Onboard (Cruise Critic Review)
Carnival offers the usual assortment of onboard activities, from traditional napkin-folding classes, Vegas-style revues and kitchen tours to belly-flop pool contests and waterslide races. All of its ships offer size-appropriate spa and fitness facilities and have multiple pool areas. On Destiny-class ships and all subsequent new-builds save for Carnival Dream, one pool always lies under a retractable roof so it can be used year-round. Casinos on Carnival ships are elaborate, Vegas-style rooms with all the neon and flash one would expect.
Carnival is increasingly experimenting with dining venues on its ships. Although traditional two-seating dining arrangements -- passengers can choose 6 or 8:15 p.m. -- are still available in the ships' main restaurants, the line has also added Your Time Dining, which allows passengers to eat in the main dining room anytime between 5:45 and 9:30 p.m.
Beyond traditional dining, Carnival has focused on expanding its casual dining options. An Asian-themed buffet station, a New York-style deli, a 24-hour pizzeria, a pre-dinner sushi bar and Indian food are all now staples onboard. Spirit-, Conquest-, Splendor- and Dream-class ships have an upscale alternative restaurant serving steakhouse fare (cover charge applies). Carnival Magic features a for-fee Italian restaurant serving handmade pastas. Carnival Breeze will also have the venue.
Also available on all of Carnival's ships is The Chef's Table dining experience, which affords a dozen passengers a multi-course dinner with a master chef, a private cocktail reception and a tour of the galley and its operations. This dining option usually takes place in a nontraditional venue, such as the galley or library, and it can be booked onboard at the information desk for a per-person cost of $75.
In the spa arena, Carnival has remodeled its SpaCarnival spa and fitness facilities. Other highlights include Internet cafes and the introduction of in-cabin amenity baskets. Carnival Splendor, Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic offers the line's first thalassotherapy pools, thermal suite and spa cabins in its Cloud 9 Spa.
Carnival Freedom, Liberty, Destiny, Triumph, Glory, Conquest, Splendor, Dream and Magic feature the Seaside Theatre, an outdoor big-screen movie setup located poolside. Similar to sister line Princess' Movies Under the Stars (M.U.T.S.) concept, passengers can enjoy concerts, news and sporting events during the day, and movies at night.
For the most part, Carnival's larger, newer liners have the more sophisticated accouterments. Despite much uniformity and the effort to revamp older ships, this is still one cruise line where ship-by-ship research is a good idea if there are particular features that interest you.
Passengers are a broad crisscross of (mostly) Americans; according to Carnival, 30 percent of its passengers are under 35, 40 percent are between 35 and 55, and 30 percent are over 55.
Carnival is increasingly experimenting with dining venues on its ships. Although traditional two-seating dining arrangements -- passengers can choose 6 or 8:15 p.m. -- are still available in the ships' main restaurants, the line has also added Your Time Dining, which allows passengers to eat in the main dining room anytime between 5:45 and 9:30 p.m.
Beyond traditional dining, Carnival has focused on expanding its casual dining options. An Asian-themed buffet station, a New York-style deli, a 24-hour pizzeria, a pre-dinner sushi bar and Indian food are all now staples onboard. Spirit-, Conquest-, Splendor- and Dream-class ships have an upscale alternative restaurant serving steakhouse fare (cover charge applies). Carnival Magic features a for-fee Italian restaurant serving handmade pastas. Carnival Breeze will also have the venue.
Also available on all of Carnival's ships is The Chef's Table dining experience, which affords a dozen passengers a multi-course dinner with a master chef, a private cocktail reception and a tour of the galley and its operations. This dining option usually takes place in a nontraditional venue, such as the galley or library, and it can be booked onboard at the information desk for a per-person cost of $75.
In the spa arena, Carnival has remodeled its SpaCarnival spa and fitness facilities. Other highlights include Internet cafes and the introduction of in-cabin amenity baskets. Carnival Splendor, Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic offers the line's first thalassotherapy pools, thermal suite and spa cabins in its Cloud 9 Spa.
Carnival Freedom, Liberty, Destiny, Triumph, Glory, Conquest, Splendor, Dream and Magic feature the Seaside Theatre, an outdoor big-screen movie setup located poolside. Similar to sister line Princess' Movies Under the Stars (M.U.T.S.) concept, passengers can enjoy concerts, news and sporting events during the day, and movies at night.
For the most part, Carnival's larger, newer liners have the more sophisticated accouterments. Despite much uniformity and the effort to revamp older ships, this is still one cruise line where ship-by-ship research is a good idea if there are particular features that interest you.
Fellow Passengers
Passengers are a broad crisscross of (mostly) Americans; according to Carnival, 30 percent of its passengers are under 35, 40 percent are between 35 and 55, and 30 percent are over 55.
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Ships cruising to, from or within Australia in 2012-13
(SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA) Carnival Cruise Lines is a British-American owned cruise line, based inDoral, Florida, a suburb of Miami in the United States. Originally an independent company founded in 1972 by Ted Arison, the company is now one of eleven cruise ship brands owned and operated by Carnival Corporation & PLC. The company has the largest fleet in the group, with 23 vessels currently in operation that account for 21.1% of the worldwide market share.[2] Executive control of the company is provided by the North American division of Carnival Corporation, headquartered in Doral, Florida.[3][4]
Carnival was a pioneer in the concept of shorter, less expensive cruises. Its ships are known for their Las Vegas-style decor and entertainment. The line calls its ships The Fun Ships, and there are a wide range of activities offered on board. Its trademark is the funnel, which is red, white and blue and shaped like a whale's tail. The mascot for Carnival is "Fun Ship Freddy", a character in the shape of Carnival's distinctive funnel.
In 1996 the Carnival Destiny of 101,000 gross tons became the largest passenger ship in the world at the time. In 2004, Carnival Corporation ordered for a development program for Carnival's new ships, which was called the PinnacleProject, which calls for a 200,000-GT prototype, which would have been the world's largest cruise ship.[5] As of 2009, the latest and largest ship in the Carnival fleet is the Carnival Dream, a new 128,000 gross ton ship. The Carnival Dream entered service on 21 September 2009. After several voyages in the Mediterranean she is set to offer weekly Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral from 5 December 2009. A sister ship, the Carnival Magic, debuted on May 1, 2011. On December 1, 2009 it was announced that Carnival placed an order for a third Dream-class vessel.[6] It will enter service in June 2012 and will be homeported in Miami.[7] On May 10, 2010, Carnival selected a name for their new Dream-class vessel in 2012; the Carnival Breeze.[8]
Fantasy Class
| Ship | Year Built | Sailed for Carnival | Gross Tonnage | Homeport | Flag | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Fantasy | 1990 | 1990–Present | 70,367 GT | Charleston |  Panama | *ex Fantasy |  |
| Carnival Ecstasy | 1991 | 1991–Present | 70,367 GT | Port Canaveral | Panama | *ex Ecstasy |  |
| Carnival Sensation | 1993 | 1993–Present | 70,367 GT | Port Canaveral, |  Bahamas | *ex Sensation |  |
| Carnival Fascination | 1994 | 1994–Present | 70,367 GT | Jacksonville | Bahamas | *ex Fascination |  |
| Carnival Imagination | 1995 | 1995–Present | 70,367 GT | Miami, Florida | Bahamas | *ex Imagination | _sits_moored_at_the_Outer_Mole_Pier_in_Key_West,_Fla.,_opposite_the_Carnival_cruise_ship_.jpg) |
| Carnival Inspiration | 1996 | 1996–Present | 70,367 GT | Los Angeles, California | Bahamas | *ex Inspiration; |  |
| Carnival Elation | 1998 | 1998–Present | 70,367 GT | New Orleans, Louisiana | Panama | *ex Elation |  |
| Carnival Paradise | 1998 | 1998–Present | 70,367 GT | Tampa, Florida | Panama | *ex Paradise; |  |
[edit]Destiny class
| Ship | Year Built | Sailed for Carnival | Gross Tonnage | Homeport | Flag | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Destiny | 1996 | 1996–Present | 101,353 GT | Bahamas | World's largest passenger ship (measured bygross tonnage), when built. First cruise ship over 100,000 GT. To be refurbished and renamed as Carnival Sunshine in 2013 |  |
[edit]Triumph class
| Ship | Year Built | Sailed for Carnival | Gross Tonnage | Homeport | Flag | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Triumph | 1999 | 1999–Present | 101,509 GT | Bahamas | Similar to Carnival Destiny, but with an additional deck. |  | |
| Carnival Victory | 2000 | 2000–Present | 101,509 GT | Panama | Identical to Carnival Triumph. |  |
[edit]Spirit class
| Ship | Year Built | Sailed for Carnival | Gross Tonnage | Homeport | Flag | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Spirit | 2001 | 2001–Present | 88,500 GT | Panama | Built toPanamaxform factor |  | |
| Carnival Pride | 2001 | 2001–Present | 88,500 GT | Baltimore, Maryland | Panama | Built to Panamax form factor, former flagship of Carnival |  |
| Carnival Legend | 2002 | 2002–Present | 88,500 GT | Panama | Built to Panamax form factor |  | |
| Carnival Miracle | 2004 | 2004–Present | 88,500 GT | Panama | Built to Panamax form factor |  |
[edit]Conquest class
| Ship | Year Built | Sailed for Carnival | Gross Tonnage | Homeport | Flag | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Conquest | 2002 | 2002–Present | 110,000 GT | Panama |  | ||
| Carnival Glory | 2003 | 2003–Present | 110,000 GT | Panama |  | ||
| Carnival Valor | 2004 | 2004–Present | 110,000 GT | Panama |  | ||
| Carnival Liberty | 2005 | 2005–Present | 110,000 GT | Panama |  | ||
| Carnival Freedom | 2007 | 2007–Present | 110,000 GT | Panama |  |
[edit]Splendor class
| Ship | Year Built | Sailed for Carnival | Gross Tonnage | Homeport | Flag | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Splendor | 2008 | 2008–Present | 113,300 GT | Panama | Referred as aSplendor-class ship. |  |
[edit]Dream class
| Ship | Year Built | Sailed for Carnival | Gross Tonnage | Homeport | Flag | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Dream | 2009 | 2009–Present | 130,000 GT | Panama |  | ||
| Carnival Magic | 2011 | 2011–Present | 130,000 GT | Panama |  | ||
| Carnival Breeze | 2012 | June 3, 2012 fromVenice, Italy | 130,000 GT | Panama | Carnival's Flagship |
[edit]Ships on Order
| Ship Name | Gross Tonnage | Status | Cost | |
| TBD Fall 2014 | 140,000 | Letter of Intent | $ 875 Million (USD) | |
| TBD Spring 2015 | 140,000 | Letter of Intent | $ 875 Million (USD) |
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