When The Points Guy brought you a rundown of the cruise industry’s best burgers, it was clear that Carnival Cruise Line’s Guy’s Burger Joint was among the top contenders — and for good reason.
It offers some of the tastiest, messiest and most indulgent burgers at sea, conveniently located near the pool deck, which means you can show up to grab one in your bathing suit, sans shoes, and it’s not a problem.
If you sail with Carnival, Guy’s burgers are almost a rite of passage. Here’s all you need to know, from what’s on the menu to how much it’ll cost you and which ships have the popular burger outpost.
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What is Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival cruises?
Guy’s Burger Joint is an alfresco restaurant that offers a set menu of burgers, as well as build-your-own options and fries, on Carnival ships. Although Guy’s Burger Joint began as a land-based venture, Carnival brought the first one to the seven seas in 2011, when it added a walk-up counter to Carnival Liberty as part of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 initiative.
With Guy’s burgers, Carnival marked the beginning of a longstanding partnership with celebrity chef and TV personality Guy Fieri of Food Network fame.
More than a decade later, the pairing is still going strong. Fieri has since added barbecue restaurant Guy’s Pig and Anchor to several Carnival ships. The newest iterations even have microbreweries, where beers are made right on board.
Guy’s Burger Joint menu
When you sail with Carnival, Guy’s Burgers’ menu includes five different types of burgers.
- Plain Jane: A burger that’s 80% ground chuck and 20% fat on a grilled roll, served with or without cheese
- Straight Up: An 80/20 patty with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles and Fieri’s signature donkey sauce
- Pig Patty: A burger made from crispy bacon, plus cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions and donkey sauce
- Chilius Maximus: An 80/20 patty with cheese, topped with chili, an onion ring and donkey sauce
- The Ringer: An 80/20 patty with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, an onion ring and Guy’s brown sugar barbecue sauce
You can also order an off-menu veggie burger. Or, if you’re feeling inspired, go with the Plain Jane, and use the Guy’s Burger Joint toppings bar to add things like chili, onions, lettuce, tomato and a variety of other add-ons and sauces to create your own custom burger.
To complement its Guy Fieri burgers, Carnival offers sides of mouthwatering hand-cut fries, too.
The best Guy Fieri burgers
Best all-around burger: Straight Up
This is as close as you’ll get to a classic loaded burger experience without building your own. It’s got all the elements you’re used to: a patty, cheese, lettuce and tomato, plus some extras like pickles, onions and donkey sauce. It falls somewhere between the less exciting Plain Jane and the other menu options, which have a bit more over-the-top flair.
Best for meat lovers: Chilius Maximus
The most flavorful burger in the bunch, this option has not only a beef patty but also impressively tasty chili. The addition of a spicy onion ring gives this selection a bit of a kick. For more of a barbecue experience, ask to substitute barbecue sauce for the Chilius Maximus’ usual donkey sauce.
Best for carnivores who love bacon: Pig Patty
Want a meaty meal but feeling like bacon instead of beef? Not a problem. Check out the Pig Patty, which features a patty made from bacon. Not only is it a concept you don’t see every day, but it’s also pretty tasty with the accompanying toppings.
Best for vegetarians and vegans: Veggie burger
This one’s not on the menu, but it can be made on request if you don’t eat meat. The veggie burgers are whatever Carnival uses on board; they’re not inspired by Guy Fieri. Just make sure to specify whether or not you’d like cheese. The veggie burger is definitely less flavorful than the on-menu choices, so you’ll likely want to head to the toppings bar to add some sauces or other fixings.
Best for kids and picky eaters: Plain Jane
For anyone who likes to keep it simple, this is the best bet. I’m looking at you, picky eaters. With its grilled bun and simple patty, with or without cheese, it’s also something most kids are sure to enjoy, especially when it’s accompanied by fries and ketchup.
Best for a little something extra: The Ringer
If you like onion rings and barbecue sauce, this one’s for you. It’s a classic burger experience but with a kick. The spice of the onion ring and the sweetness of the barbecue sauce combine to create a wonderful flavor you won’t soon forget.
Are Guy’s burgers free on Carnival cruises?
Yes, Guy’s burgers, fries and toppings are free with your cruise fare.
Carnival cruise ships with Guy’s Burger Joint
You’ll find Guy’s Burger Joint on every ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, including its newest Excel Class vessels, as well as the line’s Italian-style ships, Carnival Firenze and Carnival Venezia.
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