In one other signal that crew staffing shortages are lessened and the cruise expertise is nearing pre-pandemic normalcy, Carnival Cruise Line is ready to reopen its common Cucina del Capitano specialty restaurant. The Italian eatery is a scrumptious eating choice aboard 9 totally different ships, and has been closed since mid-Might.
Cucina del Capitano to Reopen
Carnival Cruise Line model ambassador John Heald revealed that the cruise line’s common Cucina del Capitano specialty restaurant would lastly reopen on Saturday, August 6, 2022.
“As of August sixth you may eat dinner Italian household fashion once more at Cucina Del Capitano,” Heald stated. “Meaning you may have passionate conversations, wave your palms within the air such as you simply don’t care, after which on the finish of an exquisite meal nonetheless discover room for a cannoli.”
The intimate Italian specialty restaurant had been closed in mid-Might attributable to onboard staffing challenges. Whereas the eating places remained open for lunch with a restricted menu, there have been no dinner choices apart from choose entrees made obtainable freed from cost in the primary eating rooms.
![Carnival Cruise Line's Cucina del Capitano](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cucinadelcapitano1.jpg)
The one Cucina del Capitano location to stay absolutely in service for the previous 10 weeks has been aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s flagship, Mardi Gras.
On the identical time Cucina del Capitano was initially closed, the cruise line additionally canceled the wildly common Chef’s Desk unique eating expertise, in addition to canceled onboard events for its Diamond and Platinum “Very Essential Enjoyable Particular person” (VIFP) visitors, particular occasions scheduled on cruises of 5 nights and longer.
Every of those adjustments was a part of the hassle to reassign crew members to different eating areas to supply improved service to better numbers of passengers simply because the cruise line introduced all its ships again into service and the busy summer season season started.
Within the intervening weeks, the cruise line has labored intently with the U.S. State Division to course of crew members’ visas in an effort to alleviate staffing shortages.
![Carnival Cruise Line Chef's Table](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/chefstable1.jpg)
On the finish of June, staffing had improved sufficient that the VIFP events returned as of June 25, whereas the Chef’s Desk expertise as soon as once more grew to become obtainable from June 30.
Different staffing enhancements have additionally been made in latest weeks. The cruise line’s kids’s applications, together with Camp Ocean for the youngest vacationers, have progressively reopened to welcome extra visitors, together with the Evening Owls night program.
Eating at Cucina del Capitano
Cucina del Capitano is Carnival Cruise Line’s specialty Italian restaurant providing each lunch and dinner service in a relaxed and charming Outdated World ambiance. The lunch menu is extra restricted, with a preferred build-your-own pasta entrée in addition to a number of appetizer and dessert choices.
For dinner, the menu contains a wide range of favorites impressed by the cruise line’s Italian captains and officers and their favourite homestyle meals.
![Cucina del Capitano Wall](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/mmg-cucina2.jpg)
Scrumptious selections embrace minestrone soup, fried calamari, and a “Nonna’s Meatball” appetizer, with selfmade pastas, veal in a pork ragu, eggplant parmesan, and beef brief ribs as a number of the hottest entrees. Desserts embrace a tangy lemon tart, apple pie, and gelato, together with Italian espresso.
Every course might be accompanied by a curated wine choice, and a wide range of after dinner liqueurs are additionally obtainable (bar costs apply).
Cucina del Capitano prices $18 per individual, making it one of many least costly specialty eating places onboard Carnival ships. The worth was $15 beforehand, however was elevated Might 1, 2022, when Carnival Cruise Line adjusted pricing for varied specialty eating venues, in addition to beverage packages, wifi packages, and gratuities.
The restaurant is at the moment obtainable aboard 9 ships within the fleet: Breeze, Horizon, Magic, Panorama, Radiance, Dawn, Sunshine, Vista, and Mardi Gras.
The restaurant may even be obtainable aboard Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee when these new ships debut in November 2022 and November 2023, respectively.
![](https://www.cruisehive.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/carnival_deck1.jpg)