Why I am a Carnival Cruises Fan!!

Ted Arison started Carnival Cruise Lines back in 1972 when
he purchased the fleet’s very first ship for just one dollar. She
set sail as the Festival – and went aground on her maiden
voyage. Today, the Carnival fleet boasts 23 different “Fun Ships®”
and is just one of several cruise lines that comprise the Carnival
Corporation family. Sister companies include Princess Cruises,
Holland America Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, and the
Yachts of Seabourn.

I’ve sailed aboard the ships of every single cruise line, including
the world’s priciest vessels. And yet the more cruises I take, the
more I appreciate Carnival. Today’s Carnival cruise provides the
biggest bang for your vacation buck and pleases passengers
ranging from tots to retirees. And while Carnival once appealed
mainly to first-time cruisers, the contemporary version has many
repeat customers coming back for more of the cruise line’s
upbeat atmosphere and wide range of choices.

Until the late 1990s, Carnival primarily catered to twentysomething
cruisers in search of a “party at sea.” But over the past
dozen years, the cruise line has made significant upgrades
across all areas of its product offerings in order to appeal to a
much broader demographic. And while I’ve sailed on every ship
that Carnival has entered into service (usually aboard two-night
“introductory” cruises reserved for professionals in the travel
industry), it wasn’t until I’d spent a full week aboard Carnival Valor
that I recognized the exceptional level of quality that’s become
a hallmark of today’s “Fun Ship®.”

Here are a handful of areas where Carnival really excels…

Ship Design
I’m not really a “Fun Ship®” sort of person – I don’t gamble,
stay up especially late, or lounge by the pool sunbathing. But
Carnival’s ships are so wonderfully designed that it’s possible
for me to find the atmosphere I desire in a heartbeat. While many
passengers will opt for the disco or an adult-comedy venue,
I prefer to spend time in the piano bar or at the atrium, listening
to live classical music while people-watching. Bottom line?
Carnival makes it easy to find whatever it is you’re looking for.

Food
In my experience, Carnival’s food is among the industry’s best,
surpassed only by the offerings available from the luxury cruise
lines. After a hundred-some-odd cruises, I can easily determine
the quality of a cruise line’s food by heading to the lido buffet
shortly after coming aboard. I’ll sample the ship’s coffee and
chocolate – if one or both come up short, the same will usually
be true of everything else served onboard. Carnival’s ships
scored high in this regard. Breakfast and lunch menus were
as well-cooked, tasty, and varied as the cuisine I feasted on each
evening in the main dining room, while Carnival’s specialty or
“alternative” venues served meals every bit the equal of anything
I’ve enjoyed in New York’s finest restaurants.

The Dining Program
Carnival recently unveiled its “Your Choice Dining” program in an
effort to accommodate individual guest’s personal preferences.
Passengers may choose between single, open seating (dining
when and with whomever they wish) and an assigned seating
time of either 6 PM or 8:15 PM. One program feature I adore is
the 24-hour availability of fresh pizza and Caesar salad. Both
items are served ‘round the clock on each ship’s top deck.

Staterooms
While aboard Carnival Valor, I shared a balcony stateroom with
two companions and it was so superbly designed that we never
needed to utilize all of the available closet and storage space.
And even if you opt to sail on one of Carnival’s older, pre-balcony
ships (Elation, Fantasy, Imagination, Inspiration, or Sensation),
you’ll still find accommodations that are both comfortable and
spacious – at 172 square feet, Carnival’s “standard” staterooms
are among the largest in the cruise industry.

Entertainment
Carnival beats every other cruise line when it comes to onboard
entertainment. Evening productions, for example, are polished
and innovative (Carnival produces its own floorshows). But it’s
the cruise line’s range of entertainment that’s truly impressive,
ensuring that every guest will find something that suits him or her.
If you’re in the mood for quiet conversation in an elegant but
low-key lounge, it’s a snap to find one. Spending a day at sea?
You can choose to sunbathe in a lively area of the ship (featuring
pool games and performing musicians), or you can find peace
and seclusion in another section of that same deck.
Personally, this passenger always has a terrific time aboard a
“Fun Ship®” because today’s Carnival cruise offers me everything
I’ll need to have a blast during my vacation – terrific food,
a dining plan that’s flexible, comfortable staterooms, and an
enormous array of high-quality entertainment.

by: Anne Campbell