Carnival Is Testing New Eats: Inside the Bagels @ Sea and Chicken & Waffles Teased by John Heald

Every time I sail with Carnival, I’m amazed at the number of eating options that are complimentary. The buffet isn’t the only place to grab a free meal, and it seems like the list of new eats is growing all the time.

From Guy’s Burger Joint to Shaq’s Big Chicken, the fun ship cruise line likes to keep its cruisers fed and happy. But new ideas and concepts are always being tested.

Now, Carnival Cruise Line is testing out even more casual dining options at sea, and Brand Ambassador John Heald recently took to Facebook to reveal what’s new and to also get some feedback from fans.

In recent posts over the last couple of days, he shared a look at two brand-new pop-up concepts making waves on select ships: Bagels @ Sea and Chicken, Waffles & Waves.

Here is where you can find the new eats and what else Carnival might be cooking up next.

Bagels @ Sea: A Dedicated Breakfast Station

Sometimes you just want something familiar for breakfast. While cruise ships have tons of food that might be new to travelers, the good ol’ bagel option needed an upgrade.

Carnival is changing the game with a dedicated pop-up concept called Bagels @ Sea.

When asked by a cruiser whether the bagel station was real and if they could get their bagels toasted, Heald confirmed that the offering is rolling out to ships in the fleet:

“Yes they are across the North American fleet. Can you toast them? Yes of course……..I raise my cup of tea…………TO BAGELS!!!!!!”

Operating during morning breakfast hours (often taking over existing stations like the Pizzeria or Seafood Shack), the venue features signature creations and custom spreads:

Here is the updated breakdown for the Bagels @ Sea food options:

• Bagels & Spreads: Simple grab-and-go choices paired with Plain Cream Cheese, Scallion & Bacon Spread, Nova Spread, or a sweet Wedding cake spread.
• Breakfast Club: A loaded sandwich built with a western omelet, sausage patty, bacon, melted cheddar cheese, sunrise sauce, and chives cream cheese.
• The Carnival Lox: A traditional deli classic stacked with smoked salmon, capers, sliced red onion, fresh dill, and cream cheese spread.
• Power-House Protein: A savory and nutritious bagel featuring pesto chicken, egg whites, fresh spinach, fork-mashed avocado, and pepper jack cheese.
• The Rainbow: A colorful, sweet breakfast option served on a colorful rainbow bagel with strawberry cream cheese, chopped strawberries, maple caramel, and funfetti sprinkles.

One comment to Heald’s post said about the bagels:

“Yes, I had it a few times on the Pride. Took over the pizza station in the morning. I tried the toasted bagel with plain cream cheese, and the Rainbow Bagel toasted with plain cream cheese. Yummy.”

Chicken, Waffles & Waves: Southern Comfort on Select Ships

An old classic, chicken and waffles, is also a new addition to Carnival ships for lunchtime options.

Heald gave followers a look at the Chicken, Waffles & Waves menu, asking fans what they would order if they were onboard. Unlike Bagels @ Sea, this venue is currently a selective test limited to specific Conquest-class ships:

“Did you know that if you sail on Carnival Freedom, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Glory or Carnival Valor you can enjoy some chicken and a dollop of waffling too,” Heald posted on Facebook.

This eating venue is Located on Deck 10 Aft (just above the Lido Marketplace buffet in the spot traditionally occupied by the ship’s BBQ station).

The menu offers that popular comfort combo, available for a casual sea-day lunch:

• Chicken Favorites: Classic Fried Chicken, Spicy Fried Chicken, Crispy Chicken Burgers, Saucy Chicken Tenders (with buffalo, sticky Korean, or plain sauce options), and Hot Honey Glazed Fried Chicken.
• Waffles & BBQ: Fluffy Waffles serve as the base, alongside BBQ options like Slow Cooked Pork Butt and BBQ Beef Brisket.
• Classic Sides: Creamy Coleslaw, Mac and Cheese, and Potato Bacon Salad round out the lineup.

What Else Is Carnival Testing at Sea?

It seems like Carnival is never done testing new food options, and it’s not just for brand-new ships. The cruise line often does a smaller test on select ships, gathers cruiser feedback, and makes a few tweaks before rolling something out fleetwide.

Beyond pop-up venues like the bagel and chicken/waffle options, Carnival has been testing several other food and service updates across various ships:

• Extended Late-Night Hours: Responding to passenger feedback asking for late-night food options beyond pizza, Carnival has experimented with keeping select fast-casual stations like Guy’s Burger Joint open later on shorter itineraries.
• BlueIguana Daily Specials: BlueIguana Cantina is introducing daily rotating specials across the fleet.
• Expanded Main Dining Room Menus: The cruise line has been rolling out updated dinner menus fleetwide featuring daily rotating specials and upgraded entree selections. And it’s all under the direction of Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse
• Express Dining Concepts: No one wants to be late to a big show after dinner, so Carnival has tested a more streamlined dinner service that gets to the main course faster, and allows guests who prioritize entertainment to be done in a more timely manner.
• Mobile Coffee Ordering: Carnival is testing mobile ordering via the HUB app so guests can skip morning lines for specialty coffees.
• Excel-Class Pop-Ups: On Excel-class ships (Mardi Gras, Celebration, Jubilee), Carnival has introduced Fruity & Frosted Breakfast Bars and dedicated Ice Cream & Milkshake Bar pop-ups.

Will These Concepts Become Fleetwide Staples?

As with most tests onboard Carnival ships, guest demand and feedback dictate what stays. Pop-ups like Bagels @ Sea and Chicken, Waffles & Waves allow the cruise line to use existing venue space during off-peak hours without requiring major ship overhauls.

So, it’s the perfect time to try out something new and see what people think.