Carnival Cruise Line unveils sunscreen-flavored ice cream & critics say it tastes good

Carnival Cruise Line and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream have created a sunscreen-flavored ice cream that might be the strangest flavor of 2025, and people are saying it’s shockingly good.

The limited-run pints were crafted as part of a summer send-off campaign that Carnival dubbed the “End-of-Summer Scaries.”

Despite its unusual name, no sunscreen is actually used. Instead, the recipe blends cream, coconut cream, cocoa butter, vanilla, and sea salt to recreate the nostalgic scent and taste of summer.

Only a handful of pints were produced, and Carnival has no immediate plans to sell it. But the cruise line hinted that if enough buzz builds online, a small-batch public release could follow.

Sunscreen-flavored ice cream actually tastes good?

Early reactions have been positive. Houston Hotspots described the flavor as “summer in ice cream form,” praising the odd experiment for nailing the vibe.

“Listen… we’re always down for adventurous eats, and this one definitely pushed the limits. But honestly—it tastes like summer in ice cream form! We’re not sure how, but they actually made sunscreen taste good,” they explained.

Novelty flavors are having a moment in 2025. Earlier this year, Parenting brand Frida launched a breast milk-flavored ice cream with OddFellows.

Meanwhile, KFC transformed its gravy into “Gravy Gelato,” continuing the growing list of viral frozen oddities.

For now, sunscreen ice cream remains a cruise-exclusive experiment, but it might not stay that way for long.