Carnival Alternate Menu

buffetfan2004 · #1 (**permalink**) January 12th, 2007, 10:48 PM

I've been reading about certain items being available on "alternate menu"- what is this, and does anyone have a copy or please post what is on it.

I used to think it was part of the you can always order a sirloin steak, grilled chicken breast, baked potato thing,
BUT NOW I just read they had chocolate melting cake on it.. so how does one get detail on this menu?

Brittany · #2 (**permalink**) January 27th, 2007, 01:02 AM

I never saw an alternative menu on either of my Carnival cruises but have recently seen lots of posts referring to this menu too. Since RCCL has their alternative menu on the same menu with regular dinner menu, I wondered if Carnival started doing this to even things up.

Hopefully someone will post with the facts.

buffetfan2004 · #3 (**permalink**) January 27th, 2007, 09:28 PM

I found from another poster menu scans of "alternate selections" indeed part of the main dining menu each night now for carnival. From what I read it rolled out in fall on Legend and now should be on most ships.

Many nightly alternates include:
fresh fruit cocktail
Broiled Filet of Fresh Pacific Salmon
Grilled Breast of Chicken
Premium Black Angus Jumbo burger
Baked Idaho Potatoes, French Fries or Steamed white rice
Assorted steamed vegetables

Dessert: The BEST NEWS: Warm Chocolate Melting Cake (used to be called flourless choc cake)
also Fresh Tropical Fruit plate.
Many other select items- shrimp cocktail, crab legs, ribs etc varies night to night.

buffetfan2004 · #4 (**permalink**) January 27th, 2007, 09:34 PM

Forgot to post menu links- thank poster tom-n-cheryl for their original link-
http://tom-n-cheryl.smugmug.com/gall...2141#108792025

Brittany · #5 (**permalink**) January 30th, 2007, 11:16 PM

Thanks for the link, I just checked out the menus. The addition of the alternative selections is great!

Rfujitani · #6 (**permalink**) February 9th, 2007, 04:02 PM

I was just wondering, what is the purpose of having an "alternate menu?" Is it more of a secret, "I'm in the know" kind of thing? Or, if it's a widely known concept, and the cruise lines actually list what is available on their "alternate menus," why not simply place those items on the regular menu?

buffetfan2004 · #7 (**permalink**) February 9th, 2007, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rfujitani

I was just wondering, what is the purpose of having an "alternate menu?" Is it more of a secret, "I'm in the know" kind of thing? Or, if it's a widely known concept, and the cruise lines actually list what is available on their "alternate menus," why not simply place those items on the regular menu?

While we have not yet sailed with the new "alternate menu" (I think in debuted in oct/nov 2006 on some ships. I have gathered some info on it. the "old" way was some items not ever listed but available if one did not care for an entree (grilled chicken, sirloin steak.)

Now from my interpretation it is an extra page or two right on the dinner menu. Almost creating an ala carte item area by my impression. For me, the best news is the melting choc cake! I think new alternate menu looks like a positive move for Carnival to offer.

Rfujitani · #8 (**permalink**) February 9th, 2007, 05:16 PM

Yes, I agree. The alternate menus generally sound wonderful.

And I have to say, I only recently had "flourless" chocolate cake, and it was AMAZING. So I won't be complaining about that either.

kingoftheicedragons · #9 (**permalink**) March 7th, 2007, 05:55 PM

The alternate menu was great. It is indeed menu items that you can order any night of the cruise if you don't like the daily selections. My wife loved the chocolate melting cake and had that a couple of the nights. An angus burger is one of the items on the dinner menu (along with salmon and steak), and the ice creams, cheeses, fruits are the types of desserts (along with the melting cake) that they have on the alternate menu.

mehawk · #10 (**permalink**) March 7th, 2007, 06:36 PM

I also saw the alternate menu items on the main menus.

Rfujitani · #11 (**permalink**) March 7th, 2007, 07:42 PM

Wonderful, wonderful. The choices all sound so dangerously enticing. I'm gonna have to keep a tight leash on my appetite.

misguidedangel · #12 (**permalink**) April 6th, 2007, 02:45 PM

All I know is that if you order the fish or seafood items on the menu you are guaranteed to get a small prtion. I ordered the lobster and it was one tail plus a ice cream scoop of a rice dish and a few (and I mean a few) pieces of green beans. I was still hungry even after a slice of cake for dessert. the next night I was in the dining room, which was two night later, I had lobster bisque and it was served in a bowl and was not much at all. I was glad I had something to eat an hour or so earlier because I left and I was still hungry.

We dined in the lido deck buffet for four of the seven nights. The variety of food was good and it was very tasty, that and I ate enough to satisfy me.

So, if you want a "light" or small meal, stick with the fish/seafood dishes!!!

Holiday (Carnival) 12/21/1991
Carnival Victory 1/14/2007

adias.angel · #13 (**permalink**) April 6th, 2007, 03:16 PM

I ate fish every night and though the portions were the right size, some night I didn't even finish them.

You can always order 2

I would since I would hate to miss out on such good food. Carla