Guy Fieri is best known for his hit Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, but the celebrity chef’s accomplishments extend well beyond the “Triple D” series. Ask any fan of Carnival Cruise Line, and you’re likely to hear high praises of Fieri’s iconic restaurants onboard nearly every ship in the cruise line’s fleet.
Carnival first debuted Guy’s Burger Joint in 2011, and it quickly became one of the cruise line’s signature eateries. Juicy, fresh burgers are cooked and served poolside with freshly seasoned fries. Even better, the restaurant is complimentary.
Following the smashing success of Fieri’s burger joint, the cruise line expanded its partnership in 2018 with Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse. Debuting on Carnival Horizon, the onboard smokehouse featured “lip-smacking” barbecue meats, smoked to perfection with Guy’s homemade spices and rubs.
The Pig & Anchor menu features smoked ribs, pulled pork butt, smoked chicken, and house-made andouille sausage. Most of the meats are smoked anywhere from 10 to 14 hours to ensure Fieri’s signature flavors are achieved.
The cruise line offers homemade sides, including baked beans, mac & cheese, green beans, crispy onion straws, French fries, and more. The smokehouse is also accompanied by an in-house "Flavortown" brewery with craft beers available that are actually brewed on the ship.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line: Ultimate Food Guide
Following the success of Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, Carnival Cruise Line expanded the eatery to be included on its newest ship class. Guy’s famous barbecue can now be enjoyed for free on Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee, while à la carte pricing applies for dinners on other ships.
In addition to Excel Class ships, Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse can also be found on Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama. However, Pig and Anchor is a specialty restaurant for dinner aboard Carnival Horizon and Panorama.
Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Magic, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Sunshine, and Carnival Vista have a revised version of the Pig and Anchor Smokehouse called Guy's Pig and Anchor Bar-B-Que. It's open for lunch only and is served buffet style aboard on embarkation and sea days. In other words, the sit-down experience available at the Smokehouse isn't available on these ships.
As a barbecue fanatic, I was eager to try Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse on Carnival’s Excel Class ships. Over the last two years, I’ve sailed on all three Excel Class ships in Carnival’s fleet. Because all ships are similar in size at 180,000 gross tons and hold around 6,400 passengers, the three dining experiences were nearly identical.
Although it would be hard to beat my husband’s homemade barbecue recipes, I knew Guy Fieri wouldn’t let me down. Here’s what my experiences were like dining at Pig and Anchor Smokehouse on Carnival Cruise Line.
First, I was impressed by the ambiance and coziness of the smokehouse, especially considering I was on a cruise ship!
Cruise ships have become floating cities with restaurants, bars, lounges, attractions, and more. The biggest mega-ships can make you forget you’re even sailing on a cruise ship! In this way, Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse transported us to a honky-tonk bar in Nashville with live music and the aroma of freshly smoked meats filling the air.
On Carnival’s Excel Class ships, Pig and Anchor Smokehouse can be found in the Summer’s Landing zone, located at the ship’s aft. As the biggest vessels in Carnival’s fleet, guests can enjoy six distinct zones for dining, entertainment, relaxing, shopping, and amusement.
Summer’s Landing is designed to be a “chill spot” resembling a summer picnic with yard games, an infinity pool, freshly-made barbecue, and even picnic tables.
Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse, along with its brewhouse, fits in perfectly with the summer theme. Twinkling lights and rustic decor lean into the backyard BBQ theme. In the evenings, country music from a small stage illuminates the space. The welcoming atmosphere is unlike anywhere I’ve been on a cruise ship!
Seating for the smokehouse surrounds Guy’s Flavortown Bar, where massive kettles can be seen behind the bar. The crafted beer is brewed in-house to pair perfectly with Guy’s barbecue.
I’m not a beer drinker, so I didn’t try any brews available during my Carnival cruises, but I love the concept of offering beers brewed onsite to accompany the barbecued meats.
Carnival prides itself on cooking the meat on real wood smokers, which is quite the feat considering more cruise ship kitchens rely on electrical power. The smokers can be found outside on the promenade deck, which provides additional seating.
According to the cruise line, the machines are self-contained with hickory chips for smoking, along with fire and smoke. In order to comply with strict ship safety guidelines, Carnival had to make modifications to their smokers. This involved adding sensors that automatically shut off the smokers in case of a gas leak.
Although the restaurant has plenty of seating, there was always a long wait
Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse is a popular dining spot onboard for good reasons! While I’ve taken 50 cruises, I have never tried freshly smoked meat on a cruise before. Along with many other eager cruisers, there was always a long wait and crowd of people waiting to be seated.
On my recent cruise onboard Carnival Jubilee, I theorized the restaurant would be less busy on the first night before others learned about the complimentary eatery. This wasn’t the case, as we still had to wait for 30 minutes before our buzzer rang and a table was available for the two of us.
All tables were packed in the restaurant, which is typically a good sign. Cruisers aren’t usually willing to wait unless the food is worthwhile. I don’t mind waiting for a table, although it would be advantageous if you could request a table in Carnival’s HUB app. This would allow you to see the current wait times, request a table, and receive an alert when your table is ready.
In addition, the long dining experience can make it difficult to plan your evening. Because production shows are especially popular, it’s often recommended to arrive early to ensure you can get a seat. We ended up being late for the main show because we weren’t expecting to wait this long for a table.
If you’re planning to dine at Pig and Anchor Smokehouse during your cruise, I suggest heading there early in the evening. The wait times only get longer as the night progresses. Also, allow buffer time to attend any entertainment after your dinner, as you might be dining longer than you anticipate.
The smoked meats and sides are ordered from an à la carte menu on Excel Class ships
After being seated, guests are given small order forms to complete for their selections. The top of the menu provides the smoked meats to choose from, including:
- Blue Ribbon Chicken (Dark or White)
- 18 Hour Brisket
- Smoked Pulled Pork Butt
- House Cheddar Sausage
- Pig and Anchor Melt
- Maple and Chili Salmon
Of course, no barbecue dinner is complete without sides. Guy’s Pig and Anchor provides a selection of tasty sides to accompany the smoked meats, similar to what you’d find at a local BBQ joint. The side selection includes:
- Carolina Slaw
- Crispy Onion Strings
- Mac Daddy Mac and Cheese
- BBQ Beans with beef brisket trimmings
- French fries
The order form also provides dessert options, which you order at the same time as your entrees and sides:
- Bourbon Banana Pie
- Apple Cobbler
- Mississippi Mud Pie
While dinner and lunch are complimentary on Excel Class ships, there are also premium options available:
- St. Louis Ribs, Memphis style ($10 for half-rack; $17 for full rack)
- Prime Time Prime Rib, Texas-inspired ($12 for 8oz and $20 for 16oz)
- The Backyard Brownie with hot fudge and ice cream ($5)
Additionally, the menu and pricing changes across Carnival’s fleet. Because I’ve dined at Pig and Anchor Smokehouse on three different Carnival ships, I’ve noticed the menus have changed slightly.
For instance, in November 2022 on Carnival Celebration, we were able to order three meats and three sides for dinner. When I cruised on Carnival Jubilee earlier this year, the menu only allowed for selecting two entrees and two sides. Some items were removed, such as the green beans with bacon and fully loaded fundertots.
The pulled pork was the star of the show, but the baked beans fell flat for me
During my cruises, I’ve been able to try most of the entrees and sides at Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse. I love barbecue in general, so I wanted to make sure I tried all four of the meats available on the menu. In my opinion, the smoked pulled pork butt is the best option because it’s consistently tender, juicy and oh-so flavorful.
There are four different homemade sauces available on each table: Sriracha Sweet and Spicy, Bourbon Brown Sugar, Carolina #6 Hop and Slop, Kansas City Smokey and Sweet. I prefer a sweet barbecue sauce, so I doused my meats in the brown sugar sauce, which was fantastic!
The brisket, which is smoked for 14 hours, is another favorite of mine. You receive three hearty slices of brisket—a more generous portion than I expected for a complimentary meal. Brisket can be fatty sometimes, but not at Guy’s restaurant. With a hearty coating of BBQ, the beef is perfectly seasoned with a strong, smokey taste.
On the other hand, the chicken and sausage have both been hit or miss. Sometimes the sausage has been impressive while other times, the meat was tough and dry. Similarly, the chicken is inconsistent. After ordering this a few times, I wouldn’t recommend the chicken.
Now, onto the sides. I’ve tried most of the side options at Pig and Anchor Smokehouse, including the baked beans, macaroni & cheese, French fries, and crispy onions. I’m not a fan of coleslaw, so I’ve never ordered this side before.
In my experiences, the best side is the Mac Daddy Mac and Cheese. Served in a small tin bowl, the macaroni and cheese is excellent every time. Cheesy, buttery, and warm with a crispy layer on the top, this one is not to be missed.
I found the crispy onion strings to be equally as impressive. The onion strings were salty, crunchy, and satisfying. This wouldn’t be something I typically order at a barbecue restaurant, but the complimentary aspect of this onboard eatery changed my mind. Now, I’m a crispy onion aficionado!
Finally, the baked beans have been consistently disappointing every time I’ve tried this side dish. I prefer my baked beans to be on the sweeter side, and I have to admit, my husband makes the world’s best baked beans. Guy’s baked beans seemed to be more vinegar-based and lacked any sweetness.
I tried all the desserts at Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, and the brownie is worth the extra cost
I’ll be the first to admit that spending extra money on a cruise for dessert seems preposterous. With an abundance of sweet treats available at all times, it doesn’t seem necessary to pay extra for dessert.
Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse feature three dessert options: banana pie, apple cobbler, and Mississippi mud pie. All three sound delicious, but they’ve never left a lasting impression on me. In particular, the mud pie tastes flavorless and lacks the rich, chocolatey taste I was expecting. The apple cobbler is nothing to write home about either, although topping the dish with nearby soft-serve ice cream is recommended!
During my last visit to Pig and Anchor Smokehouse, I decided to splurge on a backyard brownie. I am a sucker for brownie sundaes, and $5 is hardly noticeable in the grand scheme of vacation budgeting.
Let me tell you, the brownie is absolutely worth the up-charge. The massive brownie is served in a cast iron and topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, chocolate sauce, ice cream, and nuts. Although I’m not a huge fan of nuts on my desserts, this one was a slam dunk.
The brownie itself was decadent, dense, and chewy with pockets of fudge. The portion was generous and more than enough to share between two people. I would definitely order this brownie again if I dined at Pig and Anchor Smokehouse in the future.
Overall, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse stands out as a must-visit dining experience on Carnival cruise ships
If you’re sailing onboard one of Carnival’s ships featuring Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse, I highly recommend planning to dine at least once during your cruise. During my last cruise on Carnival Jubilee, we enjoyed our meal at the smokehouse so much that we decided to return a second time.
Because Excel Class ships offer complimentary lunch and dinner at the restaurant, a visit to the smokehouse is a no-brainer. However, you should plan to arrive early and be flexible with your dinner plans. Expect long wait times regardless of when you choose to dine.
Would I want to pay extra for this meal during my cruise? That’s up for debate. Supposedly, the specialty dining option for Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse includes an expanded menu and higher-quality cuts of meat. Of course, I haven’t had the opportunity to try this elevated experience, but I would definitely splurge to try if I had the chance.
With so many dining options on Carnival’s biggest and newest cruise ships, Pig and Anchor Smokehouse is a one-of-a-kind cruise experience. Between the honky-tonk ambiance and deliciously smoked meats, Pig and Anchor Smokehouse is a highlight of any Carnival cruise.
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. Allie's been on over 45 cruises all over the world. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
