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Carnival Panorama Dining: A Culinary Journey At Sea

We recently sailed on the Carnival Panorama after a seven-year hiatus from the line. Onboard, we were pleasantly surprised by the expanded specialty dining options and inclusive venues. We share our thoughts on the cuisine and onboard food choices, including options for those with food allergies.

As frequent cruisers, our dining experiences can enhance our journey. We like to try new ships and explore their different dining options.

There have been some changes since our last Carnival Cruise. One was the addition of requesting dining time on the app during the restaurant’s opening hours. The other was the removal of the door-hung room service menus.

Carnival Panorama Vista Restaurant

Like most competitor lines, Carnival offers a mix of inclusive and dining options for a fee.

Carnival Panorama Inclusive Dining Options

The Vista-class Carnival Panorama offers a variety of inclusive dining options, most offering a casual experience. Each venue provides unique cuisines without additional charges. Here are the key inclusive dining venues on our cruise.

Main Dining Rooms

The Vista and Horizon Restaurants are the two primary dining venues. Located on decks 3 and 4, these dining rooms serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is served at varying hours based on port days.

We always considered the dining room an elegant space. With white tablecloths and servers, we enjoyed our courses at a slow pace.

Our biggest disappointment was the removal of tablecloths, even on formal nights. So, instead of fine dining, we felt like we were eating at a diner. Instead of multiple cutlery pieces, we were given a fork and knife that we used for all courses.

We ate most of the dinners in the Vista Restaurant. The first evening, the service was painfully slow, the food was cold, and our server brought the wrong meals for us and the adjoining table. After requesting a different table and a set dining time, we received excellent service for the balance of the cruise.

Crab and shrimp cake appetizer
Crab and shrimp cake appetizer

We found the dining room menus uninspiring compared to other lines we sailed. After speaking to other regular Carnival guests onboard, they agreed that the food was disappointing for this vessel. One of my best meals was night four where I had a crab and shrimp cake, and chicken roulade.

On a positive note, the dining room offered lobster on the second formal night, and we were impressed that each guest could have two with an option to purchase a third. Competitor lines either allow one or only offer lobster for a fee. I’ve included the menus from our cruise.

Night One MenuNight Two MenuNight Three MenuNight Four Menu

Night Five MenuNight Six MenuNight Seven MenuNight Eight Menu

Our vessel offered brunch in the dining room on sea days. While we attempted to go, the wait for a table was over an hour, so we settled for option B.

Carnival chocolate melting cake
Carnival chocolate melting cake

The Sea Day brunch menu features both hearty and lighter options. Guests could choose from eggs, cereal, pastries, burgers, fried chicken, and more.

Lido Marketplace

The Lido Marketplace had a strange setup. Two food areas were divided by the kitchen area. Both areas repeated the same dishes on both sides of each location. With four of the same items, the selection of unique servings was limited.

Besides embarkation at Long Beach port, the buffet was never busy. Most cruise guests ate at the venues around the pool instead. Due to the lack of people, it was easy to find a table.

The omelet station was the busiest spot at breakfast, serving up made-to-order omelets or fried eggs. Breakfast was pretty well the same every day, and no “themed” dinners represented other countries’ cuisines.

Guy’s Burger Joint

Guy's Burger Joint
Guy’s Burger Joint

On Carnival vessels. Guy’s Burger Joint is a fan-favorite among cruisers. This venue specializes in handcrafted burgers with unique toppings and sides. On sea days, the venue always had a queue, but due to their efficiency, they filled orders fast.

Guy’s Burger Joint has a small menu, but its burgers are good. Their fries, however, were overly salted. We had eaten at Guy’s Burgers on the Carnival Miracle, and both agreed, this one wasn’t as good. We stuck with the plain burger and added our own toppings.

Guy's plain burger and fries
Guy’s plain burger and fries

Seating around the pool was often packed with Guy’s Burger Joint and Blue Iguana Cantina outside. So, we found getting a burger and eating it inside better.

Pizzeria del Capitano

Pizzeria del Capitano offers authentic Italian pizzas made fresh to order. Their menu is filled with traditional offerings in a casual aft setting. The pizzas are customizable, and the venue is open 24 hours.

This venue is ideal for a casual day with quick service and the option to enjoy a slice while lounging by the pool. We didn’t try the pizza, but what it offered looked good.

BlueIguana Cantina

We found BlueIguana Cantina just as busy as Guy’s Burger Joint. Since the burritos are custom-made, it took longer to get food.

BlueIguana Cantina's chicken and pork tacos
BlueIguana Cantina’s chicken and pork tacos

I tried the pork and chicken tacos, which were good, but understandably didn’t match the ones I ate in Mexico’s land-based restaurants.

Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que

Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que brings a taste of Southern BBQ to our cruise experience. This indoor/outdoor venue serves up tender meats, delicious sides, and flavorful sauces, all inspired by Guy Fieri’s culinary expertise.

We tried this venue on a sea day, and it was crazy busy. We tried smoked brisket, pulled pork, sausage, and BBQ chicken with coleslaw. There was an option for potato salad, baked beans, mac and cheese, and various sauces.

The pulled pork was fantastic and incredibly tender. However, the beef and chicken were overcooked and dry. While we could enjoy a complimentary casual lunch, eating at dinnertime incurs a fee.

Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ
Guy’s Pig & Anchor BBQ

Pasta Bowl

Cuchina de Capitano is the Italian specialty restaurant onboard. While dinner incurs a fee, dining there for lunch is complimentary. Lunch has a simplified menu.

Choose from linguine, farfalle, or penne, and add your sauce of choice. Top with chicken, Italian sausage, or shrimp, and various vegetables. Like the Asian restaurant next door, this one was busy on sea days.

Mongolian Wok

We tried the Mongolian Wok in the JiJi Asian Restaurant for lunch on our last sea day. Like the Cuchina de Capitano next door, lunch is complimentary with a modified menu.

The restaurant was so busy, we had to collect a buzzer and wait 45 minutes for a table. We were a group of three, but larger families waited over an hour.

Mongolian Wok Combo stir fry
Mongolian Wok Combo stir fry

There was a choice of five stir-fried noodles, and we all chose the combo (shrimp, beef, and chicken) with wide noodles. The service was excellent, the order arrived quickly, and the food was delicious. I wish we had tried this venue earlier in our cruise because we would have gone there more than once.

Continental Breakfast Room Service

On Carnival Panorama, we could order continental breakfast in our stateroom without a fee. To be more sustainable, the cruise line has eliminated the printed menu that guests leave at the door.

Instead, guests must scan a QR Code and phone to place an order. Oddly, the scanned menu didn’t show any breakfast items. Instead, it showed items that could be ordered after 10 am, ALL incurring a fee.

Specialty Dining

For an additional fee, specialty dining venues provide unique culinary experiences. We always try a few specialty restaurants on every cruise.

Cucina del Capitano

Cucina del Capitano offers a family-style Italian dining experience. Here, guests can enjoy classic dishes inspired by the Italian heritage of Carnival’s ship captains. The menu features favorites like lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, and fresh seafood risottos.

Cucina del Capitano
Cucina del Capitano

The vibrant atmosphere is perfect for gatherings, and sharing dishes enhances the communal dining experience. We can also choose from delectable desserts like gelato and crema al caramello.

Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse

Fahrenheit 555 is their premier steakhouse, featuring a classic, elegant atmosphere. The menu highlights prime cuts of beef, including filet mignon and ribeye, prepared to perfection.

Appetizers like lobster bisque and smoked fresh oysters set the stage for a sumptuous dining experience. My husband’s choice, a sumptuous ribeye, comes in a colossal 18 oz size.

Desserts, including the mouthwatering chocolate sphere, round out the meal beautifully. An additional fee applies, but the quality and service are well worth it.

Bonsai Teppanyaki

Bonsai Teppanyaki offers an interactive dining experience with a focus on Japanese cuisine. Skilled chefs prepare our meals right before us on a teppanyaki grill, creating an entertaining and engaging atmosphere.

Bonsai Teppanyaki
Bonsai Teppanyaki

This restaurant was small and could only seat up to 20 guests. However, passengers could enjoy lunch or dinner for an extra fee.

We’ve tried teppanyaki on other ships and always enjoyed the food and entertainment. The menu caters to most guests’ tastes, from tender steak and chicken to fresh seafood and vegetables. Guests can customize their meals with different sauces and sides.

Bonsai Sushi

Bonsai Sushi is a go-to spot for authentic sushi and sashimi. With a menu that features a range of fresh ingredients, we can choose from classic rolls to creative specialty options.

Some favorites include the California roll, spicy tuna roll, and various nigiri selections. The casual atmosphere allows guests to enjoy an informal meal or a quick bite. Pricing is straightforward, with many options at a nominal fee, making this a convenient choice for sushi lovers.

Ji Ji Asian Kitchen

The varied menu at Ji Ji Asian Kitchen pleasantly surprised us. While we had tried the venue for a casual lunch, the dinner was more intimate with tablecloths, sunset views, and fantastic service.

Brian enjoying chicken spring rolls at JiJi Asian Kitchen
Brian enjoying the spring rolls

This venue featured dishes inspired by Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese influences, all thoughtfully prepared. We started with the chicken spring rolls and Jade Shrimp Har Gow (shrimp dumplings). Both were packed with flavor.

Jade Shrimp Har Gow appetizer
Jade Shrimp Har Gow

Of the five entrée items, we selected the two with the chili spicy symbols. Interestingly, the Singapore Chili Shrimp had a “one” level of chili but was fierier than the Kung Pao Chicken, which had medium spice. Both could be adapted to add more or less spice.

The chili shrimp were hard to eat because they were cooked in the shells. The Kung Pao Chicken, however, was a huge hit. We accompanied our entrees with Chinese broccoli and chicken fried rice.

We couldn’t resist trying their dessert even though we were feeling full.

My husband’s choice, the caramelized crepes with lemon ice cream, looked terrific. I picked fried wontons with tapioca pearls in coconut milk. While the wontons had a nice flavor, they were fried too long and overly hard.

Caramelized Crepes and Fried Wontons
Caramelized Crepes and Fried Wontons

Seafood Shack

While not a specialty dining restaurant, the Seafood Shack brings a taste of the coast right onboard. This Lido deck venue had limited hours and was rarely busy.

Surprisingly, everything offered there incurred a fee, including a bowl of clam chowder, and fish and chips. The casual vibe venue sold lobster rolls, crab cakes, a fried seafood platter, calamari, oysters, and shrimp.

Pig & Anchor Smokehouse

If you like beer and a BBQ, the Pig & Anchor Smokehouse is your perfect venue. Select from dry-rubbed chicken, beef brisket, ribs, and sausage, and wash it down with beer brewed onboard.

If you can’t decide on the brew, the venue offers a Hog sampler or a selection of innovative cocktails. Who can resist a Bacon Manhattan?

Brian at the Pig & Anchor Smokehouse
Brian at the Pig & Anchor Smokehouse

Chef’s Table

The Chef’s Table is a standout experience for those who like fine dining. It’s more than a meal but offers a chance to see behind the scenes chefs prepare the courses.

It features a prix fixe menu, crafted by the ship’s Master Executive Chef, showcasing beautifully presented dishes. Guests enjoy a multi-course meal accompanied by expertly paired wines.

Cruising With Dietary Needs

One thing that impressed me was Carnival’s options for guests with special dietary needs. In the dining room, daily menus included gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options. However, Carnival did not mark their buffet items with allergy warnings.

Sample Gluten-free Menu

Sample Vegan Menu

To ensure dietary needs are met, we suggest discussing any food allergies with the head waiter on the first night. In the main dining room, we always request the same table with a consistent waiter to minimize the risk of mistakes.

Dining Experiences

Carnival Panorama didn’t offer themed nights or cuisines for other countries. We missed this feature, which we had enjoyed on different vessels.

However, they did offer a Thing 1 & Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast, based on the popular Dr. Seuss book of the same name. This themed meal for both kids and adults, replaced the original green eggs and ham breakfast.

The cost was USD 15 for adults and USD 10 for children. The menu was comical, with Grinch pancakes, roast beast omelet, and the ever classic, “Green eggs and ham.”

Did Carnival Panorama Meet Our Dining Expectations?

While we enjoyed our time on the Panorama and liked the vessel’s layout, the food selection and quality fell short of a good dining experience. However, it wouldn’t stop us from sailing on one of their other ships.

Carnival Panorama cruise ship and some of its dining options onboard: specifically the BlueIguana Cantina and Mongolian Wok
Karen Hosier

Karen Hosier, a military brat, grew up traveling the world. She lived in many countries in Europe, Asia, and North America. Later in life, she discovered cruising and shares her love of being on the ocean and exploring faraway lands. Follow her on PinterestFacebook, and Instagram.