Carnival Cruise Line's Family Express lunch menus are already a hit. The new Lido Marketplace selections are perfect for selective eaters, while still offering enough variety for the rest of the family.
John Heald, Carnival's Brand Ambassador, confirmed the Family Express lunch menus are available on Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.
However, there are plans to gradually expand the quick-service buffet menus to the rest of Carnival's fleet. In fact, some guests have confirmed seeing the menus on ships like Carnival Pride, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Magic, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Vista, and Carnival Elation.
"Here are two examples of those Express Family Menus and before the Mr. and Mrs. Glitterknickers shout at me......yes, adults can graze here too," Heald wrote on his popular Facebook page.
The menus feature kid-approved favorites like chicken tenders, plain spaghetti pasta, hot dogs, mac & cheese, and sugar sprinkle cookies.
There are also more sophisticated options that appeal to adults, including salmon croquettes, turkey escalopes, savory pork ribs, and chicken mirabella.
That said, the standard buffet, which has a far wider selection, isn't going anywhere — neither are fan-favorites like BlueIguana Cantina, Guy's Burger Joint, and Big Chicken.
The new Family Express menus are available simply to offer a quick and streamlined lunch experience that fits into the busiest days at sea.
Designed to make lunchtime easy for cruisers on the go
The Family Express menus aren't just for families with young kids. Anyone who wants a convenient, quick lunch option can enjoy the new offerings in the buffet.
Rather than browsing different buffet stations, everything from the Family Express menus is in one designated place, including the salads, entrees, and desserts. As such, it's easier to grab everything you want in a single trip.
Most cruisers are happy with the new menus. However, others are advocating for more gluten-free options, as well as longer hours.
"Great option, but wish it was in the buffet for dinner too for the kiddos. We aren’t MDR people anymore thanks to our [1-year-old]," Nina Deachilla commented on Heald's post.
"He will eat everything for now, but I am assuming one day he will only consume chicken tenders, so it would be nice to have that option on the buffet at dinner!"
Jackie Reamy added, "I love this idea but as a Gluten Free family, there is not one entree option"
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. 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!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
