FUN DIVERSIONS AND DIVERSE DINING
CARNIVAL HORIZON INCLUDES EVERYTHING THAT MADE Carnival Vista so popular, including the amazing SkyRide aerial attraction, the ropes course, and an entire fun square filled with outdoor sports activities and family-friendly games.
High atop the ship, you might notice the onboard water park has taken on a more whimsical tone aboard Carnival Horizon with its alternating red-and-white waterslides and playful splash park. The Cat in the Hat and The Grinch preside over the new Dr. Seuss WaterWorks, the latest innovation in Carnival’s longstanding relationship with Dr. Seuss Enterprises that includes the Dr. Seuss Bookville play area for kids, and the wonderfully entertaining Seuss At Sea parade that lets kids march through the ship to the main theater, where Dr. Seuss story time awaits.
After a busy day ashore, I found refuge in the Cloud 9 Spa’s Thermal Suite area. Available with day- or cruise-long passes, this soothing area includes a small hydrotherapy pool along with a collection of relaxing steam and sauna rooms, plus banks of heated thermal loungers clad in ceramic tiles. Bordered by floor-to- ceiling windows that look out over the ocean, it’s too easy to lose track of time in here. But then, isn’t that the point?
On the dining front, the talk of the ship was Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B- Que Smokehouse. Replacing the space occupied on Vista by the RedFrog Pub, Guy’s Pig & Anchor was developed in conjunction with television culinary celebrity Guy Fieri. The star here is the full à la carte menu of smokehouse creations available each evening, like the Trash Can Nachos, the Championship Pulled Pork, the supremely delicious (and supremely messy) Pig & Anchor Melt, and, of course, the Baby Back Ribs. These can be paired with four kinds of craft beers brewed aboard Carnival Horizon. Sea-day lunch is free of charge, while dinners are modestly priced.
Carnival also took the time to expand its Bonsai Sushi specialty restaurant on Carnival Horizon, adding a small addition known as Bonsai Teppanyaki. Guests sit around a Japanese-style hibachi grill while the restaurant’s talented chefs display their dazzling knife skills to complement your multicourse dinner, priced between $25 and $35.
Foodies will love The Chef ’s Table Experience, which now has its own dedicated space off the ship’s main galley. For $96 per person including wine pairings, you can indulge in a private dining experience for just 14 people, hosted by the ship’s executive chef. You’ll need to plan ahead, though; we hear Chef ’s Table aboard Carnival Horizon is booked solid for months.
Of course, you can always dine in the ship’s elegant main dining rooms or grab a quick bite to eat at the Lido Marketplace Buffet. With over 10 different dining venues on board, going hungry isn’t an option.