Five Faves: Carnival Fantasy Flavor Faves

Porthole’s Five Faves

Carnival Fantasy Flavor Faves

Five great new tastes (and familiar ones too)

When the recently refurbished Carnival Fantasy came out of dry dock, a quick 2-day cruise to the Bahamas before it returned to full service was the perfect opportunity to try the new food enhancements. Plus, who are we kidding, a great time to also re-discover familiar favorites. Here are five standouts:

Huevos Rancheros

A nice alternative to standing in line for the traditional breakfast buffet of eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, hash browns, and grits, is to try the huevos rancheros at the new BlueIguana Cantina. Watch as they hand-make your fresh tortillas, top them with a refried bean shmear, your choice of meat (chicken, steak, or pork), fresh Mexican cheese, and an egg over easy. Digging into that runny yolk is like sunshine on a plate.

Guy’s Burger Joint

Across the cantina, there are juicy burgers ready to be dressed with delectable toppings and salsas at Guy’s Burger Joint. Watch as grill masters work the flat top, doling out one savory patty after another, topped with oozing melted cheese. When you step over to the toppings bar, you’ll find grilled mushrooms and onions, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, pickles, jalapenos, and potato sticks. Spice it up with chipotle mayo or hot sauce and beef it up with crispy bacon. The hand-cut fries are the perfect complement.

Martini Tasting

If you want to experience bartending mastery and the most colorful line-up of cocktails imaginable, visit the Majestic Bar. There, you can try the mini-martini tasting: The bartender lines up four small martini glasses then you choose your flavors from a selection that includes flavors like Sea Blue with blue Curacao, Caribbean Sunset with Absolut Raspberri, and cranberry juice and Florida Squeeze with Absolut Citron, apple pucker, lemonade, and orange juice. They’re as delicious as they are colorful and watching the bartenders carefully pour each one simultaneously into the glasses from a line of small shakers is, well, pure mastery!

RedFrog Rum Bar

As if there weren’t enough choices of your favorite libation, another new addition on Carnival Fantasy is the RedFrog Rum Bar. The new poolside bar has its own craft brew, the ThirstyFrog, on draft. They also sell it in a 101-ounce tube or as a refreshing cocktail, spiked with Bacardi Oakheart spiced rum. I opted for a traditional rum and coke (or “Cuba Libre” as it’s known) made with Bacardi 8, but they’ve got an enviable selection. Try your cocktails with rums from St. Croix, Bermuda, Jamaica, or Barbados, to name a few. And there are a few other beer selections as well.

Candy Store and Chocolate Melting Cake

Dessert options are plenty and there are several ways to go. A tried-and-true choice to end dinner on a high note, and any chocoholic’s favorite (which I am), is the chocolate melting cake. It’s a warm, gooey, chocolate cake that, when pierced, explodes with a lava of warm, rich chocolate. It’s the perfect recipe for filling any chocolate craving. However, if you prefer to roam like a kid in a candy store, you can get your sugar fix at Formalities, the onboard candy, gift, and accessories store. The wildly colorful selection includes just about anyone’s childhood favorite. It’s sold by weight so fill up to your heart’s content and crush your craving just by reaching into your stash!

— Josie Gulliksen 

^{Photo: radu ursu/Carnival Cruise Line}