There are cruise foods you eat because they’re convenient. Then there are cruise foods you start craving before you even get on the ship.
BlueIguana Cantina is officially the second one for me.
The morning we boarded our Carnival cruise, I was already thinking about my BlueIguana bowl. Apparently my brain now associates boarding a Carnival ship with sunshine, vacation mode, and handing someone a bowl while I point at exactly what I want in it.
Honestly? I’m okay with that.
If I wasn’t eating at the Italian restaurant on this cruise, there was a pretty good chance you could find me at BlueIguana.
I ate here three times during the cruise.
And yes, I realize there were approximately a million other things I could have eaten.
I regret nothing.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you book or purchase through one of my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own and based on my personal experience.
Planning a Carnival Cruise?
If BlueIguana bowls, Lido Deck days, and a little too much hot sauce sound like your kind of vacation, you can book your Carnival cruise here.
Already have one booked? Check out all of my Carnival cruise tips, reviews & guides for more of what I actually eat, pack, spend, and do onboard.
Think of BlueIguana as Chipotle at Sea
This is probably the easiest way for me to describe BlueIguana Cantina.
It’s basically my Chipotle at sea.
You pick what you want, add your favorite toppings, customize everything to your liking, and end up with exactly the kind of lunch you’re in the mood for.
And that’s a huge part of why I like it.
I can have as much or as little of something as I want, and because it’s being made right there, it tastes fresh instead of like something that has been sitting around waiting for me.
That matters after a few days of cruise food.
Sometimes I don’t want another big sit-down meal. I just want a bowl full of exactly the things I like.
BlueIguana understands the assignment.
Bowl vs. Burrito: I’m Team Bowl
I’ve tried both the bowl and the wrap, and the bowl wins for me.
It’s easier to customize; I feel like I can get a better mix of everything I want, and apparently I have decided this is simply my Carnival lunch now.
As for the tacos?
I still haven’t tried them.
I KNOW. 😂
Three visits this cruise and somehow I still didn’t make it to the tacos.
So naturally, I have important research to conduct on my next Carnival cruise.
Someone has to do it.
But Let’s Talk About the Toppings
This might actually be my favorite part.
Give me all the pico.
Seriously. Extra pico, please.
I love being able to build the bowl exactly how I want it, but then there’s the topping and salsa area where I can keep going.
And going.
Because this girl likes to bring the heat. 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I love hot sauce, so being able to doctor up my lunch to my heart’s desire is basically cruise happiness for me.
Want it mild? You can do that.
Want to keep adding heat until your travel companion starts questioning your life choices?
Also an option.
Guess which girl I am.
Why I Kept Coming Back
Part of the appeal of BlueIguana is that it doesn’t feel complicated.
I didn’t need to make a reservation. I didn’t need to turn lunch into an event.
I could just grab something that tasted fresh, customize it exactly the way I wanted, load it up with pico and hot sauce, and go enjoy the rest of my day.
That is very much my kind of vacation dining.
And apparently I’ve eaten here enough that my brain has created an entire Carnival association with it:
Carnival cruise = BlueIguana bowl.
The fact that I was craving one before we even boarded probably says everything you need to know.
If you’re trying to decide where to grab lunch on the Lido Deck, BlueIguana isn’t my only Carnival favorite either. I’m also a longtime fan of [Guy’s Burger Joint] and yes, it absolutely lives up to the hype.
My Lido Deck Pool Day Essentials
BlueIguana also fits perfectly into one of my favorite kinds of cruise days: swimsuit on, find my spot by the pool, grab lunch when I’m hungry, and make approximately zero unnecessary plans.
Give me my sunglasses, something cold to drink, a BlueIguana bowl loaded with pico and hot sauce, and I'm pretty happy.
And once I’ve secured a good pool chair?
Lazy Girl rule: I would prefer not to make 14 trips back to my cabin. 😂
That’s why I keep my favorite cruise pool day essentials together in my ShopMy collection. I can also keep the list updated when I find something new I actually love instead of recommending products that are no longer available.
SHOP MY CRUISE POOL DAY ESSENTIALS
Cruise Pool Day Essentials
Is BlueIguana Cantina Worth Trying?
Absolutely.
Especially if you’re someone who likes bowls, burritos, customizable food, and being able to control your own toppings.
And if you like spicy food?
Meet me at the salsa bar. 😂
For me, BlueIguana has officially become one of those foods that just feels like Carnival.
I ate there three times on this cruise, preferred the bowl over the wrap, loaded mine up exactly the way I wanted it, and somehow STILL managed not to try the tacos.
So I guess we know what’s happening next cruise.
Taco research.
It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.
My BlueIguana Verdict
🌯 Wrap: Good
🥣 Bowl: My pick
🌮 Tacos: Somehow still TBD 😂
🍅 Extra pico: Always
🌶️ Hot sauce: Until my heart says stop
⭐ Would I eat here again? Apparently I start craving it before I even board the ship.
Ready to Try BlueIguana for Yourself?
If your idea of a good cruise includes Lido Deck lunches, pool days, and entirely too much hot sauce, you can book your Carnival cruise here.
If you book through my link, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you, which helps support No Point Left Behind and lets me keep sharing the things I actually eat, book, pack, and spend money on when I travel.
Keep Reading
Planning your own Carnival cruise? You might also like:
About the Author
Hi, I’m Julie Davis!
I’m the traveler behind No Point Left Behind, where I share how I use points, miles, cruise deals, and a little Lazy Girl strategy to travel more without spending money everywhere.
I cruise several times a year and share the real stuff: what I paid, what I ate, what I loved, what I’d skip, and what I’d absolutely do again.
And if I tell you I ate somewhere three times on one cruise, you can safely assume I liked it. 😂
Smart Travel • Real Life • Lazy Girl Approved
