1. Blue Iguana Cantina
Situated right on the pool deck, this Mexican joint overflows with diners lining up at lunchtime on sea days, dripping in their swimsuits. The menu is made up of tacos and burritos, and you’ll find a large salsa bar with plenty of choices to dip your house-made tortilla chips into.
You Should Order: The fried fish tacos — they’re as good as any we’ve had at roadside stands in Mexico.
Located on: Carnival Breeze, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Sunshine, and Carnival Triumph.
2. Fahrenheit 555
This steakhouse can hold its own with most similar spots on more expensive ships at sea. Stick to the classics, and expect to be as impressed by the imaginative plating as the food and high-quality service.
You Should Order: The chocolate sampler is an elegant end to the meal, whether you’ve ordered steak or lobster.
Located on: Carnival Breeze, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Legend, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Magic, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Pride, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Sunshine, and Carnival Valor.
3. Tandoori Grill
Sure, all Carnival ships offer a vegetarian Indian dinner option in the main dining room, but this on-deck lunch spot serves up authentic Indian fare — such as lentil soup, saag paneer, and tandoori chicken — with all the proper condiments.
You Should Order: The fresh naan is made in a proper tandoor oven. If there isn’t any ready, be sure to ask the staff to bring some to your table when it’s hot from the fire.
Located on: Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Magic, and Carnival Splendor.
4. Guy's Burger Joint
Celebrity chef branding aside, this spot is a big upgrade from the grills on older ships. Here, the meat is ground onboard and the soft, bakery-style buns are put in the oven daily.
You Should Order: Go beyond the basic with the Pig Patty, a classic cheeseburger topped with a ring of crispy bacon, or the Ringer, served with bourbon barbecue sauce and crowned with an onion ring.
Located on: Carnival Breeze, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Sunshine, and Carnival Triumph.
5. Taste Bar
This cocktail hour favorite is the perfect accompaniment to a pre-dinner drink. Each night, the kitchen puts out small tastes of dishes served in the specialty restaurants. If you’re on a ship with all of the Fun Ship 2.0 improvements, then it’s a chance to taste around before deciding where to book your next meal. If you’re on a ship that doesn’t have them, these may just be the best bites you eat all week.
You Should Order: If they’re serving up Blue Iguana’s pork braised in red chili sauce, it will be pretty hard to resist.
Located on: All ships.
