Carnival Cruise Line is piloting a new express dining experience aboard Carnival Vista, designed to offer guests a quicker mealtime option after a full day exploring ashore.
The trial is currently limited to one section of the Horizon Dining Room and is exclusive to guests with My Time Dining (also known as “Anytime Dining”).
The new service aims to deliver a complete dinner – including appetiser, main course, and dessert – in just 45 minutes, significantly faster than the traditional 90-minute main dining room experience.
Sample Menu
To help meet the quicker turnaround, Carnival has introduced a smaller, streamlined menu for express diners. A sample of the offerings includes:
Appetisers
- Roasted Duck Rolls
- Shrimp Cocktail
- Caesar Salad
- Tomato Soup
Main Courses
- Shrimp
- Cornish Game Hen
- Braised Short Rib
- Sirloin Steak
Desserts
- Cheesecake
- Chocolate Melting Cake
Guests can still opt for the standard dining experience if they prefer a more leisurely meal.
The express dining simply adds a new level of flexibility, particularly appealing for those who want to enjoy the ship’s evening entertainment or unwind after a long shore excursion.
Future Rollout Possible
Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald announced the pilot programme and indicated that if it proves popular, the express dining concept may expand to additional ships across the Fun Ship fleet.
For now, the 45-minute dinner option remains exclusive to Carnival Vista, giving her guests a chance to be among the first to try this speedier dining solution.
This new option adds to the cruise line’s growing list of flexible dining choices – already a key factor for many cruisers seeking control over their vacation schedule.
Some guests may be concerned about another tradition of cruising being eroded. A lot of guests still prefer that classic feel of dinner being an event that takes time.
The cruise line has assured guests that slower dinners are going nowhere, but I’m sure it won’t stop some people from worrying.
Me though? I love this. I have too much to do onboard, so I hate when dinner takes almost three hours. Get me in, get me fed, get me out and free to enjoy the rest of the ship!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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