It’s been over two years since Royal Caribbean updated its Main Dining Room menus to expedite service, and now Carnival seems to be following suit.
Carnival Cruise Line is testing a new express dinner service aboard Carnival Vista that will get you in and out of the dining room in 45 minutes. Generally, Carnival's dinner service takes around an hour and a half.
The test is only available for guests with Anytime Dining, so those who prefer the traditional seating won't have access to the quicker option.
The menu is pared down to speed up service, offering just four appetizers, four entrées, and two desserts — and yes, one of them is Carnival's famous melting cake.
For example, the appetizers may be limited to Roasted Duck Rolls, a Shrimp Cocktail, Caesar Salad, and the Roasted Tomato Soup, while the available entrées include Cornish Game Hen, the 12-Hour Braised Short Rib, Sirloin Steak, and Schezwan Shrimp.
Along with the melting cake, the other dessert could be the cheesecake. However, there isn't a standard cheese plate or other sweet treats.
According to John Heald, Carnival's Brand Ambassador, if the test is successful, other ships may see the express dining option in the future.
Read more: Carnival menus 2025: Main dining room, specialty restaurants & more
Royal Caribbean rolled out new dining room menus in 2023 in hopes of speeding up the average meal time
According to Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International’s President and C.E.O., guests often complained about the length of their dinner meal, so one of the primary reasons for the change was to expedite the service.
Although they were never aiming to serve guests a 3-course meal in 45 minutes, they wanted to introduce new menus to decrease the average meal from 95-120 minutes to around 75 minutes.
Comparatively, Carnival’s test isn't about reinventing the dining experience. Instead, Carnival hopes to offer an optional, time-efficient alternative for passengers who want a quicker dinner without resorting to casual options like the buffet.
Read more: I tried Royal Caribbean's new main dining room menus, and here's what I thought
If the test is popular, it could indicate a shift in how passengers want to eat in the dining room
Decades ago, the Main Dining Room was one of the highlights of the cruise experience. Each night was a formal, multi-course affair where guests dressed up, lingered over dinner, and ate at the same assigned table.
The introduction of flexible dining, which allows guests to dine when and with whom they choose, reflects a growing demand for convenience and personalization.
Instead of having to eat at 5:45pm each night, passengers can choose to dine at 6:00pm one evening and 8:00pm the next, depending on their plans.
Read more: 6 Carnival foods that cruisers swear are the line's best-kept secrets
This shift gives passengers more control over their schedule. Now, it's easier to fit dinner into your schedule without planning the whole evening around one meal.
Carnival is taking flexibility one step further with its express dining option, letting guests decide when they want to eat, as well as how long they want to spend at the table.
Of course, passengers can still opt to grab something in the buffet if they want to avoid the dining room altogether.
However, Carnival's express dining test is great for those who want a sit-down experience without committing to a lengthy meal and sacrificing an activity on the evening's schedule.
Read more: How to change your dining time on a Carnival cruise
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
