Carnival Cruise Lines
3655 NW 87th Avenue
Miami, FL 33178
800-327-9501
Web site: Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines has grown since 1972 from a “mom and pop” organization with one vintage vessel to become the giant in the cruise industry. Parent company Carnival Corporation also owns Holland America Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America, Princess Cruises, the Yachts of Seabourn and Costa Cruises This makes Carnival Corporation the world’s largest cruise company.
New York Cruises: Sailing from Manhattan, Carnival ships sail to Canada/New England, Bermuda and the Caribbean. In 2009, Carnival Miracle and Carnival Triumph offer April through November itineraries. In 2010, Carnival Glory sails on 4-, 5-, 7- and 9-day Canada New England voyages.
2009/10 Itineraries Go to bottom of this article.
The Carnival Experience: Carnival prides itself on building “Fun Ships” and this is evident from the moment you board. A cross between Las Vegas and Planet Hollywood, the decor ranges is bright, bold and at times outrageous with gilt and bronze atriums and molding in strange shapes. Carnival wants to keep your spirits and your energy up, and certainly succeeds. On these ships you’ll find the best nightlife. But you’ll also find day-long announcements for art auctions and special drinks in your cabin and public areas. Carnival is one of our picks for one of the “biggest bangs for the buck” - in the mid-price range you get the largest cabins afloat, very good food, enormous casinos and a wide diversity in non-stop entertainment and a high energy cruise experience. The cruise experience seems to please everyone, from young children to seniors, Americans and Europeans.
Dining Program: Carnival recently introduced the new “Your Choice Dining” program that will suit everyone’s personal preferences. Passengers may choose between single, open seating, dining when and with whom they choose, or assigned seating at 6 p.m. or 8:15 p.m. One feature I adore is the availability of pizza and Caesar salad served fresh 24 hours per day on the top deck. In my experience Carnival’s food is among the best outside the luxury cruise companies.
STATEROOMS: Carnival’s cabins are among the most spacious afloat, including staterooms holding three and four passengers. Ships built after 1996 have balcony cabins and amenities such as mini refrigerators, toiletries, hair dryers and bathrobes.
FELLOW PASSENGERS: Carnival carries a wide gamut of middle class Americans: high living twenty-something singles, parents with kids, baby boomers and the retired. During summer months and holiday sailings, Caribbean and and Bahamas cruises carry up to 700 children per sailing.
Taking The Kids: The superbly run “Camp Carnival” is available on all ships year-round, for Toddlers (2-5) Juniors (6-8) Intermediate (9-12) and Teens (13-15). Activities for specific age groups are supervised by youth counselors. Facilities are open from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Group babysitting is available in the playroom between 10pm and 3 am and, 8 am to 12 noon on port days for a fee. There is no in-cabin babysitting. Cribs are available upon request, but bring your own strollers. New programming is continually in development. Recent additions include “ExerSeas,” a recreational fitness program designed to encourage kids to “get out and play” through intense physical activity; “A-B-Seas”, a new reading and writing program and H2Ocean, a science program which features a wide variety of fun, hands-on science projects. The line’s popular EduCruise program has also been expanded to include even more interactive projects focusing on the cultures, landmarks, history and geography of the destinations to which Carnival sails. Also in the works is a new art program.
Past Passenger Program: Carnival “Currents” magazine; discount coupons; “Festivale Party” for repeaters on 5-day or longer cruises. For more information call 1-888-CCL-GUEST.
Tipping: Carnival has introduced automatic gratuities whereby $10.00 per person per day is added to your Sail & Sign card. (No charge for children under two years of age). This includes $3.60 for the stateroom steward; $5.50 for the Dining Room team and $.90 for service in the alternative dining rooms. The amount can be raised or lowered by visiting the purser’s desk during the cruise. A 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to all beverage tabs. Gratuities for the maitre d’, room service, spa, casino and other staff are at the passenger’s discretion.
CARNIVAL ITINERARIES
NOTE: While Carnival is one of the few cruise companies to accept direct bookings we strongly encourage you to work through a travel agent. You’re not booking a seat on an airplane, you’re making a lifestyle choice. You’ll be better served by using an outside travel agent.
2009/10 Voyages from Manhattan
CANADA/NEW ENGLAND
2009 Canada New England: Carnival Triumph sails on 4-, five-and 7-day voyages round-trip from New York. Four- day cruises: June 7, 11, 25; July 9 and 23; August 6 and 20; Sept 3. Five-day cruises: June 15, 20 & 29; July 4, 13 & 18; Aug. 1, 10, 15, 24; Sept 7. Seven-day Canada New England voyage departing Sept 12, 19, 26; Oct. 3 & 10, 2009.
2010 Canada New England: Carnival Glory sails round-trip from New York in 2010. Four-day cruise: June 6. Five-day cruise: June 29. Nine-day cruise: June 10, 19 and 28. Seven day voyages: Sept. 11, 18, 25, and October 2 and 9.
CARIBBEAN
8-day 2009 Caribbean cruises: Eastern Caribbean cruises to Grand Turk and the Bahamas (Nassau and Half Moon Cay) on Carnival Miracle. May 3, 16 & 24; June 1 &9; July 3, 11, 19 & 26; Aug. 4 & 28; September 5, 13 & 29, 2009.
8-day 2010 Caribbean cruises (Carnival Miracle); May 7, 15 & 31; June 8; July 2, 10 & 26; Aug. 3 & 27; Sept. 5 , 20 & 28, 2010.
BAHAMAS:
8-day Bahamas cruises aboard Carnival Dream visiting Orlando; Nassau and Freeport. Nov. 15 & 23, 2009
BERMUDA
6-day Bermuda cruises: April 15, 2010 (Carnival Miracle) and April 14, 2011 (Carnival Miracle).
TWO DAY CRUISES
TWO-day cruises to nowhere. Oct. 15, 2009 (Carnival Miracle); Nov. 13, 2009 (Carnival Dream)
Copyright 2009, Anne Campbell