Carnival Cruise Line isn't known for having Michelin-star food. Instead, it is praised for its fast-casual dining options, ranging from juicy cheeseburgers to made-to-order tacos and crispy chicken sandwiches.
Although the main dining room food isn't necessarily anything to write home about either, there's a dessert that is a constant crowd-pleaser and arguably one of the most popular at sea: the Carnival chocolate melting cake.
I've enjoyed my fair share of ooey-gooey cakes aboard multiple ships in the fleet, and there are dozens of content creators who share tips on how to elevate the cake, including asking for extra ice cream, a side of peanut butter, or even fresh strawberries.
Despite my undying love for the Carnival melting cake, I decided to branch out and try an underrated dessert on my recent cruise aboard Mardi Gras.
The Carnival cruise banana split isn't anything fancy, but it's nostalgic
Hidden on the Carnival kids' menu is perhaps the most classic throwback dessert available on the entire ship: the banana split.
Seeing that I don't travel with children, I did not even know this was an option until I stumbled across a comment in a Carnival Facebook group raving about it.
"You have to ask for [the banana split]. It’s not on the dessert menu. Extra yummy!" Lori Deffner wrote.
Over 15 other users on the same post agreed with Deffner, saying that the Carnival banana split was "delicious" and "so good."
Naturally, I had to try it for myself to determine whether it lived up to the hype or not — and it certainly did. It wasn't anything fancy, and by that I mean it wasn't served in a boat-shaped bowl with an over-the-top serving of whipped cream and cherries.
Rather, it was a single scoop of Neapolitan ice cream (giving the classic vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry flavors), paired with two banana halves, a dollop of whipped cream, and a drizzle of chocolate syrup and rainbow sprinkles.
Read more: 6 best hidden gems to order in Carnival’s Main Dining Room
Before that, I hadn't had a banana split in years. Truthfully, I can't remember the last time I had the old-school dessert. Yet, this rendition on my Carnival cruise was everything I remembered it being. Plus, it's technically healthy since there's fruit, right?!
The kids' menu is full of other simple dishes that adults may prefer, too, such as chicken nuggets, cheese pizza, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and jello.
Other Carnival cruise food hacks
Although the kids' banana split isn't really a "hack," it's a hidden menu item that adults may not know even exists!
Outside of the main dining room, there are other sneaky tricks that cruisers have discovered to take otherwise ordinary dishes and elevate them.
One popular example is the DIY frosted lemonade. For this, all you have to do is grab a plastic cup, fill it with vanilla soft-serve, and top it with the complimentary lemonade available from the drink dispensers.
It's also easy to create your own ice cream sandwich by grabbing cookies from the Lido Marketplace buffet and adding a layer of soft-serve ice cream between them.
Some guests like to fashion their own "specialty coffee" by combining the standard drip coffee with hot chocolate. This creates a somewhat mocha-adjacent drink for less than it would cost at the Java Blue Café.
Read more: I spent 7 nights trying the new Carnival food menus. Here are the 5 best dishes I had
Is food free on Carnival cruises?
One of the best things about my kids' banana split was that it was included in my cruise fare. In fact, some of the line's best dining venues are available at no extra cost, including Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, Big Chicken, and Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse.
Nightly meals in the dining room are also included. You can get unlimited appetizers and desserts for free. However, Carnival charges $5 for each third and subsequent entrées.
Carnival's Lido Marketplace is another popular complimentary eatery. The buffet dishes up a selection of international dishes, comfort foods, and family-friendly favorites for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
That said, if you want to elevate your cruise experience, you can consider splurging on one of Carnival's specialty restaurants. These venues offer more refined atmospheres and higher-quality ingredients than the standard dining options.
Specialty restaurants on Carnival cruise ships include Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Cucina del Capitano, Rudi's Seagrill, Bonsai Sushi, Emeril's Bistros, the Chef's Table, and Bonsai Teppanyaki, among others.
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line: Ultimate Food Guide
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.
