Yes, Guy's Burger Joint is completely free on Carnival cruises — it's included in your cruise fare with no upcharge, no reservation required, and no limit on how many times you can visit.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Guy's Burger Joint is one of the few things on a cruise ship that's genuinely, unconditionally free — no catch, no upcharge, no "premium" version that costs extra. In a world where cruise lines nickel-and-dime you for everything from guacamole to a decent cup of coffee, this one's actually on the house.
Guy's Burger Joint Is 100% Included — Here's What You Get
Guy's Burger Joint, the partnership between Carnival Cruise Line and Food Network celebrity Guy Fieri, is a complimentary poolside burger bar available on most Carnival ships. Every burger, every topping, every portion of seasoned fries comes at $0 extra cost. You don't need a dining package. You don't need to make a reservation. You just show up, order, and eat.
Here's how it stacks up against other Carnival dining options:
| Dining Venue | Cost | Reservation Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Guy's Burger Joint | FREE | No |
| Main Dining Room (MDR) | FREE (included) | No |
| BlueIguana Cantina | FREE (included) | No |
| Pizza Pirate / Pizzeria del Capitano | FREE (included) | No |
| Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que | FREE at lunch (sea days) | No |
| Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse | $55–$62/person | Yes |
| Bonsai Sushi | $5–$18/plate | No |
| Emeril's Bistro | $18–$25/person | Recommended |
| Room Service (select items) | $5 delivery fee + some item fees | No |
Guy's is available for lunch hours only — typically 11:30am to 6:00pm — on sea days and port days. It is not open for breakfast or dinner, so plan accordingly.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
What Affects Whether Guy's Is Available On Your Ship
Not every Carnival ship has Guy's Burger Joint, though most modern vessels do. Here's what to know before you sail:
- Ships built or refurbished after 2011 generally have Guy's Burger Joint. It debuted on the Carnival Freedom in 2011 and has since expanded fleet-wide on eligible ships.
- Older, smaller ships — particularly those that haven't undergone a Carnival Dry Dock refresh — may not have the venue. Check your specific ship's dining deck plan on Carnival's website before sailing.
- Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse is a separate venue available on select newer ships (Mardi Gras, Celebration, Jubilee). The lunch service there is also free on sea days, though a ticketed dinner version exists on some ships at around $22–$28/person.
- On Mardi Gras and Celebration class ships, Guy's Burger Joint is located in the Lido area and remains free like everywhere else.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
How to Get the Most Out of Guy's Without Wasting a Meal Credit
Since it's free, there's no "savings hack" needed — but there are smart ways to work Guy's into your cruise strategy:
Beat the lunch rush. The line at Guy's can stretch 20–30 minutes long between noon and 2pm on sea days. Get there at 11:30am when it opens or after 2:30pm when the crowd thins out. The burger quality doesn't change — the wait time does.
Customize aggressively. The real value at Guy's is the topping bar — Donkey Sauce, triple cheese sauce, bacon, sautéed mushrooms, and a full condiment spread. This is Guy Fieri's actual menu concept, not a watered-down ship version. Don't order plain and walk away.
Skip the specialty dining surcharge on casual days. If you're at sea and just want a solid meal without getting dressed up for the Main Dining Room, Guy's plus a drink from the poolside bar is a genuinely satisfying lunch for only the cost of whatever you're drinking.
Combine with the free BlueIguana Cantina. On the same deck, you'll usually find BlueIguana Cantina serving free tacos and burritos. Between the two, you have a legit free lunch spread that rivals most $15–$20 port restaurants.
Don't waste specialty dining packages on venues you don't need. Carnival's specialty dining packages run $99–$159/person for 3–5 restaurant visits. If you're eating at Guy's, BlueIguana, and the MDR for most meals, you can skip the package entirely and spend that money at port.
Best Carnival Ships for the Full Guy Fieri Dining Experience
If Guy's Burger Joint is part of why you're booking Carnival, these ships offer the most complete Guy Fieri lineup:
| Ship | Guy's Burger Joint | Guy's Pig & Anchor | Guy's Pig & Anchor (Ticketed Dinner) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mardi Gras | ✅ Free | ✅ Free (lunch, sea days) | ✅ ~$22–$28/person |
| Carnival Celebration | ✅ Free | ✅ Free (lunch, sea days) | ✅ ~$22–$28/person |
| Carnival Jubilee | ✅ Free | ✅ Free (lunch, sea days) | ✅ ~$22–$28/person |
| Carnival Venezia | ✅ Free | ❌ Not available | ❌ N/A |
| Carnival Vista | ✅ Free | ✅ Free (lunch, sea days) | Varies |
| Carnival Sunshine | ✅ Free | ❌ Not available | ❌ N/A |
For the full experience, Mardi Gras is the standout — it has both venues, the largest topping bar, and the best poolside layout for eating at Guy's without feeling like you're in a cafeteria.
Guy's Burger Joint is one of Carnival's genuinely great calls — a legitimately good burger, totally free, no strings attached. If you want to see exactly how much you'll spend (and where you can skip paying entirely) on your Carnival sailing, use the CruiseMutiny budget tool to build a realistic cost breakdown before you book. And if you're ready to price out a Carnival itinerary, CruiseHub is a solid place to compare fares without the resort-booking runaround.