Carnival's New Main Dining Room Menus: My Honest Review After an 8-Day Cruise on Carnival Venezia
When Carnival announced they were rolling out brand-new Main Dining Room menus across the fleet, I couldn't wait to try them. As someone who cruises often, I always look forward to seeing what's changed, discovering new favorites, and of course... eating my way through every night's menu.
After spending 8 nights aboard Carnival Venezia, I finally got to experience the new menus firsthand. Overall, I think Carnival made some great improvements, but there were also a few changes that left me wishing they had kept things the way they were.
If you're sailing soon, here's what you can expect, along with my thoughts on the new dining experience.
First Impressions
One thing became obvious pretty quickly: Carnival definitely expanded the appetizer selection. There are now more hot and cold appetizer choices each evening, which I absolutely loved. I often order two appetizers instead of one, so having more variety made dinner feel even more enjoyable.
The menus still have plenty of familiar favorites, but there are also quite a few new dishes mixed in throughout the cruise.
What Disappointed Me
The dish I was most excited to try was the Spanakopita.
Unfortunately, it ended up being one of my biggest disappointments.
The pastry itself was flaky and delicious, but instead of being served with the cool, creamy tzatziki sauce that I'm used to, it was placed on top of a tomato-based sauce. For me, that completely changed the flavor profile. It wasn't bad, but it definitely wasn't what I had been hoping for.
It was also served alongside couscous inside a roasted pepper. While it looked beautiful on the plate, I found the couscous to be a little bland.
Another change I noticed was that Carnival removed the daily entrée-sized salad option from the menu. As someone who occasionally likes having a lighter dinner, I was a little disappointed to see that go. The good news is that Caesar salad is still available every evening as an appetizer.
What I Loved
Now for the good news... there was plenty to love.
The expanded appetizer selection was probably my favorite overall improvement. More choices meant it was easier to try something new every night.
The absolute standout meal of the cruise for me was the Short Rib.
It was incredibly tender, full of flavor, and easily one of the best entrées I had all week. If you see it on your menu, I highly recommend ordering it.
Dessert was a little more mixed.
Some of the new desserts were fantastic, while others just weren't quite my style. My favorite by far was the Cherries Jubilee. I would happily order that one again. A few of the other desserts left me undecided—I didn't dislike them, but they also weren't memorable enough that I'd order them again.
Our Overall Experience
Even with a few dishes that missed the mark for me, I really enjoyed Carnival's new dining program.
The increased variety makes dinner more exciting, and there are enough options each evening that just about everyone should be able to find something they'll enjoy.
And one thing is absolutely certain...
We definitely did not go hungry on this cruise!
Carnival Venezia 8-Day Main Dining Room Menus
Below you'll find each day's Main Dining Room menu from our sailing so you can start planning exactly what you'd like to order before you even step onboard.
Day 1 Menu
Day 2 Menu - Formal Night
Day 3 Menu
Day 4 Menu
Day 5 Menu
Day 6 Menu
Day 7 Menu - Formal Night
Day 8 Menu
Planning Your Carnival Cruise?
One of my favorite ways to prepare for a cruise is by looking through the menus ahead of time. It helps build the excitement and makes it easier to decide what you don't want to miss once you're onboard.
If you're thinking about sailing on Carnival, I'd love to help you find the perfect itinerary and cabin. Whether it's your first cruise or your fiftieth, I'm always happy to answer questions and help make planning as stress-free as possible.
