From hand-rolled sushi and a supper club modeled after New York’s renowned steakhouses to Mongolian barbeque and Indian tandoori, the new 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor will provide guests with a delectable array of international cuisines when it debuts in Europe this summer.
The largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed, the 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor makes maximum use of its size, featuring the widest variety of formal and casual dining options at sea with delicious, palate-pleasing offerings from around the world.
In addition to multi-course meals served in spectacular two-level main dining rooms, a diversity of global choices await diners in The Lido restaurant, which boasts a tandoori oven offering Indian-style chicken, fish kebobs, breads and other delicacies, a Mongolian wok where guests can select vegetables, seafood, meat and spices and have it prepared right before their eyes, and the ever-popular 24-hour pizza with seven kinds of pies and calzone. Carnival’s successful supper club concept will also be taken to new heights with The Pinnacle serving the finest dry-aged U.S.D.A. prime steaks and other dishes in a refined atmosphere.
“Today’s consumers are savvier than ever when it comes to cuisine, and they want not only longtime favorites but also the opportunity to enjoy new choices they typically wouldn’t try at home,” said Natko Nincevic, Carnival’s senior vice president of hotel operations. “Carnival Splendor’s size has enabled us to explore different culinary options for our guests’ enjoyment and raise the bar on our ocean-going cuisine,” he added.
Main Dining Rooms Offer Carnival Favorites
In keeping with the theme of culinary diversity, Carnival’s main dining rooms, the Golden Pearl and the Black Pearl, offer guests a choice of six different appetizers and soups, two salads, and six entrees, and the ever-popular Broiled Lobster Tail served once each voyage, Additionally, Carnival Classics – a selection of popular appetizers, entrees and desserts — is available daily.
A variety of decadent desserts, including Carnival’s legendary Chocolate Melting Cake, and an extensive wine list, featuring a number of reserve selections, will also be available.
Reservations-Only Supper Club
For those seeking a more intimate meal, there’s The Pinnacle, a reservations-only supper club, which will offer the finest cuisine in elegant and memorable surroundings that include a glass dance floor suspended over a mini-atrium that’s sure to be a conversation starter.
Modeled after New York’s top steakhouses, The Pinnacle’s menu includes a nine-ounce filet, 14-ounce strip loin, and a 24-ounce porterhouse, along with lobster tail, veal and lamb chops, Dover sole and surf and turf with seared lobster and grilled filet mignon. Traditional steakhouse accompaniments such as creamed spinach, wasabi mashed potatoes and sautéed mushrooms, will also be available. Impeccable, leisurely-paced service, the finest china and stemware, and one of the most extensive wine lists afloat – hand selected to match the cuisine – make dining at The Pinnacle a truly unforgettable experience.
More Casual Offerings
Continuing Carnival’s efforts at expanding the quality and variety of its casual dining choices, Carnival Splendor’s poolside restaurant, The Lido, will offer a wide range of breakfast, lunch and dinner alternatives served buffet-style.
In addition to Indian tandoori and Mongolian barbecue venues, The Lido will include a New York–style deli with piled-high sandwiches and popular sides, a 35-item salad bar, pasta and meat-carving stations, and a grill serving hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken and steak sandwiches.
Carnival Splendor will also feature a rotisserie upstairs on Panorama Deck, serving rotisserie chicken with the cruise line’s signature spice rub, along with traditional accompaniments.
Other Palate-Pleasing Options
Carnival Splendor’s culinary choices don’t end there. The ship also features The Coffee Shop, offering espressos, lattes and cappuccinos and decadent sweets, and California Roll, a sushi bar offering complimentary Asian specialties prior to dinner each evening.
There’s also 24-hour stateroom service – complimentary, of course – where guests can have freshly made hot and cold sandwiches, salads and other fare delivered to their cabin any time of the day or night. Late-night buffets with a different theme each night, including the Gala Midnight Buffet and Chocolate Extravaganza, will be featured, as well.
Carnival Splendor will also offer the popular “Fountain Fun Card,” offering unlimited soft drinks throughout the voyage for a one-time fee. Adult and children’s versions of the card will be available.
Carnival Splendor is set to debut July 2, 2008, with an eight-day voyage from Genoa followed by the launch of 12-day Northern Europe cruises from London (Dover) July 13, 2008. The ship will be deployed to Rome (Civitavecchia) for 12-day voyages to the Mediterranean, Greece and Turkey then reposition to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for seven-day Caribbean departures. Following a series of 14- to 18-day South America voyages, Carnival Splendor begins year-round seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach, Calif., March 29, 2009.
