All the Panache — and Europe, Too

By Patricia J. Collins

With the recent debut of Carnival Liberty, Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines has made it almost impossible for most people to say “no” to a Carnival cruise vacation. The ship delivers super-sized amenities, attractive itineraries (even Europe!) and superior service — all at very affordable rates.
Built at a cost of $500 million, Carnival Liberty is a mega with the most. There are four restaurants, including a reservations-only supper club; 22 lounges and bars; a Venetian-themed show lounge; Internet café; full-service spa and salon, children’s and teen facilities, casino, practice golf putting area, duty-free shopping area, and a massive 270-square-foot (12x22 foot) LED screen located poolside for movies, sports events, concerts and other programming.
In a move that made history at Carnival, Carnival Liberty was introduced with a series of Mediterranean cruises and will return to the Med for summer 2006.
Carnival Liberty is the fourth in the line’s Conquest series. The first, aptly named Carnival Conquest, debuted in 2002, followed by the Carnival Glory and Carnival Valor, delivered in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The fifth, and perhaps the final ship in the series, Carnival Freedom is scheduled for delivery in 2007 and, like her sister ships, will be built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone, Italy.
Afloat next to the pier, Carnival Liberty seems only slightly smaller than the state of Rhode Island. Public areas are grouped away from staterooms and there are a large number of intimate spaces — small lounges, a quiet library and low-traffic deck areas. Of the 14 passenger decks, five are devoted exclusively to staterooms. Decks 3, 4 and 5 house most of the public rooms, and the upper decks hold the Lido restaurant, pizzeria, deli, pools and health, fitness and youth areas.
While the hull is identical to its sister ships, Carnival Liberty lays claims to its own distinct and quirky interior design — a hallmark of Carnival ships whose interiors are created by Joe Farcus, the company’s long-time interior architect.
The ship’s central design theme is artisans and their crafts. Public room décor centers on such things as furniture building, leatherwork, glassblowing, bookbinding, jewelry making, fine art, body art and even toy making. And, there’s no shortage of fiber optic lighting, which creates ever-changing rivers of color.
Embarkation is on Main Deck 2, the focus of which is the 9-deck Grand Villa Garden Atrium, which contains the reception area, purser’s office and shore excursion desk. This area has a garden motif featuring iron working, masonry and pottery making. Black aluminum is crafted to look like black ironwork in a curlicue design repeated throughout the ship.
A 20-foot diameter chandelier holds torches of faux flames that change color. Wall coverings bearing swirls of color complete the garden setting and set the stage for the design show about to unfold.
Perhaps the most whimsical public rooms are Gloves sport bars, which has leather sofas that look like sports gloves, and the Hot and Cold Club, which has huge resin arms and legs decorated with what looks like tattoos.
Both main dining rooms — the Silver Olympian Restaurant and the Golden Olympian Restaurant — have two levels and celebrate the art of crafting silverware. In fact, the name Olympian refers to a silverware pattern. The theme is represented in the columns that separate the floor-to-ceiling windows. The columns are decorated to look like utensil handles and contain vitrines that house antique silverware.
At every turn, are pieces of fine art — worth over $1 million — that catch the eye and entertain the senses.
Enhancements made across the Carnival fleet are aboard Carnival Liberty. Among them are new spa treatments, including barber service, tooth whitening and a program created for teens, called Generation YSPA. The 13,300-square-foot fully equipped spa and fitness center features European-style treatments, instructor-led fitness classes, Life Fitness exercise machines and beauty salon. Actually, there’s more here than most people enjoy at their local shoreside health club.
Menus in the ship’s main dining rooms include Spa Carnival Fare, which is an assortment of meals lower in fat, calories, sodium and cholesterol. Vegetarian and low-carb dishes are also available.
Carnival has made a concerted effort in recent years to enhance the overall experience and one area deserving of kudos is the cuisine. Meals are well prepared and smartly presented. The wine list is extensive and service is efficient and courteous. There are two sittings in the main dining rooms — Golden and Silver Olympian restaurants.
For gourmet cuisine, clients should head to Harry’s. But, make reservation early because it fills up fast. This alternative restaurant offers superb dining, from prime cuts of beef to lobster and chops. Multi-course dinners are artfully prepared and plated. The per-person cost is $30 — a bargain considering the ambiance, quality, choice and service. A large selection of fine wine and liquors complement the dining experience.
Casual dining is available at Emile’s, located poolside. This 1,250-passenger eatery offers extensive breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. There is a 35-item salad bar, 24-hour pizzeria service, 24-house self-service ice cream/frozen yogurt station and Asian specialty station, grill area and deli. Other options include a patisserie and even a wine bar where guests can try selections from Carnival’s new Presidential Wine Club, which offers members fine wines at affordable prices.
While the Midnight Buffet has faded on many ships, Carnival Liberty has late-night buffets with one featuring all-chocolate desserts. And, there is round-the-clock room service.
Colorful and high-energy Las Vegas-style productions are on tap every evening in the Venetian Palace, the main show lounge. Three revues were introduced for the ship’s Mediterranean debut. They are “Rock Down Broadway,” “Wonderful World” and “Singin’ With the Band.” Elaborate sets and costumes, as well as pyrotechnics and other special effects, create lively entertainment events at sea. Entertainment abounds throughout the ship with bands and singers making every nautical mile memorable.
With the family market continuing to grow in importance, Carnival Liberty does all it can to appeal to the younger set. Teens and kids will find plenty to do. “Camp Carnival” has as its core a spacious 4,200-square foot enclosed play area with a 16-monitor video wall that continuously plays movies and cartoons. There are arts and crafts, video games, music and educational programs, a “soft play area” for kids under age 2 and an 1,800-square-foot teen club called Without Batteries, which offers dancing, games and mock-tails for teens.
Four swimming pools, a corkscrew waterslide, special meals for kids, affordable babysitting service, stroller rentals and just about everything in between make kids and teens feel welcome aboard Carnival Liberty.
No matter which category is selected, staterooms are comfortable and roomy. More than half (60%) of the 1,487 staterooms have an ocean view or private balcony. Inside cabins are a generous 185 square-feet, while family staterooms are 230-square feet. Suites are 340-square feet, including balcony, while penthouse suites — there are 10 — are a whopping 430-square feet, including balcony. Suites and penthouse suites have tubs while cabins have showers.
Guests have access to an in-cabin safe, refrigerator, television, phone, robes, plush bath towels, in-shower soap and shampoo and plenty of storage space. Carnival’s Comfort Ensemble bedding makes bedtime extra comfortable. It includes custom pillows, duvet cover, pillowcases and mattress set.
Carnival is rightly proud of the service offered by its International crew. These are well-trained individuals whose enthusiasm is infectious. During the ship’s shakedown cruise in July, it was impossible to detect any missteps typically part of the first days at sea with a new ship. It’s the payoff of being such a large company, which is able to pull together a new crew from experienced personnel.

Itinerary
Through Oct. 24, Carnival Liberty is sailing 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Rome (Civitavecchia) calling at Naples, Dubrovnik, Venice, Messina, Barcelona, Cannes and Liverno. From Oct. 24 to Nov 9, the ship makes a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing and beginning Nov. 16, sails 6- and 8-day Bahamas/Caribbean cruises from Ft. Lauderdale. Next summer, Carnival Liberty will resume her 12-day Med schedule.