If you are trying to plan lunch for the first day of your Carnival Cruise this post is for you. The goal of this post is to share some suggestions for places you can eat on the first day of your cruise that are complimentary. For the exact places open on the first lunch of your cruise you will need to check the Carnival Hub App for the venue's locations and times of being open.
Below are my recommendations for places to eat that are generally open and complimentary for your first lunch on the ship. Please note, not all of these venues are on every ship.
Below are my recommendations for places to eat that are generally open and complimentary for your first lunch on the ship. Please note, not all of these venues are on every ship.
Guy's Burger Joint:
Carnival Cruise Line teamed up with Guy Fieri to create a complimentary onboard venue that serves a variety of different burgers. Each Carnival Cruise ship as of August 2022 has a Guy's Burger Joint line. The process of getting a burger is generally quick and easy. You tell the crew member which burger type you want and then they will assemble it in front of you. A toppings bar is available nearby for you to add extra vegetables (tomato, lettuce, onion, etc.) as well as a variety of different sauces. Visiting Guy's Burger Joint makes for a great start of a cruise and based on some of the lines I have seen is a popular place to eat!
Typical Hours: Lunch & Afternoon (Generally Not Open In The Evening)
Type of Dining: Counter Service
Click Here For My Post On Guy's Burger Joint
Blue Iguana Cantina:
The Blue Iguana Cantina is a buffet line that serves complimentary custom burritos and tacos. You can choose between the "Burrito" line or "Taco" line and tell a crew member what you would like in your burrito or taco. A salsa bar with a variety of salsas (from mild to spicy) and different toppings is also available for self-service. Not all Carnival ships have a Blue Iguana Cantina line, but on the ships that do have one this is a popular place to eat! If your ship has a Blue Iguana Cantina this would be a great place to get a first day's lunch. The Blue Iguana Cantina serves breakfast tacos and burritos in the morning during breakfast hours.
Typical Hours: Breakfast and Lunch
Type of Dining: Counter Service
Note: Not on all ships (I think the Carnival Splendor is the only Carnival ship to not have the Blue Iguana Cantina).
Click Here For My Post On The Blue Iguana Cantina
Lido Buffet:
The Lido Buffet is one of the most popular places to eat lunch on the first day. Each Carnival's ships Lido Buffet has a different name (such as Rosie's on the Carnival Valor or Lido Marketplace on the Carnival Breeze). The exact buffet lines you find within the Lido Buffet will vary by ship, but typically Carnival either has a Comfort Kitchen line or Chef's Choice line available at lunch. Each Carnival ship's Lido Buffet will also typically have a salad bar and dessert station. Self-service ice cream machines are typically also available within the Lido buffet.
Typical Hours: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (buffet offerings vary by meal)
Type of Dining: Self-Service
Pizzeria:
Another popular and great choice for lunch is the Pizzeria. Carnival's Pizzeria has 5 different pizzas to choose from and is complimentary. You order at the counter the pizza you want and then the Pizzeria crew will serve you the pizza when it is ready. The lines at the Pizzeria can get long so be prepared if you are wanting pizza! Carnival's Pizzeria is typically open for lunch on the first day, but the Pizzeria is not 24 hours like it used to be.
Typical Hours: Varies - No Longer 24 Hours
Type of Dining: Counter Service
Click Here For My Post On Carnival's Pizzeria
Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ:
Not all ships have Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ, but for those ships that do this option is a great first day lunch. For ships that serve Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ guests can go outside and get in line for BBQ. A variety of meats such as sausage, chicken, beef, and pork butt are available as well as numerous sides such as slaw, mac & cheese, potato salad, collared greens, baked beans, and a variety of sauces. If your ship has this venue and is open on the first day, all you have to do is tell a crew member what you want and they will fix you a plate.
Typical Hours: Lunch On First Day & Sea Days (not typically open on port days)
Type of Dining: Counter Service
Only Available on Carnival Dream, Magic, Breeze, Vista, Horizon, Panorama, Mardi Gras, Celebration, Jubilee, Radiance, and Sunrise
Click Here For My Post On Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ
Note: Some Carnival ships have Ol' Fashioned BBQ which is open for lunch on the first day. Although this is not the same venue as Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ, Ol' Fashioned BBQ is good too.
Carnival Cruise Line teamed up with Guy Fieri to create a complimentary onboard venue that serves a variety of different burgers. Each Carnival Cruise ship as of August 2022 has a Guy's Burger Joint line. The process of getting a burger is generally quick and easy. You tell the crew member which burger type you want and then they will assemble it in front of you. A toppings bar is available nearby for you to add extra vegetables (tomato, lettuce, onion, etc.) as well as a variety of different sauces. Visiting Guy's Burger Joint makes for a great start of a cruise and based on some of the lines I have seen is a popular place to eat!
Typical Hours: Lunch & Afternoon (Generally Not Open In The Evening)
Type of Dining: Counter Service
Click Here For My Post On Guy's Burger Joint
Blue Iguana Cantina:
The Blue Iguana Cantina is a buffet line that serves complimentary custom burritos and tacos. You can choose between the "Burrito" line or "Taco" line and tell a crew member what you would like in your burrito or taco. A salsa bar with a variety of salsas (from mild to spicy) and different toppings is also available for self-service. Not all Carnival ships have a Blue Iguana Cantina line, but on the ships that do have one this is a popular place to eat! If your ship has a Blue Iguana Cantina this would be a great place to get a first day's lunch. The Blue Iguana Cantina serves breakfast tacos and burritos in the morning during breakfast hours.
Typical Hours: Breakfast and Lunch
Type of Dining: Counter Service
Note: Not on all ships (I think the Carnival Splendor is the only Carnival ship to not have the Blue Iguana Cantina).
Click Here For My Post On The Blue Iguana Cantina
Lido Buffet:
The Lido Buffet is one of the most popular places to eat lunch on the first day. Each Carnival's ships Lido Buffet has a different name (such as Rosie's on the Carnival Valor or Lido Marketplace on the Carnival Breeze). The exact buffet lines you find within the Lido Buffet will vary by ship, but typically Carnival either has a Comfort Kitchen line or Chef's Choice line available at lunch. Each Carnival ship's Lido Buffet will also typically have a salad bar and dessert station. Self-service ice cream machines are typically also available within the Lido buffet.
Typical Hours: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (buffet offerings vary by meal)
Type of Dining: Self-Service
Pizzeria:
Another popular and great choice for lunch is the Pizzeria. Carnival's Pizzeria has 5 different pizzas to choose from and is complimentary. You order at the counter the pizza you want and then the Pizzeria crew will serve you the pizza when it is ready. The lines at the Pizzeria can get long so be prepared if you are wanting pizza! Carnival's Pizzeria is typically open for lunch on the first day, but the Pizzeria is not 24 hours like it used to be.
Typical Hours: Varies - No Longer 24 Hours
Type of Dining: Counter Service
Click Here For My Post On Carnival's Pizzeria
Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ:
Not all ships have Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ, but for those ships that do this option is a great first day lunch. For ships that serve Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ guests can go outside and get in line for BBQ. A variety of meats such as sausage, chicken, beef, and pork butt are available as well as numerous sides such as slaw, mac & cheese, potato salad, collared greens, baked beans, and a variety of sauces. If your ship has this venue and is open on the first day, all you have to do is tell a crew member what you want and they will fix you a plate.
Typical Hours: Lunch On First Day & Sea Days (not typically open on port days)
Type of Dining: Counter Service
Only Available on Carnival Dream, Magic, Breeze, Vista, Horizon, Panorama, Mardi Gras, Celebration, Jubilee, Radiance, and Sunrise
Click Here For My Post On Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ
Note: Some Carnival ships have Ol' Fashioned BBQ which is open for lunch on the first day. Although this is not the same venue as Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ, Ol' Fashioned BBQ is good too.