Rudi's Seagrill menu: What you can order from Carnival Cruise Line's upscale seafood restaurant
“What’s cooking, good looking?” No, I’m not being flirty. If you’re familiar with chef and pop artist Rudi Sodamin, you’ll know that’s his catchphrase. (If you're not familiar with him, you’re about to be.)
Sodamin’s larger-than-life personality and whimsical “food faces” — funny visages made from plated food — have led him to partnerships with several brands in the Carnival Corporation portfolio. Such partners include Princess Cruises and Holland America Line, whose ships boast seafood eatery Rudi’s Sel de Mer.
However, Sodamin truly shines with his latest venture, Rudi’s Seagrill on Carnival Cruise Line's Excel Class ships, which are the newest in the fleet.
Here, I’ll go over what you need to know — from menu items and pricing to the ships on which you’ll find Rudi’s Seagrill — so you can decide if dinner at this upscale seafood restaurant is right for you.
What is Rudi’s Seagrill on Carnival cruise ships?
Rudi’s Seagrill, Carnival Cruise Line’s high-end seafood restaurant, offers a menu of delicious and beautifully prepared dishes, served in a dining room that’s light and airy. Glass fish accents and pops of blue color enhance the nautical vibe.
Although Carnival has had onboard seafood options for years, this is a far cry from the pool deck’s Seafood Shack (which recently sold me a mediocre crabcake). Instead, at Rudi's, you’ll find a don’t-miss lobster mac and cheese, plenty of meat and seafood selections, and crabcakes that are actually worth the price of admission.
Related: Carnival cruise food: The ultimate guide to restaurants and dining on board
Although the official dress code is “cruise casual,” you might want to dress up a bit for dinner at Rudi's, given the atmosphere.
Reservations are highly recommended.
Rudi's Seagrill menu
The Rudi’s menu includes five sections from which you can choose your meal’s three courses: starters, soups and salads, entrees, grill items and desserts. For your first course, you can choose an item from starters, soups or salads. For your second course, select from entrees or the grill. Follow it up with a dessert for course number three.
Starters include blue mussels, seared shrimp, oysters and the aforementioned lobster mac and cheese. Soup and salad choices include seafood bisque, fisherman’s stew, house tossed salad or baby romaine with cauliflower and honey nut squash.
If you want to stick to seafood, go with one of the entrees like roasted halibut, red snapper, Dover sole, broiled lobster tail or the crabcake about which I was raving earlier. If meat is more to your liking, pick something from the grill — free-range chicken, a pork chop or prime New York strip steak — instead.
To top it off, enjoy dishes such as apple cheesecake with limoncello whipped cream, chocolate truffle cake, white chocolate bread pudding or key lime pie for dessert.
Wines and cocktails are also available for sale. Choose from sparkling, white, red and rose wines or unique-to-Rudi's cocktails, such as Seagrill Sangria and the Santorini Martini.
For cruisers 11 and younger, a special menu offers smaller portions and kid-friendly fare. They can choose macaroni and cheese or shrimp cocktail as a starter. For mains, children can order beef sliders with Parmesan fries; a 4-ounce filet mignon with vegetables; fish and chips; or chicken fingers. Tasty dessert options are either a banana split or a chocolate and Nutella pizza.
Note: Menu items were accurate at the time of publication, but they’re subject to change without notice.
Rudi's Seagrill price
How much does it cost to eat at Rudi’s Seagrill? Adults can dine there for $49 per person, which includes a starter, main and dessert. Kids 11 and younger can order from the children’s menu for $15.
Gratuity is included in the cover charge. Alcoholic beverages are charged a la carte unless you have a drink package that covers the price.
Which Carnival ships have Rudi’s Seagrill?
Rudi’s Seagrill is on all ships in Carnival’s Excel Class:
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries
- 43 Carnival Cruise Line tips, tricks and hacks to enhance your vacation at sea
- Best Carnival cruise ships: Here's which ship you should sail, based on your travel style
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.