd number. Obviously it must have been double this recipe at least. Looking forward to trying this one. Thanks.

Thank you Haven’t made it yet,but it sounds so straightforward I can’t wait to try it.

Easy and absolutely delicious. So delicious in fact that my husband would have eaten all four portions had I not intervened 😋. Making more right now😁

I think that would work!

Hi Perry, Did you try this and did it work? Hoping to do this for Valentine’s dinner 🙂

Don’t use chocolate chips. Invest in real chocolate bars. Carnival’s recipe from a chef’s private seating is slightly different and has 7 eggs.

That is great to know! Thanks so much for your tip!

I was given the recipe while on a cruise and I remember it having 11 eggs. I wish I hadn’t lost it. I would have had to cut it down and make less so this might be ok. I do remember it using chocolate and not chips

Thanks for catching that! I just revised the recipe to reflect that.

Can this be done with GF flour and if so, what kind would you suggest? Thanks!

You can substitute gluten free all-purpose flour in this recipe. The rule of thumb I use is substitute the flour 1:1 and add one teaspoon of xanthan gum.

Can you cook these ahead of time and pop them in the microwave when ready to serve

I wouldn’t recommend it. They are much better when they are warm out of the oven. Thank you for asking!

Did you use all purpose flour or self rising?

All-purpose!

They are still excellent. Since it’s just my husband & me I always do this.

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Carnival's melting chocolate cake puts luxury cruise line desserts to shame

Step aside, baked Alaska . Only one dessert can rule the waves, and it's not a 1950s throwback that's paraded around the dining room. It's Carnival's melting chocolate cake, a dessert that's neither gimmicky nor unique, but which Carnival does so well that it puts luxury cruise line desserts to shame.

Not only is this dessert worth ordering at least once during, if not every night of, your Carnival cruise, but it's also simple to make at home when you want to wow guests or transport yourself back to an amazing vacation on a gray weeknight. We'll even give you the recipe.

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

Carnival's most popular dessert

On a Carnival cruise, melting chocolate cake is essentially a lava cake or molten chocolate cake that has a firm top but is warm and runny inside. It's served in a ramekin, like a souffle. The treat pairs perfectly with cool vanilla ice cream, which cuts both the heat and the chocolate flavor — but eat quickly, or your ice cream will melt on top of the cake.

The dessert is so popular that Carnival offers it every night of the cruise on its Always Available menu in the main dining room.

Interestingly, Carnival offers a slightly different version of this dessert in its Chibang! restaurant, found on Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. The Chocolate C-Bang is described as "textured chocolate, salted fudge ganache, ginger and caramel ice cream." In reality, it was a stand-on-its-own chocolate cake with a moist center that tasted like a melting cake, just with more flour to make it firmer and less runny.

Why is Carnival's melting chocolate cake so famous? I'm not a trained food critic, but I find that chocolate cake is hard to get right in a restaurant setting. Often the cake itself is too dry, or it's topped with frosting that's too sweet, or layered with nuts or coconut or fruit filling that someone objects to. Carnival's melting chocolate cake is simple because it's all chocolate. The molten insides are designed so they're the opposite of dry.

The line's chefs have mastered this recipe; it always comes out the same way, with that perfect crust of a top and the warm, melty center. I've seen cruise lines mess up easy treats, such as a skillet chocolate chip cookie dessert, so I can assure you that it's trickier than you think to consistently turn out simple desserts at scale.

Please don't get me wrong — luxury cruise lines do desserts well. But sometimes they try too hard to make a treat that is complex or looks more impressive than it tastes. Personally, I'll take a simple chocolate dessert done exceptionally well over some froufrou concoction with choux pastry and Chantilly cream, an emulsion of this or a custard of that. Carnival's cake is a dessert with mass appeal (like the cruise line itself), taking simple ingredients and elevating them to something sublime.

Carnival melting chocolate cake recipe

Whether you're simply curious about how this decadent dessert is made or want to re-create it when you're landbound, take a look at the melting chocolate cake recipe below. It involves only six ingredients, most or all of which you have in your kitchen already. The only somewhat specialized items on the list are the ramekins; if you don't have any at home, you can easily buy some online or at a home store, such as Bed Bath & Beyond or Target.

Ingredients

• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate
• 3 ounces sweet chocolate (typically found as German's sweet chocolate; if you can't find it, you can substitute 3 ounces of semisweet chocolate plus 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar)
• 6 ounces unsalted butter
• 3 ounces sugar (preferably fine or superfine sugar, but regular granulated will work)
• 2 ounces all-purpose flour

Instructions

• Melt the chocolate and butter together. (Be careful — chocolate is easy to burn!)
• Whisk together the eggs and sugar for a few minutes.
• Add the flour.
• Add the melted chocolate to the egg mixture, whisking while you pour to keep the warm chocolate from cooking the eggs.
• Pour the batter evenly into four greased ramekins.
• Arrange the ramekins on a rimmed baking tray and pour a little water around the bottom of the tray to create a water bath.
• Bake the melting cakes in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
• Serve with vanilla ice cream, and enjoy!

Don't trust your baking skills? For chefs on Carnival, melting chocolate cake is easy. Watch as they show you how it's done.

Bottom line

You don't need to spend thousands on a cruise to try what might be the best dessert at sea. Carnival is among the most affordable cruise lines, but its melting chocolate cake is a million-dollar treat — whether you try it at sea or bake it at home.

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Carnival Cruise Line Adds New Dessert Menu [PHOTOS]

Doug Parker

• February 21, 2019
• 11.4K shares

When Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, announced earlier this year that they would be introducing a new selection of desserts to the Lido deck buffet, we were excited. But we never could have predicted the astonishing array of pies and cakes represented on the new menu — slowly being implemented across the fleet.

What New Lido Buffet Desserts You Will See

People often say when they go on a cruise, they come home a few pounds heavier… and we don’t see these amazing new desserts helping that problem!

Truth be told, we should have known the desserts were going to be something special, given that in making the announcement last month, Heald declared the assorted confections “delicious, scrumptious, gorgeous” and “sensational.”

So what, exactly, can you expect to find when this taste sensation makes its way to a buffet near you? Loosen your belt and let’s take a look…

The first photo (left to right) shows Tiramisu Cheese Cake, Oreo Cream Cake, Diet – Blood Orange Sponge Cake, Green Tea Checkers Cake, Chocolate Marble Cake, Elderflower Cake, Linzer Cake (said to the oldest cake in the world dating back to 1696), and a Lemon Meringue Cake.

Next up, we have Carrot Cake, Diet – Raspberry Champagne Cake, Mint Cookie and Cream Cake, Chocolate Raspberry Cake, Dark Chocolate Honeycomb Cake, Apple Salted Caramel Cake, Coconut Tress Leche Cake, and Pineapple Cream Cake.

Last but by no means least, we have the Strawberry Glazed Cake, Apple Butter Crumble Cake, Chocolate Bourbon Cake, Black Forest Cake, Hawaiian Cake, Diet – Coconut Lime Cake, Nougatine Praline Cake, and that beloved Key West staple, Key Lime Pie.

Read More: 5 Favorite Carnival Cruise Desserts

Carnival Cruise Ships With New Dessert Menu

Although the new desserts haven’t hit every ship yet, they’re already on well over half of the Carnival fleet… and they’ll make their way to the remaining ships soon. In fact, ever since Heald first made the announcement (and posted the amazing photographs), several other ships have seen the desserts make their way to the Lido deck.

The following ships already have the desserts on their buffets:

• Carnival Dream
• Carnival Vista
• Carnival Horizon
• Carnival Magic
• Carnival Breeze
• Carnival Paradise
• Carnival Liberty
• Carnival Splendor
• Carnival Fascination
• Carnival Freedom
• Carnival Valor
• Carnival Glory
• Carnival Conquest
• Carnival Miracle
• Carnival Pride
• Carnival Victory
• Carnival Sunshine

And they’ll soon find their way onto the buffets of these ships:

• Carnival Elation
• Carnival Imagination
• Carnival Inspiration
• Carnival Fantasy

Which of the desserts would you make a beeline for? Is there a dessert you’d love to see added to the offerings?

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Carnival Chocolate Lava Cake Recipe

Chocolate lovers sailing on Carnival cruise line , always fall in love with the warm chocolate cake they serve. We are happy to say that we have made this at home, and it came out exactly like is tasted on the cruise ship!  I am going to be trying different flours to make a gluten free version that will hopefully taste equally good.

Ingredients:

4 oz semi-sweet chocolate 4 oz sweet chocolate 1 cup (2 sticks) butter 7 eggs, divided use 6 tablespoons sugar 1/2 cup flour

Directions :

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt chocolate and butter in a saucepan at low heat; cool 10 minutes. In separate bowl, mix four eggs with sugar. Whisk. Add flour and whisk. Add remaining three eggs. Add egg mixture to chocolate mixture. Pour in individual ramekins. Bake until just done, about 15-20 minutes (interior will be melting).

Serve with vanilla ice cream. Makes 8 servings

We made it with the recipe above and it was amazing.  A more resent version is now out from Carnival which we are sharing with you below.

More cruise line recipes

Many people complained to Carnival about having to figure out the recipe with ounces, so here is an easier recipe to follow. Although overall slightly different, still very delicious!

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

O n a Carnival cruise, food is always one of the highlights. From Guy Fieri burgers to fancy steaks at Fahrenheit 555, you'll find endless options to satisfy your hunger in a highly enjoyable fashion. In fact, there's often more to eat and explore than you could possibly have time for in a single sailing.

If you're planning your next cruise and want to know which Carnival restaurants to expect on board, you've come to the right place. While certain dining venues remain a standard across all ships — like the much-loved Lido Deck buffet — the options keep expanding with every new ship launch. Plus, older ships are constantly being refurbished and updated with new restaurants. That's why we put together this comprehensive list of Carnival cruise restaurants and where you can find them.

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

Consider this your ultimate guide to Carnival cruise food, with details about every restaurant in the fleet, as well as answers to the most commonly asked questions about dining on a Carnival cruise ship.

Carnival restaurants available fleetwide

Coffee bar or javablue cafe.

A la carte pricing; snacks

Black coffee and tea are free at the buffet and in the main dining room, but you'll want to come here for specialty coffee drinks like espresso or cold brew. You can also purchase milkshakes and baked goods when you need an extra pick-me-up (or grab free Danish pastries and croissants in the morning).

Dining room

Included; breakfast and dinner

The main dining room serves a sit-down breakfast and the nightly three-course dinner that's included in your cruise fare. Even better, Carnival's chief culinary officer, Emeril Lagasse, is now behind many of the dining room's new menu items. On Carnival, the main dining room comes with less pretense than on many other cruise lines. In fact, it's not uncommon for your servers to break out in song and dance by the end of the night.

Don't miss other special dining experiences like the complimentary Seaday Brunch menu or the family-friendly Dr. Seuss-themed breakfast for an additional fee ($10 to $15 per adult; $8 to $10 per child), which includes meet-and-greets with characters.

Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining

Lido Marketplace

Included; breakfast, lunch and dinner

Carnival's buffet on the Lido Deck has all the staple stations to keep you fed from morning until night. Try the deli counter, barbecue spot, pasta bar or Asian noodle station. Don't miss the always-essential salad bar or pizza station. Finish up with soft serve ice cream, frozen yogurt or an enormous cake slice and other goodies from the dessert station.

Included; snacks

No cruise experience is complete without on-demand soft serve. Open on the Lido Deck until midnight, the Swirls station serves up frozen yogurt and soft serve ice cream in the classic flavors of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, or you can enjoy your own combo swirl. The best part is it's self-serve, so no one can judge you for how often you come back for another cone.

The Chef's Table

Fixed price; dinner

This exclusive multicourse dining experience hosted by the ship's master executive chef takes place in untraditional spaces like the galley or library to give you a behind-the-scenes VIP feel. (Some newer ships even have a dedicated Chef's Table dining room with a window into the galley.) You'll be part of a group of only 14 to 16 guests, and the evening kicks off with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a tour of the galley. The dinner menu itself changes based on what's in season or local to the port, but it always includes wine pairings and, of course, dessert.

24-hour room service

A la carte; all-day dining

When hunger calls at odd hours of the night or you're craving a meal from the comfort of your balcony, you can access 24-hour room service on your Carnival cruise ship. Just pick up your cabin's phone and place your order. While room service is generally only available for a cost, Carnival does offer free continental breakfast delivery to your room from 6 to 10 a.m.

Pizza delivery

Fixed price; all-day dining

You can order pizza on the Carnival Hub app to wherever you are on the ship, any time of day, for a delivery fee of $5 per pie. Pro tip: Take a picture of yourself showing where you're located on board to help the pizza delivery staff find you.

Pizzeria del Capitano or Pizza Pirate

Included; lunch and dinner

The all-day pizza station is going to be your go-to option when you get back from a day at port and the lunch buffet is already closed or when you're hungry after a late night of partying. Choose from five prepared pizza options, ranging from classics like margherita and pepperoni to other delicious Italian favorites like funghi and prosciutto. Order a slice or get a whole pie delivered through the Carnival Hub app.

Related: Which line has the best cruise pizza? I tasted slices from 7 brands

Popular Carnival dining options

Blueiguana cantina.

Included; breakfast and lunch

This casual poolside spot serves up Mexican favorites like tacos and burritos with fillings including chipotle chicken, roast pork and battered fish. Order your tacos or burrito to your liking, then head to the salsa bar to add all your favorite toppings. In the morning, you can order breakfast burritos or huevos rancheros as an alternative to the typical Lido buffet breakfast.

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Celebration , Conquest, Dream, Elation, Freedom, Glory, Horizon, Jubilee, Legend, Liberty, Magic, Mardi Gras, Miracle, Panorama, Paradise, Pride, Radiance, Spirit, Sunrise, Sunshine, Valor and Vista

Related: 7 secret Carnival cruise breakfast spots that let you skip the buffet crowds

Bonsai Sushi and Bonsai Sushi Express

A la carte pricing; lunch and dinner

Carnival's sit-down sushi restaurant, Bonsai Sushi, serves sushi rolls and sashimi alongside soups, sakes and sweets. Select ships feature Bonsai Sushi Express, where you can order rolls to go.

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Celebration, Conquest, Dream, Elation, Freedom, Horizon, Jubilee, Luminosa, Legend, Mardi Gras , Miracle, Panorama, Paradise, Pride, Radiance, Spirit, Sunrise, Sunshine , Venezia and Vista

Cucina Del Capitano

Cucina Del Capitano honors the cruise line's connection to Italy (many of Carnival's captains and chief engineers have either Italian heritage or maritime training in Italy, known for its long tradition of excellence in shipbuilding). This rustic restaurant serves made-to-order pasta and other Italian comfort food favorites like risotto and chicken Parmesan.

On Carnival Jubilee , Cucina Del Capitano is free for the whole sailing. On Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras, your first meal is included, with additional visits at a cost of $8 per person. The other ships with this venue currently charge a fixed price of $24 per adult.

On any of the ships, come to Cucina for a complimentary Captain's Pasta Bar at lunchtime. Just choose your pasta, sauce, meat and other mix-ins — buon appetito!

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Celebration, Horizon, Jubilee, Magic, Mardi Gras, Panorama, Radiance, Sunrise, Sunshine and Vista

Guy's Burger Joint

Included; lunch

Carnival's poolside burger joint was dreamt up by Food Network star Guy Fieri to feel like the kind of roadside burger shack you'd see on one of his episodes of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." Don't underestimate these simple smashburgers — they pack a ton of flavor.

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Celebration, Conquest, Dream, Elation, Freedom, Glory, Horizon, Jubilee, Legend, Liberty, Magic, Mardi Gras, Miracle, Panorama, Paradise, Pride, Radiance, Spirit, Splendor, Sunrise, Sunshine, Valor, Venezia and Vista

Related: Which line has the best cruise burger? Here are TPG's top picks

Guy's Pig & Anchor

Included for lunch; a la carte pricing for dinner

Satisfy your barbecue cravings at sea at Guy's Pig & Anchor, which serves up a complimentary lunch of smoked meats like pork butt and andouille sausage, comfort food sides such as collard greens and macaroni and cheese, and a line of signature barbecue sauces. Select ships have a full-service Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse & Brewhouse that's also open for dinner with an a la carte menu, plus a brewery with an exclusive line of craft beers and live musical entertainment.

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Celebration, Dream, Horizon, Jubilee, Magic, Mardi Gras, Panorama, Radiance, Sunrise and Vista

RedFrog Pub

This Key West, Florida-inspired pub is the spot for a round of trivia or foosball, brews and tunes. You can also enjoy Caribbean bites like conch fritters and coconut shrimp with your laid-back island vibes. On Carnival Vista, sailors get a full RedFrog Pub & Brewery, which became North America's first brewery at sea when it opened.

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Freedom, Legend, Magic, Miracle, Pride, Radiance, Spirit, Splendor, Sunrise, Sunshine, Valor and Vista

Seafood Shack

At this New England-style seafood shack, you can order everything from buckets of fried seafood to steamed shellfish by the pound. Don't forget about everyone's favorites, clam chowder and lobster rolls.

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Celebration, Conquest, Dream, Freedom, Glory, Horizon, Jubilee, Liberty, Magic, Mardi Gras, Panorama, Radiance, Splendor, Sunrise, Valor, Venezia and Vista

The Steakhouse

When you feel like celebrating, Carnival's upscale steakhouse serves USDA Prime steak cuts alongside all of the classic steakhouse favorites, from starters like lobster bisque and shrimp cocktail to a selection of steak sauces and rich, comforting side dishes.

Available on : Carnival Breeze, Celebration, Conquest, Dream, Freedom, Glory, Horizon, Jubilee, Legend, Liberty, Luminosa, Magic, Mardi Gras, Miracle, Panorama, Pride, Radiance, Spirit, Splendor, Sunrise, Sunshine, Valor, Venezia and Vista

Related: Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse on Carnival Cruise Line (with menu)

Carnival dining options exclusive to a few ships

Big chicken.

The crispy chicken sandwich is a food fad that isn't going away anytime soon, and Carnival's chief fun officer Shaquille O'Neal is the face behind this new chicken spot on the latest Carnival ships. Here, you can find everything chicken — chicken sandwiches, crispy chicken strips and fried chicken baskets (even chicken biscuits at breakfast!) — plus essential sides like potato salad and jalapeno slaw.

Available on : Carnival Celebration, Jubilee, Mardi Gras and Radiance

Bonsai Teppanyaki

Fixed price; lunch and dinner

This Japanese hibachi-style restaurant is part meal and part performance, as your chef prepares your lunch or dinner at the griddle-top table in front of you. The meal begins with a selection of starters and continues with a grilled meat or seafood entree of your choice (think: teriyaki salmon, lobster tail with yuzu cream or filet mignon with truffle salt) paired with fried rice, stir-fried vegetables and a sweet bento box for dessert.

Available on : Carnival Celebration, Horizon, Jubilee, Mardi Gras, Panorama and Venezia

A modern Chinese-Mexican fusion concept, Chibang! is a specialty restaurant without the specialty prices. That's right, dining at Chibang! is free all sailing long for guests on Carnival Jubilee; on Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras, your first meal at Chibang is included and additional visits are only $8 per person. At lunchtime, you can order your own noodle bowl or burrito bowl (which makes it a great spot if your group has separate cravings), or at dinner, mix and match between cuisines and choose shareable plates for the table or order classic Mexican and Chinese mains.

Available on : Carnival Celebration, Jubilee and Mardi Gras

Emeril's Bistro

A la carte pricing; breakfast, lunch and dinner

At any of the three Emeril's Bistro restaurants at sea, you can get a taste of the world-famous New Orleans chef's take on Creole cuisine. We're talking Crescent City classics like fried oysters, barbecue shrimp, po'boys, muffuletta sandwiches and jambalaya. At breakfast, you'll even find shrimp and grits or bananas Foster crepes. Emeril's Bistro 1937 on Carnival Celebration also spotlights rotating international dishes daily in addition to these Nawlins favorites.

Related: 7 reasons you should treat yourself to a cruise ship specialty restaurant

Italian for "the voyage," this specialty restaurant on the Italian-themed Carnival Venezia ship takes guests on a trip with a menu of signature regional dishes from across Italy.

Available on : Carnival Venezia

JiJi Asian Kitchen

Explore both the exotic and the familiar at this modern Asian restaurant serving regional specialties while you're surrounded by Mongolian-inspired fabrics and Asian prayer rolls. May you enjoy good food and great fortune when you're here!

Available on : Carnival Horizon, Panorama, Sunshine and Vista

This lunch spot feels like a food cart from the Far East. It serves a rotating menu of bowls that span the gamut of Asian cuisines, from Korean bulgogi to Japanese ramen to Vietnamese pho.

Available on : Carnival Sunrise

Masala Tiger

You can't miss the aromas wafting from this Indian food station, where dishes like tandoori chicken and beef kebabs are cooked at over 1,000 degrees in a traditional clay oven.

Available on : Carnival Splendor

Rudi's Seagrill

Developed by Rudi Sodamin, the master chef for sister cruise line Holland America, this eatery celebrates the delicacies of the sea with elegant dishes like succulent shellfish starters, crab-stuffed lobster tail imperial and cioppino (a fisherman's stew).

Street Eats

An homage to casual food trucks and stalls, Street Eats is like a miniature open-air food market with three different stations serving street food favorites. Find bao buns and pot stickers at Steam Dream, kebabs and satay at Mad Sizzle and epic loaded fries at Time Fries.

Carnival cruise food: Frequently asked questions

How do seating times work in the main dining room.

Before sailing, you must choose your preferred dining format for the main dining room — either set dining times with assigned seating or a flexible option called Your Time Dining with open seating. If you prefer a preset dining time and a guaranteed table with the same server every night, you can choose early dining at 5:30 p.m. or late dining at 7:45 p.m.

With Your Time Dining, you can go to the main dining room anytime between 5:15 p.m. and 9 p.m. to be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. Just alert the dining room that you're coming on the Carnival Hub app so your table will be ready sooner. You can request a specific waiter, but more likely, you'll sit at a different table with a new waiter each evening. You might have to wait for a table at peak dinner times, but Carnival says the average wait time is usually less than 20 minutes, depending on your party size.

Either way, there's no need to make a reservation for the main dining room.

Do you need reservations for specialty dining restaurants?

Reservations are highly recommended for specialty restaurants, as these locations can book up in advance. You can make reservations online up to 48 hours before your cruise by visiting the "Manage My Booking/Cruise Manager" section of Carnival.com, at which time you'll also pay the cover charge for the restaurant.

Once you get on board, look for staff set up at booths to help you make specialty dining reservations. You can also call or visit the restaurant yourself to make a reservation, but seating times might be limited. Walk-ins are allowed but will get seated based on availability. If you don't make a reservation, be prepared for a wait or the possibility of being turned away if the restaurant is booked.

Can you enjoy unlimited food on your Carnival cruise?

It depends on where you eat! There are no limits on most of the included food options, and you can pretty much find free food on your cruise from the crack of dawn to late into the night. You can always eat as much as you want at the buffet in Lido Marketplace and other included food stations across the ship during their operating hours. In the main dining room, however, guests are limited to two free entrees (which, let's be honest, is still plenty!) before having to pay for additional entrees.

Is there a fee for room service?

Room service isn't free on Carnival anymore, except during breakfast. Instead, menu items are available to order a la carte. Complimentary continental breakfast can be delivered to your room between the hours of 6 and 10 a.m. For more details, check out our complete cruise ship room service guide .

Are kids menus available?

Most dining venues offer kids menus with plenty of safe options for picky eaters (think: chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, and spaghetti and meatballs). If you're dining at one of the specialty restaurants with a cover charge, there's a reduced fee for kids under 11.

Does Carnival still offer a Lobster Night?

Lobster is available for dinner nightly in the main dining room for a surcharge, but on cruise sailings of six nights or longer, Carnival offers one night per sailing (typically one of the formal nights) where a lobster tail is included as a complimentary entree option on the three-course menu. But don't expect to scarf down all the lobster you can eat. In line with Carnival's two-entree limit in the main dining room, guests now have to pay for any additional lobster past the first two entrees.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
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• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

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.