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Carnival Cruise Line Made a Dining Change People Are Upset About (But Shouldn’t Be)

Picture of Richard Simms

Richard Simms

  • November 22, 2022

Citing supply chain issues and a desire to reduce the amount of waste generated, Carnival Cruise Line a few weeks ago announced several food-related changes . Among them were an increase in the price charged by the steakhouse, a reduction in the hours during which the ice cream machines will operate, and a surcharge of five dollars for those wishing to order a third entrée in the main dining room.

Carnival Dining Changes Ahead

Within minutes of an email containing details of these changes going out — followed by brand ambassador John Heald explaining them in a video posted to his Facebook page — the complaints began. While some were quite legitimate in our eyes — especially the ones pertaining to the unavailability of 24-hour ice cream given how few options are available to sate late-night cravings — others were borderline ridiculous.

carnival cruise soft serve ice cream machine

“I’ve been known to order as many as five entrées in the dining room,” wrote someone we’ll call Charlie (the name has been changed to protect the guilty). “It is nobody’s business whether or not I finish them. Food is a huge part of the cruising experience, and if Carnival wants to start charging for every bite we take, then we’ll simply go elsewhere!”

Ordering five entrées… not finishing them… it seems our pal doesn’t quite realize he’s part of the problem.

More Food, More Money

Being food lovers ourselves, we’ll admit to having occasionally ordered more than we were able to finish. And we’ll even confess to having ordered two entrées on occasion. But one has to wonder at what point the amount of food being ordered becomes excessive.

MORE: A Carnival Guest Made a Tacky Request for Free OBC

It’s worth noting that if you walk out of the dining room hungry despite having, say, two entrées and three appetizers, you could always wander to one of the other free venues on board and get more.

Here’s an idea: Perhaps Carnival should institute a policy saying that you are allowed to order as many entrées as you like, but any you don’t finish must be paid for. You know, sort of like in those steakhouses where they’ll give you a free meal if you can consume a 72-ounce piece of meat in an hour or less. (Just kidding!)

carnival panorama dining room

MORE: Mardi Gras Dining Guide: Which Restaurants Are Complimentary?

“What’s Next?”

Perhaps inevitably, many of the folks protesting the changes asked what they’d be paying for next. “Are you going to start charging by the plate in the buffet?” asked one. “Because if there’s one place on the ship where you’ll find the most waste, that’s it!”

If we’re being completely frank, some of the changes being made by not only Carnival but other lines as well are very clearly designed to help them lower costs and generate more revenue. Imagine if for more than a year, your household had lost its source of income. Desperate times, as they say, call for desperate measures. And it’s hard to imagine that that anyone’s ability to enjoy a cruise really comes down to having ice cream at 2 a.m. or being able to order four entrées without a fee.

The great news is that cruisers have choices, ranging from which line to sail on to whether or not to spend extra money on something like a specialty restaurant. No one is forcing anyone to pay an extra eight dollars to enjoy a night in the steakhouse. Heck, many cruisers have been sailing for years without ever setting foot in a specialty restaurant, and they keep coming back for more.

fahrenheit 555 steakhouse on carnival horizon

Yes, cruising is different in 2022 than it was in a pre-COVID world. Everything is. You’re no doubt paying more for groceries than you were a year or two ago. Now multiply that times the thousands of people who board cruise ships each week. The money to pay for that has to come from somewhere. If one were to be eating on land, you wouldn’t get a second — let alone third — entrée for free in any restaurant, ever.

As your mom would say, you have to pick and choose your battles. If paying five bucks for an extra entrée is the hill you want to die on, go for it, but we’re probably not going to support you. If you’re unhappy about not being able to have ice cream for breakfast… well, we might be with you on that one!

READ NEXT: 8 Tips, Hacks, and Ways to Save Money on a Carnival Cruise

carnival cruise line made a dining change people are upset about (but shouldn't be!)

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Carnival Cruise Line Raises Food Prices, Makes More F&B Changes

  • November 3, 2022

Carnival Magic

Citing inflation, higher fuel prices and supply chain challenges, and in an effort to cut down on food waste, Carnival Cruise Line is making a number of food and beverage adjustments.

In a letter sent to booked guests, Carnival cited food supply chain challenges that have been further complicated by global politics and a “myriad of laws regarding how we should source products and how crops and animals are farmed and handled.”

Carnival said it had reached a point with its food costs where it must take modest but specific action.

  • Steakhouse prices increased to $48 per person from $42.
  • Prices are specialty dining restaurants on select ships will increase, with Carnival citing rising food costs.
  • In the main dining room, free lobster will continue to be offered on cruises lasting six days or more, but will be moved to the second elegant evening.
  • Free 24/7 ice cream is being trimmed back to set hours.
  • Guests ordering a third entrée in the main dining room will see an additional $5 charge.

The company noted that for sailings departing through Dec. 31, specialty dining reservations paid in advance will be charged the current price, but reservations made onboard will be subject to new prices.

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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

Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas ship in front of the Sydney Opera House at sunset.

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.

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas side by side at sea.

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

The Ultimate Family Suite in Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas.

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.

A plate of sushi at Izumi Hibachi on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas.

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

A group of friends enjoying drinks at Lime and Coconut on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas.

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

A waterslide on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas.

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

"Ice Spectacular" show on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

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

A child playing with an object at a table on a Carnival Cruise Line ship.

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

A group of adults drinking and laughing at the Serenity Retreat on Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras.

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

A person taking an underwater photo of fish while snorkeling.

Getty Images

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

Aerial of Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay private island.

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

Three women talking at the Serenity Retreat on Royal Caribbean's Mardi Gras.

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.

You might also be interested in:

  • Icon of the Seas Review
  • The Best Cruise Insurance Plans
  • The Top Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers
  • How to Find Last-Minute Cruise Deals
  • The Top Kids Sail Free Cruises

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I went on my first Carnival cruise — these are the 2 reasons I might not do it again

  • I spent four nights on Carnival Cruise Line's new Carnival Firenze cruise ship.
  • The quality of the vacation reflects its relatively affordable fares.
  • I have two major gripes about my experience: the lackluster food and incessant upselling.

Insider Today

People love to hate Carnival Cruise Line. After sailing on the new Carnival Firenze , I now understand why: The food was as bad as the incessant upselling.

The company's ships have a reputation for being affordable but rowdy, so much so that it had once threatened to fine unruly travelers $500.

But this sour standing doesn't seem to be negatively impacting business. Its parent company, Carnival Corp , experienced "record" deposits and high-priced bookings in the first quarter of 2024.

Despite its growing popularity, I don't think I'll willingly book another Carnival cruise, or at least Carnival Firenze, again.

carnival cruise line food changes

And it's not for the reasons you might expect.

My four nights on Carnival Firenze weren't stellar — not because of the rambunctious crowd (shocker, I know), but because of the terrible food and annoyingly endless upselling .

Carnival certainly lives up to its reputation of having affordable cruises.

carnival cruise line food changes

The cheapest Carnival Firenze itinerary in 2024 is a four-night sailing for $359 per person, including taxes and fees. That's less than $90 a night for a hotel room at sea, unlimited food, onboard activities, and the chance to see Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico.

Not bad, considering new ships typically have a steep pricing premium (Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas mega-ship starts at more than $260 a night).

The fares can’t be beat. And the quality of the food reflects that.

carnival cruise line food changes

Look, I'm not expecting caviar and freshly shaved truffles on every plate. I can respect a sloppy burger and simple pasta, as I expected for a Carnival cruise . And seeing complimentary dishes such as beef tartare was unexpectedly welcomed.

Unfortunately, everything I ate was mediocre.

carnival cruise line food changes

The best word to describe most of my Carnival Firenze meals is "sweet."

The honey-mustard dressing at the buffet salad station was so sugary it could've been a dessert. But even the thick, saccharine dressing couldn't moisten up the incredibly bone-dry chicken.

Sure, sure. Honey mustard is supposed to be jam-packed with sugar, and I poured it with a heavy hand. But I think a salad dressing shouldn't send diners into a sugar rush.

Some savory dishes were overpowered by unnecessary sweetness.

carnival cruise line food changes

My main dining room entrée of shrimp and fish cake could've been great. The shrimp was perfectly bouncy, and while the fish cake was questionably mushy, it was seasoned well with a garlicky, oniony dried spice mix.

Unfortunately, the accompanying tomato sauce, sweetened like it was meant to be a sorbet, lost the dish all of its accolades.

A good tomato sauce strikes a delicate balance between sweetness and acidity. This was just sugar — and a profound ability to make decent seafood taste bad.

The dining room's clams and linguine could've also been a win if not for some major issues.

carnival cruise line food changes

I didn't love that it came with only four or five clams, but I do love pasta dishes with a contrasting texture!

Unfortunately, said "texture" was a hard, small piece of plastic hidden among the mound of noodles.

If the food wasn’t sweet, it was heavy.

carnival cruise line food changes

The ship's Guy Fieri-branded burger joint accrued lines before it opened for lunch. I, drawn to hyped food places like a moth to a light, was excited by its popularity.

Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy it for long. I hit a food coma about four bites into the decadently greasy pepperoni-pizza burger, served with a thick slab of fried mozzarella.

By day two, I began dreaming of light vegetables, freshness, and fiber.

carnival cruise line food changes

But the two complimentary dining venues that catered to these needs — the Fresh Creations salad stand and La Strada Grill with sandwiches and sides — were only open during the last day of the sailing. At that point, the lack of fiber had already done its damage.

I even tried ordering off the vegan menu for breakfast one morning. Unfortunately, I was denied my meatless dish: The waiter said vegan breakfasts had to be ordered the night before, a restriction I've yet to see on another cruise.

The mediocre food marred my experience, but it wasn't the worst part of my Carnival cruise.

carnival cruise line food changes

That title goes to the incessant, in-your-face upselling, done with a persistent annoyance reminiscent of an annoying fly buzzing around your home.

On paper, Carnival offers some ultra-cheap cruise fares . In reality, once you board the ship, you're met with an unsavory number of pay-to-play options that could quickly double your vacation cost.

Mass-market cruise lines have been increasingly upselling onboard amenities and activities.

carnival cruise line food changes

On Norwegian's newer ships, this includes slapping a $10 fee on the mini-golf course. On Royal Caribbean's latest vessel , this means paying $49 for a ropes course that could be completed in less than a minute.

But on Carnival , even complimentary venues had pay-to-play options.

For example, the buffet, where guests had to pay for chicken wings.

carnival cruise line food changes

Or the free dining room, where breakfast juices — shown by a waiter at each table — could be purchased for $5.

Looking for a midday snack? You could hit complimentary venues such as Il Mercato for sausages or the pizza stand for, well, pizza. Just be prepared to pay $6 if you want a Korean barbecue steak pie instead of pepperoni.

The dreaded dollar sign followed me day to night, on and off the ship.

carnival cruise line food changes

The nightly movie screenings were free to attend. But if you want a bag of buttery popcorn, you'll have to pay $4.

That's the same price guests had to pay if they wanted to take a shuttle from the port in Ensenada to downtown.

Even scheduled onboard activities had unnecessarily gratuitous upcharges.

carnival cruise line food changes

Tea bags during "Tea Time" were $1.50. Unaware of the price before being approached by the server, I declined on the principle of not wanting to pay.

A few minutes later, he returned to inform me that he did, in fact, have two free options stashed behind the up-charged ones: Lipton and Bigelow green tea — the only tea bags available at the buffet.

At breakfast, a server joked that my croissant and Lipton tea would cost $20.

carnival cruise line food changes

If I didn't know any better, I would've believed him. It seemed as if almost everything I wanted came with a sneaky price tag, as seemingly intended by Carnival's parent company.

Travelers spent more money aboard Carnival Corp's ships in the first quarter of 2024 than in the same time last year. To continue this success, Josh Weinstein, the president and CEO of Carnival Corp, told investors in March that the company would continue to "push and press" its cruise lines to "optimize and maximize both on the ticket and onboard spending."

In truth, the ship does have some redeeming qualities.

carnival cruise line food changes

The mini-golf course, waterslides, board games, and elevated ropes course were complimentary and a great way for families to pass sea days.

I arrogantly found the whole Italy-themed decor (it is called Firenze, after all) a bit tacky. But if you love the idea of a garish Las Vegas-ified Italy — think, the Walmart version of the Venetian — you could find some joy in the kitsch.

But these amenities weren’t enough to overlook the mediocre food and difficult-to-resist upselling.

carnival cruise line food changes

Cruises are meant to be relaxing and fun. There's nothing relaxing about having to think about your finances whenever you're met with a pay-to-play option, which felt constant on Carnival Firenze. Nor is there anything fun about chewing into a piece of hidden plastic.

If you want the vacation of your dreams on Carnival's new ship, be prepared to pay up. But at that point, you may as well save that money for another ship — or cruise line.

carnival cruise line food changes

  • Main content

carnival cruise line food changes

Carnival Cruise Line pushes back on controversy, shares warning

B oarding a cruise, especially if you have never done it before, comes with a little more stress than checking into a hotel. The process is easier if you do everything you can before your cruise.

That starts with digital check-in. Download your cruise line's app and begin the check-in process as soon as it allows you.

Related: Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and MSC make a key pricing change

Doing that benefits you in multiple ways. First, the earlier you check in, the more choice you have of boarding times. Landing an early boarding slot gives you more time onboard — it literally makes your vacation longer.

In addition, checking in properly before your cruise allows you to do things like attach a credit card to your account, take a security photo, and share other needed documents.

Exactly what those documents are is a question many newer cruisers have. The biggest question is "Do I need to have a passport in order to cruise?"

The answer for that isn't exactly simple, because there are cruise destinations that require one, but that's not usually the case when sailing from US ports. On most cruises, you can sail with a driver's license and an original birth certificate.

Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.

There are cruises from other parts of the world that require a passport. Carnival Cruise Line CCL Brand Ambassador John Heald recently addressed some passport misinformation he has seen shared in multiple places online which has been confusing passengers.

Carnival offers clarity on passport rules

People love to spread bad information on social media. It's hard to know when it's intentional and when it's just people not knowing. This can cause real problems as it's hard for people planning a cruise to know what to believe.

It's also an issue because some cruise policies are a little loose. The answer to "Do I have to wear pants in the main dining room?" is technically "yes," but practically, "probably not." That creates confusion for people deciding what to pack and causes problems when a rarely enforced rule actually gets enforced.

Passport rules, however, are not fluid. They can change, but they're very specific and Heald made that clear in a recent Facebook post.  

"Over the last week or so I have been answering multiple questions on the subject of an alleged passport requirement for Alaska. Someone had posted on Book Face, Tube Tock, Tit X, or You Critic that everyone must have a passport to cruise to Alaska and yep, many believed her," he wrote.

That's most decidedly not the case as passports are not required for travel within the US. Canada, which all Alaska cruises visit, offers the same option of either having a passport or a license and an original birth certificate.

Heald was adamant on the issue.

"I responded over and over again to everyone saying this was not correct and think I may have become a bit exasperated because in one answer I used the words “ trust me.” Big mistake because I know these days trust is not something many people give, well, anyone," he added. 

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Carnival shares a social media warning

"Trust is just something we no longer have. We do not trust politicians, obviously. We don’t trust doctors because we’ve asked Uncle Google our symptoms and it’s obvious that we have an undiagnosed case of Cleveland Palus Febris et Cacat which the Doctor won’t have covered at medical school," he shared.

Some of that is Heald bringing levity, but there's a serious message under that.

"We are also constantly shown that we must be vigilant for online scamming bastards. At Carnival, we are taught 'cyber awareness' and the real dangers of 'fhishing" or is it phishing? Regardless of the spelling it all comes down to do not trust anyone, ever, or open an email from anyone," he wrote.

The Brand Ambassador also made a more direct point about cruising.

"My point here is this. If you see a social media post about Carnival charging $5 if they lose their room key or that we are serving Yak as part of our Vegan menu or that someone was thrown off the ship for wearing a T-shirt supporting a certain politician you may think you have a pretty good grasp of the Carnival news. But you haven’t," he added.

Related: Get the best cruise tips, deals, and news on the ships from our expert cruiser

A Carnival Cruise Line ship docked in port.

Carnival Corp raises annual profit forecast again on steady cruise demand

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The Queen Mary 2 cruise ship by Cunard Line, owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. is seen docked at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Brooklyn, New York City

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Reporting by Granth Vanaik in Bengaluru and Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta

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carnival cruise line food changes

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Granth reports on the North American Consumer and Retail sector, covering a broad range of companies from consumer packaged goods and restaurants to department stores and apparel retailers. Granth's work on the website usually appears on the Retail & Consumer page of Reuters Business section. He holds a post-graduate degree in international relations and area studies and has previously worked as a research analyst.

Wall Street ends slightly lower, capping blockbuster year

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IMAGES

  1. 10 Carnival Cruise Food Changes You Need To Know About

    carnival cruise line food changes

  2. What Food Is Included On Carnival Cruises: Your Ultimate Guide

    carnival cruise line food changes

  3. Carnival Cruise Line Menus Get Major Makeover

    carnival cruise line food changes

  4. Carnival Cruise Line Adds Dining Charges and Makes Changes

    carnival cruise line food changes

  5. Carnival Makes Two Menu Changes That Guests Might Not Like

    carnival cruise line food changes

  6. CRUISE NEWS

    carnival cruise line food changes

COMMENTS

  1. Carnival Cruise Line confirms massive dining change

    Every Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line ship offers three included meals a day, a buffet that operates roughly from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., nearly 24/7 pizza, snacks, and pastries in their ...

  2. Carnival Cruise Line quietly made a huge dining change

    Oct 23, 2023 12:17 PM EDT. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean have made a number of dining changes since they returned to sailing after the covid pandemic-related closure. Both cruise lines have ...

  3. Carnival Cruise Line Adds Dining Charges and Makes Changes

    The most startling of these new changes, made beginning on all sailings departing as of Monday, November 7, 2022, is a new $5 (USD) charge added per entrée in the Main Dining Rooms for any ...

  4. New 2024 Carnival Main Dining Room Menu PDF's

    Carnival Cruise Line and Emeril Lagasse have entered into a partnership to enhance the onboard dining experience for Carnival's guests. As part of this collaboration, Emeril Lagasse, a renowned chef known for his New Orleans-style cuisine, has created exclusive menus and signature dishes for select dining venues across Carnival's fleet of ships.

  5. Carnival Introduces New Dining Room Menu Enhancements

    2 min read. (3:30pm EDT) -- Carnival Cruise Line is cooking up big changes to its main dining room menu. The cruise line announced that it will introduce about 60 new entrée presentations on ...

  6. Carnival Makes Big Dining Changes Passengers May not Like

    In addition to these free dining option changes, Carnival has decided to raise prices for some of its for-fee restaurants. The key change will be that prices at the cruise line's steakhouses will ...

  7. Carnival Cruise Line Menus: First Look At What's Brand New

    Cruise Cruise Line menus undergo an extensive makeover every few years. The changes make some guests wary, while others are happy to see the new choices in the main dining room. The new Carnival ...

  8. Carnival Cruise Line makes major main dining room menu change

    Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean made massive changes to their main dining room menus last year. They did so in very different ways. Carnival Cruise Line hired the famed chef Emeril Lagasse as ...

  9. Carnival Cruise Line Lays Out Plan For Main Dining Room Menu

    Carnival Cruise Line will be enhancing its main dining rooms offerings over the next several months to bring more variety, with nearly 60 new entree presentations on rotation, fleetwide. ... so more guests may experience the wide variety of great food offered across the fleet. Carnival chefs are also addressing larger portion offerings for ...

  10. Carnival Makes Two Menu Changes That Guests Might Not Like

    Effective October 1, 2022, Carnival Cruise Line has made significant changes to its onboard room service menu as well as the Carnival Deli. With changed menu offerings and new a la carte charges ...

  11. Carnival Cruise Line makes a passenger-friendly menu change

    While Carnival's changes were more additive than Royal Caribbean's, the cruise line did make changes that some passengers did not like. The cruise line, for example, started charging $5 for ...

  12. Carnival Cruise Line Makes Several Changes to Onboard Offerings

    Carnival Implements Several Changes to Onboard Products. Carnival Cruise Line has been notably busy in the last year with tweaking the onboard offerings. In a letter sent to all travel agents on ...

  13. Changes Coming to Carnival Specialty Dining Prices, Ice Cream

    Changes coming to Carnival dining on all ships. - Photo by Carnival Cruise Line In a letter to booked guests from President Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line announced that it would be making modifications to specialty dining pricing, as well as implementing a number of food waste initiatives. These changes go into effect immediately on all sailings departing November 7, 2022, and beyond.

  14. Carnival Dining Changes Anger Some Cruise Lovers

    November 22, 2022. 159shares. Citing supply chain issues and a desire to reduce the amount of waste generated, Carnival Cruise Line a few weeks ago announced several food-related changes. Among ...

  15. Carnival Cruise Line Raises Food Prices, Makes More F&B Changes

    Changes: Steakhouse prices increased to $48 per person from $42. Prices are specialty dining restaurants on select ships will increase, with Carnival citing rising food costs. In the main dining room, free lobster will continue to be offered on cruises lasting six days or more, but will be moved to the second elegant evening.

  16. 10 Carnival Cruise Food Changes You Need To Know About

    We have summarized ten changes Carnival Cruise Line has made to the food options onboard the Carnival cruise ships. Most of the Carnival dining changes are p...

  17. Dining & Beverages

    Awaken and delight yours on a Carnival cruise with delicious main dishes, tempting desserts and general yumminess everywhere you look. Top Searches. For Your Eating Pleasure. Anytime, Anywhere. Dining Options. Casual Dining in the Lido Restaurant. 24 Hour Room Service.

  18. Carnival Cruise Line Making Major Main Dining Room Changes

    Royal Caribbean made the change in order to cut down on waste and speed up its meal times. Now, Carnival Cruise Line ( CCL) has a plan to change the menus in its Main Dining Rooms and the cruise ...

  19. Carnival Cruise Line Is Making Several Food Operational Changes

    11/2/2022. Today Carnival Cruise Line announced a series of changes that are coming to onboard specialty dining venues, the main dining room, and self-service ice cream stations. The changes are a direct result of prices continuing to rise for food supplies and Carnival seeing huge amounts of food waste onboard.

  20. Onboard Guidelines and Policies

    Policies for Shipboard Water Sports. Updated. Please note the following policies, rules and restrictions for using the pools , waterslides , spray parks and hot tub spas on board our ships. Pools Pools are generally open 8:00am... Date Updated: 06/03/2024.

  21. I tried to spend as little as possible on Carnival's newest cruise ship

    Josh Weinstein, president and CEO of Carnival Corp, the cruise line's parent company, told investors in late June that the company wants to continue to be known as a "cost leader" in the industry.

  22. Shore Excursions

    In order to make any change to your shore excursion orders after the cut-off time, you will need to see the Shore Excursion Manager once you are onboard the ship. In the event of a cruise booking cancellation within the cut-off window, a full refund will automatically be posted to the form of payment used to pay for the order.

  23. Carnival Cruise Line Confirms One Food Rumor, Debunks Another

    Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald has addressed a pair of food-related rumors recently, confirming one and debunking the other. The rumors relate to buffet service onboard all ...

  24. Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival: Quick Comparison Chart

    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 ...

  25. 2 Reasons I Won't Go on a Carnival Cruise Again

    People love to hate Carnival Cruise Line. After sailing on the new Carnival Firenze, I now understand why: The food was as bad as the incessant upselling.. The company's ships have a reputation ...

  26. Carnival Cruise Line makes two more key dining changes

    Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean have made major dining changes in 2023. Daniel Kline. Dec 25, 2023 10:33 AM EST. Carnival Cruise Lines spent all of 2023 making major dining changes. First, it ...

  27. Carnival Cruise Line shares key news on hiding ducks

    Related: Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and MSC all make a key pricing change. The phenomenon is most popular on Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Disney cruise lines, but it happens on any ship where ...

  28. Carnival Cruise Line pushes back on controversy, shares warning

    That starts with digital check-in. Download your cruise line's app and begin the check-in process as soon as it allows you. Related: Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and MSC make a key pricing change

  29. Carnival Cruise Line Making Major Dining Change

    Carnival Cruise Line Makes Major Dining Change. While Royal Caribbean has plans to cut back on some dining choices, its chief rival has a different plan. Daniel Kline. Dec 28, 2022 4:36 PM EST ...

  30. Carnival Corp raises annual profit forecast again on steady cruise

    The Queen Mary 2 cruise ship by Cunard Line, owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. is seen docked at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S., December 20, 2021.