Supplement to Travel Trade
February 2002

Carnival Elation

A New Style of Fun

Carnival Cruise Lines is elated, and for very good reason. Its seventh 70,000-ton Fantasy-class vessel, the Elation, debuted in Miami last month to thunderous accolades from travel agents and the media. And, on debarkation day, Carnival Corp. released record-breaking profit figures for the first quarter of 1998, showing a 29% increase.

There's no doubt in anyone's mind, Carnival has come up with a winning formula. The company is defining "fun" in a multi-faceted light these days as evidenced by the decor, sophistication, ambiance and options offered on the Elation.

From the outside, it's hard to tell her apart from her sibling ships. On the inside, it's a different story. Although public rooms are in the same locations and she was built from the same basic mold, creative design techniques give each vessel an individual, new and different personality.

Not only is she the newest, but to most of us on the pre-inaugural sailing out of Miami, the Elation was rated as the most beautiful in the family. Extensive use of copper and woods instead of brass and neon gives the Elation a warm, yet sophisticated feeling.

Gone is the multitude of flashing and changing lights in the Atrium; gone is the abundance of crystal; gone are the bright purples and reds. They have been replaced by soft and fuzzy colors that blend with the rich depth of copper in shades from tan and taupe to deeper golden browns. The look is enhanced by rich inlaid woods in stairs, lobby and doors and plush custom upholstery in matching tones geared to specific themes in public rooms.

Joe Farcus, Carnival's design architect, said that the company is not one that rests on its laurels. "It has never been content to create a successful formula and go with it ad nauseum or until cobwebs appear." The Elation incorporates the best of Carnival's Fantasy-class vessels and incorporates some of the most popular elements of the 103,000-ton Destiny. The result is a ship that blends tried-and-true features that have filled virtually every berth on her predecessors during the past decade. The Elation has important innovative features of her own.

The first major change noticed by past Carnival passengers, who now account for about half of every manifest, is the Plaza Bar. Located in the center of the seven-deck high Grand Atrium, it follows the successful concept first featured on the Destiny.

Carnival ships prior to that all had major sculptures as atrium focal points, but the instant popularity of the atrium bar on the Destiny was responsible for the change. It is a semi-circular bar that serves gourmet coffees in the morning, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages during the day and into the night and is the venue for pre-dinner gatherings.

A raised entertainment stage is staffed by a piano player during mornings and early afternoons and is followed by a trio offering sophisticated lounge-type music that doesn't intrude in private conversation.

Other changes include an expanded Children's World on Sport Deck. It replaces two spacious owner's suites.

Similar in space and design to the Children's Club on Carnival Destiny, the 2,500-square-foot facility offers a world of toys and electronics and can be divided into three rooms.

The Elation is the first Carnival vessel to have dedicated facilities to accommodate small meetings and incentive groups. The mahogany-trimmed, private room features state-of-the-art equipment and full-service amenities for onboard conferences.

The multi-purpose room is located adjacent to the aft dining room, and can be used for private cocktail functions and weddings that are also increasing in popularity. The room is adjacent to a galley that provides food services at meetings or functions.

By far, the most talked-about innovation is the new Azipod Propulsion System. Its impact on future ship construction is being compared with the introduction of steam engines.

The Azipod system is based on similar designs introduced in the last eight years on ice-breaking tankers. Results were so significant that a cruise ship version was developed.

The Azipod design is unique in that it pulls a ship through the water, rather than pushing it like conventional propulsion systems. Azipods eliminate the need for rudders, long shaft lines, conventional drive units and stern thrusters, thus taking up less overall space onboard the vessel.

It also makes it easier to steer and maneuver, while fuel savings are achieved through improved hydrodynamic efficiencies.

As far as the passenger is concerned, there is considerable noise and vibration reduction, greater maneuverability and speed, which are achieved without increased expense. This means more time in port and could result in additional ports of call. Carnival's Elation features two 15-megawatt Azipod units, which are the equivalent of 38,080 horsepower.

Technical innovations aside, it is the cruise experience that will have the greatest impact on agents and passengers. The interior is based on the central theme of Muses, the nine goddesses of artistic endeavors featured in Greek and Roman mythology.

The Muse theme is carried through the ship and used for inspiration in various public rooms, which bear the names of either artists (Duke's, after Duke Ellington, and the Mark Twain library) or artistic creations (Romeo and Juliet and The Mikado). Copper panels, each engraved with the face of a woman representing a Muse, are used extensively throughout these areas.

The only rooms that don't follow that design theme are the restaurants, which are traditionally named for ships, but Farcus said, in this case, the names - Inspiration and Imagination - fit the theme.

The Promenade has always been Main Street on Carnival ships and Elation's Way is no exception. It is Carnival's hallmark and gives passengers the ability to move back and forth in a street-like atmosphere. Elation's Way is anchored forward by the Mikado showroom and aft by the Cole Porter Club.

Elation's Way is a double-width promenade with the same mythologically inspired decor. Fancifully detailed columns are strategically placed along the way and tapered cylindrical sections depicting the Muses, as well as other Greek mythological figures and symbols, are stacked to form art deco-style columns.

Each section of a column is lit by twinkling red and turquoise fiber optics and dimming amber and white neon strands. Stained Tiffany-style leaded glass capitals formed by amber scallop shapes and deep purple cabochon jewels flare out at the top of the columns.

Seating is available on leather sofas set into window frames and at tables strategically placed around the promenade.

The Mikado is an awesome main lounge. As the name implies, Farcus drew his inspiration from the art of Japan.

Fans, rice paper, raw silk fabric, bamboo designs and polished dark wood are used extensively. Sections of the walls are covered with a series of light ash grillwork reminiscent of Japanese shoji screens. Gold floral print raw silk curtains fan out when closed.

The ceiling chandeliers, which can be closed and retracted for performances, consist of translucent fabric panels separated by aluminum fan ribs containing dimming and chasing lights.

The walls that flank what is probably the largest stage at sea are composed of sandblasted black fossil stone containing a gold leaf bamboo design, which is carried through on table tops. The chrysanthemum motif is repeated in the marble floor.

The 69-foot-wide stage is an attraction in itself. The ceiling above the retracting chandeliers holds state-of-the-art lighting and scenery, which makes it possible to provide entertainment on a scale comparable to any shoreside theater or lounge.

The Cole Porter Club, named for the famed American composer, is the second show lounge but stands on its own in style and usage.

The room is decorated in an updated art-deco style reminiscent of the 1930s.

The décor also features zebra wood as well as fiber optics, gold-leaf and hand-painted fabrics. Seating is on banquettes with a stained glass window separating the room from the adjacent Gatsby's Bar.

Between these two major entertainment centers are some of the most important rooms and features on the ship.

The popular midship bar has been reconfigured and expanded. Instead of two bars, there is now a single elongated bar. Entertainment now takes place on a stage behind the bar, where the performer can be seen easily from almost the entire area. This allows for more sitting space and more space for movement on the Promenade.

The Casablanca Casino has a definite Moroccan look and offers all of the usual games of chance in a spacious environment. The slot machine center was moved to make room for another innovation, Virtual World, located at the side entrance to the casino and separated from the Promenade by a wall.

One of my favorite rooms is Romeo and Juliet. While the young lovers are not hanging over balconies, the environment is a beautiful facsimile of a piazza in what could be Verona, but more nearly resembles Florence.

The dance floor is the town center, surrounded by hills and neighboring vistas and villages beautifully hand-painted on walls. The floor is done in a compass motif similar to what one finds in almost every small Italian village.

Romeo and Juliet is used for private parties and, pre- and post-dinner, as a dance club for adults. The band is versatile and, surprisingly, no sound passes between it and the adjacent noisy and crowded disco, Jekyll and Hyde, where everyone's imagination is encouraged to run wild.

Towering between the windows and scattered around the nightclub are 30 giant statues symbolizing the good Dr. Jekyll and the sinful Mr. Hyde. Lacquered half white (for good) and red (for evil), their heads swivel to the beat of the music and move from side to side. Even their expressions change as smoke billows from their mouths and video monitors built into their chests reflect the action taking place in the room.

The disco is the most colorful and glitzy room on board, with vivid green granite bar tops, color-changing fiber optics, remote controlled spotlights and automated Tivoli lights.

The Musical Cafe, an intimate area along the Promenade, is another example of a design enhancement that evolved from cafes on previous ships. It features hand-painted Portuguese ceramic tiles and a hidden pantry. Guests sit on sofas and a disk clavier piano adds atmosphere to the area.

Down one deck is Duke's, the piano bar destined to be a favorite with Big Apple fans. Decorated with icons of New York City during the Jazz Age, Duke's pays tribute to Duke Ellington.

My favorite feature is a fanciful Brooklyn Bridge placed along the outer wall. It simulates traffic along the span with chasing white lights embedded in the roadway. A "dirigible" floats over the piano bar. Seating is on oak and cast-iron trimmed leather banquettes that kind of look like park benches, placed around a shiny white grand piano.

Also on this deck is the library, Mark Twain, a tribute not only to the author but also to the era of riverboats.

Spa and fitness buffs can take advantage of nearly 12,000-square feet of Nautica Spa, which offers quality facilities and programs. It rivals any shoreside spa passengers can think of.

When it comes to food services, the Elation, like her sister vessels, excels. There are two restaurants that serve passengers in two sittings. The forward Imagination Dining Room seats 650 and makes extensive use of faux malachite and marble.

Vertical tapered burl panels trimmed with elm burl and marquetry inlays alternate with sections of stepped paneling along the walls. Antique mirror-and-marble panels divided by purple and green glass separate the seating areas.

The Inspiration Dining Room accommodates 658 passengers and uses faux lapis lazuli as a color base. This is probably a good place to talk about food and service in the dining rooms.

Carnival has its eye on changing tastes and, like other features of the cruise experience, food service is an ever-changing work in progress.

According to a CCL spokesperson, when research indicated that 75% of the passengers would prefer more casual options than offered in the main dining rooms for breakfast, lunch and dinner, dramatic upgrades were made in variety, cuisine and style of service.

Which leads us to Carnival's interpretation of Lido areas - Tiffany's. No ordinary Lido, this Tiffany's. As the name implies, the décor is art-nouveau with stained glass-type panels in a peacock motif. Pillars are surrounded by clusters of tables.

Your table is always set with silverware and waiters gladly bring additional drinks, refills or anything you may have forgotten or decide you want from one of the buffet tables. Guests can eat in the air-conditioned dining room or outdoors.

One of the new additions to Lido restaurants proved very popular - a machine that squeezes oranges and produces fresh juice as you wait. Look for it on other Carnival ships and on some of the competition.

Entertainment has been one of Carnival's claims to fame for many years, and the Elation does not disappoint.

Cabins and suites are Carnival-size, which means large and very comfortable. Décor in cabins and suites has been changed and upgraded. Colors are lighter, carpeting is thick and the design is more contemporary and a lot warmer. The environment says "vacation" and lifts the spirits.

Carnival's newbuilds all have spacious cabins, averaging about 185-square feet. Beds convert to queen-size, and there's plenty of closet and storage space, personal safes, televisions, and large windows in outside accommodations.

The 28 Veranda Suites and 26 Demi Suites compare favorably with much higher priced vessels. Each has its own private veranda as well as separate sitting and bedroom areas, a television with a VCR, a refrigerator, bar and tub with shower. The rooms are beautifully decorated with bluish-gray string cloth wallpaper.

The Elation will be homeported in Los Angeles and was scheduled to begin a year-round program of 7-day cruises to the Mexican Riviera on April 12. The ship departs every Sunday, calling at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.