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Paying For Food In Carnival Cruise's Main Dining Room: What You Need To Know

2/17/2023

 
Carnival Cruise Main Dining Room
        There are many complimentary options in Carnival Cruise Line's main dining room, but over the past couple of years Carnival has introduced more options that come at an additional surcharge. Further, you can no longer eat unlimited main courses without incurring an additional charge. This post will take a look at some of the food & drink items you need to watch for charges when eating in Carnival's main dining room. 
                Please note the main dining room menus, prices of specialty food & drink items, and onboard policies are subject to change at any time. Refer to the menu when on your ship for the latest information. 

1. Your First & Second Main Course (Entree) Are Still Complimentary
               Unless a menu item is otherwise marked as having an additional charge, you can order one or two main courses at no extra charge. However, if you decide you want a third main course (entree) you will be charged a $5.00 fee on your Sail & Sign Card. This does not apply to the main courses that are specialty and automatically come with a surcharge (see point #3 below). 

2. Appetizers and Desserts Currently Have No Charge If You Want Additional
                   Carnival's policy for main courses/entrees does not currently apply to appetizers and desserts. You can have as many of these as you would like. However, I recommend only ordering what you plan to eat because Carnival does keep track of food waste to determine items to take off the menu for the future. 
3. Some Main Courses Always Come With A Surcharge
                   Carnival has a section of the menu that lists main courses that will cost extra. The cost is displayed and very clear to guests. If you want to order these items your Sail & Sign card will be charged per main course ordered. Typically, the dining room menu has the following main courses available for an extra charge: Surf & Turf, Broiled Filet Minion, New York Striploin Steak, Grilled Lamb Chops, & Bonsai Sushi Ship. The exact offerings for an extra charge may vary by particular ship & cruise itinerary. Carnival will generally publish a surcharge applies to these menu items. At the time of writing this post, the surcharge is typically $23 per entree. 

Note About Lobster:  On US departure cruises, cruises that are 6+ nights will have complimentary lobster in the main dining room on the second formal night. This is subject to change. If you are on one of these cruises, ask your waitstaff prior to ordering to confirm the lobster is complimentary. You can typically buy lobster (or Surf & Turf dish) on the other formal night of your cruise. There is not complimentary lobster on cruises 5 nights or shorter. 
4. Be Careful To Not Order The Coffee or Tea Selections Available At An Additional Charge Unless That Is What You Want 
              Carnival's dessert section of the menu lists a few coffee and tea choices at an extra charge. This usually includes cappuccino, latte, espresso, and "Art of Tea" selections. However, despite Carnival's emphasis on these items on the menu you can still order some coffee and tea for free. You can order regular or decaf coffee (same quality as Lido buffet) in the dining room for free. Just ask your waiter for the free coffee. You can also order tea bags that are non-Art of Tea selections for free.              ​
5. Bar Service In The Dining Room Comes With An 18% Service Gratuity
​                   Bar service in the dining rooms as well as other bar areas of the ship come with an automatic 18% service charge. This gets added to the menu price. There will be an additional line item to tip when you get your receipt to sign, but the 18% service charge is already factored in so you do not need to give more unless you want to. 
6. Water & Iced Tea Are Still Free, But Watch For Upsells
                    Ice water that the waitstaff come around and pour as well as iced tea are still free in the main dining room. The iced tea is the same kind that the buffet serves. These two drinks are free in the main dining room. However, some waitstaff will sometimes ask if you want bottled water or a specialty tea. These will come at an extra charge plus the 18% service charge. If you are unsure of the cost of something, including whether a drink is free, you should ask!
7. Charges For Food & Drink In The Main Dining Room
                      If you want to check any charges you incurred in the main dining room you can view your Sail & Sign card balance on the Carnival Hub App, using one of the Sail & Sign kiosks, or by requesting a statement at guest services. Charges typically are posted within minutes of being incurred, but may take a few hours if the main dining room staff do not enter the charge to the system right away. 
While most food in Carnival's main dining room is considered free, there are some choices that do cost extra. Be mindful of the language included on the menu to make sure you do not incur any unexpected charges to your Sail & Sign account. 

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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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