One of the joys of cruising is that you get to try foods that you may never even come across on land.
In fact, when I cruised with my now 20-year-old son when he was younger, I urged him to try something new at dinner each night.
Since you can order as many appetizers as you want, people can get something they know they like and try something they are unsure of. That's how my son first tried shrimp cocktail (which he's not a big fan of) and a number of other dishes.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line shares dining news passengers won't like
For many passengers, the cruise ship will offer up unfamiliar food. That might mean seafood like calamari or crab cakes or more exotic items like frog legs, lamb dishes and more.
Carnival also offers global dishes that many Americans might not have tried. That could mean an array of Indian dishes on the buffet, new Caribbean entrees on the menu, and generally pushing culinary boundaries beyond what many passengers have regularly experienced.
One classic dish that many people sample for the first time on a cruise ship is escargot. Snails are not something many Americans eat, but they're a French delicacy, and once you try them they might become a personal favorite.
Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.
Image source: Pixabay
Escargot returns to some Carnival cruises
When Carnival revamped its menus in 2023, it added new items from Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse. It also chose to drop a few items, and escargot was one of the casualties.
Carnival, however, has brought back escargot on sailings six nights and longer. That's something Brand Ambassador John Heald shared on his Facebook page.
Escargot on cruise ships are traditionally bathed in garlic and butter and served in a metal dish with no shell. The entire dish is covered in bread crumbs, and anyone who likes the taste of butter would be happy to eat it until they learn what it is.
Carnival passengers' reaction to Heald's news was mixed.
"Not a huge fan of escargot, but I am happy for those who love it to have the option available," Teresa Gingerich Toth posted.
Jill Johnson was more positive.
"Escargot is yummy! (Even though I wasn't bothered by them being unavailable)," she shared.
Grace Little was not as positive but lobbied to bring back another polarizing favorite.
"I would not eat escargot, but I would love to see Gator Fritters back on the menu," she wrote.
ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise
Some passengers simply don't have very daring palates.
"Though the thought of having snails for dinner doesn’t sound appealing to me, to each their own. I’m not a fan of fish either, but it’s on the menu for those that are," Steve Harrison added.
Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.
