Vegan Menu, Martinis and "Stuff" on Carnival Splendor

[arxcards]

I was just reading about a new Vegan menu being implemented on Carnival, and I just started to wonder what else has evolved since we were last on Carnival ... ooh, maybe 6 years ago.

Cruise Critic has a nice story about the Vegan menus, but they seem to hove omitted the ships that are being based here. A bit of further digging, Splendor is down for start of 2024, while Luminosa has no plans to have this yet.

https://www.cruisecritic.com.au/news/carnival-introduces-new-vegan-menu

One of what I hear is a handful of menus on rotation, and I believe there is to be a vegan burger and a vegan option at Chef's table, although it might be awkward to watch everyone else eating tenderloins & lobster.

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They have been promoting a mixologist class aboard. I have done many of these on lots of ships over the years, but never Carnival. In the days of the inclusive drinks package, these are becoming scarcer. Has anyone done one on Splendor, and/or know how much?

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The steakhouse, Fahrenheit 555 (290.556 celsius). The menu looks great, has anyone been recently?

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For anyone interested, we got an email through the week, stating their internet will be increasing in price on 16th October, as a hint to pre-book prior to that date for the current price.

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Any other hot tips?

 

 

[aussielozzie18]

The overall consensus Is Fahrenheit is worth doing.  Certainly the service is top notch. I loved my surf n turf but was disappointed with my entree & dessert. Maybe I made the wrong choices?  Tip - book for first night on board and you get a free bottle of House wine or a discount off other alcohol choices.

 

Havent done a mixologist class but from reading a fairly recent post online - $25pp. Max 11 pax. The class is organised by the mixologist and the invites are at his discretion or via ballot.  
 

There is an Italian restaurant that offers lunch for one day only during cruises.  Apparently it’s worth doing.
 

[arxcards]

8 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

The overall consensus Is Fahrenheit is worth doing.  Certainly the service is top notch. I loved my surf n turf but was disappointed with my entree & dessert. Maybe I made the wrong choices?  Tip - book for first night on board and you get a free bottle of House wine or a discount off other alcohol choices.

 

Havent done a mixologist class but from reading a fairly recent post online - $25pp. Max 11 pax. The class is organised by the mixologist and the invites are at his discretion or via ballot.  
 

There is an Italian restaurant that offers lunch for one day only during cruises.  Apparently it’s worth doing.
 

Thanks. I tried Nouveau on Spirit way back when, and picked the first night for the free bottle. I remember it being a pretty decent feed, but that is about all. I had squeezed the cruise between work commitments, and had been awake for 28hrs when I was trying to eat my dessert. Yes, we are pre-booked for first night. The OBC is easy to apply on Carnival's site.

 

Italian, hmm, will have to suss that out. Looks like I need to get to know this mixologist - nothing new there.

[arxcards]

Embarkation day lunch - what is open?

I am thinking of Guy's Burgers, but is there anything else that you would recommend?

 

I get the feeling you have almost been living aboard @Hogbay - what is your pick for Splendor food?

[Hogbay]

9 minutes ago, arxcards said:

Embarkation day lunch - what is open?

I am thinking of Guy's Burgers, but is there anything else that you would recommend?

 

I get the feeling you have almost been living aboard @Hogbay - what is your pick for Splendor food?

Mongolian Wok should have prawns bording day , you pick type of noodles vege and sauce . Hidden with the cakes and desserts are super salads 2 types each day .

[Relaxing Robbies]

1 hour ago, arxcards said:

Embarkation day lunch - what is open?

I am thinking of Guy's Burgers, but is there anything else that you would recommend?

 

Masala Tiger does very good Indian food. That was our choice for embarkation day lunch.

[Aussieflyer]

Yes Masala Tiger is great. I know there are vegetarian options but not sure if they are vegan as well.

The Deli does great sandwiches at lunch (from 11am) but there was always a long queue between about 12 and 1pm.

The Alchemy Bar was the best IMO - interesting drinks on the menu but will also make anything else. From memory, slightly more expensive than other bars but drinks were so much better. Can't remember if there was a mixology class when we were onboard in July - perhaps not as we probably would have done it.

[clairebearinaus]

We had a really good meal at Fahrenheit 555 a few weeks ago (though the ambience left a little to be desired) and I really rate Masala Tiger for lunch if you like Indian.  

 

MDR for sea day brunch (runs over breakfast and lunchtimes) in preference to the buffet.

 

I found the rest of the food on board to be mediocre at best, to be honest.  Especially dinner in the MDR, it was truly awful as was the service. 

 

For entertainment, the 2 comedians were a highlight, better than actual comedy cruises I've been on.

[arxcards]

59 minutes ago, clairebearinaus said:

We had a really good meal at Fahrenheit 555 a few weeks ago (though the ambience left a little to be desired) and I really rate Masala Tiger for lunch if you like Indian.  

 

MDR for sea day brunch (runs over breakfast and lunchtimes) in preference to the buffet.

 

I found the rest of the food on board to be mediocre at best, to be honest.  Especially dinner in the MDR, it was truly awful as was the service. 

 

For entertainment, the 2 comedians were a highlight, better than actual comedy cruises I've been on.

Thanks.

I have been hearing a fair bit of hit & miss about the MDR dinners, so have resolved that we are not going to dine in the usual Princess (eat early, eat often) mode. It helps that it is a cruise to nowhere. Maybe the waiters spend too much time dancing on the tables. A decent comedian would be a bonus.

 

Our plans include:

555 on the first night. It seems like we might need to prebook it again for the last night.

Brunch on the two sea days

Late lunches - Masala Tiger, Guys and the like

Hope the dining room is OK on the middle night, so we can cancel the 2nd 555 sitting and get some drinking money back.

Midnight pizza + night cap.

[Aussieflyer]

They did do a sea day lunch at Fahrenheit as well - not too bad and cheaper than the evening meal.

[Aussieflyer]

The deli was great for lunch (especially if you went early) - the menu is available on line. Also Masala Tiger did several evening meals (with a surcharge but looked quite OK).Especially if you want to ditch a Fahrenheit booking.

[Aussieflyer]

And I agree with other posters - the MDR was more miss than hit! 

[arxcards]

13 minutes ago, Aussieflyer said:

And I agree with other posters - the MDR was more miss than hit! 

Thanks for all that. I was suggesting to some friends, we should make the most out of the double Conflict Island stops and do the PNG cruise next year. A couple of bits of feedback were offered around dining room:

Food was crap

Service was non-existent

Food was inedible

Bread & water would otherwise be OK, but the bread was stale.

 

I get the vibe, and we will keep the MDR for brunch only. 

[Hogbay]

On 10/9/2023 at 8:28 PM, arxcards said:

Thanks for all that. I was suggesting to some friends, we should make the most out of the double Conflict Island stops and do the PNG cruise next year. A couple of bits of feedback were offered around dining room:

Food was crap

Service was non-existent

Food was inedible

Bread & water would otherwise be OK, but the bread was stale.

 

I get the vibe, and we will keep the MDR for brunch only. 

Oh well no experts review of MDR  . 

[aussielozzie18]

Two days at Conflict Island - that’s a bonus.  It was my favourite port on my PNG cruise. The service was fine in the MDR - the portions were small though.

[arxcards]

41 minutes ago, Hogbay said:

Oh well no experts review of MDR  . 

Not looking that way. What is your take on Carnival's MDR?

[arxcards]

I think we might head underwater for our meals. Splendor is anchored off Bundaberg again today. The hull should be polished so clean that you could eat off it.

[Hogbay]

28 minutes ago, arxcards said:

I think we might head underwater for our meals. Splendor is anchored off Bundaberg again today. The hull should be polished so clean that you could eat off it.

Again !!! That cork must of come out again .

[Hogbay]

On 10/13/2023 at 9:00 PM, arxcards said:

Not looking that way. What is your take on Carnival's MDR?

The $38 surf and turf 👍is always on the menu . The turf is larger cut without the surf . When I had the bread roll was always warm . You have to consider the price of a Carnival cruise compared to their other brand eg Princess which I find there burgers, pizza and there pre cooked poached eggs reheated all inedible . Any way royal back in town .

[arxcards]

Good that it is an option, but I will pay the bit extra for steakhouse. I can't recall ever leaving a Princess MDR dinner table unhappy - rarely perfect, but consistently very good. By the time I compare drink packages or what we will spend, Princess has been working out cheaper per day against anything else out of Sydney.  We had originally booked Carnival Spirit for Hawaii to Brisbane and have only kept the booking active because of the amount of OBC. 

 

[OzKiwiJJ]

1 hour ago, arxcards said:

Good that it is an option, but I will pay the bit extra for steakhouse. I can't recall ever leaving a Princess MDR dinner table unhappy - rarely perfect, but consistently very good. By the time I compare drink packages or what we will spend, Princess has been working out cheaper per day against anything else out of Sydney.  We had originally booked Carnival Spirit for Hawaii to Brisbane and have only kept the booking active because of the amount of OBC. 

 

Even at the higher prices for their Plus and Premier fares Princess still comes in very competitively for anyone wanting drinks and internet packages, let alone all the other "perks". 

[arxcards]

Yes, we look at all options, but are finding it hard not to book Princess.

 

All the same, we won't try to judge Carnival Splendor as Splendor Princess. We know it will be different but are happy to bend to what makes for a good cruise on Carnival. We are both thankful for the dining tips and will mix it up to find what we like. Whichever way, it will be an end of year reset and much needed downtime.

 

I have seen a room service menu. I presume that suites don't have an extended room service menu on Carnival.

[Hogbay]

Quantum prawns ×2 , special lunch . A certain brand has drinks included ,×15 in casino,  and also opens up a Pandora's box of tax & port fees. Only sailed  them post covid . Sydney  to Singapore  , downling, benoa.  Bri to Seat , via Japan  .😁😁👍

[arxcards]

We booked our steakhouse meals back around the time of this topic at $65 each. I have noticed recently that this price is now $72, so yet another cruise item with a 10% increase. Glad we got in early with our OBC and are $28 better off.