Carnival Cruise Line Details New Fleetwide Dining Updates

Carnival Cruise Line is cooking up something new. The line has revealed The Next Course, a new array of culinary experiences that will be launching on the upcoming Carnival Festivale in 2027 and Carnival Tropicale in 2028. It also includes a variety of new offerings that are now being rolled out fleetwide.

To introduce The Next Course, Carnival hosted an event in New Orleans with its Chief Culinary Officer, chef and restaurateur Emeril Lagasse. During the event, he gave attendees a behind-the-scenes look into the culinary future on Carnival’s horizon.

Carnival Cruise Line Emeril Lagasse — (Credit: Carnival Cruise Line)

New Restaurants and Bars

The Next Course lineup will feature new specialty restaurants and bars, including:

Emeril’s Coastal Seafood: Coastal-inspired cuisine from Emeril Lagasse
Uku Lei Lei: Hawaiian specialties and Asian classics
Fetaccine: Mediterranean-inspired, combining Greek specialties with Italian favorites
Le Bistro Musicale: Exclusively on Carnival Festivale, offering classic French cuisine in a music-filled Parisian setting

Carnival Festivale will also feature several new bars, including:

The Spark: A vibrant lounge with live performances and cocktails inspired by iconic songs
Mix: A playful bar where guests can order creative cocktails or craft their own drinks
Festival Grounds Coffee & Bar: specialty coffees and cocktails served in a dynamic setting

Uku Lei Lei Hawaiian and Asian restaurant Carnival Cruise Line — Uku Lei Lei (Credit: Carnival Cruise Line)

Fleetwide Food & Beverage Updates

The Next Course doesn’t just apply to Carnival’s new upcoming ships. It will touch the existing fleet too, with updates including:

Refreshed Menus: New dishes in the main dining room for breakfast, brunch, and dinner; updated buffet offerings including a new Lido Family Menu with kid-approved favorites; and new daily rotating specials at BlueIguana Cantina
Bagels @ Sea: Freshly-baked bagels with assorted toppings
Pop-Ups: Fruity & Frosted Breakfast Bars and ice cream and milkshake bars on Excel-class ships, plus a variety of other pop-ups across the fleet
Chef’s Table Menu Revamp: Elevated multi-course dinners with regionally-inspired flavors
Mobile Coffee Shop Order & Pickup: Expanded grab-and-go options and mobile ordering
Express Dining: A faster, more convenient dining option in the main dining room