I recently sailed aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s recently renovated Carnival Sunrise on a quick four night sailing to Grand Turk. I had a chance to check out everything the cruise ship now offers. For those of you who may not know, the Carnival Sunrise was transformed from the Carnival Triumph earlier this year. During that time they added and removed a number of venues.
One thing that really stuck out to me, during my time onboard, was the number of food venues and dining options the Sunrise has to offer. While I was not able to experience all the options during my 4 nights, I would like to touch on the offerings that I really enjoyed.
Guy’s Burgers
We are going to get this one out of the way. I’ve been touting them as the best burgers at sea for quite some time. Nothing has changed in that department. What has changed, is that they now have breakfast burgers! Seriously, two of my favorite things now together, I was in heaven.
The morning I was in Grand Turk, I decided to have a late breakfast so it would hold me over until I was back on the ship later that afternoon. The “All American” breakfast burger did the trick. It’s comprised of a traditional Guy’s burger, two fried eggs, cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, a hash brown patty, and maple donkey sauce.
This just raised the already high bar for the best burgers at sea! You must try one! They also offer a couple other breakfast burgers including a vegetarian option.
Bonsai Sushi
I first had Bonsai Sushi back in April 2018 on the Carnival Fascination. I did not try it until my last day onboard that sailing, and I remembered saying to myself that it was a good thing I didn’t try it day one. I would have gotten it all seven days! The experience on the Sunrise was no different.
The sushi was delicious and very fresh. The selection is somewhat limited if you are super picky with the types of sushi and rolls that you like. For me, I enjoy a wide range of sushi types, so I found it to be sufficient. There are four sushi/sashimi options and four rolls. They also offer a few appetizer options. I had late dining on this sailing so I used Bonsai Sushi as a late afternoon snack on one of our sea days. If my sailing had been longer, I definitely would have gone for another visit.
Seafood Shack
If you are a seafood fan, this is a can’t miss. I have enjoyed Seafood Shack on a number of sailings over the last couple years. I always ordered the same thing (steamed shrimp and lobster roll), so I forced myself to try something new this time. I splurged for the crab legs (still got the steamed shrimp too) and was glad I did.
They hit the spot for an afternoon snack on our last sea day. Ok, it may have been more like a fourth meal than a snack, but we all know calories don’t count on a cruise! In any case, Seafood Shack is absolutely worth the upcharge.
Blue Iguana Cantina
This has been my go to lunch option on embarkation day for quite some time now. Especially on the taco side. Everyone seems to think the burrito side is the only queue, and there tends to be no one waiting in the taco line. Shhh, don’t let the secret out! One thing I had not tried here previously was the Blue Iguana’s breakfast offerings.
On both of the sea days I ended up here for breakfast. The huevos rancheros and arepas were both so good that I never even gave the breakfast burritos a shot. This is a great alternative to dealing with the regular buffet area, especially at peak times. I might have to give those burritos a try next time.
Guy’s Pig and Anchor
This was the one new venue for me. When it comes to BBQ I have a bit of a high standard. Several years ago I went to a BBQ restaurant in Colorado that was so good, it became my standard. Very few places since then have been able to match it. Pig and Anchor certainly did not beat it, but I have to say it was quite good.
The meats I had (Pork Butt & Smoked Beef) were very tender and full of flavor. The only side I got was the Mac Daddy mac and cheese and it paired up with the meats quite well. One thing I felt was missed was corn bread. Looking back, I thought maybe I just missed it, but when I checked the menu I didn’t see it on there. I went a little late in the afternoon, so it is quite possible they were just out of it. I’ll be keeping my eye out next time!
Even More Options
Considering this was only a four day sailing and the fact that I planned on dining in the main dining room each night, there was no way I was going to squeeze in everything the Sunrise has to offer. Cucina del Capitano (Italian Family Style Café), Fahrenheit 555 (Steakhouse), & Chef’s Table can be found onboard as well. I did not personally experience these but I hear nothing but great things about them. The Pizzeria del Capitano serves up pizza 24 hours a day and certainly does wonders for those late night cravings. It stacks up really well for pizza at sea.
For a cruise ship that was built in the late 90’s the Carnival Sunrise packs a pretty big punch when it comes to food options. If you weren’t hungry before reading this, I can assure you are now. I know I am! I hope this post gets you excited to experience everything the Sunrise, and many other ships in the Carnival fleet, has available to you. Which venue are you most excited about on your next Carnival sailing?
If you have any specific questions about the Carnival Sunrise, feel free to reach out to me. As always, if you are looking for more of my cruise content you can find it at CruiseLifeMatt.com and on Instagram @CruiseLifeMatt.
