Carnival Bonsai Sushi: Menu, Prices, and Whether It’s Worth It

Bonsai Sushi is one of those Carnival dining venues that consistently punches above its price point. It’s not included in your cruise fare, but the à la carte pricing keeps most meals in a range that’s genuinely reasonable for a sit-down sushi experience, especially compared to what you’d pay at a sushi restaurant on land. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.

Which ships have it

Bonsai Sushi is available on a solid chunk of the fleet, including Breeze, Celebration, Dream, Firenze, Horizon, Jubilee, Legend, Mardi Gras, Panorama, Pride, Radiance, Spirit, Sunrise, Sunshine, Venezia, and Vista. One distinction worth knowing: on the Breeze and a handful of other ships, the venue runs as Bonsai Sushi Express, a counter-service version with a slightly streamlined format rather than full sit-down service. The full sit-down Bonsai Sushi experience, with the actual bonsai-tree décor and table service, is what you’ll find on the newer Excel-class ships.

Pricing breakdown

Bonsai Sushi runs entirely à la carte, meaning you pay per item rather than a flat per-person cover charge. Here’s what the current pricing looks like:

Individual sushi rolls run $9 each. Options include the California Roll, Spicy Tuna, and Tempura Roll at that base price. The Bang Bang Bonsai Roll, made with salmon, crab, shrimp, and wasabi mustard, steps up to $10 and is consistently the most talked-about roll on the menu. Sashimi is priced per piece at $2.50. Appetizers run $5 each. Soups and salads fall in the $3-$3.50 range.

For larger orders, the Bento Box at $17 includes a side salad, a California Roll, and three pieces of sushi in tuna, salmon, and shrimp. The Ship for 2 platter at $34 bumps that up to a Bang Bang Bonsai Roll, a California Roll, and six pieces of sushi split between the same trio of proteins. Build-your-own noodle bowls run $8 and can be done with either ramen or udon noodles, your choice of meat, and optional add-ons.

For dessert, Tempura Green Tea Ice Cream and Yuzu Custard are both $3.

Drinks at Bonsai Sushi, sake, Japanese beer, and themed cocktails like the Sake Sangria and Tokyo Sangria are all priced separately and not included in your dining. If you have CHEERS, beverages covered by the package apply here as usual.

A note on customization

Most items on the menu can be customized if something doesn’t work for you. Don’t like one of the proteins in a roll? Ask to swap it. Want to adjust the Ship for 2 platters? Just ask. The kitchen is generally flexible, and the staff at Bonsai Sushi tends to be attentive enough to actually walk you through the menu rather than just hand it over and disappear.

Is it worth it

For sushi lovers, yes, without much deliberation. The quality holds up well for an at-sea option; the rolls are properly made rather than prefabricated, and the atmosphere is more relaxed and intentional than the general dining room energy. For someone who isn’t a sushi devotee, the noodle bowls, miso soup, and Izakaya-style Japanese plates on the menu give you options that don’t require any sushi enthusiasm at all.

The Bang Bang Bonsai Roll comes up repeatedly across cruise reviews as the item most worth ordering, and the Bento Box tends to be the best value for someone trying the restaurant for the first time, since it covers multiple categories without committing to a full multi-roll order.

One practical note: Bonsai Sushi is open for both lunch and dinner. Dinner tends to draw more traffic, so if you want to try it without waiting, a lunch visit typically moves faster. No reservations are required, but they are worth making for dinner on busy sailings.

For a full breakdown of what’s free versus what costs extra across all Carnival dining, the What’s Included vs What Costs Extra guide covers everything in one place. And for where Bonsai Sushi sits specifically on the Jubilee deck plan, the Carnival Jubilee Deck by Deck Guide has the full layout.

The bottom line

Bonsai Sushi delivers a real sushi restaurant experience at sea, at a price most people find reasonable by the time the check comes. Start with the Bang Bang Bonsai Roll, add a noodle bowl if you want something heartier, and save room for the green tea ice cream. For everything else Carnival charges extra for, and whether those costs are worth it, see the Carnival Dining Guide.

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Resources & Official Links

• Bonsai Sushi – Carnival.com — Official page with ship availability
• Carnival Specialty Dining — All specialty restaurant options and pricing
• Carnival Cruise Manager — Pre-book specialty dining before you board
• Carnival.com — Official Carnival Cruise Line website