Key Aspects:
- Carnival Cruise Line is adding fresh, warm donuts as a breakfast specialty treat but with extra charges.
- Four donuts plus beignets and churros are on the menu, ranging from $2-7 depending on the order.
- The new menu is planned to be rolled out to all Carnival ships but with no timeline for its debut fleetwide.
Specialty dining is wildly popular aboard cruise ships, with restaurants offering elevated dinners from classic steakhouse venues to energetic hibachi experiences. But what about breakfast?
For most cruisers, a trip to the breakfast buffet (that’s where you’ll find me!) or a more relaxed breakfast or brunch in the dining room starts the typical morning. Carnival Cruise Line, however, has just announced a new option: donuts and beignets.
John Heald, the cruise line’s brand ambassador, teased about the tempting treat with a Facebook post.
“Coming to your cruise very soon,” he said, sharing the menu for the breakfast delights.
The menu includes four types of donuts, “Made to order & served warm!” Cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, Boston cream, and glazed are the options.
The “Light, fluffy, and featuring New Orleans flavor” beignets come with three dipping sauces: powdered sugar, strawberry sauce, and chocolate sauce.
The menu is rounded out by “Freshly fried golden churros rolled in cinnamon sugar.”
Guests can also opt for a “Breakfast Combo” of two donuts and four beignets. For the combo, guests choose which flavors and sauces they prefer.
There is a twist with these sweet treats, however. Unlike the included breakfast danishes, muffins, and croissants at the buffet or on the dining room menu, the donuts, beignets, and churros have an extra cost.
The donuts are two for $4 or five for $8, while the beignets are a very reasonable four for $3.50. Guests can enjoy five churros for $3 or double up with 10 churros for just $5. The breakfast combo of donuts and beignets is $7.
It is unknown whether or not a gratuity or service fee will be added to the menu prices as well. Typically, and 18-20% fee is added to these types of premium selections.
While these prices are indeed very reasonable, the fact that there is an extra charge is not sitting well with all Carnival guests.
“Adding a simple food like doughnuts but charging for them is not a good look,” one guest commented.
“I understand specialty restaurants and even charging for some of the better steaks at dinner. But don’t start nickel and diming us at breakfast.”
“[You’re] telling me that I paid almost $3,000.00 for a cruise, and I have to pay extra for donuts?!” another guest exclaimed. “I don’t mind paying extra for steakhouse and drinks, but freakin donuts?!”
To be fair, beignets have always been a staple at the Emeril’s restaurants onboard Carnival’s Excel-class ships, Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee. In those locations, they have always been an extra charge.
Read Also: Free Carnival Cruise Dining Options You’ll Want to Know – With Menus!
Guests have also been able to order beignets at the Main Dining Room for breakfast, also with an extra cost.
I’ve enjoyed Emeril’s beignets several times, and the light, fluffy fried dough (warm but not greasy) is well worthwhile. I’m not as thrilled with the dipping sauces, but to each their own.
Heald did not indicate when the fresh donuts would be available fleetwide, but he did confirm they will be coming to all Carnival ships.
He is also going to follow up and see whether or not sugar-free options may be available in the coming weeks.
Not All Snacks Are Free
The coming-soon donuts are not the only small bites that come with an extra fee during Carnival cruises. If guests want popcorn to enjoy during the Seaside Theater movies, for example, they have to pay $4 for each small box.
Candy from the Cherry on Top store, chocolate-covered strawberries from room service, and deluxe pastries from the coffee bar also have extra charges.
Other cruise lines also charge for certain snacks, regardless of the time of day. Premium treats, such as exclusive gelato offerings or gourmet chocolates, often have a nominal charge.
Celebrity Cruises also began charging $2 for premium cookies in summer 2023, though free cookies did remain available.
Not all snacks have fees, however. On Carnival ships, guests can enjoy soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt from Swirls, slices of pizza, and all sorts of desserts from the Lido Marketplace buffet without any cost when the venues are open.
Perhaps if the donuts were more elaborate, the cost wouldn’t seem outrageous. I’d happily pay for a maple-glazed donut topped with crumbled bacon and brown sugar drizzle, but probably not for just a standard glazed or powdered sugar donut. How about you?
