Carnival Dream - The Newest Generation of Cruising

Introducing a new Carnival slogan ("FUN FOR ALL ALL FOR FUN") introduces change in the cruise lines class of "Fun Ships." One of the most innovative to come, Carnival Dream, introduces a new class of deck organization that involves the lifeboats underneath the boat deck!

Indeed, the new ship, counterparting Carnival Magic (to debut in June 2011), will give guests spacious deck space around the large 130,000 ton, 1,004 ft long ship attributing overhang scenic Jacuzzis (left), a fun filled waterslide experience called "WaterWorks" on Spa/12 Deck.

With booking available now, and the maiden voyage coming September 21, 2009, it is always a question to ask what makes this ship so innovative, and so much different from all the others. Arch rival Royal Caribbean Internationals newest Oasis of the Seas compares identical in that the lifeboats are a deck below, and it will include overhang scenic Jacuzzis, but personalities differ greatly in personality and style.

On an interview for "Cruising Authority" with former entertainer, and cruise director Barry Vaudrin, internationally recognized architect for Carnival Cruise Lines, Joseph Farcus described the new Carnival Dream as the "biggest Carnival ship" with the "newest features." "It's got the most, and will be the most interesting," he said, with the rooms intending to create a "dream cruise" for people.

In a design concept Mr. Farcus describes as "entertainment architecture," the interior features shall evoke, quite simply, a "dream" ship. The many facilities onboard, he says, will not be 'dreamy' but create the fantastic idea of a dream vacation!

So, while the Carnival Victory confirms a tropical atmosphere of light greens and blues, the Carnival Dream enhances red and pink in a hazy sparkle that might make anyone feel they were not simply on a cruise vacation, but a dream cruise vacation!

While Carnival's latest 'Cloud 9 Spa' has suits just for couples with a Jacuzzi and bed overlooking the scenery outside glossy floor-to-ceiling windows, "Cove balcony staterooms" gives guests outside views closer to the waterline than you could ever think possible. This, along with a multitude of spacious facilities (like Ocean Plaza, with a wall made entirely of glass) averting the closed-in feeling of, oh, let's say an oil tanker!

With glossy floors of both genteel earthy, and circular out-of-this-world tones, the entertainment district on this new metropolis of a "city at sea" will be too diverse to specify a specific theme. By the looks of it, young adult centers might just belong to the adults (intense colors and retro spaciousness)! And a touch of class is given with lavish art deco style colors and personalities in the Rendezvous Club Lounge, and Burgundy Lounge where an intimate feeling might relax you from the ships incredibly flashy atmosphere.

So, at 130,000 tons, 1,004 feet long, and a guest capacity of 3,646 (at double occupancy), this new ship is by far the largest and most innovative of all previous Carnival ships. She will begin the Carnival tradition of sailing around the Mediterranean, until making Ft. Lauderdale her home port on Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.

Surely a Dream come true...

[Photo's courtesy of carnival.com - visit to find out more on this upcoming "city on the sea"]

Welcome to a New Cruise Year

After the long and lingering process of terminal humdrum, there is nothing quite like that first step onto the soaring gangplank. The size and splendor of your massive, ready-to-sail resort sits poised and prepared. There is an entrancing atmosphere about the glimmering balconies and the reflective white hull, not to mention the little figures wandering around the deck and disappearing into the curious interior.
 

As the miniscule individual approaches this massive bulk of intricate design, the small particulars somehow bring the overall scale to a certain individual identity. The ship is no longer an object, but a unique expression of human ambition, with a persona that invigorates escape and adventure. There grows a certain human characteristic about the ship that is only heightened by the particular design and décor it possesses.

This human trait might be called the countenance, and it is unique to every ship, no matter how much alike. The unique contours of the hull, the heightened sense of grandeur, and secure sense of safety all help to replace the objective seafaring dwelling into a relationship between this behemoth moving adventurer that is able to adapt to its many locations.

Come join my blog as I look at the countenance of the ship.

 

The décor, design, destinations, and doings on a cruise ship are all important, but when does a ship become a destination in itself, and when does it gain its face? When deciding on a cruise for vacation, how much of the ships personality plays a factor in the decision making process?

 

This blog will compare and contrast different cruise ships, and their distinctive characteristics. It will taste the expressions that cruise ships make on the destination they hug shorelines with, and beg the curious significance as to the effect and affect they have on people and their determined relationship between the sea and the floating personality that takes them through it.

(Top picture courtesy of www.cruisecritic.com)