But as soon as you bit into that “cheesecake” you realized it was actually jello. Then they were “molded” to look like real desserts. Those who have cruised on Carnival for many years will remember the days before buffet cakes when the desserts on Carnival were all composed of the same three ingredients: sugar, gelatin, and food coloring. While I’ll discuss the Lido Marketplace (buffet) later, the cakes available at “The Sweet Spot,” the dessert section on Carnival buffets is so good it deserves its own section. Be sure to watch a few episodes of “The Crown” before your cruise though, so you’ll know what you’re doing. It’s a great place to meet and chat with your fellow cruisers while you enjoy a little afternoon pick-me-up and snack.

Let’s start with the complimentary dining experience that will shock Carnival critics most: afternoon tea (be sure to raise your pinky for the picture to give them the full effect)! Afternoon Tea on CarnivalĪfternoon tea usually takes place at 3pm on sea days in one of the main dining rooms and consists of a selection of teas, finger sandwiches, and delicious desserts. Be sure to take lots of photos and send them to all the Carnival critics in your life (or send them to me so I can drool as I look forward to my next Carnival cruise booked for July on the Carnival Spirit to Alaska). While another f-word might come to mind, ignore them and read on for all the delicious complimentary dining venues and experiences you will enjoy on your Carnival cruise. And the free (or “included” if you want to get technical about it) dining venues on Carnival are one of the things that keep me coming back to the line time and time again despite some of my snootier cruise friends tipping up their noses at me and making rude jokes like, “did you remember to pack your cutoff shorts and midriff for formal night?” Combine the two and locate them on a cruise ship and you’ve got my personal vision of heaven. The “f-word” means one of two things in my (some would argue weird and little) brain: food or free.

Ada rooms on carnival sunrise