Supplement to Travel Trade
November 2000

Carnival Cruise Lines'

Floating Paradise

The last in the series of 70,000-ton liners, Carnival Cruise Lines’ Paradise is making maritime history.

Always an innovator anticipating vacationers’ demands, Carnival has created a floating paradise for non-smokers. It’s a first at sea and, as far as my research indicates, the only totally smoke-free environment in the vacation marketplace.

The 2,040-passenger Paradise is also the eighth vessel in the Fantasy class, and completes the largest and most successful fleet ever built from the same basic set of plans.

The Paradise culminates a $2.5 billion investment. Her seven sisters have sailed more than 2.2 million nautical miles and have carried more than five million passengers since the 1990 inaugural of the Fantasy.

True, they are identical on the outside and configuration is basically the same, but all eight vessels are not out of the same bag of potato chips. Differences become obvious on embarkation.

While the ship itself is worthy of industry-wide attention, it is the clean air resulting from the no-smoking policy that is drawing media coverage. Prior to embarkation, passengers should know that Carnival is very serious about its no-smoking policy and that it is enforcing the rules for passengers and crew members who just can’t resist that single puff.

Penalties for violation of the no-smoking rule are stiff. Crew members who have difficulty refraining from a smoke or two are being transferred to other vessels at the rate of about a dozen a week and they are being replaced by non-smokers who have requested the Paradise.

Penalties for passengers are tougher. Carnival is imposing a $250 charge for liquidated damages to be assessed to any passenger violating the no-smoking rule. That’s in addition to forfeiting the cruise fare and being put off at the next port of call.

No smoking aside, the Paradise measures up in every way and even goes beyond her slightly older sisters. The ship maintains some of the most popular features of both the Destiny-class and the Fantasy-class ships and has added a few of her own.

Examples include the very popular Sushi bar of the Destiny and Elation, owners’ suites converted to children’s facilities, the cappuccino and dessert bar, 24-hour pizzeria and the longest breakfast and lunch hours at sea.

Embarkation is directly into the Grand Atrium, the magnificent centerpiece from which the rest of the Paradise extends. All of the public rooms are easily accessible from the seven-deck atrium, which is topped by a glass dome.

The Grand Atrium pays homage to the elegant décor found on first-class lounges of early 20th century liners with classical columns and artwork.
The Plaza Bar, first inaugurated on the 102,000-ton Destiny and later incorporated into the atrium on the Elation, replaces artwork on other ships and is the focal point of the atrium.

A string trio serenades passengers in the atrium during the afternoons and evenings.

However, the double-width Promenade, which is a tradition on all Carnival vessels, is the heart of the ship.

Appropriately named Carnival Boulevard, it leads to almost every public room on the ship and rates high on the list of “most beautiful” at sea.

Mahogany paneling accented with tiny fiber optic tips is trimmed with burgundy anodized aluminum. Wall panels are topped with geometric-shaped back lit glass trimming. Chandeliers, table bases, tabletops and atrium edges are finished with internally illuminated glass. Seating is in small groupings with window insets where passengers can just curl up and watch the ocean.

With a grand ocean liner theme, memorabilia of the era abounds on the Paradise. Most public rooms are named for famous vessels and there’s something in each to remind passengers of that period of maritime history.

Hundreds of foot-high Fabergé-like eggs sit atop columns adorning the ship’s vast lobby, promenade, elevator lobbies and public room entrances. They are also affixed to the top and bottom of the four glass-enclosed elevators, which offer scenic views of the ship’s domed seven-deck atrium.

The Blue Riband Library is probably the best example of homage to the era of great liners. Custom-made, detailed scale replicas of several Blue Riband-winning ocean liners, including the Rex, Mauritania and Brittania, are displayed in glass cases.

The room is lined with ship memorabilia on loan from the American Merchant Marine Museum, but the centerpiece is the glass-encased Hales Trophy showcase, a $40,000, one-meter high replica of the original.

The trophy has an enameled blue ribbon circling the globe that rests atop two winged figures of Victory. The teak-floored room has wooden chain moldings along the walls; oversized polished brass anchors at the entrance are strategically placed lest anyone forget they are on a ship.

The maritime-themed room is a comfortable, well-stocked library with upholstered leather sofas and textured woven, navy blue fabric-covered wall panels emblazoned with gold embroidered anchors.

Curved glass windows open to the atrium and two large window walls afford ocean viewing.

While rooms may be named for great liners, some require a stretch of the imagination to come up with any resemblance to the vessel of the same name. In the Rex Dance Club, only the lettering is identical to what was used on the first Blue Riband winner. The remainder of the disco is a jungle fantasy based on designer Joe Farcus’ loose translation of “Rex” to mean “lion.” It is the most unusual room on the vessel.

Floor-to-ceiling columns are stepped like the stones of ancient temples and are covered with imitation wild animal hides; which extend upward to the ceiling, creating a mosaic of zebra, leopard and tiger skin patterns. The name “Rex” is emblazoned on each column in polished stainless steel backlit by neon — in the same lettering used on the Rex’s bow.

Between the columns, deco-style angular lion heads in polished black lacquer with gleaming white fangs have fiber optic eyes which glow and change color. Four of the molded lion heads are equipped with spotlights which radiate laser-like beams throughout the room. Walls are covered with black glass etched in African designs. The dance floor accents the jungle motif. The glossy bar front has tusk-like ivory posts between bar stools.

The America Piano Bar is another room intended to remind passengers of the old America, although I never saw a room like it on the vessel. Suspended over the bar’s baby grand piano is an aluminum and copper bird’s eye view of the America. Entrance to the room is between two red, white and blue floor-to-ceiling replicas of the America’s hallmark smokestacks.

The flooring depicts a large United States shield in decorative handmade glass mosaics, featuring red and white stripes and a field of navy blue with white five-pointed stars. The shield motif is also featured on back panels of the leather upholstered bar stools whose polished brass bases are shaped like the eagle standards that top most U.S. flag poles.

Windows are large, circular portholes, and their shape is repeated in the frames of six aluminum-copper bas-relief casts depicting great national landmarks — the Grand Canyon, California’s Sequoias, Yellowstone, Monument Valley and the Florida Everglades.

The Normandie Show Lounge draws its spirit from what many believe was the most beautiful ship ever built. The well-designed room is a blend of the bygone era of the famous liner whose name the lounge uses and the latest in entertainment technology.

Located aft on Promenade Deck, the Queen Mary Lounge is easy to recognize because of the extensive use of the distinctive Cunard funnels, the design motif used throughout the room. They are placed along walls, framing the satinwood stained bright red to match the smokestacks that have their upper sections recreated in ebony inlays.

The room is a spacious second show room and passengers enjoy the art deco appointments and furniture, which are in keeping with the Queen Mary era.

The Majestic Casino is named for the famous British liner originally built in 1914 as the 56,551-ton German express liner Bismark. However, she never sailed as the Bismark because she was ceded to Britain as a war prize. She sailed for the next 15 years as White Star Line’s Majestic.

Italian liners are also represented. In addition to the Rex, the 33,000-ton Leonardo da Vinci lends her name to the Leonardo Lounge, used for pre- and post-dinner dancing and for private functions.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the millions of dollars worth of art on board the Paradise. Israeli artist Calman Shemi took the maritime theme to heart and created a series of 27 nautical-inspired murals for stair landings.

Geared to the growing family cruise market, the hub of activities for Camp Carnival is “Children’s World”, an enclosed 2,500-square foot play area that overlooks the main pool area.

The high-tech facility is divided into three areas — arts and crafts, computer lab, and a multi-tiered indoor climbing maze that includes an activity wall filled with toys, games and puzzles. The area also has a 16-monitor video wall that is used for movies and cartoons.

The outdoor play area includes equipment and mini-basketball hoops, along with a schooner shaped playhouse. There is supervision and planned activities 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., separated by age groups. Babysitting services are available for a $5 charge for the first child and $3 for each additional kid in the same family.

For teens of all ages, there’s the Virtual World, on Promenade Deck. This high-tech gaming center offers video and arcade games but the real favorite just for kids is the 114-foot long cascading water slide at the Lido Deck pool. There’s also a children’s wading pool and a more secluded pool on Veranda Deck.

Carnival helps parents control onboard spending by kids by offering “Fountain Fun Cards,” good for unlimited soft drink purchases through a week-long Caribbean cruise. Each card costs $18 and can only be purchased once on board.

Décor in cabins and suites has been upgraded into Destiny-class colors and fabrics on the Paradise and Elation. Colors are lighter, carpeting is thick and design is more contemporary.

Cabins average a comfortable 185-square feet. Beds convert to queen-size and there’s more than enough closet and storage space. Personal safes, televisions and showers are in all cabins and outsides really afford ocean views through super-sized windows.

Each of the 28 Veranda Suites and 26 demi-suites has its own private veranda, as well as sitting areas, refrigerators, bars and tubs with showers. Amenities in these upscale accommodations include terry robes, welcoming fruit baskets and toiletry items.

Sports fans and exercise enthusiasts can spend time in the Nautica Spa for a workout in the gymnasium, an aerobics class, relaxation in the sauna, steam room or whirlpool or opt for a revitalizing massage or facial.

Walkers and joggers have a jogging track and swimming pools are located on Lido and Veranda decks, each featuring two 12-person whirlpools. There’s even a private deck set aside for adults only where tops are optional.

Award winning original Las Vegas-style spectacular production shows bring passengers to their feet for every performance. A cast of 18 singers and dancers is backed by a 10-piece orchestra.

“Shout” is everyone’s favorite. It’s a stomping, clapping, fast-paced show with more than 20 different production numbers in the hour-long revue. “Dream Voyage” is an imaginative journey that combines song and dance with elaborate sets and costumes.

The Elation and Destiny dining rooms are both imaginative in floor plans and designs and I would be hard pressed to select a favorite. Both feature a soft pastel color scheme and well-spaced tables that seat four to 10. Service areas are hidden from passenger view.

The Elation has oversized portholes for ocean views from almost every table in the tiered room, while the Destiny has huge oblong shaped windows affording similar views. Lighting is subdued and materials used for decoration include marble, Tiffany glass, hammered copper, rich woods and fine textured fabrics on comfortable chairs and banquettes.

When it comes to cuisine, the best advice I can give is that if you or your clients still remember the old Carnival days of the Mardi Gras or even the Carnival food of the last decade, forget about it. This is new Carnival cuisine and it rates up there with the best.

Food and dining choices are plentiful. If you were one of the agents who previewed the vessel for one or two nights, the shrimp and lobster you were served are on the regular menu as are escargot, filet mignon, low-calorie spa cuisine and vegetarian. If you can’t find anything you like from the five or six entrees offered nightly, the head waiter will order chicken or a steak for you or your clients.

When we talk about food and service, kudos should go to the Lido Restaurant, which takes its name from the 34,500-ton Paris built in 1919.

Without a doubt the most elegant Lido in the Carnival fleet, it was designed to complement the new food service options and to serve as an alternate dining option for all meals, including dinner.

What I like best is the linen napkins and silverware set up at every table, the best salad bar at sea, the beverage service at tables, the serve yourself frozen fat-free yogurt and soft ice cream, the fresh squeezed orange juice machine, the 24-hour pizzeria, the tables for two, the anxious-to-please service personnel and the long hours for meals.

The Paradise sails year around from Miami on Sundays alternating one week itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.