Carnival’s 2026 Thanksgiving menu has turkey, filet and cheesecake

Carnival revealed the Thanksgiving dinner menu its main dining rooms will serve on Nov. 26. It includes roast turkey, baked brie, filet mignon, and a maple pot de creme.

Cruising over Thanksgiving? You will not miss the turkey.

Carnival Cruise Line has revealed the special Thanksgiving dinner menu it will serve in its main dining rooms on Thursday, Nov. 26, Cruise Hive reports. Brand ambassador John Heald shared the menu in a Facebook post on Monday, Nov. 9.

Carnival’s executive head chef, Roshan, and his culinary team created the menu.

What appetizers are on Carnival’s Thanksgiving menu?

The featured starters are a warm baked brie with spiced pear, cranberry, fig and a pecan crumble, or a creamy pumpkin soup with bacon, creme fraiche and toasted pumpkin seeds.

Other appetizers include:

• Braised beef with crispy polenta and red wine sauce

• Crab cake with Cajun remoulade

• Deviled eggs with candied bacon

• Smoked duck breast with spiced apple chutney

• Meatball and tortellini soup

• A holiday salad with cherry tomatoes, peaches and pickled vegetables

Carnival’s usual shrimp cocktail and Caesar salad are also available, so picky eaters have familiar choices too.

What main courses can you order?

The star is a classic roast turkey with sage and herb stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans, gravy and cranberry sauce.

Other entrees include:

• Maple-glazed pork tenderloin with creamed Brussels sprouts and sweet potato gratin

• Herb-stuffed lamb roulade with roasted potatoes

• Pan-seared Chilean sea bass with pea risotto and lemon butter sauce

• Grilled filet mignon with black truffle sauce and fingerling potatoes

• Spinach and ricotta ravioli with sun-dried tomato cream sauce

• Jumbo shrimp with lemon-herb orzo

Are there vegetarian options?

Yes. Cruise Hive lists two vegetarian choices.

One is a crispy lentil and mushroom cake with pumpkin puree and spinach. The other is the featured Indian vegetarian dish, with grilled cottage cheese, flatbread, biryani rice, lentils and okra stew.

What desserts are on the menu?

The featured dessert is a maple pot de creme with caramelized pecans and a cinnamon-honey cookie.

Guests can also choose a swirled pumpkin pie cheesecake or a caramel apple cobbler with butter pecan ice cream.

Carnival’s famous melting chocolate cake is available too, along with a cheese plate, fresh fruit and ice cream. A mile-high gelato pie costs an extra $6, according to Cruise Hive.

Does the Thanksgiving menu cost extra?

The holiday menu is included in your cruise fare, but some extras are not.

Carnival charges $5 per guest for each entree after the first two in the main dining room, Cruise Hive reports. The fee started in November 2022. Carnival’s ships based in Australia charge $7.

The Steakhouse Selection menu, with items like lobster tail and a 14-ounce New York strip, also costs extra.

Is the menu served on every Carnival ship?

The menu is served on Thanksgiving Day in Carnival’s main dining rooms. Ships sailing outside the U.S., including Carnival Encounter in Brisbane, Carnival Adventure in Sydney and Carnival Luminosa in Singapore, may serve different menus, Cruise Hive reports.

Specialty restaurants keep their usual menus for the holiday.

The Lido Marketplace buffet usually offers some seasonal dishes similar to the special menu.

Can you order more than one entree?

Yes. On Carnival, guests can order more than one main course at dinner, which comes in handy on a night with this many choices.

The first two entrees are included. After that, the extra fee kicks in.

Is Thanksgiving a good time to cruise?

It can be. Thanksgiving week is a popular time to sail, since many families have days off from work and school.

That also means ships tend to be full, and prices are often higher than other November weeks. Booking early usually gets you the best choice of cabins.

If you are flying to your ship, plan to arrive at least a day early. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel weeks of the year at U.S. airports.

What other cruise lines serve Thanksgiving dinner?

Most major cruise lines sailing from U.S. ports offer some kind of Thanksgiving meal, usually with turkey and pumpkin pie.

Menus vary by line and ship, so check your cruise line’s app or ask guest services once you are on board.

What would you order from Carnival’s Thanksgiving menu? Tell us your pick.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

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Hat Tips:

• Cruise Hive (Nov. 11, 2026), the full Thanksgiving menu, extra fees and ships

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