Aboard the Carnival Splendor you will dine like royalty as you indulge in delectable cuisine in the evening and enjoy an array of flavours all day long.

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I never knew food could taste so good until my first cruise with Carnival Splendor.

Every family has it’s quirks growing up, and mine was a deep appreciation for good tasting food. The buffet to my father was like kryptonite to superman. Deadly.

I had heard the legends of cruise food from my father. He made it sound like the cruise ship he was on must have originated from some magical utopian fantasy land.

Could cruise food really be that good?

Yes. Yes it can.

What I was not prepared for however, was the access to this “free” and delicious cruise food at anytime of the day.

Good thing Carnival Splendor had a fitness centre. I thought about using it at least 5 times and then convinced myself somehow that taking the stairs over the elevator would even everything out in the end.

Moving on…

Our mouth-watering foodie favourites of the Carnival Splendor

Pinnacle Steakhouse On The Carnival Splendor

If you love steak then the Pinnacle Steakhouse is a must.

We didn’t think the food, ambiance, presentation and service could get any better after experiencing the Black Pearl, but the steakhouse takes the dining experience to a whole new level.

Mouth-watering was a word I used a lot that night. It wasn’t just about the steak, although that would have been enough. The fantastic selection of seafood entrees, gourmet appetizers, soups, salads and desserts allowed for a complete five course meal of deliciousness.

Our night began with grilled portobello mushroom, escargots bourguignonne, lobster bisque, and an assortment of yummy salads. My youngest son ordered the “Heart Of Iceberg Lettuce” which turned out to be a half a head of lettuce incase you were wondering. Good thing he likes salad!

Our whole family has never enjoyed steak as much as we did that night at the Carnival Spendor Pinnacle steakhouse.

Spice-rubbed prime ribeye steak – 18oz rib chop freshly cut right before my very eyes. Baked potato with all the fixings was my choice. The popular “surf and turf” was Gretta’s which included a Maine lobster tail and grilled fillet mignon. The kids enjoyed filet mignon and broiled rosemary infused chicken.

For dessert my daughter ordered a piece of cheesecake the size of her head, while the rest of us indulged in the chocolate sampler. So rich and so smooth – banana pannacotta, bittersweet chocolate cake, tiramisu and chocolate marquise.

Mouth watering yet?

Yes, it’s 100% worth paying the extra $35 if you are a family who can appreciate a 5 star steakhouse. There is also a kids menu at $10 per child 11 years old and under. Want to save some money and make it a romantic night for two instead? Send the kids to Camp Carnival for dinner and let them party it up while having a quiet night together just the two of you.

Carnival Splendor Black Pearl Restaurant

I’m not sure which I enjoyed more, the food or the servers…and the food was amazing! Let’s call it a tie.

Each night we headed back to our staterooms, cleaned up, and dressed up for a relaxed fine dining dinner out. There was something so comforting about knowing we had the same table reserved, at the same time, with the same servers each night of our cruise.

Our beloved server team from Jamaica, India and Mexico became an intricate part of the enjoyment of the evening. Our kids loved this team as though they were camp counsellors. How did they do it? They were relaxed yet professional, present yet not intrusive. They simply made us feel special from the moment we arrived to the moment we put the last piece of food in our mouth and said good night.

The food was absolutely delicious!! We ate like royalty. Never have I eaten such wonderful food that tantalized my tastebuds night after night.

The hard part was always choosing what to eat off the menu! When there’s no price associated with the menu choices it really does put all options on the table.

And sometimes that is literally what happened.

What would you choose?

Shrimp cocktail, braised short ribs, roasted lamb leg, plantain crusted red snapper, fried calamari, salmon fillet, duck potstickers, pan seared fillet of mahi mahi, strawberry bisque, broiled main lobster tail,  cannelloni, sword fish steak, BBQ pork spare ribs and much more!

For dessert the signature Carnival melting chocolate cake is perfect every time, creme brulee, chilled strawberry parfait, warm date and fig pudding, nutella liramisu, apple pie and of course much more!

Seaday Brunch On Carnival Splendor

During our three back-to-back shore excursion days we played hard all day long as a family and had a blast! But by day four we needed a BIG sleep in morning.

By the time everyone woke up and were ready to go, the seaday brunch was perfect timing.

Eggs benny with salmon and a fresh fruit platter was Gretta and my go-to brunch choice, while the kids enjoyed french toast and pancakes. Our youngest had his mind blown when his special kid friendly “funnest french toast” topped with fruit loops was brought out. He ordered it two days in a row, so it must have been mouth-watering!

A Whole Lot More Yummy Around The Carnival Splendor

Grab a fresh slice of hand-tossed pizza or a fresh burger and fries on the way to the pool.

Looking for some comfort food?

Try Ol’Fashioned BBQ and fix up a plate of the classics like braised pork butt, smoked beef and dry-rubbed grilled chicken. My kids’ favourite was the port butt, just because they could say butt.

Feeling like Indian cuisine? The Tandoor has you covered with a wide variety of signature Indian delights that are uniquely spiced, yet delicately flavored.

Whether it’s the burrito, deli sandwich, salad, fruit or dessert bar, the Lido restaurant all day buffet has everything you’re looking for at breakfast, lunch and dinner with plenty of variety at every meal.

Honourable Mention – 24 hour Room Service Of The Carnival Splendor

“Sometimes You Need A Little Something” is what was written on the top of our Carnival Splendor room service menu.

My stomach at the end of the day would dispute that catch phrase. However, at the start of a new day the Rise and Shine stateroom continental breakfast service was exactly what we were looking for.

While the room service breakfast wasn’t extravagant, it was brought right to our door and was blissful all the same. Gretta and I would have tea with some fruit and a yogurt and take it out on our balcony, while the kids enjoyed their cereal, muffins and juices.

The free menu was available from 6:00am to 10:00pm. There is an abundance of mouth-watering good eats and sweets that you could enjoy right in your own comfy, cozy stateroom if you wanted.

For a small fee the menu choices expand and you can order items like chicken-wings, Spicy Fried Firecracker Shrimp, Philly cheesesteak right to your door into all hours of the day and night. I don’t know who is feeling like an “old fashioned banna-split” or a “killer chicken quesadilla” at 3am, but it’s yours if you want it.