Carnival Magic Cruise Ship Specialty Dining at Cucina del Capitano #CarnivalMagic

One of the newest Carnival Cruise Lines brands onboard the Carnival Magic is the specialty dining restaurant Cucina del Capitano. Last night we experienced this culinary venue, which is a family style dinner option themed around Carnival captains’ Italian heritage. The recipes come from the captains’ families and the walls are covered with images and memories from various captains’ from Carnival Cruise Lines.

We enjoyed a tasting of the various starters, including my favorite of all the dishes – Il Capitano’s Signature Arancini, fried risotto balls topped with shaved parmesan cheese. Other appetizer options include an antipasti dish, calamari fritti, eggplant parmegiana, arugala salad, or Nonna’s meatballs.

Any italian meal is only complete with wine, and Cucina del Capitano serves a house chianti, served tableside from a barrel by a singing waiter. The wine is served in traditional wine glasses or Sicilian wine glasses. There are other fine wines available, served by the bottle, the glass, or carafe.

The main course at Cucina del Capitano may be a hard decision, as there are so many delicious options to choose from. Fortunately, you can order a few different entrees and serve them family style, allowing everyone at the table to enjoy a variety of tastes. My dad and I ordered the Pollo Parmigiana della Cucina and my mother enjoyed Nonna’s Linguine & Meatballs. There are many other main course options, including a secret recipe dish from Carnival Magic Captain Giovanny Cutugno’s wife. This dish was named Il Baccio del Mare, by Ted Fazioli, a loyal Carnival Cruiser.

Dessert is always my favorite course and I was excited to see the dessert menu with Magic Tiramisu, Sicilian Cannoli, Crostata di mele Coppetta, and Limone Sorbetti. I went with the cannoli and even brought the leftovers to my cabin to enjoy later under the stars.

Cucina del Capitano is a delicious way to enjoy a memorable Italian meal onboard the Carnival Magic. Reservations are highly suggested and there is a $10 per person surcharge for adults and $5 surcharge for children 11 years and younger. It is located by going through the Lido Deck (deck 10) behind the Marketplace Buffet and entering where you see the sign.

Tip: Cucina del Capitano is open during lunch as a pasta restaurant and is included in your cruise rate.

Special thanks to Carnival Cruise Lines for hosting my cruise.