Carnival Cruise Line Unveils The Next Course: A New Wave Of Exciting Culinary Experiences At Sea

MIAMI, June 11, 2026 – Today, Carnival Cruise Line revealed The Next Course, a new wave of culinary experiences featuring restaurants and bars launching on  Carnival Festivale in 2027 and  Carnival Tropicale in 2028, and with new innovative dining experiences now being rolled out across the fleet.

Carnival carries more than six million guests and serves over 100 million meals annually, giving the cruise line unique dining trend insights which fueled the new culinary offerings.

To unveil The Next Course, Carnival hosted an immersive event in New Orleans with Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse that gave attendees a behind-the-scenes look into Carnival’s culinary future. 

“Our approach to dining combined with our team’s amazing service is a driving force behind Carnival’s success,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Our latest culinary adventure marks a bold step forward to give guests an unforgettable experience with a variety of new vibrant flavors fleetwide.”

New Restaurants and Bars:

The Next Course line-up will feature new innovative specialty restaurants and bars, including:

  • Emeril’s Coastal Seafood: Coastal-inspired cuisine from Emeril Lagasse.
  • Uku Lei Lei: Hawaiian specialties and Asian classics.
  • Fetaccine: Mediterranean-inspired, combining Italian favorites and Greek specialties.
  • Le Bistro Musicale: Classic French cuisine in a relaxed, music-filled Parisian setting, which will be exclusively on Carnival Festivale.

Carnival Festivale will also uniquely feature several new bar outlets, including:

  • The Spark: Vibrant lounge featuring live performances and cocktails inspired by iconic songs.
  • Mix: Playful bar where guests can order creative cocktails or craft their own drinks, layering unique flavors.
  • Festival Grounds Coffee & Bar: Specialty coffees and cocktails served in a dynamic space.

Fleetwide Culinary Enhancements:

Carnival’s The Next Course also introduces new fleetwide dining options:

  • Refreshed Menus: New culinary creations in the Main Dining Room for breakfast, brunch and dinner; Lido Marketplace including, a new Lido Family Menu offering daily kid-approved favorites; and BlueIguana Cantina with daily rotating specials.
  • Bagels @ Sea: Freshly baked bagels with assorted toppings.
  • Chef’s Table Menu Revamp: Elevated multi-course dinners with regionally inspired flavors.
  • Pop-Ups: Fruity & Frosted Breakfast Bars and Ice Cream and Milkshake Bars add new fast-casual options to Excel-class ships, and a variety of other fun pop-ups fleetwide.
  • Mobile Coffee Shop Order & Pickup: Expanded grab-and-go options and mobile ordering for greater convenience.
  • Express Dining: Offers faster, more convenient dining in the Main Dining Room.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE MARKS WORLD AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH WITH FIRST SENSORY INCLUSIVE CRUISE DESTINATION CERTIFICATION

MIAMI, April 2, 2026 – Carnival Cruise Line is making waves this World Autism Acceptance Month by announcing that Celebration Key—its exclusive destination in Grand Bahama—has been officially certified as the first cruise destination to earn KultureCity’s prestigious sensory inclusion certification. With more than two million guests visiting Celebration Key, this groundbreaking achievement highlights Carnival’s commitment to making every guest’s experience inclusive and fun, including families with sensory needs.

For the last six years, Carnival has partnered with KultureCity, a leading nonprofit organization that creates sensory-inclusive spaces for individuals with invisible disabilities such as autism, dementia, PTSD, and sensory processing disorders. KultureCity is recognized worldwide for certifying venues to better serve individuals with sensory sensitivities.

At Celebration Key, more than 400 guest-facing team members are now trained to help guests with sensory needs navigate the unique vacation environment and have fun. Complimentary guest sensory bags with noise-reducing headphones, fidget tools, and glasses with filters to block-out strobe and bright lights are also now available. The bags also include a VIP lanyard featuring a headphone logo and light bulb symbol to discreetly signal to Carnival team members that the guest may require additional support or accommodations as well as a feelings thermometer that allows non-verbal guests to point and communicate their emotions.

“This milestone demonstrates Carnival’s dedication to making vacations accessible and enjoyable for all, including families with sensory processing needs. By training our team members and offering tailored resources both onboard and at Celebration Key, we ensure every guest feels supported, understood, and welcome,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

Celebration Key’s certification adds to the fleetwide efforts Carnival has implemented through its partnership with KultureCity, which include training of shipboard staff and shoreside call center representatives who interact with guests during the booking process.

“Creating truly inclusive experiences means anticipating the needs of every guest before they arrive—and meeting them with empathy, understanding, and thoughtful support,” said Uma Srivastava, Executive Director of KultureCity. “By certifying Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line is setting a new standard for the travel industry, ensuring that individuals with sensory needs and invisible disabilities can fully participate in and enjoy every moment of their journey.”

To celebrate World Autism Acceptance Month and Celebration Key’s certification, Carnival is offering a sensory room pop-up at Celebration Key on Friday, April 3, where guests can experience a calm, controlled environment designed to help with sensory regulation.

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NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE MAKES CHANGES TO DRINK PACKAGE AT GREAT STIRRUP CAY

Beginning later this year, Norwegian cruise line will be rolling out significant enhancements to the guest amenities at Great Stirrup Cay. These enhancements will include a new pier, an expansive pool area with complimentary loungers, a thrilling splash pad area for kids, and more.

Today Norwegian Cruise line made this announcement regarding their ships beverage package stating that it will no longer be honored on their private island Great Stirrup Cay starting March 1, 2026.

Here is the announcement directly from NCL:
 “As we look to transform the on-island experience, we have evaluated our policies and made the decision that shipboard beverage packages will no longer be applicable for drinks on Great Stirrup Cay beginning March 1, 2026. Complimentary beverages, including water, iced tea, juices, and more, will continue to be readily available on the island with the use of the guest’s key card. 
 As an alternative and to provide our guests the flexibility to curate how they experience “The Great Life,” we will offer our guests the ability to purchase a new beverage package crafted exclusively for Great Stirrup Cay. Further details on the new beverage package available at Great Stirrup Cay will be shared in the future, and guests will be able to purchase their package beginning January 1, 2026.
We look forward to opening these new experiences on the island for guests to enjoy, including the all-new Great Tides Waterpark in the summer of 2026, featuring 19 waterslides, a dynamic river, and more attractions for the whole family.”
For awareness, guests booked on sailings visiting Great Stirrup Cay on or after March 1, 2026, will receive a notification letter today, October 8, 2025, outlining this update.