Carnival Cruise Line’s Cucina del Capitano menu features classic Italian dishes inspired by the childhood meals of the cruise line’s Italian captains and officers. Although pricing varies across the fleet, the experience feels like it could be a specialty restaurant thanks to the warm atmosphere, generous portions, and expansive menu.
The restaurant is designed to resemble a traditional neighborhood trattoria, with a rustic Italian country-home atmosphere and family photographs displayed throughout the venue. We found it more intimate and welcoming than the large main dining room, making it a great alternative for a relaxed dinner.
We were so impressed with Cucina del Capitano that we decided to dine there twice during our recent cruise. Because we had Anytime Dining, we requested a table through the Carnival Hub app at 5:30 p.m. and received one quickly both times.
Many dishes are served famiglia-style, with large portions intended for the table. The menu includes antipasti, salads, pasta, seafood, meat entrées, sides, and Italian-inspired desserts.
Here’s the complete Cucina del Capitano menu for Carnival Cruise Line, along with current pricing and dining information.
Note: This menu reflects the January 2026 version of the Cucina del Capitano dinner menu. Offerings and prices can vary by ship and sailing.
What to expect at Cucina del Capitano
Cucina del Capitano is open for dinner and serves a mix of familiar Italian favorites and more traditional dishes. Lunch is also served at Cucina del Capitano as a complimentary pasta bar.
The menu includes options like calamari fritti, Nonna’s meatball, chicken parmigiana, cavatelli with veal and pork ragu, slow-braised beef short ribs, and almond-crusted branzino. Several dishes from Carnival’s Il Viaggio restaurant are also available for an additional charge.
The restaurant’s family-style approach makes it easy to order a few different dishes and share everything around the table. This can be especially helpful if you want to sample several appetizers, pastas, and desserts during one meal.
Reservations aren’t required, but I recommend making one if you want the best selection of dining times. You can reserve a table online after booking your cruise or wait until you’re onboard.
Currently, Carnival’s Cucina del Capitano costs $24 per adult for dinner. Children 11 and under can order from the kids’ menu for $11. On Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee, and Mardi Gras, your first dinner is complimentary, and additional visits cost $8 per person.
Carnival Cucina del Capitano Menu (2026)
Here’s a look at the Cucina del Capitano menu, including appetizers, soups, salads, pasta, entrées, sides, and desserts. Some menu items carry an additional charge and are marked with a dollar sign.
Antipasto/Zuppa/Insalate
Appetizers, Soups & Salads
- Salumi e Formaggi Sampler ($): An assortment of cold cuts and cheese; Sopressata, Piccante, Salumeria, Prosciutto bel paese, Gorgonzola, Parmigiano. Serves two
- Il Capitano’s Signature Arancini: From Sicily, authentic rice balls, finished with ricotta salata and served on marinara sauce
- Tartare di Salmone ($): Salmon tartare, fish roe, capers, dill sauce and rustic crusty bread
- Calamari Fritti: Gently fried and served crisp! Topped with sea salt flakes, charred lime and marinara sauce
- Cozze e Vongole (Clams and Mussels): Cooked with sweet pancetta sofrito, a touch of sherry, extra virgin olive oil
- Nonna’s Meatball (Grandma’s Recipe): Hand made with olive oil sautéed garlic and onion, baked with fresh mozzarella, served over the Captain’s secret tomato sauce
- Minestrone: Vegetable soup with cannellini beans cooked in rich tomato broth, served with mascarpone cream and crispy black kale
- House-Made Burrata: Fresh hand-made Italian cheese made from mozzarella and stuffed stracciatella served with chardonnay poached cherry tomatoes
- Il Capitano’s Favorite Insalata Di Rucola: Baby greens tossed with marcona almond, thinly sliced red and yellow beets, arugula, Italian vinaigrette
- Insalata Caesar: Fresh romaine lettuce, imported romano cheese and croûtons tossed in our home churned caesar dressing
Secondo/Pasta
Entrées & Pastas
- Pasta Alla Genovese: Ziti, slow cooked onion, simmered beef rib, San Marzano tomato sauce
- Pappardelle: Grilled shrimp simmered in pomodorini sauce tossed with roasted pancetta and a blend of parmesan and pesto
- Linguini | Spaghetti: Young clams sautéed with garlic, grape tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and a touch of pecorino cheese topped with charred lemon
- Cavatelli: Hand-rolled rustic pasta cooked in Tuscan style veal shank and pork butt bolognese finished with sherry reduction
- Melanzane: Eggplant parmigiana, mozzarella, tomato, pesto
- Lombata Milanese ($): 16 oz bone-in veal chop, thinly pounded, lightly breaded and pan-fried, served with mixed green salad.
- Pollo Parmigiana Della Cucina: Boneless cutlet of chicken lightly breaded and gently fried, topped with marinara sauce and baked with mozzarella. The classic!
- Grande Braciola di Maiale: Fennel pollen marinated pork chop grilled and served with cannellini bean stew and crispy sage
- Costina di Manzo con Porcini: Slow braised porcini rubbed beef short rib served along salsa verde
- Jumbo Shrimp Scampi ($): Garlic, peperoncino, pinot grigio, lemon risotto
- Gamberetti alla Pizzaiola: Grilled shrimp on a bed of mushroom and pepper ragu, finished with slow cooked tomato sauce
- Branzino al Forno in Crosta Dorata (crusted branzino): Almond crusted fillet of sea bass served on stewed chickpeas and butter-lemon emulsion
- Mare e Monti ($): Lobster tail & grilled filet mignon
- Grigliata Mista di Pesce ($): Lobster tails, scallops, sea bass, colossal shrimp, oysters, citrus butter, garlic ciabatta – serves two.
Contorni
Sides
- Fingerling Potatoes: Burnt butter, rosemary
- Spaghetti: Captain’s tomato sauce
- Roasted Broccoli & Cauliflower: Crusted lemon bagna cauda
- Lentils: Marinated rapini
- Gnocchi Alla Romana
Dolci
Dessert
- Mile-High Gelato Pie ($): Salted caramel, mocha, toasted coconut, Chantilly cream
- Agrumi Torta Al Miele E Polenta: Sorbetto Di Limone Hand ground polenta cake with citrus custard cream served with lemon sorbet
- Biscotti Al Cioccolato Con Sale Marino Caffe Gelato: Sea salt chocolate cookie sandwich with piped in coffee cream, orange financier and coffee gelato
- Crostata Di Mele Con Crema Al Caramello: A buttery pie crust with chardonnay stewed apples served with crunchy almond and caramel ice cream
Which Carnival ships have Cucina del Capitano?
Cucina del Capitano is available on the following Carnival Cruise Line ships:
- Carnival Jubilee
- Carnival Celebration
- Mardi Gras
- Carnival Panorama
- Carnival Horizon
- Carnival Vista
- Carnival Breeze
- Carnival Magic
- Carnival Radiance
- Carnival Sunrise
- Carnival Sunshine
