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Some cruise restaurants I try once so I can tell you about them.
The lunch pasta bar at Cucina del Capitano on Carnival Magic?
I ate there three times.
Once with my parents.
Once with Mary and her family.
And one last time completely by myself because apparently I wasn't leaving Carnival Magic without one more bowl of pasta. 😂
That should probably tell you everything you need to know about where this review is headed.
While Cucina del Capitano is Carnival's Italian specialty restaurant at dinner, Carnival's current menu also lists a complimentary pasta bar at lunch.
And honestly?
Lunch is why I love it.
It's easy. It's casual. I can make my pasta exactly the way I want it, add salad and focaccia, and have a sit-down lunch without paying for specialty dining.
This has officially become one of my favorite Carnival lunches.
The Complimentary Cucina del Capitano Pasta Bar
The lunch setup is basically a build-your-own pasta situation, which is right up my Lazy Girl alley.
Pick what sounds good, make your pasta yours and let someone else cook it.
Perfect.
Carnival's current published menu lists the lunch pasta bar as complimentary and currently shows lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
I always recommend checking the Carnival HUB app once you're onboard for the hours on your particular sailing.
On my Carnival Magic cruise, lunch was first come, first served, and I never personally found it particularly busy.
And considering I ate there three times, I had plenty of opportunities to test this theory. 😂
What I Ordered the First Two Times
I am not one of those people who finds something she loves and then thinks:
"I should order something completely different next time."
No.
If it's good, I want it again.
So my first two visits were easy:
Penne with Bolognese.
The first time I ate there with my mom and dad.
The second time I went with Mary and her family.
Same pasta.
Same Bolognese.
Still happy.
I added the salad and focaccia both times, and honestly, this is exactly the kind of lunch I want on a cruise.
Nothing complicated.
Nothing fancy.
Just really good comfort food in the middle of my cruise day.
Lazy Girl Tip: Ask for Olive Oil and Balsamic
Let's discuss the focaccia.
Do not forget the focaccia.
And definitely don't forget to ask for olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping.
Warm bread + olive oil + balsamic + pasta?
That's basically all I require out of life at lunchtime.
Okay, perhaps an ocean view helps too. 😂
Then I Went Back Alone
By my third visit, I decided I should probably branch out.
You know.
For research.
Also, this was my last day.
Also, I was completely alone.
Yep.
I liked the pasta bar enough that I voluntarily went back to Cucina del Capitano by myself because nobody was standing between me and my final Carnival pasta lunch.
If that doesn't qualify as a positive restaurant review, I don't know what does. 😂
This time I changed my order.
I went with:
Linguine + Alfredo + broccoli + spinach
And yes, I still had the salad.
And obviously the focaccia.
I'm not a monster.
It was a completely different combination from my beloved penne and Bolognese, but it gave me exactly what I wanted for my final lunch.
Do You Need Reservations for Cucina at Lunch?
I did not make lunch reservations on my sailing.
For my Carnival Magic lunches, it was first come, first served, and I personally never encountered a crazy wait.
That's actually part of the reason I liked it so much.
It didn't feel like something I had to plan my entire day around.
I could decide pasta sounded good and go eat pasta.
Lazy Girl Approved.
Carnival does recommend reservations for the specialty dinner experience, so don't confuse my lunch experience with how dinner operates.
Cucina del Capitano Lunch vs. Dinner
This is an important distinction because if you're researching Cucina del Capitano, you're going to see information about the restaurant having an additional cost.
Carnival currently describes Cucina del Capitano as an Italian dinner restaurant with an additional charge.
This review is specifically about my complimentary lunch experiences on Carnival Magic.
I don't want someone stumbling onto this post, heading to dinner expecting it to be free and then blaming me when the bill arrives. 😂
Is the Cucina del Capitano Pasta Bar Worth It?
I'm not sure how much stronger an endorsement I can give you than this:
I ate there three times on one cruise.
Once with my parents.
Once with Mary and her family.
And once completely alone because I wanted it again.
So yes.
I think it's worth it. 😂
I loved my penne with Bolognese.
I liked having the option to completely change things up with linguine Alfredo, broccoli and spinach.
I loved the salad and bread.
I loved that I didn't have to make some big production out of lunch.
And, obviously, I loved that the pasta bar was complimentary.
For me, it's one of those little Carnival finds that doesn't need to be fancy to become a favorite.
And I already know what I'm doing the next time I'm on a Carnival ship with a Cucina lunch pasta bar.
I'll be back.
Probably for the Bolognese.
Because apparently two servings weren't enough. 😂
Heading on a Carnival Cruise?
If you're planning your own Carnival cruise, I've put together my Carnival Cruise Packing List with the things I actually pack and use onboard.
After enough cruises, I've learned that I don't need more stuff.
I want the things that make packing easier, keep my cabin organized and generally require less effort from me once vacation starts.
Because that's the whole point, right?
My Carnival Cruise Packing List
The cruise essentials I actually pack and use to make Carnival cruise days easier, my cabin more organized and packing a whole lot simpler.
Keep Reading: More Carnival Cruise Tips & Reviews
🎰 My Carnival Magic Casino Review
I spent $300 out of pocket, earned 1,000+ casino points, hit two jackpots and brought home exactly $0 of the jackpot money. 😂
I break down what I actually played, what I spent and why I still walked away with zero regrets.
→ Read My Carnival Magic Casino Review
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About the Author
Hi, I'm Julie Davis, creator of No Point Left Behind. I travel about 12–15 times a year using a mix of points, miles, casino offers, travel credits and good old-fashioned deal hunting.
Cruising is a big part of my travel life, and I share the things I actually eat, book, pack and spend along the way.
And yes, sometimes "research" means eating at the same pasta bar three times on one cruise. 😂
My goal with No Point Left Behind is simple: travel smarter, use what you've got and be honest about what it actually costs.
