Every cruise line has its own vibe that loyal guests love. On Carnival Cruise Line, that’s a fun party vibe with singing, dancing, and laughter – even in the Main Dining Room at dinnertime.
The tradition of “Showtime” in the main restaurants has been a mainstay on Carnival ships for decades. In my earlier days of cruising, these singing-and-dancing shows were reserved for just a couple of nights, but today they are fun events at every dinner seating.
Not all guests, however, appreciate the enthusiasm, and some would rather the performances be eliminated altogether.
One such guest reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, with a suggestion for how to preserve the tradition – sort of – while still giving other guests a quieter dinner experience.
Worth Reading: Carnival Addresses Dining Room Etiquette for Waiters
“If there was an option from Carnival line to have one of the main dining halls a place with no lurid dancing, music, and all the unnecessary posturing then that’s where I would be eating,” the guest explained. “I bet all the money in my pockets that it would be the busier of the two dining halls.”
I wouldn’t particularly call the dancing servers “lurid,” to be honest – I’ve seen far worse from guests by the pool after a couple days with the Cheers! drink package.
To be fair, however, a quieter dining room without the potential disruption and delay from a performance might be welcome after a busy day in port.
Heald did not respond to the guest’s comment directly, but he did offer their suggestion as a poll for his fans to vote.
Not surprisingly, just 2% of the more than 44,000 votes cast – approximately 900 – agree with the original poster and would prefer a Main Dining Room without the performance.
Worth Reading: Carnival Explains Why Popular Dining Venue Can’t Expand Hours
In comparison, a full 30% of voters – roughly 13,500 votes – prefer the fun entertainment.
“I would be in the dining room, full of fun and watching the waiters have fun, dancing, and enjoying the parade,” the poll noted.
The parade is one of my fondest Carnival dinner memories, when hundreds of guests and servers joined together in the longest conga line at sea. I’ve also been known to join in with the “Macarena,” though I leave the “Chicken Dance” and “YMCA” to others.
That’s the beauty of the fun on a Carnival cruise – you can join in when you wish or choose not to, and no one minds.
Should Showtime Be Cancelled Altogether?
While this latest discussion of the mealtime fun doesn’t suggest removing the performances altogether, only offering up one dining room without the show, this is not the first time Heald has faced controversy over the tradition.
In February 2025, one guest did stridently demand that “Showtime” be completely discontinued.
“It’s time for these infantile announcements and so named shows to be cancelled,” the guest urged.
Heald offered that suggestion up for a vote as well, with just 4% agreeing that the tradition ought to end. A total of 30% of votes wanted the performances to remain.
Read Also: 2025 Reservations for Carnival’s Specialty Dining Venues Are In Demand
Of course, if Carnival guests want a quieter dinner, there are other options. Specialty dining restaurants, such as the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, do not have such performances.
Similarly, no showtime silliness is found in the Lido Marketplace buffet. For the ultimate in a quiet meal, guests could opt for room service or bring some buffet food back to their stateroom to enjoy (just remember to put your used dishes out in the hall).
Another possibility is to use the “My Time Dining” reservation system and choose to dine either quite early or quite late, when you might miss out on the performances.
