October 22, 2026 — Carnival Cruise Line has announced a fleet-wide food and drink program called “The Next Course,” while Carnival Firenze is in the middle of a run of 21-and-over casino cruises from Long Beach and Carnival Freedom is heading home to Florida after a European drydock.
The Next Course: new dining across the fleet
The plan is led by Juan Fernandez, Carnival’s vice president of food and beverage, and covers both the 29 ships already sailing and the coming Excel-class ships Festivale (2027) and Tropicale (2028). Carnival says it rests on food that is delicious, approachable, timely and consistent. No prices or package changes were announced.
| Where | What is new |
|---|---|
| Excel-class restaurants | Emeril’s Coastal Seafood (with Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse), Uku Lei Lei (Hawaiian with Asian flavors), Fetaccine (Italian and Greek), Bistro Musicale (French dishes with music) |
| Festivale bars | The Spark (song-inspired cocktails and live music), Mix (electronic music), Festival Grounds Coffee & Bar (coffee by day, cocktails by night); Alchemy bar concept to expand |
| Existing fleet | Earlier main-dining times; Express Dining, a shorter three-course dinner; new dishes such as Beef Wellington and duo of lamb; more Bagels at Sea; chicken and waffles at Lido Marketplace |
| Longer cruises | Added comfort foods such as bourbon-glazed meatloaf, fish and chips and loaded mac and cheese |
Carnival Firenze: adults-only SEA Cruises
- Four gambling-focused SEA Cruises run through late November, 7 to 14 nights, round trip from Long Beach, California. Guests must be 21 or older.
- The first left in mid-October calling at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Ensenada; a 14-night sailing visits Acapulco and Manzanillo. Two November sailings are 11 and 7 nights. Exact dates: TBA in the source.
- A temporary third, non-smoking casino has been set up in the Tuscan Lounge, and special menus are served.
- Regular short West Coast cruises resume in late November. In early 2027 the ship repositions via South America to new homeports in Miami and New York.
Carnival Freedom heads back to Port Canaveral
Carnival Freedom made its first call at Valletta, Malta, on October 15 during an eight-night Western Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona, after a drydock in Marseille that included a new funnel. The ship has crossed back to Port Canaveral and resumes four- and five-night Bahamas cruises in early November (exact date TBA), calling at Nassau, Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.
What it means for airline travelers
- Express Dining and earlier dinner times help on embarkation day if you arrive late on a standby flight and still want a sit-down meal.
- Firenze SEA Cruises are 21+ only — families flying to Long Beach should pick a regular sailing from late November. Long Beach is served by LGB, with LAX as the larger alternative.
- Carnival Freedom’s Bahamas cruises sail from Port Canaveral, about an hour from Orlando (MCO). Fly in the day before, as Florida flights can fill quickly.
- No change to travel-industry or interline rates was mentioned.
Sources
- Cruise Industry News: Carnival Unveils “The Next Course” Culinary Strategy
- Cruise Industry News: Carnival Firenze Embarks on Series of Adults-Only Cruises
- Cruise Industry News: Carnival Freedom Makes Maiden Call to Valletta
Get NonRev Travel News by email
A weekly recap newsletter, sent out every Sunday, with the airline, airport, cruise and travel-warning news that matters to airline employees and retirees. Free.
Subscribe free
