carnival splendor travel insurance

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Should You Buy Carnival’s Vacation Protection?

Note: Cruzely.com nor the author is an insurance professional. Be sure to review any policy and ask your insurance company any questions you might have.

We are an affiliate of InsureMyTrip, linked below. We receive a small commission if you buy travel insurance through the links included in this article, at no cost to you.

What’s mentioned below is our interpretation based on reading the policy for Carnival’s Vacation Protection. There could be errors or misunderstandings. As well, plans and policies can change. If you have questions, refer to the Carnival website  or call the program administrator at 1-800-331-2796.

When you book a cruise, you likely focus on the fun. You think about the warm sunshine, the free-flowing drinks, and the exotic ports of call. And while 99% of actual cruises are filled with exactly these sorts of highlights, that doesn’t mean every trip goes perfectly.

The honest truth is that unfortunate events can and do occur on cruises — and even before you reach the ship. Flights can get delayed, luggage can be lost, and illness can hit, just to name a few vacation-ruining experiences. To keep your trip worry-free, cruise lines highly recommend purchasing some sort of trip insurance to protect against any unexpected issues. In fact, many cruise lines even have their own plans that they sell to passengers during the booking process.

One such plan is Carnival’s “Cruise Vacation Protection.” This service is offered to every passenger during the booking process (it can be added later on, but it makes sense to buy as early as possible if you plan to purchase it). The protection covers many of the most common trip interruptions, which we detail below.

Of course, the big question is if you should purchase Carnival’s plan for your trip. We’ll help you answer that question here by giving you an overview of the plan and its benefits and comparing it to typical cruise insurance so you can decide which plan is right for you.

Overview of Carnival’s Cruise Vacation Protection

While all insurance policies have a number of caveats, the general terms of service are usually clear. Carnival’s plan offers three different areas that it covers in its package of benefits:

Cancellation Fee Waiver Program

• Travel Insurance Program

24/7 Worldwide Travel Assistance

This section of the plan deals with refunding what you’ve paid for the cruise. When you purchase the plan, you are refunded 100% of the value (in cash) of the unused portion of your cruise, if you or your traveling companion experience any of the following, which causes you to cancel:

• Sickness, injury or death to you or your traveling companion, or members of your immediate family. (It must be diagnosed or treated by a doctor.)
• You are fired or laid off from you job after being there one continuous year or more. (Quitting doesn’t count.)
• You are directly in a traffic accident on the way to your cruise departure that causes you to miss the ship.
• Your home is made uninhabitable by a natural disaster.
• You are called in to serve jury duty or a subpoena.
• You are called to serve in active military duty to respond to a national disaster.
• NOAA issues a Severe Weather Warning or Watch en route to or at the port within 48 hours of departure.
• A flight, bus, train, or cruise is delayed due to weather, causing you to miss more than 50% of your cruise.

As you can see, these are pretty specific reasons to cancel your cruise. We can think of many reasons that could come up that could cause you to miss a cruise, but appear not be eligible for the 100% refund. For example:

• The birth of a grandchild, niece or nephew.
• Cancelling because of another obligation that comes up, such as work or a wedding.
• Being late to the port and arriving after the ship has departed (not due to weather)
• Your flight is delayed due to a computer malfunction.

It should also be noted that the coverage has a “pre-existing” condition clause when it comes to medical conditions. If you or your traveling companion have a condition that “first presents, worsens, becomes acute, or has symptoms causing a person to seek diagnosis, care or treatment or prompts a change in medication, during the 60 days before the Cancellation Fee Waiver Program is purchased” then you aren’t eligible for the 100% refund should this medical issue cause you to cancel your cruise.

Don’t think, however, that if you have to cancel for a reason that’s not listed above that you are simply out of luck. The Vacation Protection does offer an “Any Reason” clause that refunds up to 75% of your cruise cost as a Carnival credit .

Put simply, if you have to cancel for any reason — even if you simply don’t feel like going anymore — then you will receive 75% of what you’ve paid as a credit for another cruise.

One thing to keep in mind with all of this is that Carnival does have some refund policies already in place for all passengers. However, these can be restrictive.

For example, those traveling on a 7-day cruise, then you can cancel up to 75 days before departure and receive all of their money back. For shorter cruises (5 days or fewer), you can cancel up to 60 days before sailing.

Keep in mind that if you book one of the cruise line’s special fares such as the Early Saver or Super Saver, then charges might still apply. For instance,  if you purchase Carnival’s cheapest “Pack & Go” fares, the cancellation charge is 100% of your fare.

Here’s a complete breakdown of how much Carnival charges guests for a cancellation , depending on the specifics of each trip :

This offers some protection about changing your mind on buying a cruise as you can still can get something back in many cases, but its could still put you out a lot of money in certain situations.

Carnival Travel Insurance Program

Of course, there is the possibility of incurring more expenses than just missing the cruise itself. For that reason, Carnival’s Vacation Protection offers second batch of features that are akin to traditional travel insurance and cover things like airfare, medical expenses, and lost baggage.

Here is a schedule of what the policy pays for each area is covers:

As with the Cancellation Fee Waiver Program, there are restrictions that apply. For reimbursement of airfare, for example, either you or your travel partner must experience sickness, injury, death or other “covered events” defined as:

• Being directly involved in a traffic accident while en route to departure.
• Being hijacked, quarantined, have jury duty or being subpoenaed.
• Having your home made uninhabitable by natural disaster.
• Being active duty military and needing to provide relief for a national disaster.
• Being fired or laid off after being at a job for at least a year.
• A travel warning from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that travel should be avoided to your destination.
• Delays due to weather that cause you to miss more than half your trip.

Medical Protection While it’s nice to know there is coverage for transportation and airfare, the big worry many have is paying for medical expenses in another country. Often health insurance doesn’t provide full coverage in foreign countries, so peace of mind with extra coverage is nice to have.

Carnival’s plan reimburses up to $10,000 for medical expenses, as long as the condition first occurs while on the cruise. So if you come down with a virus on the ship and have to be taken to a hospital, it is covered. If you have cancer that you are treating and have to go to the hospital on your trip, it wouldn’t be covered. Like most travel insurance, the plan only pays benefits after any other traditional insurance you might have.

Emergency Evacuation One of the scariest thoughts is what happens if something happened out in the middle of the ocean and you had to be evacuated off the ship? In that case, this plan will cover up to $30,000 in evacuation expenses. This also covers transportation if you are hurt on-shore and have to be taken via ambulance to a hospital.

One additional feature worth noting is that emergency evacuation also pays for some instances of airfare. This includes round-trip airfare for one person of your choosing to where you are hospitalized if you are traveling alone and in the hospital more than a week. As well, the plan pays for airfare for you to get back home. Baggage Loss The Vacation Protection pays up to $1,500 for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage from the time you leave your home to head to the port (including any air travel) until the time that you return to port and leave the ship.

If your bags are delayed, you can be reimbursed up to $500 for clothing or personal items you have to purchase in the meantime.

The final component of Carnival’s Vacation Protection is a 24/7 hotline that you can call for travel assistance, medical assistance, or emergency service. This service can help you with flight changes, transportation, weather updates, finding hospitals, emergency medical assistance, and legal help. Odds are that you won’t have to use these services, but they are nice should you need them.

Carnival Vacation Protection Prices

You can buy Vacation Protection when you book your ticket, and it’s the best time to do so if you plan to purchase the plan as it gives you the longest stretch of coverage.

Prices vary depending on the price of your cruise fare, but we found a range from between $49 per person for the least expensive cruises, up to $189 per person for pricier trips. In general, expect the cost to run about 10-15% of your cruise fare , before taxes, fees, gratuities or other expenses. It can sometimes be more or less that this estimate.

If you do decide to purchase the package, it does come with a 10-day review period. If for any reason you change your mind about coverage, then you can cancel within 10 days for a full refund , assuming you haven’t made a claim.

While Carnival’s plan is better than nothing, our opinion is that cruise passengers are better off with traditional travel insurance , which offers better benefits and coverage for about the same price.

For example, we looked up travel insurance from AIG Travel Guard. Getting a quote for two hypothetical people aged 65 years who spent $3,000 on their cruise, we were quoted $223 for their silver plan. That same trip would cost about $240 through Carnival’s plan.

While Carnival offers a 75% credit under their “any reason” cancellation policy, most traditional travel insurance doesn’t have this sort of benefit. However it is something that can be added on.

Apart from that, independent insurance can offer much better coverage . For example, it can cover pre-existing medical conditions and is more lenient on what constitutes a covered expense. It also typically has much higher payouts. It’s common to see $25,000 in emergency medical coverage instead of $10,000. You can also find many plans with $500,000 in emergency evacuation coverage compared to the $30,000 offered with Carnival’s plan.

For third-party travel insurance,  we suggest using a site like InsureMyTrip.com . This site can search several different insurers at once so you can compare multiple quotes, see how much your cruise insurance might cost, and everything that it covers. Get a free quote here .

Note that we are an affiliate of InsureMyTrip.com. Should you decide to get a free quote, we receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

FAQs about Carnival’s Vacation Package

Cruise insurance can be tricky to figure out, that’s why we’ve decided to cover some of the most common questions here regarding Carnival’s policy here.

What happens if I get sick and can’t go on my cruise? This is exactly what the cruise insurance was made for. If you, your traveling partner, or immediate family gets sick (to the point of needing doctor’s assistance) and can’t make your cruise, then Carnival’s policy will reimburse you 100% of what you paid.

Am I covered if I am on an excursion and get hurt? Yes. Should you have an accident, you are reimbursed up to $10,000 in medical expenses. Keep in mind that your regular health insurance should be used first, before payment from the Carnival Vacation Protection plan.

Can I get my money back if I cancel a cruise without insurance? In some cases yes. If you decide to cancel a cruise well in advance, you may be eligible for a refund of what you’ve paid, even if you don’t have cruise insurance. See the schedule earlier in this article for what sort of refund you are eligible for.

Notice: We are not insurance professionals. What’s mentioned above is our interpretation based on reading the policy. There could be errors or misunderstandings . If you have specific questions, refer to the Carnival website  or call the program administrator at 1-800-331-2796.

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If all I’ve spent in the non-refundable deposit, wouldn’t it make sense to purchase the insurance when I make the actual cruise payment?

how soon must you purchase it to get the cancel for any reason option? Or is it always included

If you buy the Carnival coverage, the purchase is made when you book the cruise.

Hello, can I have Carnival Travel Insurance and also get another policy through another insurance company like Allianz or AIG to cover any additional costs?

Not sure, to be honest. I’d honestly prefer to have one plan because I imagine the two plans will make things more confusing on who covers what in the instance of a loss.

Will carnival insurance pay for dentures you lost on a cruise. I lost my bottom dentures on the cruise

Cheryl — That’s one that we have no idea. You’ll want to contact your insurance provider.

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Getting Travel Insurance For Your Carnival Cruise

Last Updated: June 21, 2023 November 16, 2023

Carnival Cruise Line is one of the largest and most recognizable cruise lines in the world, carrying roughly 4 million passengers each year. 

Whether you’ve already purchased a Carnival cruise, or are considering booking an ocean adventure in the near future, travel insurance is likely top of mind. Getting a policy for your cruise can provide financial protection if you need to cancel, as well as the peace of mind that you’re covered if things go wrong during your trip. 

Below we’ll discuss the options available to you from Carnival Cruise Line themselves, as well as alternative options that may offer better travel insurance coverage at a lower price.

Should You Buy Insurance For Your Carnival Cruise?

In short, yes, getting a single-trip travel insurance policy that covers your upcoming cruise is highly recommended. While it’s easy to imagine yourself sailing away to paradise, the unfortunate truth is that things may not go exactly as planned. Flights can get delayed, luggage can get lost, and medical emergencies can happen. 

Travel insurance offers protection from the unexpected, and provides financial reimbursement in the event that unforeseen events disrupt your cruise experience. The high costs associated with booking a cruise coupled with the potential for costly medical bills if you or someone in your group gets sick or injured during the trip makes a comprehensive cruise insurance policy a wise investment.

What to Look for in Cruise Insurance

Before diving into travel insurance options for your Carnival cruise, it helps to get an understanding of what a great cruise insurance policy actually covers. While every cruiser’s situation is unique, most travelers getting ready to set sail should look for a comprehensive policy that includes coverage for events that happen both before and during a cruise.

Top Cruise Insurance Benefits

Below are some of the key benefits to be mindful of when analyzing cruise travel insurance policies: 

• Trip Cancellation : Full reimbursement if you need to cancel your cruise for a covered reason. 
• Cancel For Any Reason : Option upgrade that offers partial reimbursement if you need to cancel for an uncovered reason. 
• Trip Interruption : Reimbursement for unused trip costs if you need to leave your cruise early for a covered reason.
• Emergency Medical : Coverage for medical expenses including lab costs, hospital bills, and ambulance rides if you experience a medical emergency while traveling. 
• Medical Evacuation : Reimbursement for emergency transportation services to the nearest adequate medical facility. 
• Travel Delay : Reimbursement for food and lodging if your flight to the cruise port is delayed.
• Missed Connection : Coverage in the event a common carrier delay forces you to miss part of your cruise.
• Baggage Delay : Reimbursement for necessary purchases such as toiletries and clothes if your baggage is delayed. 
• Baggage and Personal Item Loss : Reimbursement for personal items if your luggage is lost, stolen or damaged at any point during your cruise.

The above benefits are usually included in most comprehensive cruise insurance policies, though coverage limits will vary from one plan to the next. 

An Overview of Carnival’s Travel Insurance Plan

Carnival Vacation Protection™ , Carnival’s trip insurance plan offered to its passengers, is offered to customers when making a reservation, and can be added to their booking with a simple click. 

Below we take a look at the plan , offered through a partnership with Aon Affinity and Nationwide Mutual Insurance, and assess its coverage and costs.

What Does Carnival Vacation Protection™ Cover?

Looking at the policy from a distance, it appears to have everything you might need from a cruise protection plan. We’ve outlined a few specific details below. 

• Carnival Cancellation Coverage: According to the plan, passengers can be reimbursed for airfare and cruise costs if they need to cancel their cruise for a covered reason. 
• Carnival ‘Any Reason Cruise Credits’ Coverage: The plan includes coverage that allows passengers to cancel for an uncovered reason and receive up to 75% of your cruise costs in the form of future cruise credit.
• Carnival Medical Coverage: According to the Carnival Vacation Protection™ plan, passengers get $10,000 in Emergency Medical and $30,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage. These numbers fall short of Squaremouth’s recommendations for cruisers of at least $100,000 in medical and $250,000 in medical evacuation benefits.
• Carnival Baggage Coverage: If bags are delayed more than 24 hours, travelers may receive up to $500 to purchase necessary items. If a passenger’s luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged, the plan will reimburse them up to $1,500.

How Much Does Carnival Cruise Travel Insurance Cost?

According to Carnival Cruise Lines, their Carnival Vacation Protection™ plan starts at just $49, but will vary depending on the cost of the cruise, age of passengers, and more. For the most part, a comprehensive plan like the one being offered is usually between 5-10% of the total trip cost, in this case that would be the cost of the cruise. 

It’s also important to note that Carnival insurance only covers one passenger at a time, so if you want coverage for a whole family, you will need to purchase individual plans. This is different from travel insurance, where one policy can cover an entire group.

Other Ways to Get Cruise Insurance

The main thing to remember when considering cruise insurance for your upcoming voyage is that the policy doesn’t have to come from the cruise line itself. There are hundreds of providers and policies out there that offer coverage that could be adequate for your trip.

Comparison Sites

The best place to start would be a comparison engine, like Squaremouth , that allows you to see how policies compete on price and coverage. Squaremouth offers a ‘Cruise’ filter that narrows down search results to policies that offer coverage for cruisers for the lowest possible price.

Credit Cards

Nowadays, many travel credit cards include travel insurance benefits as part of their annual fee. From Trip Cancellation to Baggage Delay, these cards offer protection against a wide range of travel disruptions. Keep in mind that very few credit cards offer medical coverage, so this would need to be found elsewhere.

From A Provider

Have a preferred travel insurance provider that you’ve used in the past for a different trip? Chances are that some of their policies will over protection for cruises. Keep in mind, there’s no significant difference in cost from buying straight from a insurance provider and from a comparison site. However, some travelers may have existing accounts set up with a travel insurance company that make purchasing from their site easier.

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• Cruise Ships
• Carnival Splendor

Carnival Splendor ™

• Dining & Activities
• Sails From:

It’s hard to tell which onboard space best represents Carnival Splendor — they all seem to hint at the amazing time you’re going to have. El Morocco Lounge hosts comedy shows, musical performances, karaoke and more… and wears its 1930s namesake clearly on its nameplate. The words “Royal Flush Casino” incite visions of winning, while our onboard jazz club — The Cool — simply says it all without saying a word. And Fahrenheit 555 ™ can be found not only at the height of elegant dining, but at the actual apex of the ship. If you like your fun to flow, there are options aplenty. If you list “splishing” and “splashing” among your favorite things to do, there’s Carnival WaterWorks ™ . Those into sitting and sliding are invited to try the all-new Green Lightning thrill-slide. How about floating or swimming around? Carnival Splendor has pools all over the place, including the midship pool featuring a retractable roof that makes any day a pool day. So whether you splish or splash, you’ll find hydro-excitement galore. If relaxation is your thing, Serenity Adult-Only Retreat ™ is more your place. Or if you’re looking to take relaxation to the extreme, direct your attention to the Cloud 9 Spa ™ , featuring more (and better) ways to kick back than just about anywhere else, on land or at sea. You haven’t lived until you’ve relaxed in a Thalassotherapy pool, or chilled — so to speak — in a dry heat chamber.

• 113,573 Gross Tonnage
• 3,012 Guest Capacity
• 952 Length In Feet
• 1,150 Onboard Crew

INSIDE THIS SHIP

Just like a delicious cake, your ship is made of layers. Find out which fun ingredients — staterooms, dining, activities — go into each deck.

YOUR STATEROOM

Cloud 9 spa interior.

Amenities exclusive to Cloud 9 Spa ™ staterooms and suites:

• Unique welcome ritual
• Priority spa reservations
• Unlimited use of Thermal Suites, plus scrub kit
• Unlimited use of Hydrotherapy Pool
• Two complimentary fitness classes (per guest)
• Complimentary body composition analysis
• Exclusive discounts on treatments during port days
• Cloud 9 Spa bathrobes and slippers
• Upgraded ELEMIS in-stateroom toiletries

Plus, every room includes:

• Dedicated stateroom attendant
• Soft, cozy linens
• Plenty of closet and drawer space
• In-room safe for valuables
• Stateroom climate control

Interior with Picture Window (Walkway View)

Every room includes:

Interior Upper/Lower (Porthole)

Interior upper/lower, cloud 9 spa ocean view (walkway view).

The best way to enjoy the relaxing, invigorating Cloud 9 Spa while on a cruise is in a spa stateroom, and this one fits the bill, providing comfy accommodations and convenient, priority access to treatments and services at the Cloud 9 Spa. (Note that rooms of this type have obstructed views.)

Scenic Ocean View

Your Scenic Ocean View stateroom aboard Carnival Splendor provides the best view of the sea that lies ahead of the ship, with views unlike any on land. And you'll get more of them, too, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing plenty of looking-glass for gazing at the natural wonders of the sea... and let's not forget sunrise and sunset.

Ocean View (Obstructed View)

Premium vista balcony.

Premium Vista Balcony staterooms were designed to wrap around the aft corners of Carnival Splendor, giving you a unique vantage point from which to enjoy luxuriously panoramic views of the sky and the sea — and yes, take in even more of that sunshine.

Cloud 9 Spa Balcony

Whether you're warming up for your spa appointment or winding down after your treatment, there's no better place to do it than on your Cloud 9 Spa Balcony. Breathing is important — take the ocean breeze in, then let it out — you're already getting the hang of the whole spa thing!

Aft-View Extended Balcony

Aft-View Extended Balcony staterooms feature a larger balcony for more lounge-around room, more kick-back space; not to even mention some of the best stern-side views you'll find anywhere. Get ready to relax as you gaze upon Carnival Splendor's gentle wake from your spacious balcony.

Balcony staterooms were designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views, so look to a balcony if you're looking to cruise aboard Carnival Splendor. Any time you're in your room, you're just steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis, featuring the sort of sea view you can also feel.

Captain's Suite

This is the best room you can get… without bunking up with the guy himself. A Captain’s Suite aboard Carnival Splendor features tons of indoor space, and a huge balcony when you need a little more. Back inside you’ll find a king-size bed, two full bathrooms (one with whirlpool tub), plus a separate living room that sleeps another three. And VIP check-in? Naturally.

Amenities exclusive to suites:

• Priority check-in and boarding
• Priority Main Dining Room time assignment
• Priority debarkation at homeport, and ports of call requiring a water shuttle or with arrival times later than 9:30 Am
• Two large bottles of water
• Pillow-top mattress

Grand Suite

A Grand Suite aboard Carnival Splendor features even more space than the standard suite — plenty of room in your room! This stateroom is loaded for an unparalleled experience: VIP check-in, a huge balcony, and even a convenient dressing area with vanity.

Cloud 9 Spa Suite

A Cloud 9 Spa Suite is the ultimate in both stateroom and spa accommodations. There's room for you and your things — with a large room and balcony — and a walk-in closet. The soothing in-room whirlpool tub will help you stay relaxed after your relaxing spa treatment. And like all suites, a Cloud 9 Spa Suite features VIP check-in, which lets you easily get right up to your amazing stateroom.

Plus, all suites include:

Ocean Suite

A Carnival Splendor suite is the ultimate way to cruise. With more space for stretching out indoors, plus a large balcony for kicking back outdoors, try an Ocean Suite to experience private, luxurious relaxation. Ocean Suites also include VIP check-in, walk-in closet and bathroom with whirlpool tub.

Junior Suite

As you step into a Junior Suite aboard Carnival Splendor, you can't help but feel that you're stepping into full-size luxury in a smaller package. Featuring a standard-size balcony, in a Carnival Splendor Junior Suite you'll find everything else there is to love about a suite, including VIP check-in, a walk-in closet; and even a whirlpool tub for relaxing.

ONBOARD ACTIVITIES

Onboard dining, sailings on carnival splendor.

This ship is always visiting great holiday spots. Where will your next holiday take you?

* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are included.

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Cruise ship tours: Take a look inside Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Splendor

With its over the top, eye-popping decor conceived by Joseph Farcus, the former designer of choice for Carnival Cruise Line, the Carnival Splendor is one of the flashiest cruise ships afloat. Originally ordered for Carnival subsidiary Costa Cruises, the ship was ultimately completed for Carnival Cruises in 2008.

Currently based in Long Beach, California, the Carnival Splendor will depart U.S. waters this fall to begin full-time cruising in Australian waters. 

The Splendor made headlines in 2010 after being disabled by an engine room fire off Baja California. After the ship was towed to San Diego — where all guests were safely disembarked — repairs were made and the ship eventually returned to service in 2011.

Among the Carnival Splendor’s “wow” features are the 214-foot Twisted water slide; the 21,000-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa; the children’s Splash Park wet area; an adults-only enclave called Serenity; a nine-hole, pirate-themed mini golf course; a three-deck tall Theater At Sea pool area with a retractable roof and a 22-foot-LED screen; a towering atrium with four glass panoramic elevators; a three-deck tall showroom; a massive casino; two double-deck restaurants; and an extra-tariff steakhouse.

Scroll through the latest gallery depicting the Carnival Splendor above.

And scroll through below to view the former British ocean liners that led to Carnival Cruise Line becoming the largest cruise line in the world: 

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Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Splendor Update on Masks and Travel Insurance 20.11.22 through 31.12.22

By MMDown Under , November 16, 2022 in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers

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Whatsthedillio

1 hour ago, vozzie said: I hope this is a joke.  

Its not. If you want travel insurance, get it.  I have been travelling internationally my whole life, haven't needed insurance, haven't bought insurance, wont buy insurance.  im not a paranoid schizophrenic that's worried about all the bad things that could possibly happen.  "but but but what if you get hit by a car while slipping on the pool and getting struck by lightning and trampled by a herd of wild giraffes!"  Yep, could happen.  Not going to by insurance for it.

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MMDown Under

I asked my doctor this morning what was the situation re Covid on the Gold Coast.  He replied "plenty!"

So it is "buyer beware" for those of us about to cruise..

I did notice that Carnival says until 31 December 2022. So maybe my NYE cruise will be less Masky. 

I wear a mask when mandatory. But other than that. Nope.

1 minute ago, icat2000 said: I did notice that Carnival says until 31 December 2022. So maybe my NYE cruise will be less Masky.    I wear a mask when mandatory. But other than that. Nope.

You could be right.  Just be careful when you are celebrating bringing in the New Year, if the venue is crowded.  

6 minutes ago, MMDown Under said: You could be right.  Just be careful when you are celebrating bringing in the New Year, if the venue is crowded.  

Both of us haven't had COVID19. I take extra masks, RAT tests and whatever else is suggested. But we won't wear masks unless mandatory. I'm not a huge crowd person. So we access the situation at the time. But we just getting on with life 🙂

We've got to the stage where wearing masks actually feels right, and not wearing one feels wrong! 🤣

41 minutes ago, Whatsthedillio said:   Its not. If you want travel insurance, get it.  I have been travelling internationally my whole life, haven't needed insurance, haven't bought insurance, wont buy insurance.  im not a paranoid schizophrenic that's worried about all the bad things that could possibly happen.  "but but but what if you get hit by a car while slipping on the pool and getting struck by lightning and trampled by a herd of wild giraffes!"  Yep, could happen.  Not going to by insurance for it.

Do you have any insurance in your life?

9 minutes ago, bretts173 said: Do you have any insurance in your life?  

Yeah the USA loves to force you to get insurance for everything, and they are all ran by private corporations whose sole motive is to profit. 

I have a better chance of winning the powerball than needing to be medevaced back to the US.  Im not going to waste $2 on a powerball ticket, im not going to waste hundreds of dollars on travel "insurance."

I guess all the 20 and 30 somethings who don't buy travel or any other insurance think that's what the purpose of go.   FUND.      ME is for.

20 hours ago, Whatsthedillio said:   Im in my 30s, I'm not going to ever need travel insurance.. and if I did, I have some sort of insurance through my credit card and work.  Its a complete waste of money for me.  If you're older and at risk, fine... for me, nope!

The younger and more active you are, the more you need travel insurance.  Serious accidents aren't wallflowers loitering at the edge of holiday activity.  

Dictionary definition of "accident"

"an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss".

Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere and to anyone.

The most compelling example for insurance I can cite is our own experience many years ago.  It didn't involve our own health, or an accident either of us sustained.  We were one week from boarding our flights to Europe for a Silversea cruise, followed by a Tauck land tour.  Sadly, my mother, who was in her ninetieth year and seemingly in good health, suddenly died.  Of course, we immediately cancelled everything, and set about the sad task of organising her funeral and caring for my bereft father.  After a time, I contacted our travel insurance company and made some enquiries.  Because my mother's sudden death was caused by a previously undiagnosed and undetected condition, the kindly and sympathetic representative I spoke to encouraged us to lodge a claim.  His reasoning was that at the time we were accepted as policy holders, it was understood that our parents, if living, would be of advanced age.  To our eternal gratitude, and amazement, and after spending two days compiling all receipts and medical certificates from my mother's treating medical specialists, including hospital emergency doctors, we were reimbursed every cent.  That included the cruise, the land tour, any hotel accommodation that was pre-paid, even the business class airfares we had indulged in because it was a special anniversary trip.  It doesn't have to involve a fall, an accident, a heart attack, or, heaven forbid, dementia.  

Splendour is leaving.

Masks or not.

2 minutes ago, buchhalm said: Splendour is leaving. Masks or not.

I'm looking at booking to go on her next. I been having a look at the 4 day cruise over Easter. But the pricing too high for me at the moment. I'm hoping it might drop a bit.

Aussieflyer

On 11/17/2022 at 12:38 PM, NSWP said: But they won't enforce it properly, they don't want confrontation.

I hope they do enforce it. There have been cases where those who have not followed the smoking rules have been removed or sanctioned. I don't see why people can't accept that cruising involves mask wearing for the foreseeable future. Masks should be seen as a part of 'living with COVID'.

Frankly I don't care if people disagree with my view but if I am on a ship and about to get in the lift with a non-masked person I will make a comment and wait for another lift or where practicable take the stairs.

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Marion, are you on Luminosa out of Brisbane at the moment?  We have friends who are aboard.  I thought their cruise was later, but apparently it's the current one.

3 minutes ago, Mareblu said: Marion, are you on Luminosa out of Brisbane at the moment?  We have friends who are aboard.  I thought their cruise was later, but apparently it's the current one.

Thanks for enquiring.  I'm booked on 4/12 departure to GBR.  The current cruise 20/11 is 11 days to NZ.

I hope  they have smooth seas across the ditch. 

1 hour ago, MMDown Under said: Thanks for enquiring.  I'm booked on 4/12 departure to GBR.  The current cruise 20/11 is 11 days to NZ. I hope  they have smooth seas across the ditch. 

I don't think they will unless they are able to get ahead of it. There is some nasty stuff going through the Tasman in the next couple of days.

1 hour ago, OzKiwiJJ said: I don't think they will unless they are able to get ahead of it. There is some nasty stuff going through the Tasman in the next couple of days.

Very wild east coast weather right now

10 hours ago, Mareblu said: Very wild east coast weather right now

Oh dear, I hope the ship can avoid the worst of the wild east coast weather.  I'm not familiar with following the seas in the Tasman.

I've been following the weather up north.  Darwin has had above average rainfall.  Seems the monsoons are forecast to start early this year, to be followed by cyclones.  

13 hours ago, Mareblu said: Very wild east coast weather right now

It's calmed down a little in Sydney today but the last two days were very wild. The trees in our little valley were thrashing about all over the place.

2 hours ago, MMDown Under said: Oh dear, I hope the ship can avoid the worst of the wild east coast weather.  I'm not familiar with following the seas in the Tasman. I've been following the weather up north.  Darwin has had above average rainfall.  Seems the monsoons are forecast to start early this year, to be followed by cyclones.  

3 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said: It's calmed down a little in Sydney today but the last two days were very wild. The trees in our little valley were thrashing about all over the place.

We had a wild drive to the south coast and back yesterday, but it was no better here in Canberra.  Major blackout all along the coast, and also in some Canberra suburbs for a time

1 minute ago, OzKiwiJJ said:  

That is not an attractive map.  Very cold conditions;  only 3c overnight here, and it certainly doesn't look good all the way to NZ.  Think of poor New York though:  2metres(!!!!!) of snow in just over 24 hrs.

1 minute ago, Mareblu said: That is not an attractive map.  Very cold conditions;  only 3c overnight here, and it certainly doesn't look good all the way to NZ.  Think of poor New York though:  2metres(!!!!!) of snow in just over 24 hrs.

2 metres of snow is a lot of snow in only that amount of time. It was very wintery in Melbourne yesterday - strong, very cold winds and bands of heavy showers with hail. Still windy today, but not as strong as yesterday and it doesn't feel as cold. 

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Carnival Splendor Food – Everything I Ate on My Cruise From Sydney to the South Pacific

By: Author Carrie Ann Karstunen

Posted on Published: February 8, 2023  - Last updated: July 19, 2023

Planning a cruise on Carnival Splendor from Australia? Carnival Splendor food was a little different than what I’ve found on Carnival cruises from the US or Europe.

On my South Pacific cruise roundtrip from Sydney, Australia in January and February 2023, I decided to document all the food I tried, so you can have an idea of what to expect if you’re sailing Carnival from Australia.

The menu choices were often a little different from Carnival’s menus in other parts of the world, but there were also a few familiar favorites.

In this post, I’m including everything I ate on my cruise, both aboard the Carnival Splendor and in port.

Tip: You can use Carnival’s free  HUB app once you’re on board to find each restaurant’s open hours and menus to help you plan your meals.

Day 1 – Embarkation Day: Sydney, Australia Sunday 1/29

On embarkation day, I almost always skip breakfast. I want to save my appetite for all the yummy food on board! Instead, I had three almond milk lattés from the complimentary espresso machine at my pre-cruise lodging—the fabulous Little National Hotel in Sydney’s Central Business District (review of my stay coming soon!)

Lunch: Guy’s Burger Joint

I boarded the Carnival Splendor right around noon. It was the perfect time to enjoy one of my Carnival embarkation day traditions—a Pig Patty from Guy’s Burgers !

Guy Fieri’s poolside burger joint on Carnival ships serves up made-to-order hamburgers and seasoned fries, and my fave Pig Patty comes with cheese, pickles, onion, donkey sauce, and a bacon patty.

Tip: If you (like me) can’t stand raw onions but love them cooked, ask to hold the onion and then just add some grilled onions to your burger from the toppings bar!

Snack: Swirls self-serve ice cream

One of my other favorite traditions on Carnival ships is to indulge in a self-service soft serve ice cream from Swirls at the Lido buffet. You can have as much as you want for free!

I usually have vanilla and chocolate swirl with sprinkles, but I didn’t see any sprinkles this time so I enjoyed it plain. I forgot to snap a pic of my ice cream cone, so here’s a photo of one of the soft serve machines on Carnival Splendor .

One of the two machines had frozen yogurt as a choice, which I’d never seen before. I think it was strawberry, but I didn’t sample it myself.

Dinner: Gold Pearl Main Dining Room

I was cruising solo on this trip, so I opted for a set dining time. Carnival usually does an excellent job putting solo cruisers with similar ages and native languages together at a set dining table.

This time was no different, although I shared my 7:45 PM table for ten in the Gold Pearl Dining Room with just two others (hi Lisa and Erica!) for the entire cruise.

I wasn’t super-hungry, so I decided to have two starters instead of a main course. I started with the Caesar Salad , which on Carnival is always very small (you can always ask for two).

The croutons were strangely tiny and stale—I’ve noticed that Carnival’s croutons are often sub-par, so I wasn’t very surprised and just ate around them.

I continued my embarkation day dinner with the Baked Meat Balls starter, which was served with polenta, steamed tomatoes, and provolone cheese. I think the provolone was incorporated into the polenta, and the dish was topped with grated parmesan.

The meatballs were moist and flavorful, and I loved the addition of polenta to the meat and tomato sauce.

For dessert, I ordered the cheese plate, but received the fruit plate instead. It always makes me laugh that whenever I order a cheese plate I never know what I’m going to get. Half the time the waiter brings me cheeseCAKE, sometimes I’m served a fruit plate, and sometimes I actually do get my plate of yummy cheese.

This time it was fruit, and I decided to just go with it. My plate included sliced watermelon, orange, pineapple, and mango, along with a few seedless green grapes.

You may also like:   How to Have the Best Embarkation Day on a Cruise

Day 2 – Sea Day Monday 1/30

On my first sea day aboard Carnival Splendor , my breakfast choices were to either brave the crowds at the Lido Marketplace buffet or to head to the MDR for a sea day brunch. I decided to skip breakfast or brunch knowing that I wanted to save lots of room to try Masala Tiger , the ship’s buffet-style Indian venue, for lunch.

Lunch: Masala Tiger

Located on Deck 9 near the Serenity pool deck, Masala Tiger is only offered on one ship in the fleet—and I was on it!

I love the unique flavors and spices of Indian food, so I was excited to try Masala Tiger. I loaded my plate up with a variety of hot and cold dishes including Peshawari chicken , dahi bhalla, tandoori cauliflower, onion jeera pulao, and garlic naan.

Most of the dishes were exactly as I expected, and totally delicious. The tandoori cauliflower was way spicier than I thought it would be (check the menu for spice levels—this one had a two-chili rating, which I didn’t notice at first).

Dahi bhalla (lentil dumplings in yogurt) was something I’d never tried before. The dumplings looked like meatballs, so I thought it would be a hot dish. Instead, it was cold and a bit bland so I only ate one. But the excellent garlic naan made up for that disappointment.

I was looking forward to dinner, which was themed as “ Island Night ” in the main dining room. With a special menu including many Caribbean specialties and just a couple of Polynesian dishes, I was surprised that a cruise to the South Pacific islands wouldn’t have more local flavors. But Caribbean food is yummy, so I planned to sample as much as I could eat!

Related: 15 Delicious Foods in the Bahamas You Need to Try

I started with the Poisson Cru , a raw fish appetizer advertised as marinated tuna with lime and coconut milk. I was surprised to also see sliced raw red onion (which I immediately picked off), chili peppers, scallions, and some kind of shaved orange fruit that might have been mango.

Menu descriptions on Carnival don’t always note everything included in the dish—probably because the availability of ingredients can vary—so tell your server if you have any food allergies or strong preferences.

Once it was de-onioned, my poisson cru was tasty but spicier than expected due to the chilis.

Next was the Chana Avocado Salad . As usual on Carnival, I knew not to expect a “Big Salad” à la Elaine from Seinfeld. But this teeny avocado salad also featured equally tiny bits of avocado, along with the promised tomatoes, cucumber, rocket (radicchio), and tamarind dressing. Small but yummy.

For my main course I ordered the Rasta Pasta , mainly because of the fun rhyming name. I also have a hard time turning down shrimp, or prawns as the Aussies say.

Along with the shrimp, the menu promised capsicum (bell peppers), coconut cream, and island spice. I felt that the amount of shrimp and peppers included with the penne was skimpy for a main dish. But the spices and coconut cream made a tasty sauce. Plus the small portion left me plenty of room for dessert!

To round off my meal I chose the Tahitian Coconut Cake with vanilla cream, which was advertised as “lower calories, no added sugar”. Although I try to avoid gaining weight on a cruise , I usually skip the no added sugar desserts because I don’t like the taste of artificial sweeteners.

But this cake was fantastic, and if I didn’t know it was lo-cal I never would have guessed it.

Day 3 – Sea Day Tuesday 1/31

On a cruise from Australia, I knew I had to try a traditional Australian breakfast at least once! I was pleased to see that the main dining room menu included an Aussie “ Brekkie ” (that’s Australian slang for breakfast) on its Sea Day Brunch menu .

The meal included eggs cooked any style (I asked for over medium), baked beans, Australian-style bacon, smashed avocado, grilled tomato, mushrooms, and sausage. It also comes with toast (not pictured—you all know what toast looks like).

The eggs were verging on over-hard, but I actually like them that in-between way. There must have been a mind-reader in the kitchen!

The single sausage was fine, as were the small serving of mushrooms and very lightly grilled tomato.

I thought that the kitchen must have been out of avocado, but I soon found it hiding under my eggs and happily slathered it on my wheat toast.

One of my least favorite parts of the Aussie Brekkie was the baked beans. I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, aka Bean Town. I’ve also lived in the UK, where beans at breakfast are totally normal. I still don’t get it. Sorry.

The other letdown was the bacon. My Aussie-style bacon was a limp, undercooked, blob of pork. I wasn’t even sure how to eat it! Do you attempt to cut it with the butter knife provided, or pick it up with your fingers?

Don’t come for me—I know I can’t judge an entire country’s bacon quality on one cruise ship breakfast. The United States might have its problems but crispy US-style bacon is the gold standard, and I’ll die on that hill.

Lunch: Carnival Deli

I had my Sea Day Brunch on the early side of the day, and by mid-afternoon I was ravenous. The buffet and MDR were closed, but I knew I couldn’t wait until 7:45 PM to eat something.

So, I headed to the Carnival Deli (aka “The Deli”) on Deck 9 to check out their sandwich offerings.

A Falafel Wrap sounded like it would hit the spot, and I watched as the crew member heated up my wheat wrap and loaded it up with falafel and veggies. Then she cut it down the center and handed me half.

Did I mention I was ravenous? Yes, I should have just asked for both halves, but she’d moved on to the next customer. If you’re hungry and you order a wrap, make sure to specify that you want the whole thing!

For my first MDR formal night dinner, my new friend Lisa had previously let us know that she had other plans for the evening, so it was just Erica and me at the giant table.

Related: What to Wear on Formal Night on a Cruise

We’re both foodies, and Carnival’s elegant evening menu doesn’t include filet mignon or lobster tails on cruises from Australia without an additional charge. But we were happy to see that Ribeye steaks were on the menu for the evening. With our main courses decided, we pondered over the choice of starter.

The Duck Pot Sticker intrigued both of us, but with Carnival’s tiny appetizer sizes, we wondered if the pot sticker was just a single dumpling. Our waiter clarified that it was two per plate, which was the perfect size.

Our Ribeyes arrived, and we were both very confused. “This looks like prime rib,” I said, and Erica agreed. I like prime rib, and it was delicious, but it wasn’t what either of us expected.

I assumed that it was just another example of a food name that’s different between Australian and US English, but then I double-checked the menu. It said Ribeye Roast . Not Ribeye steak.

According to the My Chicago Steak website, “to be considered a ribeye, the steak must be cut before the roast is cooked. The cuts are then sold as ribeye steaks.”

Aussie readers: what do you call the beef pictured above? Let me know in the comments!

Moving on to dessert, I chose the New York Cheesecake with strawberry sauce. Carnival’s cheesecake in the MDR is always OK—not fantastic—but it’s fairly consistent and makes a nice sweet ending to a meal.

Day 4 – Nouméa, New Caledonia Wednesday 2/1

For my first port day in Nouméa, New Caledonia , I had booked an early shore excursion to visit Amedée Island . In the past, I often used one of Carnival’s breakfast room service hangtags to save time on shore excursion days.

The hangtags were one of my favorite cruising perks—you would choose your breakfast (they had both free and paid options) and put the tag on your door the night before with your desired time selected. Sadly, Carnival stopped offering this service in late 2022.

You can still order room service from your stateroom phone, but I was worried that it might take too long to arrive.

Related: Ultimate Guide to Room Service on Carnival Cruise Line With Menus

Instead, I tried my other breakfast-in-a-hurry option: grabbing a banana or an apple from the buffet and eating it on the way to the meeting place (obviously throwing away the peel or core before disembarking). I was shocked to see zero portable fruit options available, just cut melon! Of course, I could have grabbed a pastry, but I’m just not a breakfast pastry person.

Lunch: Buffet at Amedée Island

On the boat to Amedée Island, the crew gave us a rundown of the itinerary for the day. This hungry person was happy to see that lunch would be served promptly at noon!

If you’re a longtime reader, you’ll know that I’m not usually a fan of included lunches on shore excursions. I’d much rather have an hour’s free time to choose my own restaurant—even excursions that promise a “fine dining” lunch rarely deliver the quality I’d expect for the price.

But when visiting tiny Amedée Island, the only lunch option is the included buffet. I didn’t have high hopes, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that the buffet offered a huge range of high-quality and fresh food. Plus, each selection was offered as individual servings in waxed-paper containers. No need to dig into a hot tray with a shared utensil!

I balanced a wide selection of food on my plate before heading to the shaded picnic tables to dig in—BBQ pulled pork that reminded me of the delicious Kalua pig I’d enjoyed in Hawaii the month before, grilled fish, plump mussels (two per shell!), tuna salad, super-ripe tomatoes and feta, green peas and beans, and paella with whole prawns.

It was all fresh and delicious, with just two exceptions (and this is based on my personal preference). The vegetables were seasoned with lots of cilantro (coriander for you Aussies). I’m sadly the recipient of the terrible “ cilantro gene ” that makes everything taste like soap.

The paella wasn’t a good representation of the Spanish classic. Lacking the crunchy rice bits and variety of seafood in a true paella, it was still flavorful. If they just labeled it “prawns, chicken, and seasoned rice” I’d have zero complaints.

The buffet also included unlimited alcohol (though only during lunch time). I tried a tasty rum punch during my meal and then snagged a glass of Sauvignon Blanc to enjoy during the post-lunch dance show.

Dinner on our first port day was themed as Mexican Fiesta Night , a classic menu on Carnival cruises. Coming from the US, I’m lucky to enjoy fantastic Mexican food at home.

I don’t usually order Mexican food outside of the US or Mexico, but I’ve heard that (if you can find it) it’s often terrible. So I decided to order an exclusively Mexican menu at Mexican Night on my Australia cruise, just to see the difference.

I started with the Grilled Chicken Fajita Salad. The small starter was tasty, with a few pepper slices, scallions, and shredded cheese added to the grilled chicken and lettuce—but nothing to write home about.

Next I opted for the Ceviche with marinated seafood, lime juice, onion, and cilantro. Picking around the dreaded cilantro, I found the seafood (it seemed to be a mix of fish, shrimp, and scallops) to be fresh and delicious.

My Carne Asada Ranchera main course featured marinated grilled steak, Mexican rice, salsa, and refried beans. I’ve never had carne asada where the meat isn’t pre-sliced, and the tough cut (I’m guessing it was skirt steak) could have done with some more time marinating.

The Mexican rice just seemed to be regular white rice mixed with tomato sauce, without any other discernable flavor or seasonings. The refried beans came with just the tiniest sprinkling of cheese (I think it was actually Parmesan—not especially Mexican).

But the shining star of the meal was the Salted Caramel Tres Leches Cake : Mexican sponge cake, three milk (usually evaporated, condensed, and whole milk or cream), and flavored whipped cream with a caramel drizzle.

If you like the flavor of dulce de leche or leche quemada , you’ll love this cake!

Day 5 – Lifou Isle, New Caledonia Thursday 2/2

Breakfast: lido buffet.

On my second port day, we stopped at Lifou Isle in New Caledonia , and I didn’t have a shore excursion booked. I decided it would be a good day to head to the buffet when most people would be heading ashore.

I wanted to fuel myself for a day of snorkeling, but not fill up too much before hitting the water.

I chose an Eggs Benedict , a grilled tomato, and a serving of breakfast potatoes. I’ve found that Carnival’s buffet eggs Benedict is usually pretty good, and this was no exception.

My grilled tomato was cooked perfectly, and the breakfast potatoes were hot, cooked through, and perfectly seasoned.

Lunch: Pizzeria del Capitano

Arriving back on board after snorkeling for hours in the hot sun, I was starving and ready for lunch. But, being in that in-between afternoon time between lunch and dinner, neither the MDR nor the Lido Buffet was open.

So I headed to Pizzeria del Capitano for a few slices. Thankfully my fave Funghi pizza was already freshly-baked and waiting for me.

The main dining room had a Chinese New Year-themed dinner on that night. There were lots of other options available, but I decided to try the themed dishes.

I started with the Jasmine Tea Egg and Chicken Salad with black vinegar dressing. Eating hard-boiled eggs infused with tea wasn’t my favorite flavor, but the cold chicken and greens in dressing were pretty tasty.

For my main course, I picked Hei Jiao Niu Liu , which was wok-fried black pepper beef, chap chye (braised vegetable stew), and steamed rice. I often order the beef and broccoli at my local Chinese restaurant, and this was somewhat similar, with the addition of some extra veggies.

For my dessert, I chose the Sago Mango , not really knowing what it would be based off the menu description. The coconut pudding with tapioca pearls and chunks of mango was lovely, and I made a mental note to order it again if I ever see it on a menu.

Day 6 – Mystery Island, Vanuatu Friday 2/3

On our port day at Mystery Island in Vanuatu , I was planning to explore the tiny island and find a good snorkeling spot, so I wasn’t in any hurry.

I headed to the Lido Buffet to find a few things I hadn’t tried yet for breakfast. However, the buffet on Carnival Splendor is fairly small, and there wasn’t much I hadn’t tried. I put some breakfast potatoes and a sausage on my plate, and then I spotted something interesting.

It was marked as muesli , but with fresh fruit chunks, some prunes, and muesli steeped in milk until soggy—kind of like overnight oats-style. Not the way I usually see muesli, but it tasted pretty good.

Then I remembered a conversation I’d had with a couple of new Aussie friends I’d just made. They wanted me to try Vegemite on toast. I’d tried the very similar Marmite in the UK, but I remembered not enjoying its strong flavor.

They told me to slather the toast with butter and then add just the thinnest swipe of Vegemite on top. So I did, and it was really good! The salty, savory spread added just the right extra taste to my toast.

Lunch: Mystery Grill & BBQ

Once I was on the island and had snorkeled for a while, I went in search of something to eat for lunch. The island doesn’t have any dine-in restaurants, and most of the food I saw was packaged snacks like chips and candy.

But then I smelled fish cooking and headed toward the aroma. Mystery Grill & BBQ , a tiny open-air eatery with picnic table seating was grilling up fresh yellowtail tuna .

For $20 AUD I got a serving of freshly-grilled fish, a side dish of mixed peppers and banana, and a pile of plantain fries. Delicious!

Dinner: Lido Buffet

We all wanted to watch the Dive-In Movie that evening (Carnival’s movie-under-the-stars concept on the Lido deck), but it was playing during our late-seating dinner time.

So I did dinner at the buffet, choosing a rather random assortment of items including an Indian fish curry, white bean salad, and mixed steamed veggies.

It wasn’t the most exciting of dinners, but it was fairly balanced and left me room for popcorn at the movie!

Snack: Dive-In Movies

After dinner I headed to the Lido deck to snag a seat, but first I stopped to get my fuzzy blanket at the towel stand and my popcorn at the BlueIguana Tequila Bar .

Carnival does charge for the popcorn (it was $4 AUD), but I actually prefer this over other cruise lines that give it to you for free—but just a teeny-tiny bag.

Although I noticed a vat of butter flavoring by the popcorn machine, my snack was salty but not buttered. I’d recently read that it’s only us Americans who like butter on our popcorn! So if you’re cruising in Australia, be sure to ask for your popcorn buttered if you prefer it that way.

Day 7 – Vila, Vanuatu Saturday 2/4

I love Carnival’s omelet station in the Lido buffet, and I realized that I hadn’t yet enjoyed one a full week into my cruise. It takes a little more time to wait for your omelet to be cooked to order, but it’s always worth the wait.

I usually ask for ham, spinach, and cheddar, but I was surprised to see no spinach and only one (unlabeled) white shredded cheese among the options. I picked ham, mushrooms, and the cheese for my omelet, and it was delicious as usual.

Cocktail time: Hideaway Island

Erica and I bumped into each other downtown at Port Vila , Vanuatu, and decided to try to find Hideaway Island , a tiny private island resort just off the coast that offers day passes.

We had quite an adventure trying to get there (I’ll do a full write up of our day soon), and by the time we arrived we both looked at each other and said, “It’s definitely time for a cocktail.”

I ordered a piña colada for $13 AUD, which arrived garnished with fresh pineapple and a hibiscus flower. If you like your drinks strong, I wouldn’t suggest spending the money here. But it was refreshing and relaxing to enjoy such a pretty drink in the shade on the beach.

The resort also offered a full lunch menu, but I wanted to maximize my island time and grab lunch back on board the ship.

Returning back to the ship again too late for lunch but too early for dinner, I headed back to Guy’s Burgers. I usually only have one per cruise, and always the Pig Patty, but I decided I needed to try The Ringer , which is similar—it just omits the bacon and adds a breaded onion ring.

I think the worker misunderstood me, and I ended up with just their Straight Up Burger . I didn’t want raw onions, but he also omitted the onion ring. I’ll have to be sure to clarify next time!

The MDR menu again had a fantastic selection of starters, and there were two I especially wanted to try. Lamb Kofta (Lebanese meatballs) is a dish I make fairly often at home, and I wanted to sample Carnival’s take on them.

Sadly, the meat was dry and lacking the onions, herbs, and spices that I adore in this dish. The couscous tabbouleh salad was also fairly flavorless.

On the other hand, my second starter, the Tuna Carpaccio with orange, capers, and citrus dressing was fantastic, with thinly-sliced raw tuna and an explosion of fresh citrus flavors.

Next my main course arrived: Turkey Roast with yams, roasted Brussels sprouts, gravy, and pecans. The turkey was fairly moist, but it was covered in white gravy—a bit strange to my American palate. The roasted Brussels sprouts had definitely been boiled or steamed before roasting, but they weren’t too bad.

For dessert I’d chosen the Strawberry and Apple Crumble with crème Anglaise which was just about perfect—not too sweet, with a pot of custard sauce to pour on top.

Day 8 – Sea Day Sunday 2/5

I decided that I’d sleep in on our first sea day after four back-to-back ports, so I skipped breakfast.

Lunch: Mongolian Wok

I headed to Mongolian Wok , Carnival Splendor ‘s cooked-to-order stir fry option as soon as they opened for lunch. I chose noodles, onions, carrots, green beans, zucchini, beef, and bean sauce from the selection of fresh ingredients, and watched as the chef stir-fried them in front of me.

This was one of my favorite lunches of the cruise! I loved choosing all my own ingredients and portion size, and the black bean sauce was the perfect savory accompaniment to the meat, veggies, and noodles.

Afternoon Snack: Carnival Deli

Having skipped breakfast, I was fairly hungry by mid-afternoon and needed something to take the edge off before my 7:45 dinner time. Perusing the menu for the Carnival Deli on the Hub app, I thought a steak and cheese sounded good.

But the menu listed the ingredients as roast pork, ham, gherkin, yellow mustard, and Swiss cheese. That sounded interesting, but not like any steak and cheese I’d ever tried!

It must have been an error on the app version of the menu, because the menu board at the deli specified sliced steak, grilled onions, and cheese on sourdough.

It was different from Carnival’s steak and cheese on other ships (it usually comes on a hoagie or sub roll), but it still tasted good.

I chose a fairly boring dinner selection on the eighth day, since I wasn’t feeling too hungry. I ordered another Caesar salad as a starter and a fruit plate for dessert—I’ve already shared pics of those.

For my main course I decided to try the Braised Swai (Asian catfish) with spicy tomato fennel sauce, parsley potatoes, and peas. I’d never tried swai before, and it was a mild white fish that took on the flavor of the delicious sauce.

My side dishes weren’t too exciting, consisting of potatoes that tasted like the canned new potatoes my mom used to serve when I was a kid (if you’ve ever had those you know what I mean) and mealy peas. Not the greatest.

Day 9 – Sea Day Monday 2/6

Lunch: ol’ fashioned bbq.

Having skipped breakfast again, I was looking forward to trying Carnival Splendor ‘s Ol’ Fashioned BBQ buffet concept located near the main Lido buffet. I sampled the Macaroni and Cheese , Granny’s Veggies , Blue Ribbon Chicken (dry-rubbed and grilled), and a slice of what looked like pork—it wasn’t listed on the menu.

The Granny’s Veggies were advertised as pumpkin, onion, squash, kumara (sweet potatoes), broccoli, and spring onion. However, all they had was grilled zucchini and onions, which were fine with me.

The macaroni and cheese was undercooked and gloppy, but the Blue Ribbon Chicken was wonderful and gets a big thumbs-up from me.

I tried a bite from the slab of what I thought was pork, but it was so overwhelmingly salty that I couldn’t eat more. Now I’m wondering if it was actually corned beef. I’d advise staying away from this mystery meat unless you just adore salt.

Dinner: Pizzeria del Capitano

It was our second formal night for dinner in the MDR, but I didn’t feel like dressing up. Instead, Lisa and I headed to Pizzeria del Capitano to get a few slices.

I’m usually a big fan of Carnival’s pizza joint, but the pizza maker looked overwhelmed (he was there by himself) and the pizzas were coming out either over- or undercooked.

But I was hungry, so I decided to take the next pizza that came out of the oven—as long as it was either Quatro Formaggi (four cheese) or Funghi (mushroom). It was definitely undercooked, but I do like their cheese blend and the not-too-sweet sauce.

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Day 10 – Sea Day Tuesday 2/7

I had thought Masala Tiger served the same menu each day, but wandering around the ship days after my first Indian lunch there I noticed several different options. So on day ten I decided to dine there again and try some of the new selections.

This time I opted for Kandhari Murgh Kabab (chicken with garlic, chili, and beetroot molasses), Kashmiri Pulao (basmati rice, nuts, dried fruit, and saffron), Narangi Fish Tikka (fish cubes marinated in orange and yogurt), Dal Fry (lentils with garlic, chili, and curry leaf), Paneer Pakora (batter-coated cheese stuffed with mint chutney), and of course some garlic naan .

The dinner menu in the main dining room this evening was full of so many starters I wanted to try! I started with the Smoked Salmon Mille Feuille with cream cheese, pickled eschalot (similar to shallots), and dill.

This appetizer was so delicious I could have had two, but I had to leave room for what was to come.

Next, I thoroughly disgusted my tablemates by ordering Seared Blood Sausages . OK, I’ll admit they looked kind of gross, but with green apple and leek flavors incorporated into the sausages, they tasted pretty good.

Then I tried some of Lisa’s Blackened Pork Tart . The three cute tartlets were bursting with tender pork and caramelized pineapple, topped with citrus cream. I would have ordered these myself if I’d known how delicious they’d be!

For my main course I ordered the Chinese Broccoli and Crispy Pork , which came with jasmine rice, yellow bean sauce, and fresh chillies. The pork wasn’t very crispy and there wasn’t much broccoli—strange for a dish that mentioned the vegetable first!

For dessert, I ordered the Blueberry Tart with sweet pastry and crème fraîche . The tart tasted like blueberries, but oddly didn’t include any whole fruit. Instead, the blueberries seemed to have been puréed and combined with something jiggly, like gelatin or pectin.

Day 11 – Sea Day Wednesday 2/8

Sea day brunch: gold pearl dining room.

For my last Sea Day Brunch, I wanted to try the Veggie Burger , featuring a patty made from grains, lentils, pumpkin, and beets, with lettuce, tomato, kumara (sweet potato) chips, and white cheddar cheese.

I had heard that putting beets on burgers was a thing in Australia, but the beets were either incorporated into the patty or left out altogether, as I couldn’t taste them.

I did spot some raw onion (not listed on the menu) hiding in the toppings, which I promptly removed.

The burger was moist and flavorful—I’d give it an 8 out of 10 on the veggie burger yumminess scale!

The Kumara Chips were just sweet potato fries. I had been expecting something a bit more exotic from the name, but they were fairly standard fries.

Snack: Alchemy Bar

It was my last full day on the cruise, and I realized I hadn’t yet visited the Alchemy Bar for a cocktail! Late in the afternoon I decided to order a Purple Sunset featuring Bacardi Superior Rum, lavender syrup, sparkling wine, and a sprig of fresh rosemary—delicious!

I was surprised when the mixologist also handed me a dish of complimentary bar snacks with my drink, including mixed nuts, cubes of cheese, and black olives. On other Carnival ships, I’ve visited the Alchemy Bar a few times for an after-dinner drink and never been offered a snack. Maybe it depends on the time of day?

Peeking at the menu before my last MDR dinner on the cruise, I was looking forward to trying something completely new to me: Crocodile Beignets !

One of Carnival’s Rare Finds menu items, the fritters were served with a side of roasted garlic and coriander (cilantro) aioli for dipping.

I’d describe the taste of the crocodile meat as 75% like chicken and 25% like white fish, and very tender. I definitely recommend trying it if you see it on a Carnival menu!

Next I chose the Greek Spinach Pie (aka spanakopita) with chickpeas and potato stew. The flaky phyllo triangles were filled with spinach and feta, and were wonderful. The potato stew was a letdown—it was so overwhelmingly lemony that each bite tasted like I was eating cooked lemon rinds.

My dessert choice was the Baked Alaska , which the dining room staff brought out aflame—a flamboyant touch that hearkened back to the classic days of cruise travel.

The Baked Alaska featured chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream with a thin pastry crust and a nicely-toasted meringue topping.

Day 12 – Disembarkation Day: Sydney, Australia Thursday 2/9

For my disembarkation breakfast, I almost always take advantage of the Main Dining room’s offerings. As long as you’re up in time to finish your breakfast by about 8:30 AM, Carnival has a sit-down disembarkation breakfast that you can enjoy.

Although I had put my large suitcase outside of my door the night before, I wasn’t enough of an early bird that day to take advantage of the early disembarkation breakfast.

But I had time for a quick meal from the buffet! My disembarkation day breakfast from the Lido Buffet included blueberry yogurt, scrambled eggs, a chicken sausage, hash brown, and chunks of watermelon.

The yogurt was Greek-style with fresh blueberries, so not overly sweet. The melon tasted fresh, and the chicken sausage was yummy. The hash brown was very dry and bland, and the scrambled eggs were awful.

Pre-made scrambled eggs on cruise ships are almost always terrible, but I wanted to give them a try just to report my findings!

If you like your eggs scrambled, avoid those in the chafing dishes and either have them made to order at the omelet station or in the main dining room.

Related : 7 Reasons Why Sydney Australia Is One of the Best Cruise Ports in the World

More resources for your Carnival cruise

• Ultimate Guide to Room Service on Carnival Cruise Line With Menus
• How to Get Onboard Credit for Owning Carnival Stock
• Carnival Cruise Line Drink Packages: The Ultimate Guide
• Faster to the Fun: The Ultimate Guide to Carnival’s Skip-the-Line Pass
• Tea Time on Carnival Cruises: Carnival’s Free Afternoon Tea

I hope you enjoyed seeing my Carnival Splendor food photos! Do you have a cruise from Australia planned on the Splendor ? What are you most looking forward to eating? Let me know in the comments below!

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