Many people cruise at least partly for the food.
The family-friendly cruise lines give you a lot of dining options, and that's even before you get to the added-fee specialty restaurants.
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 coffee shops, and their own unique included special spots.
DON'T MISS: Royal Caribbean considers big dining change passengers won't like
On Royal Caribbean that varies by the ship, with many ships offering free hot dogs at the Dog House, quick-serve Mexican at El Loco Fresh, and snacks, sandwiches, and more at the Park Cafe.
For Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) -), the lineup includes Guy Fieri's Burger Bar and the Blueiguana fast-serve Mexican eatery, while select ships offer Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken, Street Eats, and a handful of other restaurants.
For many, however, it's not all these options that are the highlight of their cruise. Instead, it's the main dining room, which offers breakfast and lunch and is known particularly for its elaborate multicourse dinners.
Royal Caribbean (RCL) -) recently completed the rollout of a new set of main-dining-room menus, giving each night a theme. The menu also eliminated some popular choices, including a set of always-available items that catered to people who want basic options each night.
Now, Carnival has been testing new menus of its own, and the cruise line's brand ambassador, John Heald, has laid out when the changes will take place on each ship.
Image source: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival rolls out main-dining-room changes
Royal Caribbean's changes were about slimming the menu to cut waste and speed up service -- although cutting costs likely was an unstated additional factor.
Carnival's changes are more about enhancing cruisers' experience.
Yes, some perennial favorites have been dropped, and items that used to be on the menu every night are offered only on some nights. But new items have been added.
Each night's menu includes an appetizer, entrée, and dessert crafted by Carnival Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse.
And while Lagasse doesn't go into the office each day, his appointment to the role wasn't ceremonial. He has been hands-on with crafting the new menus.
"I love Carnival's focus on food and fun and the many great dining options they offer their guests. I'm looking forward to building on our success at sea with Carnival's exceptional culinary team," Lagasse said when he was named to the post, late last December.
The new menus were tested on Carnival Dream in June. After tweaks based on passenger feedback, they were added to Carnival Conquest and Carnival Horizon in July. Now, Heald has posted on his Facebook page about when they will be added tp the entire fleet.
Here's when Carnival's ships get the new menus
"There have been so many wonderful reviews here and by guests on board regarding the new dining room menus that are on some of the ships," Heald posted. "Many of you have asked when other ships will be receiving the new menu, so I thought you would appreciate the rollout schedule."
- August: Radiance (8/18) Mardi Gras (8/19)
- September: Breeze and Panorama (9/2) Celebration (9/9) Valor (9/18) Miracle (9/28)
- October: Glory (10/1) Liberty (10/2) Sunshine (10/19), Elation (10/21) MAgic (10/22)
- November: Paradise (11/9) Freedom (11/11) Spirit (11/25)
- December: Legend 11/23 Jubilee (exact December date not yet announced.
No date has been confirmed for Carnival Pride, which will get the new menu. In addition, Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Splendor, both of which generally sail out of Australia, will add the menus early next year.
Carnival Venezia, a former Costa ship that offers Italian flair in a Carnival setting, has not been confirmed to receive the new menu.
