Carnival Cruise Line is known for its fast-casual dining options, which range from juicy burgers at Guy’s Burger Joint to complimentary Mexican dishes at BlueIguana Cantina, a lively restaurant on the Lido Deck that’s popular with cruise ship passengers for its relaxed atmosphere.
The heart of the BlueIguana Cantina is the menu, which focuses on quick, tasty meals to enjoy poolside or elsewhere on the ship! From delicious tacos to hearty burritos, cruise guests will find a wide variety of options to suit every taste. Don’t forget to stop by the salsa bar to customize your meal even further with fresh salsa and sauces.
No matter what you order, it’s all included in the price of your cruise. Eating at BlueIguana doesn’t cost you anything extra, so you can indulge in as many tacos as you like!
Here’s a guide to everything you need to know about BlueIguana Cantina, including the menu, the dining experience, and tips to make the most of your experience!
Read more: Carnival Cruise Line: The Ultimate Dining Guide
Restaurant overview
BlueIguana Cantina first opened on Carnival Liberty in 2011 after being housed in an extensive “Fun Ship 2.0” dry dock in 2011. Since then, it has become a staple across the Carnival fleet, providing a fast-casual and relaxed dining venue on the Lido Deck on numerous ships, including:
Unfortunately, BlueIguana is missing on Carnival Splendor, Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Firenze and Carnival Venezia. Instead, you will find Tacos & Burritos on Luminosa and Tomodoro on Firenze and Venezia.
Since the latter two ships are part of Carnival’s new “Costa by Carnival” initiative, Tomodoro is honoring the ship’s Italian heritage. Instead of just tacos and burritos, guests will be offered Mexican-Italian fusion creations with ingredients like Italian meatballs and Sicilian chicken.
Carnival Splendor is the only ship in the fleet to offer the complimentary Masala Tiger, serving aromatic Indian food on the pool deck.
Read more: Travel Guide for Carnival Cruise Line
BlueIguana Cantina’s casual design features bright colors and vibrant Mexican-style decor, such as ceramic tiles and flower baskets that complement the menu.
The outdoor area allows guests to enjoy fresh Mexican dishes while taking in the view and ocean breeze. However, in my experience, there is limited seating at the tables, so I usually take my food to go.
Tacos are a big highlight, as are the burritos. At the taco station, guests can choose between three protein options: chicken, fish or pork.
Read more: The 10 most common mistakes when eating on cruise ships
You can then choose from a variety of toppings, including lettuce and tomatoes, before making your way to perhaps the most impressive salsa bar at sea, where you’ll find fresh salsas in varying degrees of spiciness, as well as cheese, crema fresca, lime wedges and fruit.
The burrito line is similar, however, in addition to the choice of proteins and other fillings, BlueIguana offers two different wraps: wheat and jalapeño. Additionally, meat options include chicken, shrimp and beef instead of fish and pork.
For someone who likes it spicy, BlueIguana’s salsa bar is second to none. In addition to the usual hot sauce bottles you’ll find at your local grocery store, Carnival ships have a wide variety of fresh salsas, from a roasted tomato salsa (🌶️) to pico de gallo (🌶️🌶️), salsa roja (🌶️🌶️🌶️), arbol chili (🌶️🌶️🌶️), and habanero (🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️). The only thing that would perhaps make BlueIguana even better is if they offered chips! What’s a better poolside snack than chips and salsa?
Did you know that the BlueIguana Cantina is open for breakfast? That’s right! Fresh Mexican dishes aren’t just available poolside on warm afternoons. You can also skip the hectic buffet and order a breakfast burrito, arepas or huevos rancheros.
Whether you’re sailing in the morning or afternoon, hours can be a bit limited. It’s best to check the HUB app on embarkation day to see what times are open during your cruise. You don’t want to miss the opportunity to eat at BlueIguana because you weren’t aware of the hours!
Breakfast service usually finishes earlier than the buffet and dining room. I usually save it for the day of disembarkation as I have to get up early anyway!
Interesting fact: According to carnivalthe tortilla machine can produce over 700 wraps per hour!
Culinary experience
BlueIguana is a fast-casual restaurant, meaning there are no waiters. Instead, you go to the service counter when you want to order. There, you choose which ingredients you want to use on your taco or burrito. The staff will prepare your order to your liking before sending you off to find a seat and/or to the salsa bar.
On a nice day at sea, the line can get quite long, however I have found that the efficiency of the crew ensures that it moves quickly – unless they are waiting for more tortillas!
If you’re vegetarian, BlueIguana is still accessible! Those with dietary restrictions and preferences can enjoy poolside bean tacos and breakfast burritos with hash browns and pico de gallo.
Read more: 11 Foods You Must Eat on a Carnival Cruise
Since there is no table service, guests must take care of their own drinks. There is a water and coffee station nearby, but those who want a margarita with their Mexican meal should venture to the BlueIguana Tequila Bar (Please note that while Carnival Splendour does not have a BlueIguana Cantina, the ship does have a tequila bar!).
At BlueIguana Tequila Bar you will find an extensive menu with several brands of tequila and even some Mexican beers! Whether you fancy a regular frozen cocktail, a pitcher of margarita or even a unique Mexican beer cocktail, there is the perfect drink to accompany your delicious meal from the cantina!
The Tequila Bar is open later than the BlueIguana Cantina, so it’s perfect for a poolside drink or pre-dinner cocktail! During departure, the line can get pretty long, so I prefer to grab a drink from a bar elsewhere on the ship and bring it to the Lido Deck. There’s still time for a tequila-based drink from the BlueIguana Tequila Bar later! And yes, Carnival’s CHEERS! package works there!
Read more: Can I share my Carnival beverage package with someone? What you need to know
After you’ve eaten, you can leave your plates on the table for a crew member to pick up, but I usually look around to see if I can find one of the crew’s stations with dirty dishes. Clearing the table ensures that another guest can quickly sit down and enjoy their meal. It’s also just more polite. In my opinion.
Tips to make the most of your visit
Firstly, if you don’t like standing in queues on holiday, Avoid the BlueIguana Cantina during peak lunch times. Instead of arriving at 1:30pm, I try to be there when it opens. This way, I avoid time spent standing around so I can enjoy my meal and get back to having fun on the ship. Although food is an essential part of the cruise experience, I prefer quick meals in the afternoon. If I prefer to sit down, I head to the main dining room!
Next, claim Breakfast at the BlueIguana Cantina. In my opinion, Carnival’s Lido Marketplace doesn’t have the best breakfast. I like the fast-casual options like BlueIguana and Big Chicken, and on a day at sea, you’ll definitely find me at the infamous SeaDay Brunch! The crispy hashbrowns at BlueIguana Cantina are delicious, and I love the Mexican scrambled eggs! Together, they make a pretty tasty filling for a breakfast burrito!
Finally, Don’t miss the salsa bar. It’s one of the best parts of the BlueIguana Cantina experience! With a selection of hot sauces and salsas, you can customize your meal to your liking. Plus, you can mix and match different salsas to find your perfect flavor.
Read more: 10 things you should never do at a buffet on a cruise ship
BlueIguana Cantina or El Loco Fresh?
Personally, I don’t think you can compare BlueIguana to Royal Caribbean’s El Loco Fresh. While I like that El Loco Fresh offers a wider variety of choices – from quesadillas to nachos and fajitas – the quality of ingredients at BlueIguana Cantina is far superior.
El Loco Fresh’s salsa bar is also pretty sad. The guacamole tastes processed and pre-made, and it’s obvious that none of the salsas are freshly made. The selection of hot sauces is impressive, but I would have preferred some warmer salsas to go with my chips!
Additionally, BlueIguana can be found on more ships in the Carnival fleet, making it a staple of the brand, while El Loco Fresh will only be available on 8-9 once Allure of the Seas undergoes a major refurbishment in early 2025.
