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The Street
The Street
Matthew Frankel

Carnival Cruise Line passengers want big main dining room change

Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald recently took to Facebook to share some commentary about the most popular menu items that cruisers wanted the cruise line to add to the dinner menu every night.

To be sure, there are a few signature items that are available every night in the main dining room, such as the popular chocolate melting cake. But for the most part, the menus change each night of a cruise. And with the menu overhaul about a year ago that saw the addition of Emeril Lagasse-curated menu items, certain daily selections were removed to make room.

Related: Carnival Cruise Line answers a major passport question

Even so, in addition to the chocolate melting cake, there are a few items that are available every night. A Caesar salad is one example, and there is also a broiled striploin steak. 

In addition, there are several premium (additional charge) items, such as premium steakhouse meals, that are available every night, as well as several alternative dessert items such as ice cream and cheese plates. To accommodate the not-so-adventurous taste buds of most children, Carnival’s kids' menu also offers the same items every night.

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Carnival's Lido buffet is an option for those who don't like the regular menu.

Image source: Carnival Cruise Line

Does Carnival need a larger everyday menu

Heald shared one customer question that requested that spinach be made available as a side dish. To be sure, he wasn’t too keen on the idea, calling spinach a “dollop of leaves which taste of sod,” and based on some of the most-liked comments on Heald’s post, most cruisers wouldn’t be too excited for daily spinach either. 

However, the idea of adding some cruiser favorites to the everyday menu is certainly an intriguing idea.

Not everyone wants to see the same things on the menu each night on a cruise. But many commenters liked the idea of certain classic entrees and sides being available every night, in many cases for a backup option when no other items on the menu seem appealing. 

After all, with the recent menu revisions, the newer options often are more exotic dishes that might not appeal to non-adventurous eaters.

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Here’s the one item cruisers want to see on the menu every night

Heald asked a follow-up question to find out what items from Carnival’s dinner menu that cruisers would like to see made available every night. Over 2,000 people responded, and there were a few very popular responses.

By far, the most common reply was that grilled salmon should be a nightly option. Carnival used to serve salmon nightly, but that is no longer the case, so it’s an entrée option that many frequent cruisers understandably miss. 

One commenter said “It used to be my go-to when nothing else on the menu wowed me. Please bring it back.” Interestingly, more than half of the replies to Heald’s question had to do with bringing back a salmon dish nightly.

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Another popular response is Carnival’s signature chilled strawberry bisque soup, which is typically served on one night of a cruise and is extremely well-liked by frequent cruisers. 

Others said that certain sides – specifically a baked potato – would be a great option to have available on a daily basis. French onion soup, spring rolls, and Emeril’s crab cakes were other popular replies, although bringing back the grilled salmon was the overwhelming favorite.

ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise

To be clear, it remains to be seen whether anything will come of the responses to Heald’s question. However, he does have a solid history of relaying popular requests to “The Beards,” as he calls Carnival’s executive leadership team, and it has occasionally resulted in significant changes. And in a separate post, Heald revealed that he recently made sure that the higher-ups were aware that salmon was a popular everyday menu request. 

Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.

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