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Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston Pictures

8/22/2019

 
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston
         In May 2019, the Carnival Dream began cruising from Galveston. The Carnival Dream primarily sails 4 & 5 night cruises from Galveston and departs on alternating days of the week. Four night cruises typically depart on Thursdays and sail to Cozumel. Five night cruises depart on alternating Saturdays and Mondays. Some five night cruises visit Cozumel and Progreso, but others visit Cozumel and Costa Maya. 
             The Carnival Dream came to Galveston to replace the Carnival Valor. Prior to sailing from Galveston, the Carnival Dream sailed 7 night cruises from New Orleans. The arrival of the Carnival Dream to Galveston marks a capacity increase for the Port of Galveston. 

Carnival Dream Docked At Galveston Cruise Terminal 1:
          Below are some pictures I took of the Carnival Dream docked at Galveston's Cruise Terminal 1. These pictures were taken on Thursday, August 15, 2019. The Carnival Dream was about to depart on a 4 night cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. 
Click Any Photo To Make It Larger!
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston
Carnival Dream Docked At Galveston Cruise Terminal 2:
               Below are some pictures of the Carnival Dream docked at Galveston's Cruise Terminal 2 and departing later in the day. These pictures were taken on Saturday, May 18, 2019. The Carnival Dream was departing on a 5 night cruise. I took these pictures on the same day I was cruising on the Carnival Vista. 
Click Any Photo To Make It Larger!
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston
Carnival Dream Docked In Galveston

Carnival Cruise Lido Buffet Breakfast Food Pictures & Pastries

8/21/2019

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Carnival Cruise Lido Breakfast Buffet Food
          If you eating in the Lido buffet of your Carnival Cruise ship for breakfast you will have a variety of choices each morning of the cruise. The best part of the Lido buffet for breakfast is you can choose to eat as much as you want and for most items get to serve yourself. 
              This post will share items that are commonly found in Carnival's Lido buffet for breakfast. The actual food offerings during your cruise may vary slightly so don't be disappointed if something you see here is not offered. Enjoy the pictures posted here of the food offered in the Lido buffet from some of my cruises!

​Main Lido Breakfast Buffet Line Selections:
             Typically, Carnival's main Lido buffet lines have similar offerings each day of the cruise, but the style of a dish offered can vary. On my cruises, Carnival seems to almost always have oatmeal, scrambled eggs, french toast, pancakes, and bacon available daily. Additionally, Carnival typically will have some sort of potato dish each day of the cruise. The potato dish served  could be roasted potatoes, hash browns, or some other variation of a potato. Carnival does the same thing with the sausage available at breakfast. One day of the cruise might be sausage links, but the next day might be sausage cooked in a different way. The exact offerings are up to the chef onboard the ship. I have also seen Carnival's main breakfast buffet lines offer grilled tomatoes, baked beans, grits, and biscuit & gravy. 
Carnival Cruise Breakfast Oatmeal
Oatmeal
Carnival Cruise Breakfast Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled Eggs
Picture
Carnival Cruise Breakfast Sausage
Sausage
Carnival Cruise Lido Breakfast Hash Browns
Hash Browns
Carnival Cruise Lido Breakfast Buffet French Toast
French Toast
Carnival Cruise Lido Breakfast Buffet Potatoes
Potatoes
Carnival Cruise Lido Breakfast Buffet Sausage
Sausage
Carnival Cruise Lido Breakfast Buffet Pancakes
Pancakes
Carnival Cruise Lido Breakfast Buffet Scrambled Eggs and Grilled Tomatoes
Scrambled Eggs & Grilled Tomatoes
Carnival Cruise Lido Breakfast Buffet Baked Beans
Baked Beans (In Pan On Right)
Carnival Cruise Lido Breakfast Buffet Bacon
Bacon
Carnival Cruise Lido Breakfast Buffet Gravy
Gravy For The Biscuits & Gravy
Carnival Cruise Lido Breakfast Buffet Sliced Ham
Sliced Ham
Carnival Cruise Breakfast Lido Buffet Toast, Waffles, Bagels, and Biscuits
Toast, Waffles, Bagels, & Biscuits
Carnival Cruise Lido Breakfast Boiled Eggs
Boiled Eggs
Carnival Cruise Jelly & Other Spreads
Jelly & Other Spreads
Pastries & Fruits:
                 Carnival's Lido breakfast buffet is filled with a variety of different pastries and sweets. I reached out to Carnival to ask for a list of pastries typically served on the buffet. The Lido buffet selection generally consists of the following pastries: Apple Cornet, Vanilla Crown, Cinnamon Swirls, Raspberry Danish, Croissant, Banana Bread, and muffins. The muffins offered is up to the chef and could include: Chocolate Chips muffins, Orange Sunrise muffins, Chocolate Chunk muffins, Banana Nut muffins, Glorious muffins, Lemon Poppy Seed muffins, or Honey Raisin muffins. THANK YOU to the nice people working in Carnival's PR Department that were able to provide me with information about the pastry offerings. If you happen to read this I appreciate your help!
                  Here are a few pictures of some of the pastries that I have captured on past cruises:
Picture
Banana Bread
Picture
Raspberry Danish (On Left)
Picture
Cinnamon Swirls
Picture
Apple Cornet
Picture
Chocolate Chunk & Glorious Muffins
Picture
Crossiant
Picture
Sticky Buns
What types of fruits are generally available? 
              The exact offering can vary by day. Carnival usually has fruits available including cantaloupe, prunes, honeydew, pineapple, peaches, grapefruit, and watermelon. Some Carnival ships have bite sized sliced fruit available by the pastries, but generally the main breakfast buffet line has large chunks of fruit available. The location of fruit can vary by ship. 
Picture
Fruits
Picture
Fruits
Carnival Cruise Breakfast Fruits
Fruits
Carnival Cruise Lido Breakfast Buffet Yogurt
Yogurt
Yogurt Flavors Generally Include The Following Flavors:
  • Banana Yogurt
  • Strawberry Yogurt
  • Peach Yogurt
  • Blueberry Yogurt
  • Plain Yogurt
  • Raspberry Yogurt
                   Besides hot breakfast food dishes, fruit, and pastries, Carnival also usually has a variety of sliced meats & cheeses available in the Lido buffet. If cruisers want cereal, Carnival also has cereal available in the Lido buffet. Due to cutting down on waste, Carnival is transitioning away from personal cereal boxes and moving to dispensers that will be available. On my recent Carnival Cruise, cereals available included Cheerios, Raisin Bran, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Corn Flakes, Fruit Loops, Lucky Charms, and Rice Krispies. I have also seen Frosted Flakes offered too.
Carnival Cruise Sliced Meats & Cheeses
Sliced Meats & Cheeses
Carnival Cruise Lido Buffet Breakfast Milk
Milk
Carnival Cruise Cereal
Cereals
Carnival Cruise Drink Station
Carnival Vista's Drink Station
TIP: Each Carnival ship's Lido buffet is setup differently. Before getting some food walk around the buffet to see what items are available and where the items are located. 
Lido Breakfast Buffet Drinks & Juices:
The following beverages are typically available in the Lido buffet from self-service dispensers. 
  • Orange Juice
  • Guava Juice
  • Apple Juice
  • Iced Tea
  • Hot Chocolate
  • Decaf Coffee
  • Regular Coffee
  • Water 
           Milk is available from the buffet lines and NOT from the beverage station. Typically you can find the milk cartons near the yogurt. Carnival has Fat Free Skim Milk, Regular 2% Reduced Fat, and Dutch Chocolate Milk available for cruisers. The milk is complimentary! 
            The coffee dispensers have a hot water dispenser feature. This can be used if you are making tea from one of the available packets. On my recent cruises I have seen tea packets available for regular tea, decaf tea, and green tea. Flavored packets are generally not available in the buffet and are offered at tea time for an extra charge. 
Omelet Station:
          An omelet station is also available, but I cover this in another post:  Click Here For My Omelet Station Post
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Carnival Vista vs. Carnival Dream vs. Carnival Freedom: How Carnival's Three Galveston Based Ships Compare

8/21/2019

 
Carnival Dream Docked In GalvestonCarnival Dream Docked In Galveston
          Currently, the Carnival Vista, Carnival Freedom, and Carnival Dream sail from Galveston. This combination of cruise ships gives Galveston cruisers many itinerary choices and options for cruising. The Carnival Vista began sailing from Galveston in September 2018 and the Carnival Freedom began sailing from Galveston in February 2015. The Carnival Dream is the most recent Carnival ship to be deployed from Galveston and the ship has been out of Galveston since May 2019. 
      While all three of these ships are Carnival Cruise Line's ships, there are a few differences between the three. Each of these three ships are members of different ship classes. 
         I decided to put together a chart that will compare some basic information, amenities, and features of all three of these ships. ​The information is not comprehensive, which means not all differences or features are included. The goal of this chart is to give some basic information about each ship. 

Carnival Vista

Carnival Vista
The Basics
Year Entered Service:  2016
Ship's Class: Vista Class
Registry:  Panama
Number of Guest Decks:  15
Length:  1,055 feet
Approx. Gross Tonnage:  133,500
Capacity & Staterooms
Double Occupancy:  3,934 guests
Total Guest Capacity:  4,977 guests
Total Crew:  1,450 crew
​Total # Of Staterooms:  1,967 
Ship's Amenities 
Eating Areas / Bars:
Guy's Burger Joint
Blue Iguana Cantina
Red Frog Rum Bar
Blue Iguana Tequila Bar
Pizzeria del Capitano
Deli
Red Frog Pub & Brewery
JiJi's Asian Kitchen
Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse
​Swirls (Ice Cream Machines) 
JavaBlue Cafe
​Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ
Bonsai Sushi
Cucina Del Capitano
Library Bar
​SkyBox Sports Bar 
Beer Station
Havana Bar
Alchemy Bar

Entertainment / Other: 
Hasbro The Game Show
Playlist Productions (Shows)
Punchliner Comdedy Club
Seaside Theatre 
Thrill Theatre
Imax Theatre

​Serenity (Adults Only)
WaterWorks
​SkyCourse (mini golf course)
SportsSquare Ropes Course
Pools & Hottubs ​
SkyRide
​SportsSquare Clubhouse
Jogging Track (part of SportsSquare)
​Ocean Plaza
​SkyFitness
​Basketball Court

Youth Programs / Kid Features:
Camp Ocean (2-11 yrs.) 
Circle C  (12-14 yrs.) 
​Club 02   (15-17 yrs.) 
Arcade
​Dr. Suess Bookville


** Does not include all food and beverage places. Some places/things are complimentary while others are not. List/places are subject to change.
Docking In Galveston
​The Carnival Vista will primarily do 7 day cruises to the Western Caribbean. Typically, the Carnival Vista will be departing from Galveston on Saturdays.
Carnival Dream

Carnival Dream
The Basics
Year Entered Service:  2009
Ship's Class: Dream Class
Registry:  Panama
Number of Guest Decks:  14
Length:  1,004 feet
Approx. Gross Tonnage:  130,000
Capacity & Staterooms
Double Occupancy:  3,646 guests
Total Guest Capacity:  ​4,633 guests
Total Crew:  1,369 crew
​Total # Of Staterooms:  1,823
Ship's Amenities 
Eating Areas / Bars:
Guy's Burger Joint
Blue Iguana Cantina
Red Frog Rum Bar
Blue Iguana Tequila Bar
Pizzeria del Capitano
Deli
Mongolian Wok
Steakhouse
​Swirls (Ice Cream Machines) 
Coffee Bar
​Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ
Bonsai Sushi
Alchemy Bar


Entertainment / Other: 
Hasbro The Game Show
Playlist Productions (Shows)
Punchliner Comdedy Club
Seaside Theatre 
​Serenity (Adults Only)
WaterWorks
​Mini Golf Course
Basketball Court

Pools & Hottubs ​
Jogging Track
​Ocean Plaza
Youth Programs / Kid Features:
Camp Ocean (2-11 yrs.) 
Circle C  (12-14 yrs.) 
​Club 02   (15-17 yrs.) 
Arcade
Towel Animal Theater


** Does not include all food and beverage places. Some places/things are complimentary while others are not. List/places are subject to change.
Docking In Galveston
​The Carnival Dream will primarily sail 4 & 5 night cruises from Galveston. Four night cruises typically depart on Thursdays to sail to Cozumel. 5 night cruises alternate between departing on Saturdays and Mondays and go to Cozumel and Progreso or Costa Maya. 
Carnival Freedom

Carnival Freedom
The Basics
Year Entered Service:  2007
Ship's Class: Conquest Class
Registry:  Panama
Number of Guest Decks:  13
Length:  952 feet
Approx. Gross Tonnage:  110,000
Capacity & Staterooms
Double Occupancy:  2980 guests
Total Guest Capacity: 3754 guests
Total Crew:  1,180 crew
​Total # Of Staterooms:  1,490
Ship's Amenities 
Eating Areas / Bars:
Guy's Burger Joint
Blue Iguana Cantina
Red Frog Rum Bar
Blue Iguana Tequila Bar
Pizza Pirate
Deli
Red Frog Pub
Mongolian Wok
​Steakhouse

​Swirls (Ice Cream Machines) 
​Coffee Bar
Alchemy Bar
​SkyBox Sports Bar
​Bonsai Sushi Express
Entertainment / Other: 
Hasbro The Game Show
Playlist Productions (Shows)
Punchliner Comedy Club
​Seaside Theatre
Serentiy (Adults Only)
​WaterWorks
Mini Golf Course
​Pools & Hottubs
​
Youth Programs / Kid Features:
Camp Ocean (2-11 yrs.) 
Circle C (12-14 yrs.) 
Club 02 (15-17 yrs.) 
Dr. Suess Bookville 
​Arcade 
​Towel Animal Theater

​** Does not include all food and beverage places. Some places/things are complimentary while others are not. List/places are subject to change.
​



Docking In Galveston
​The Carnival Freedom will primarily do 7 and 8 day cruises to the Western & Eastern Caribbean. Typically, the Carnival Freedom will be departing Galveston on Saturdays or Sundays.
This information was last updated Wednesday, August 21, 2019. Please keep in mind this information does include all features and places on each ship. Please verify information before making any decisions as I could possibly have made a mistake or information changed. Check back for updates!

Carnival Cruise Main Dining Room Food Pictures

8/20/2019

 
       Carnival Cruise Line's main dining room experience at dinner offers a variety of different appetizers, main courses, sides, and desserts to try. During my cruises I try and take pictures of my own food plates as well as the plates of my family. This post is a compilation of food pictures from some of my recent Carnival cruises. I have mixed pictures of food dishes from both the American Table and American Feast dining concepts offered at dinner. The food pictures are sorted by appetizers, main courses, and desserts. The menu and food selection will vary by cruise because shorter cruises have less nights of dinner. Also, please keep in mind that the presentation of a specific food dish can vary too.  Food selections can vary by ship & cruise!
Appetizers:
Carnival Cruise Smoked Chicken Quesadilla
Smoked Chicken Quesadilla
Carnival Cruise Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimp Cocktail
Carnival Cruise Chilled Vietnamese Roll
Chilled Vietnamese Roll
Carnival Cruise Romaine Caesar Salad
Romaine Caesar Salad
Carnival Cruise Strawberry Bisque
Strawberry Bisque
Carnival Cruise Fried Oysters
Fried Oysters
Carnival Cruise Roasted Wild Mushroom Soup
Roasted Wild Mushroom Soup
Carnival Cruise Fried Shrimp
Fried Shrimp
Carnival Cruise Marinated Chicken Tenders
Marinated Chicken Tenders
Carnival Cruise Braised Ox Tongue
Braised Ox Tongue
Carnival Cruise Soup
Carnival Cruise Chesapeake Crab Cake
Chesapeake Crab Cake
Carnival Cruise Four Season Salad
Four Season Salad
Carnival Cruise Baked Meatballs
Baked Meatballs
Carnival Cruise Greek Salad
Greek Salad
Carnival Cruise Vegetable Spring Rolls
Vegetable Spring Rolls
Carnival Cruise Baked Onion Soup
Baked Onion Soup
Carnival Cruise Jalapeno Poppers
Jalapeno Poppers
Carnival Cruise New England Clam Chowder
New England Clam Chowder
Carnival Cruise Shrimp Quesadilla
Shrimp Quesadilla
Carnival Cruise Grilled Beef Skewers
Grilled Beef Skewers
Carnival Cruise Braised Ox Tongue
Braised Ox Tongue
Carnival Cruise Corn Chowder Maryland
Corn Chowder Maryland
Carnival Cruise Fry Jacks
Fry Jacks
Carnival Cruise Cream of Broccoli
Cream of Broccoli
Carnival Cruise Escargot
Escargot
Carnival Cruise Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed Mushrooms
Carnival Cruise Mango Cream
Mango Cream
Carnival Cruise Flatbread
Flatbread
Carnival Cruise Steamed Mussels
Steamed Mussels
Main Courses:
Carnival Cruise Sweet & Sour Shrimp
Sweet & Sour Shrimp
Carnival Cruise BBQ Beef Brisket
BBQ Beef Brisket
Carnival Cruise Grilled Chicken Breast
Grilled Chicken Breast
Carnival Cruise Salmon Fillet
Salmon Fillet
Carnival Cruise Flat Iron Steak
Flat Iron Steak
Carnival Cruise Southern Fried Chicken
Southern Fried Chicken
Carnival Cruise Grilled Beef Tenderloin
Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Side Baked Potato
Carnival Cruise Broccoli and Carrots
Side Dish: Broccoli and Carrots
Carnival Cruise Ratatouille
Side Dish: Ratatouille
Carnival Cruise Striped Bass Filet
Striped Bass Fillet
Carnival Cruise Veal Parmisan
Veal Parmisan
Carnival Cruise Ricotta Ravioli
Ricotta Ravioli
Carnival Cruise Steak Tacos
Steak Tacos
Carnival Cruise Cornmeal Crusted Chicken Breast
Cornmeal Crusted Chicken Breast
Carnival Cruise Prime Rib
Prime Rib
Carnival Cruise Chicken Milanese
Chicken Milanese
Carnival Cruise Seared Tilapia
Seared Tilapia
Carnival Cruise BBQ Beef Brisket
Barbequed Beef Brisket
Carnival Cruise Grilled Mahi Mahi
Grilled Mahi Mahi
Carnival Cruise Rosemary Lamb Shank
Rosemary Lamb Shank
Carnival Cruise Chili Rellenos
Chili Rellenos
Carnival Cruise Salmon Cake
Salmon Cake
Carnival Cruise Penne Mariscos
Penne Mariscos
Carnival Cruise Grilled Jumbo Shrimp
Grilled Jumbo Shrimp
Carnival Cruise Spanakopita and Stuffed Bell Pepper
Spanakopita and Stuffed Bell Pepper
Carnival Cruise Fusilli Mushroom Cream
Fusilli Mushroom Cream
Carnival Cruise Tiger Shrimp Creole
Tiger Shrimp Creole
Picture
Broiled Maine Lobster Tail
Note About The Broiled Main Lobster Tail:  
This dish is not offered complimentary on all cruises. Cruises that are 6+ days in length usually have lobster complimentary on the first formal night of the cruise. Unfortunately, this means cruises 5 nights or less in length do not have complimentary lobster. Carnival typically has an option to purchase lobster at the bottom of the dining room menu.
Desserts:
Carnival Cruise Fresh Tropical Fruit Plate
Fresh Tropical Fruit Plate
Carnival Cruise Banana Split
Banana Split (From Kid's Menu)
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Melting Cake
Carnival Melting Cake - formerly known as Warm Chocolate Melting Cake
Carnival Cruise Caramelized Phyllo with Caramel Cream
Caramelized Phyllo with Caramel Cream
Carnival Cruise Vanilla Creme Brulee
Vanilla Creme Brulee
Carnival Cruise Malted Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
Malted Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
Carnival Cruise Apple Pie
Apple Pie
Carnival Cruise Smores Parfait
Smores Parfait
Carnival Cruise Bitter N' Blanc
Bitter N' Blanc
Carnival Cruise Amaretto Cake
Amaretto Cake
Carnival Cruise Cheesecake
Cheesecake
Carnival Cruise Baked Alaska
Baked Alaska
Carnival Cruise Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Carnival Cruise Chilled Strawberry Parfait
Chilled Strawberry Parfait
Carnival Cruise Mango Cream Cake
Mango Cream Cake
Carnival Cruise Cheese Plate
Cheese Plate
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Panna Cotta
Chocolate Panna Cotta
Carnival Cruise Grand Mariner Souffle
Grand Mariner Souffle
Carnival Cruise Key Lime Mousse
Key Lime Mousse
Carnival Cruise Carrot Cake
Carrot Cake
Carnival Cruise Banana White Chocolate Bread Pudding
Banana White Chocolate Bread Pudding
Carnival Cruise Warm Date & Fig Pudding
Warm Date & Fig Pudding
Carnival Cruise Extra Sides of Vanilla Ice Cream
Extra Sides of Ice Cream

Selecting A Dinner Dining Option For Your Carnival Cruise Vacation

8/19/2019

 
Carnival Cruise DiningAmerican Table Dining Placesetting
        The main dining room experience on a Carnival Cruise is part of the enjoyment of a cruise for many. However, before the cruise begins selecting a dinner dining option can be a challenging task for someone that is not sure which option is best. The goal of this post is to share some information about the different dinner dining options, what happens when a dining option you want is already filled, and address some common questions about the dinner main dining room experience on a Carnival Cruise vacation. 

What Main Dining Room Options Are Available For Dinner On A Typical Carnival Cruise? 
              Typically, there are three options for main dining room seating at dinner on a Carnival Cruise. The three options are called "Early Seating", "Late Seating" and "Your-Time Dining". 
  • Early Seating -   The Early Seating option is a dining option that allows a cruiser to have dinner at a set time, enjoy the same table, and have the same waitstaff each night of the cruise. Generally, this option has the fixed time being a 6:00pm dining time.  However, Alaska cruises typically have early seating at 5:30pm. If you select this option your Sail & Sign card will reflect what time you should report to the dining room.
  • Late Seating -  The difference between late seating and early seating is the time. The Late Seating option is a dining option that allows a cruiser to have dinner at a set time, enjoy the same table, and have the same waitstaff each night of the cruise. Generally, this option has the fixed time being a 8:15pm dining time.  However, Alaska cruises typically have early seating at 7:45pm. If you select this option your Sail & Sign card will reflect what time you should report to the dining room.​
  • Your-Time Dining -  This dining option allows cruisers the flexibility to come to the dining room between a certain time for dinner. On most cruises Your-Time Dining is avaialble from 5:45pm to 9:30pm, but on Alaska cruises the dining times are 5:15pm to 9:00pm. With this option you show up at any time between the range of times printed on your Sail & Sign card. When you arrive to the dining room you will check in with the hostess station and if a table is available you will be taken to a table right away. If no table that can accommodate you is available you will be given a pager. When a table becomes available your pager will sound and then you can report back to the hostess station to be seated. With this option you you can request a table or a certain set of waitstaff, but if you do not request anything you may be seated at a different table or with different waitstaff each night of the cruise. 

How Do I Know Which Option Is Best For Me? 
             
All three options have positive and negative characteristics for each cruiser that can differ. Here are some things you should keep in mind when trying to determine which of these options is best for you:
  • Early & Late Seating Cruisers That Do Not Arrive Within A Specific Time Will Not Be Allowed To Dine -  If you choose early or late seating dining and you come too late to dinner the dining room staff will not allow you to enter the dining room. Instead, you will have to eat in the buffet or order room service. I think the current policy is guests will be turned away after 30 minutes. This is because seating guests too late into the meal will create extra work for the waitstaff and slow down the dining process for other cruisers. If you feel like what time you will want dinner is uncertain or you do not know if you will be able to be timely to the dining room, do not pick early or late seating. Instead, you might be better off with Your-Time Dining because you will have a flexible range of time to go to dinner. 
  • Early or Late Seating Could Mean You & Your Group Get Seated With Other Cruisers -  Sometimes tables for Early and Late Seating causes random groups of cruisers to be seated at the same assigned table for the cruise. For example, let's say a group of 3 are cruising together and another group of 3 people are also cruising together. The dining team onboard could assign both of these groups of 3 to be seated at the same table. Dining assignments for early or late seating could cause you to be seated with strangers, but there is still a chance you will have an assigned table that only has your group of cruisers. It depends on how the seating assignments for the cruise are done by the onboard dining team!  Your-Time Dining does not guarantee you will get a private table, but the chances are much higher if you do not want to sit with others.
  • Consistency of Dining Vs. Flexibility -  Trying to decide between Your-Time Dining and one of the traditional seating times is a debate between consistency and flexibility. Early or late seating gives cruisers consistency of waitstaff, table, and dining room. However, Your-Time Dining gives a range of time flexibility, but there is still a good chance you can request the same table and waitstaff if you would like (depends on availability). 
  • Cruising Round-Trip From Barbados? -  The problem of picking which dining option should not exist for you because Carnival advertises cruises round-trip from Barbados have to pick Your-Time Dining. 

How Do I Actually Pick What Dining Option I Want?
               If you booked directly on Carnival's website, after booking you will be able to select your dining time from the online booking manager. If you booked with a travel agent or Carnival representative directly, they should be the ones to handle the selection of dining. You should tell your travel agent or representative which dining option you want. 

If my preferred option is not available, what happens?
​                Usually a waitlist is available for an option if it is full. If you have a second choice dining option I recommend you go with that choice (if it is not full too).

Is The Food & Menu The Same Between The Options? 
               Regardless of whether you choose Early Seating, Late Seating, Or Your-Time Dining the food is the same! You should have the exact same menu options as the cruisers in the other dining room. 

Can I Change My Dining Assignment Once Onboard? 
                 Unfortunately, the answer depends. Once on your cruise you should go see the dining team & maitre'd to ask if you are able to change dining assignments. 

Does My Main Dining Room Dinner Assignment Apply At Breakfast Or Lunch?
               It does not! Typically, Carnival ships serve a Sea Day Brunch in the dining room that is open seating. When traditional breakfast and lunch seatings are offered these are also open seating. Tables are assigned by the hostess station when someone comes to check in for the particular meal. Carnival usually has brunch available in only one of the ship's main dining rooms. 

Carnival Cruise Dining Room Desserts: Smores Parfait Review & Info

8/14/2019

 
Carnival Cruise Smores Parfait DessertSmores Parfait
            Carnival Cruise Line's main dining room experience is not complete without ordering dessert! There are several desserts on the American Table or American Feast menu that I recommend trying even if you are already feeling a little full. Although the desserts offered during a cruise depends on the length of the cruise, one dessert you should be on the lookout for is the Smores Parfait. 
          The Smores Parfait dessert has chocolate, vanilla mousse, and roasted marshmallow. These are the three ingredients Carnival has listed on the dessert menu under the Smores Parfait. In addition to these three things, the Smores Parfait has graham cracker (or something very similar to a graham cracker) crumbled inside. I am surprised Carnival's menu did not mention this ingredient. 

​Overall Rating:
             On a scale of 5 stars (5 = highest rating and 1 = lowest rating) I would give this dessert 5 stars. Here are my reasons for giving this dessert the highest possible rating:
  • Large Portion Size -   The portion size of my Smores Parfait on the Carnival Vista was more than enough for dessert. On most ships that I have seen the Smores Parfait offered, it is served in a cup. ​I was already full by the time I ate this dessert, but I still ate the whole thing regardless because it was too good for me to not eat it all. I felt stuffed later, but it was worth it. 
  • Chocolate Pudding -   The chocolate pudding was extremely good. Sometimes chocolate dishes on Carnival ships are too rich, but this chocolate pudding had a chocolate taste that was not too strong. There are two layers of chocolate pudding in each cup of the Smores Parfait. Both layers are close to the graham cracker which means you can enjoy the chocolate pudding with some graham cracker mixed in!
  • Marshmallow Taste -  The roasted marshmallow at the top of the Smores Parafait reminded me of marshmallow that had been actually roasted over a real fire. I wish the dessert would have more marshmallow mixed in with the chocolate pudding, but it was good enough.

Common Questions:
  • Is this served on all cruises?  -   This dessert dish is not served on all cruises. I have only seen this dish offered on cruises that are considered longer in length (6+ days). However, the chef onboard has the right to change the menu so having a longer cruise does not guarantee this dish will be served. By the same logic, just because a cruise is shorter does not mean there is no chance this dish will not be served, but it is unlikely. 
  • Does Carnival serve this dish on the buffet?  -   I have not seen this dish served on the ship's buffet. My guess is it is not served in the buffet, but you never know!
  • Can I request a side of ice cream to go with this dessert?  -  The waitstaff on Carnival's ships are usually very happy to accommodate bringing extra desserts and I am sure your waitstaff would be willing to bring you some ice cream to go with this if you ask.  If you want  a lot of ice cream I recommend asking for a full order of ice cream as a second dessert, but if you only want a little bit of ice cream I recommend asking for a scoop of ice cream in the small bowl like what is served with the warm chocolate melting cake dish. 

​The review of this dessert reflects my opinion. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions please do not use this review to make any decisions about whether this item is suitable for your consumption, because this information may not include all ingredients or facts related to the food dish. Consult Carnival to get a full listing of ingredients. 
​Also, food items and menus served vary by cruise and the length of the cruise. 
Carnival Cruise Smores Parafait
Smores Parfait - Top View

Carnival Vista, Horizon, & Panorama Secret Hidden Deck: How To Find It

8/12/2019

 
PictureOutside Furniture - Up To 5 People Can Sit
         Carnival's Vista Class of ships includes the Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, and Carnival Panorama (launching December 2019). On all three Vista class ships there are numerous outside deck areas for cruisers to enjoy, but not every area is well known to all cruisers. One particular area that is not well known to cruisers is a small front area located on Deck 14. Although this area is public, I visited this area several times and never encountered anyone else because hardly any cruisers know about this outside deck space. In this post I will share some pictures of this area and explain how to find this hidden outside space. 



​
Locating The Deck 14 Front Outside Area:     
                 In order to locate this outside deck area you will need to go to Deck 14 by using the front elevator/stairwell area. Once you are up on Deck 14 you will see an entrance to the second level of the ship's Cloud 9 SPA. You do not need to enter this area because there is a much easier way to get to the front area. From the front/elevator area, on the sides you be able to see stateroom hallway entrances on both sides of the ship.  
                     Enter one of the Deck 14 stateroom hallways (it does not matter which side).  Walk towards the front of the ship. If you do not know which way is the front you will want to walk in the direction that the stateroom hallway numbers get smaller. If the numbers are getting bigger you will want to turn around and head the opposite way! 
                      Once you are at the very front of the stateroom hallway you should nearly dead-end into a stateroom door. However, on the middle side of the hallway you should see a door that leads to small area with a stairwell within the SPA. On the Carnival Vista this door has a circular porthole that allows you to see into this area before opening the door. After stepping out into this area you should see another entrance to the Cloud 9 SPA on one side and a stairwell on another side. This stairwell leads to the Deck 12 level of the SPA. You do not need to use this stairwell. On both sides of this stairwell you should see a hallway with doors at the end. Both hallways have a metal or glass door at the end. Walk down this hallway and unless indicated you cannot exit using the doors, open the doors. On the Carnival Vista, there are two doors that you must open before being able to go outside and I would imagine the Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama have the same process. After you open these doors, you are outside. Due to the wind the doors may be hard to open! 

​What Exactly Does This Area Have?
                   
Although the view from this area is not exactly panoramic, you can look down towards the front of the ship and see into the horizon. The Carnival Vista had places for 5 people to sit and a moderate sized table between the outside furniture. This seemed like a good place to read, talk, rest, or play games (what type of game would depend on the wind). 
                     For the Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama, I do not know for sure if any furniture is outside. If you are cruising on one of these two ships please let me know if you find out! 
Pictures:
             Below are some pictures I took on the Carnival Vista that will hopefully help you find this area: 
Picture
One of the hallways leading to the outside area. This is of the first door that must be opened in order to go outside.
Picture
Looking Down From The Front
Picture
Security Cameras
Picture
One Of The Doors To Go Back Inside
                 There are many areas to explore on your cruise ship and looking around a ship is something I greatly enjoy. Although this area is technically not a secret it is very well hidden. Some other areas on the Carnival Vista that include a public front observation area includes Deck 5, Deck 6, Deck 7, Deck 9, Deck 10, and Deck 11. My favorite front decks for looking out on the Carnival Vista are Decks 5 (Promenade) and Deck 9. On this class of ships, Deck 8 does not have a front observation area because this is where the navigational bridge is located. 
                     If you are cruising on the Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, or Carnival Panorama have a great cruise and don't forget to check out the many areas of your ship you might be missing out on! 

Carnival Cruise 2019 Christmas Ship Decoration Schedule & Events

8/10/2019

 
Cruise Ships
        Carnival Cruise Line has released the 2019 Christmas decoration schedules for the ships. On the day the ship is decorated for Christmas, the atrium and other public areas of the ship are decorated with Christmas and holiday decorations. This schedule includes the dates Carnival Cruise Line has planned to decorate each ship with Christmas and holiday decorations. 
             Below the Christmas decoration schedule, I have posted a few of the Christmas themed events and activities that take place on Carnival ships during this time of the year once the ship is decorated. Most Carnival Cruises during the Christmas season offer a Holiday show, atrium festivities, and much more! 

2019 Ship Decorating Schedule
November 2019

Friday, November 29, 2019:
Carnival Inspiration
Carnival Liberty
Carnival Sunshine
Carnival Victory
​
Saturday, November 30, 2019:
​Carnival Breeze
Carnival Conquest
Carnival Dream
Carnival Elation
Carnival Fantasy
Carnival Horizon
Carnival Miracle
Carnival Sunrise
​Carnival Vista
December 2019

Sunday, December 1, 2019:
Carnival Fascination
Carnival Freedom
Carnival Glory
Carnival Imagination
Carnival Legend
Carnival Magic
Carnival Pride
​
Monday, December 2, 2019:
Carnival Ecstasy
Carnival Paradise
Carnival Sensation
Carnival Valor

Friday, December 6, 2019:
Carnival Spirit

Tuesday, December 10, 2019:
Carnival Splendor
​
Saturday, December 21, 2019:
Carnival Panorama
Christmas & Holiday Events
Holiday Show:  If you see the "Holiday Show" listed on your daily activity newsletter, the Fun-Times you will have an opportunity to see Carnival's Christmas & holiday themed show. Carnival advertises this show to have the ship's singers & dancers as well as a special performance by the kids onboard. The show also has a visit from Santa and the Grinch. 

"Spirit Of The Season Atrium Moments": 
         Although each class of Carnival ships has a different sized atrium, each ship has an atrium that hosts a variety of Christmas & holiday themed events and activities. On the first night of the cruise, Carnival hosts a tree lighting ceremony in the ship's atrium that is led by the cruise director onboard. The tree lighting ceremony features the Christmas tree's lights synchronized to music. In addition, the ship's atrium should have a red box that says "Letters To Santa". Guests can drop letters off in this box that might get read during the ship's morning show.  Besides the official tree lighting ceremony, Carnival's ships have been known to have Christmas caroling and singing in the atrium throughout the Christmas season. 
               Another event that typically takes place in the ship's atrium is the "Spirit of the Seas - 'Tis the Season" event. This event gives guests an opportunity to wear ugly sweaters and enjoy a guest visit from Santa Claus. 
On ships that sail from Australia, instead of ugly sweaters the ship's will do festive hats. 
Will my ship have snow in the atrium?
Most Carnival ships feature "snow" in the atrium during the Christmas season once the ship's are fully decorated. However, Carnival specifically wrote the Carnival Breeze, Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, and Carnival Panorama will not feature snow.

Will Christmas & holiday themed movies be shown on the ship's SeaSide Theater?
                 Carnival's information about the 2019 Christmas & holiday season says ships that have a Seaside Theater will show holiday themed movies. In addition, movies will be shown on the ship's stateroom TVs. The movie channels can be found in the Fun-Times daily activity newsletter or on the Carnival Hub app. 

What other miscellaneous Christmas events occur?
                     Carnival usually does a Christmas & holiday themed trivia session at some point during the cruise. The scope of this trivia includes music, movies, TV shows, and more. It sounds like anything related to Christmas or the holidays is fair game for this trivia!
                      Carnival also is advertising a Holiday Arts & Crafts that will take place during the cruise. Check the Fun-Times onboard the ship for more information if you are cruising during this time of year.
                         According to Carnival's Christmas information, a holiday themed duck hunt will be another option for cruisers. Some hidden ducks will available around the ship that will allow cruisers to get a prize if the duck is found! I have a feeling more information about these ducks, what they look like, and what types of prizes will be given will be available onboard. 

If you are cruising during the Christmas season in 2019 have a great time. Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays 2019! 


All of this information is subject to change and is not designed to be comprehensive. Some things may vary by cruise. Information is from Carnival's main website and was accessed on August 10, 2019. 
Source:  Carnival's Website (Link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide)

Carnival Cruise Tea Time On Sea Days: Tea Options & Desserts Photos

8/7/2019

 
Carnival Cruise Tea Time SconesScones
        One event Carnival Cruise Line ships usually host on sea days is called Tea Time. This event typically takes place in one of the ship's dining rooms or a smaller lounge in the middle of the sea day's afternoons. Tea Time is advertised in the Carnival Fun-Times Daily Activity Newsletter if the event is being held during the day. 
           When the doors open for tea-time a host or hostess will seat guests. The way tea time is run will vary by the ship's crew members working. Both times I have been to this event it was setup to where guests were served by waitstaff. However, I have heard and seen reviews that have the tea time desserts available in a mini-buffet setup. The main thing you should know is the format of the event can vary by cruise! 

PictureGreen Tea, Regular Tea, & Decaf Tea Packets
Not All Teas Are Free, So Be Careful!
              One thing some people may not realize is not all of the tea options are complimentary. As of the time of writing, Carnival offers regular tea, green tea, and decaf tea complimentary. If you are unsure if the tea packet is free, just ask the waiter or waitress that is serving you.
                  The tea packets that are not complimentary are flavored. On my Carnival Freedom cruise in 2017, the tea packets available for sale consisted of Art of Tea flavors such as: Egyptian Chamomile Caffeine Free, Mint Green Tea Low Caffeine, Black Tea Organic Breakfast Bold Caffeine, Earl Grey Creme Medium Bold Caffeine, and more. My picture of the tea packets does not clearly show the names of all of the packets available so I was unable to type all that were sold during my cruise on here. 
                

Desserts
             The desserts offered can vary by ship and tea time session. Here are a few pictures I managed to capture of desserts during some of my cruises:
Carnival Cruise Tea Time Cucumber Sandwich
Cucumber Sandwich
Carnival Cruise Tea Time Lemon Dry Cake
Lemon Dry Cake
Carnival Cruise Tea Time Chocolate Crisp Tart
Chocolate Crisp Tart
Carnival Cruise Tea Time Devils Chocolate Cake
Devils Chocolate Cake
Carnival Cruise Tea Time Scones
Scones
Carnival Cruise Tea Time Peach Crumble
Peach Crumble
Carnival Cruise Tea Time Strawberries and Cream
Strawberries - Cream Was Available
Carnival Cruise Tea Time Coffee Macaroon
Coffee Macaroon
Carnival Cruise Tea Time Cake
Cake - I think it had a vanilla flavor
Carnival Cruise Tea Time Desserts
Tea Time Cart
Carnival Cruise Tea Time Macaroons
Green Macaroons
Carnival Cruise Tea Time Desserts

Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza Desserts & Photos

8/1/2019

 
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
          When the Chocolate Extravaganza is offered on a Carnival Cruise it is typically in the ship's Lido buffet at lunch-time on the cruise's last sea day. Although the food offerings can vary by ship and cruise, I have seen a variety of chocolate desserts and items available as part of the Chocolate Extravaganza. On almost all of my recent Carnival Cruises, the Lido dessert crew members were making ice cream swans on request as well. 
              This post is designed to share some pictures of desserts and items that I have seen offered on Carnival's Chocolate Extravaganza on my own past cruises. These pictures are from at least two separate cruises which means not all of these things were offered at the same time. If your cruise does the Chocolate Extravaganza, I recommend trying to see what if being offered before getting in line because the Chocolate Extravaganza line can be long at times!

Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Carnival Cruise Chocolate Extravaganza
Note: Items will vary by cruise and depend on if the Chocolate Extravaganza is being held! 

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RyG's Cruise Guide is not affiliated with any cruise line or travel organization. Any information is subject to change at any time given that the cruise industry is always changing. Due to the Covid pandemic, crew staffing shortages, and supply chain issues information could change without updates being made here. I always recommend checking with your cruise line for the latest information related to onboard amenities and Covid protocols. 

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