All About Carnival Cruise Line

Calypso music, Neon tube lighting, people laughing. Good food, sunshine, and Fun. That’s what comes to mind when you think of a Carnival Cruise.

Carnival operates twenty-one ships cruising to destinations in The Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Europe, and other ports all over the world. It’s hard to imagine that this company started with just one broken-down ship, The Empress of Canada, renamed The Mardi Gras, in 1972. Carnival Corporation is truly a rags-to-riches story. That first ship, acquired with all the funds owner, Ted Arinson, could muster, ran aground on that first cruise just after leaving port. Unfazed, Carnival fixed the ship and began to offer no-frills cruises out of Miami to anyone who would buy a ticket. No longer were cruises just for well-healed, tuxedo-clad heirs and heiresses.

Carnival had brought cruising to the masses. Carnival quickly needed more ships, and two veteran ships, renamed The Carnivale and The Festivale, were added. In 1978, Carnival announced that it was building its first brand-new ship, The Tropicale, at 36,000 tons, the largest ship in the world built just for the cruise trade. More ships followed, with Carnival remaining true to its “Fun Ship,” casual concept. The most recent addition to the Carnival fleet is the The Carnival Valor, launched in 2004. This 2974-passenger vessel boasts 22 lounges and bars, a 13,000 square-foot health and fitness center, and an upscale supper club. The Carnival Valor will be followed by The Carnival Liberty, set to launch in July of 2005, and The Carnival Freedom in 2007. Staterooms on Carnival are well designed for ease of movement and comfort. The average Carnival stateroom, at 185 square feet, is 50% larger than those of other similar cruise lines.

From modest, inside staterooms to lavish large suites, complete with a separate sitting area, walk-in closet, and large bath, Carnival cruise staterooms are tasteful and welcoming. Increasingly popular are balcony suites with private patios outside of floor-to-ceiling glass doors. All Carnival staterooms have private baths, direct-dial telephones, and televisions offering satellite TV programming as well as first-run movies.

Carnival cruise ships offer a variety of dining options. In addition to the formal main dining room, Carnival offers a 24-hour pizzeria, the Seaside Bistro, a smaller, casually elegant dining option, and 24-hour room service. And don’t forget the lavish midnight buffet. You can find something yummy to eat at any hour on a Carnival ship.

Carnival ships depart from Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, and Tampa as well as overseas cities for ports all over the world, including ports in The Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Europe, Hawaii and Bermuda. In addition, unique repositioning cruises connect one part of the world with another with voyages such as a 16-day cruise between Rome and Ft. Lauderdale. A cruise line that called its ships the “Fun Ships” should offer plenty of activities, and Carnival doesn’t disappoint.

Carnival’s mega-resorts at sea offer multiple pools, duty-free shopping, a full-service spa, casino gambling, and a kid’s club, called “Camp Carnival.” Exciting and varied shore excursions made ports-of-call interesting and educational as well. Carnival ships come alive in the evening. Vegas-style stage shows, first-run movies, a vibrant casino with slots and table games, and over a dozen lounges and bars ensure guests are having a good time well into the night. Carnival Corporation and its “World’s Leading Cruise Lines” brand have grown to encompass Holland America Line, Costa Cruises, Seaborn Cruise Line, Windstar, Cunard, and, most recently, Princess Cruises. Though each line is run as a separate company, they all offer the attention to detail and superlative service that is a trademark of Carnival.

The future looks bright for Carnival Cruise Line. A record number of passengers, over 3 million, are expected to take a Carnival Cruise in 2005. New ships, new ports, and, possibly, new acquisitions will keep Carnival having “Fun” for years to come.