Carnival Vista delivers an exceptional variety of dining with something for every taste and budget. From complimentary favorites like Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina to upscale specialty venues such as Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse and The Chef’s Table, Carnival Vista’s diverse culinary options ensure every meal is memorable. Whether you’re looking for quick bites or gourmet experiences, we cover them all in our Carnival Vista restaurants guide with menus.
Complimentary Carnival Vista Restaurants
There are several dining options on the list of Carnival Vista restaurants that are included in your cruise fare. These include the typical main dining room as well as the cruise ship buffet.
Carnival Cruise Line ships also offer several quick service options that are complimentary. From Mexican favorites at BlueIguana Cantina, to burgers at Guy’s Burger Joint, to pizza at Pizzeria del Capitano, there are plenty of tasty options that won’t cost you anything. In our opinion, Carnival has some of the best casual dining at sea!
Reflections Restaurant (Deck 3)
The Carnival Vista Main Dining Rooms include two different dining experiences. If you are a more traditional cruiser, you can opt for either Early or Late Assigned Dining. The Deck 3 Reflections Restaurant is reserved for Assigned Dining.
Cruisers who want to try a variety of the dining options on the ship or want a more flexible schedule might prefer Your Time Dining. With this option, cruisers can dine whenever they want by joining a virtual queue in the Carnival HUB app when they are ready to eat. This option is available from 5:30 to 9 PM daily. Just note that there may be a wait similar to a restaurant on land.
Regardless of whether you pick Assigned Dining or Your Time Dining, the Reflections and Horizons restaurants offer the same rotational menu. These menus do change nightly with a few always available items, like the famous chocolate melting cake.
The cruise line does still serve lobster in the MDR on the second Elegant Night.
Further, across all Carnival Cruise Line ships, extra entrees in the main dining room are an upcharge. Guests may continue to order a second complimentary entrée if they choose; however, a third entrée will incur a $5 charge. This is for all dishes not just lobster like some other cruise lines.
The Reflections Restaurant on Carnival Vista can be found more midship of the Horizons Restaurant and is typically only open for dinner. Though, it does host the up-charge Thing 1 & Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast on the last sea day at 8:15 AM and 9:45 AM (times subject to change). See below for details.
Horizons Restaurant (Decks 3 and 4)
The Horizons Restaurant is the larger of Carnival Vista’s two main dining rooms. This 2-story main dining room is located aft on Decks 3 and 4. Deck 3 is reserved for Your Time Dining while Deck 4 is utilized for Express Dining. This Express Dining option has a more limited menu but is designed to get you in and out of the dining room in under an hour.
The Horizons Restaurant serves breakfast on port days from around 7 to 9 AM. These times do vary based on your arrival into port. Items on the menu include your typical sit down breakfast options like eggs your way, omelets, pancakes, and more.
On sea days, the restaurant serves a Sea Day Brunch instead from 8:30 AM to 12 PM. This Sea Day Brunch is a must-try, especially items like the tasty skillet cake, 12-hour french toast, steak and eggs, and chicken and waffles.
Once again, the dinner menu at Horizons rotates each evening like most cruise lines offering a wide array of starters, entrees, and desserts including dishes selected by the cruise line’s Chief Culinary Officer, Emeril Lagasse (same as Reflections).
Below are the menus from our recent 2025 8-night Carnival Vista sailing. Keep in mind that the menu rotation is subject to change based on your cruise’s particular itinerary.
Breakfast | Sea Day Brunch | Dinner 1 | Dinner 2 | Dinner 3 | Dinner 4 | Dinner 5 | Dinner 6 | Dinner 7 | Dinner 8 | Wine List
Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse (Deck 5)
Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse is a complimentary buffet style lunch on sea days. This venue is open from around 12 to 2:30 PM and is located outside on the starboard side of the waterfront promenade. Here, you will have your choice of pork, chicken, beef, or sausage along with some custom sides like mac & cheese and baked beans alongside award-winning sauces.
Unlike other Vista class and Excel class ships, there is no indoor equivalent that’s open for dinner. Instead, Carnival Vista features the RedFrog Pub & Brewery which does NOT serve food in the evenings.
Pig & Anchor Lunch Menu
Java Blue Cafe (Deck 5)
The Java Blue Cafe is your dedicated coffee shop on Carnival ships. Located off the Ocean Plaza on Carnival Vista, this venue opens at 6 AM most mornings for cruisers to get their caffeine fix. Serving espresso-based beverages and milk shakes that are included in the Cheers drink package, you might find yourself visiting this cafe quite a bit; we did!
While the drinks will cost extra, there are select complimentary continental breakfast items in the morning. There are desserts available as well throughout the day, but they cost a nominal fee.
Of note, specialty coffee is also available at the Plaza Bar and Atrium Bar. Further, Carnival is trialing a new mobile order feature for morning coffee; however, it’s not included in the beverage packages. On Vista, guests could mobile order and pick-up their cup of joe at the Atrium Bar alleviating the need to wait in line.
Coffee Menu | Food Menu | Shake Menu
BlueIguana Cantina (Deck 10)
Located on the portside of the Lido deck, BlueIguana Cantina serves up Mexican favorites for both breakfast and lunch. You can customize your breakfast or lunch burrito any way you like as they are freshly prepared just for you. There is even a salsa bar located nearby.
If you’d prefer tacos or a salad/rice bowl, you can get those too at the BlueIguana Cantina. The best part is that everything here is complimentary.
This venue is open daily from 7/8 to 10:30 AM for breakfast and 12 to 2:30/3:30 PM for lunch.
Breakfast Menu | Lunch Menu
Guy’s Burger Joint (Deck 10)
Also located on the Lido Deck (starboard side), Guy’s Burger Joint serves up some of the best burgers at sea. In partnership with Guy Fieri, this poolside shack features fresh off the grill burgers and fries with a toppings bar for you to customize your meal to perfection.
Guy’s Burger Joint is open every day from around 12 to 6 PM to satisfy all your burger cravings. How many can you eat in just one week? Really, you can’t go wrong with any of the selections.
This is perhaps the busiest quick service eatery on Carnival Vista, so don’t be surprised to find a queue.
Guy’s Burger Menu
Lido Marketplace (Deck 10)
The Lido Marketplace is your typical cruise ship buffet, featuring a variety of selections for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Honestly, with so many other offerings on Carnival Vista, we did not eat here much during our cruise.
The Lido Marketplace is typically open for breakfast from around 6:30/7:30 to 11:30 AM. The venue then reopens for lunch from around 12 to 2:30/3:30 PM. Then, dinner is available from 6 to 9:30 PM nightly.
For breakfast, you’ll find typical selections of eggs, breakfast meats, pancakes, and omelet stations. For lunch and dinner, you’ll find a soup and salad station, dessert station, carving station, rotating hot entrees, cold cuts, and more. There’s also a “Family Express” area serving items like chicken tenders, hot dogs, lasagna, and fries and the “Comfort Kitchen” with rotating selections like beef stew, baked ziti, and fish & chips.
Additionally, the Carnival Deli is located in the Lido Marketplace on Carnival Vista. This deli serves up some made to order sandwiches and is open daily from around 11 AM to 11 PM. Some selections include buffalo chicken, steak & cheese, and a southwest chicken wrap.
Late night snacks are also available 11:30 PM until 2:30 AM.
Carnival Deli Menu
Swirls (Deck 10)
For those looking for a soft serve fix, you can rejoice that there are two locations onboard Carnival Vista, with stations on each side of the Lido Marketplace open from 11 AM to midnight. Choose between vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, or twist.
Pizzeria del Capitano (Deck 10)
Located at the aft of the Lido Deck near the Tides Pool, Pizzeria del Capitano is your go-to spot for pizza. This eatery is open daily from 9 AM to midnight to fulfill your cravings any time of day.
This pizzeria features a walk-up counter where guests can order fresh out of the oven pizza slices. You can then enjoy your pizza in the nearby seating area or take it to-go to enjoy anywhere around the ship. There are five free options to enjoy as well as a couple up-charge variations for $6 each.
Don’t be surprised to find a line here, as it is quite popular too, especially as a late-night snack option. You can even get delivery via the Carnival Hub app for a small fee.
Pizza Menu
Captain’s Pasta Bar (Deck 11)
Who says cruise ships don’t offer a variety of complimentary dining options? On Carnival Vista, you can test out some of the items at the Cucina del Capitano specialty restaurant for no additional fee during lunch time. That’s right, this restaurant serves a complimentary pasta bar for lunch from 12 to 2:30 PM.
While the menu is rather small, guests can enjoy fresh ingredients, the right blend of spices and sauces, and al dente preparation. Choose your pasta type, sauce, and add-ons like chicken, sausage, shrimp, and a variety of veggies. There are also other select menu items like Caesar salad.
Captain’s Pasta Bar Menu
Mongolian Wok (Deck 11)
Ji Ji Asian Kitchen also serves a complimentary lunch called the Mongolian Wok. Here, cruisers can enjoy customized noodle dishes from 12 to 2:30 PM. Choose either a stir fry or broth and add protein, then sit back and relax while the dish is made to order.
These lunchtime offerings are a unique and tasty option not found on the cruise line’s newer Excel class vessels.
Mongolian Wok Menu
Fresh Creations (Deck 15)
Serenity is the adults-only retreat on Carnival Cruise Line ships. On Carnival Vista, this private oasis offers umbrellas, padded loungers, two hot tubs, a bar, and even some healthy lunch options at the Fresh Creations salad bar.
The salad bar is open for lunch on sea days so you don’t have to give up your slice of paradise when you get hungry.
Fresh Creations Menu
Specialty Restaurants on Carnival Vista
With so many great complimentary offerings, you certainly do not have to pay extra for dining on Carnival Vista (if you don’t want to). Though, this ship also offers a few specialty restaurants that come with an up-charge but are worth a try.
If you plan to dine at any of these Carnival Vista restaurants, you should make reservations pre-cruise, as popular dining times do fill up quickly.
The Chef’s Table (Deck 3)
The Chef’s Table is an exclusive multi-course dinner hosted by the executive chef. This experience includes a galley tour, an elegant meal with selections not found anywhere else on the ship, and exquisite service. This intimate meal is priced at $124 per person +18% gratuity. During our sailing, The Chef’s Table experience was available nightly at 5:45 PM.
This menu is subject to change based on the chef’s preferences and locally sourced ingredients. If you have allergies or dietary preferences, the chef will work to customize the exerperience for you.
Of note, there is no Carnival Kitchen experience on this ship unlike newer ships in the fleet.
Chef’s Table Menu
Bonsai Sushi (Deck 5)
This sushi lovers paradise is an a la carte venue that is open for dinner daily from 5 PM to 12 AM. Bonsai Sushi is also open for lunch on sea days from 12 to 2:30 PM.
Bonsai Sushi offers several sushi and sashimi selections, as well as noodle bowls and Japanese small plates. So, even if you are not a fan of sushi, there are probably other menu items for you to enjoy at this venue for reasonable prices.
Unfortunately, there is no Bonsai Teppanyaki on Carnival Vista.
Bonsai Sushi Menu
Fahrenheit 555 (Deck 5)
Fahrenheit 555 is Carnival Cruise Line’s signature steakhouse. This American steakhouse has a warm and inviting atmosphere with an open concept kitchen, making it a great choice for an elegant night dinner.
The restaurant is open nightly for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. The cover charge at this venue is $52 per person or $18 for kids 11 and under.
The menu at Fahrenheit 555 features upscale offerings like shrimp cocktail, lobster bisque, risotto, and premium cuts of beef. For those who don’t eat beef, other entree selections include chicken, lobster tail, and dover sole. And you can’t forget dessert with options like the chocolate sphere and apple tarte tatin.
Fahrenheit 555 Menu
Empanada & Pie (Deck 5)
Empanada & Pie is a newer offering on Carnival Cruise Line. Located off of Ocean Plaza and nearby the RedFrog Pub, this small station serves up, well, empanadas and pies in the evenings from 5 to 11 PM. These snacks are similar to what we’ve had in the past at Java Blue on Excel class ships.
The menu features four savory and four sweet empanadas along with a chicken or pulled pork pie. While an upcharge, the prices are very reasonable at $1.50 to $2 each. These are a great evening snack!
Empanada & Pie Menu
Seafood Shack (Deck 10)
The casual Seafood Shack is located aft on Deck 10 near the Tides bar and pool across from the Pizzeria del Capitano. This counter service restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily varying times from 11 AM to 3 PM until 10 PM depending on the port of call. The Seafood Shack offers classic favorites like fried shrimp, lobster rolls, fish & chips, clam chowder, and other fresh local catch.
All menus items at this venue are a la carte at current market prices.
Seafood Shack Menu
Ji Ji Asian Kitchen (Deck 11)
Ji Ji Asian Kitchen serves regional specialties from across Asia each crafted in its own unique style. This restaurant serves the complimentary Mongolian Wok for lunch but has a flat fee cover charge of $24 per person or $11 for kids under 11 years old. Ji Ji is open for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM nightly.
The portions are meant to share, so we suggest that you order several different options to share amongst your dining party. With appetizers like duck, pot stickers, and spring rolls, as well as a selection of rice and noodles, you will have plenty of great options to complement your entrees. We particularly liked the Kung Pao chicken and Singapore Chili shrimp.
Ji Ji Asian Kitchen Menu
Cucina del Capitano (Deck 11)
Cucina del Capitano is Carnival Cruise Line’s traditional Italian restaurant. This restaurant serves the complimentary Captain’s Pasta Bar for lunch but is an up-charge for dinner. The price to dine here is $24 per person or $11 for kids under 11 years old.
Cucina del Capitano is open for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 PM nightly. Cruisers can enjoy favorites like Nonna’s meatball, calamari, various pasta dishes, chicken parm, short rib, and mile-high gelato pie in a rustic-themed venue. While a $6 up-charge, the gelato pie was totally worth it!
Cucina del Capitano Menu
Room Service
Room service is available 24 hours a day with select complimentary items and other items that are available for an up-charge at a la carte pricing.
For breakfast (6 to 10 AM), you can choose from fruit, cereal, continental pastry items, and yogurt for no additional cost as well as breakfast sandwiches for around $5.
During the day (10 AM to 6 AM), various items are available at a la carte prices. Selections on the All Day Menu include salads, sandwiches, burgers, wings, desserts, and more. Most items cost between $5 to $8 each.
An additional 18% gratuity will be added to each order as well.
Breakfast Menu | All Day Menu
Thing 1 & Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast
On Carnival Vista, you can enter the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss at the special Thing 1 & Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast. This up-charge event takes place in the Reflections dining room on the last sea day at 8:15 and 9:45 AM. It is $15 for adults and $10 for kids.
At this character breakfast, the mischievous Thing 1 and Thing 2 are having a birthday party at sea but in typical Seuss style they’ll actually be celebrating YOU.
This special event features menu items like Grinch’s Pancakes, steak and eggs, red velvet french toast, and green eggs and ham.
Whether you are a family or just big kids at heart, this is a fun way to spend a sea day breakfast.
Menu
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