Supplement to Travel Trade
Feburary 2002

Carnival Pride:

The Theme is ‘Beauty’

By Ethel Blum

It’s not surprising that Carnival has come up with another winner in its newest vessel, Carnival Pride. Second in a series of 88,000-ton vessels designed to Panamax size, the 2,124-passenger ship follows in the wake of her slightly older sister Carnival Spirit and continues to redefine and tweak contemporary cruising options.

The 16th vessel built for the Fun Fleet, Carnival Pride offers an array of new and expanded facilities. These include a spectacular outdoor wrap-around promenade, a wedding chapel and a supper club voted by experts as “the best at sea.”

A far cry from the old days, there are in-cabin amenity baskets in every accommodation, plush terry robes in all outside cabins and suites, diverse dining options, updated and upgraded menus, large conference centers, an Internet cafe and entertainment geared to passengers from two to 90 years old.

Except for its exterior, interior configuration and amenities, the Pride bears little resemblance to the Spirit. The central interior design theme, “Icons of Beauty,” aptly describes the vessel. According to design architect Joseph Farcus, “Beauty inspires pride and icons of beauty have been recognized through the ages.”

Beauty is interpreted in many ways on Carnival Pride. The focus is on the 15th and 16th century Italian Renaissance period that emphasized beauty in every lifestyle phase — art, music, the human body — as well as extravagance and indulgence.

Moving from one room to another is an experience best likened to a museum tour that goes from replicas of paintings and murals by acclaimed masters such as Raphael, Bramante, Michelangelo, da Vinci and Botticelli, to art deco and contemporary artworks.

Pediments with ornate details in a Renaissance style are repeated throughout public rooms. Ornate glass vases and huge bronze statues of Roman and Greek gods mix with the whimsy of mermaids and seascapes to create the setting for the familiar “fun” theme associated with a Carnival cruise.

The Renaissance period inspired the décor of the lobby, atrium, Florentine Lounge, elevators and stairways. Detailing is awesome. The Atrium balustrade was created from classical sculpted bronze pillars with wave-cut glass panels in between reproductions of masterpiece paintings.

Inspired by Italian artisans and craftsmen of that period, the ship makes ample use of rich woods, bronze moldings and artworks dominated by sienna, gold and burnt-red tones. The lobby Atrium gives the impression of a typical Italian town center, with faux apartment houses on both sides.

The Starry Night jazz club’s interior gives one the feeling of having wandered into a small open courtyard surrounded by walls, windows and shutters, while the famous Van Gogh painting “Starry Night” is used as a wall and ceiling mural illuminated by tiny lights.

Named after the famous prize created by Alfred Nobel, The Nobel Library, which also houses the 12-station Internet Café ($19 for one week unlimited use, or 75 cents per minute), follows a classical Swedish design.

Passenger favorites are the Sunset Garden and Butterflies Lounge, although finding them can be a challenge. Entrance to the Sunset Garden is alongside the Taj Mahal. It lines the bulkhead and is favored as a quiet, relaxing area decorated in gold, umber and burnt red with murals of Old Sol painted on interior walls.

Butterflies Lounge, directly below the lowest level of the Taj Mahal, is an inside room with an outside feeling. Its faux windows are decorated with colorful transparent fabrics that resemble butterfly wings. These disappear under special lights to illuminate the flocks of butterflies behind. For late-night entertainment, adult-only musical and comedy acts are presented.

The Ivory Bar, with resin-cast reproductions of ivory carvings interspersed with cast bonsai trees and pagoda-like lanterns, is a favorite after-dinner sing-a-long venue.

There are a dozen other public rooms, all themed to beauty. Access between rooms is eased by convenient, unusually spacious elevator lobbies and graceful staircases.

A mini two-deck atrium in the aft section is one of the most beautiful areas on the ship. The focal point is a magnificent waterfall and staircase. On Promenade Deck it leads into the show room and is flanked by Piazza Café and the Starry Night jazz club. It also leads to the Perfect Game sports bar, with a fanciful motif of every imaginable sports ball serving as wall sculptures and table bases.

Via Veneto, the expanded shopping area, is one deck up on Atlantic Deck.

Other major rooms in this area are the Piano Bar, Rafael Lounge and the Chapel, which hosted four weddings on this cruise, an elegant card room and the Gallery. Passageways are treated as public lounges and on Promenade Deck are divided into intimate groupings by two sided replicas of old masterpiece paintings.

Other public spaces include five self-service launderettes (wash is $1, dry is $1; soap and softener, 50 cents each).

Adorning stair landings and bulkheads are 27 original murals by London artist Andrea Tana, who draws inspiration from Gauguin and Matisse. On each side of the stair landings are glass cases containing decorative glass vases and candleholders by Czech artist Borek Sipek. I found myself drawn to the stairways just to admire Sipek’s trademark glass pieces — 70 in all.

In designing the Normandie Restaurant, Farcus turned the clock back to the 1930s when the Normandie was considered the most beautiful vessel ever built. He stylized the ship’s deco design into Modern Deco and recreated Lalique motifs with bands of lighted frosted glass columns and beams framed in polished copper.

The result is a huge, multilevel dining room, with deco hand painted murals and dark wood accents. Crystal chandeliers add to the elegant atmosphere, which is enhanced by a grand circular staircase stylized with a sculpture of a very regal empress. Flanking entrances are pilasters in the form of female statues.

Large circular windows provide expansive views. Tables of from two to 10 are available on both levels and the configuration allows for a huge lower level bordered by the balcony. Adjacent to the restaurant is the Captains Club, an annex to provide a more private dining venue for group and special events.

The Lido restaurant, Mermaid’s Grille, has dozens of mermaids in various shapes and forms throughout and is topped by the atrium skylight. The result is the feel of a very light and airy grotto. The majority of seating is at small tables adjacent to windows.

Multicolored terrazzo flooring and hand painted murals turn the self-service room into a Mediterranean-style restaurant. Mermaid’s Grille offers full breakfast and lunch buffets that include meat carving and pasta stations, an expansive salad bar and a 24-hour pizzeria, as well as a deli. Casual dinners are also available nightly.

The four serving lines and multiple stations with specialized foods make for fewer lines. Table service of coffee and drinks, as well as place settings and linen napkins, add a fine touch to an area where it is not expected.

When it comes to food and dining, “Today’s Carnival” is really paying attention to changing lifestyles. Lunch and dinner menus, as well as wine choices, have been upgraded and expanded. Dining room options are lengthy and include menus with a choice of four or five main courses, a low-calorie specialty daily, as well as vegetarian choices. Presentation is picture perfect and service rates “excellent.”

Dinner in the optional reservations-only David’s Supper Club comes with a $25 surcharge and is worth twice that amount. Service is on Versace china and elegant flatware while a trio plays soft danceable music and tuxedo-clad waiters attend to every detail. Joe’s Stone Crabs, from the internationally famed South Beach Miami landmark, top the menu choices and are an exclusive item on both the Pride and Spirit. A full-size exact replica of the famous Michelangelo sculpture David dominates the second level of the room.

Carnival maintains its commitment to spacious sleeping accommodations on the Pride. Eighty percent of the cabins are outside and 80% of those staterooms have private balconies and total 225-square feet. Inside cabins measure the same 185-square feet as outsides without verandas. There are 58 suites in three types starting at 360-square feet and going up to 465-square feet, including a wrap-around terrace.

All staterooms and suites are tastefully furnished with twin beds that convert to queen size, large closets, plenty of drawer space, televisions and refrigerators, plus the usual amenities found on new vessels (telephones, private safes, tub and shower or shower only, depending on type of accommodation).

Suites (Categories 11 and 12) include separate dressing and sitting areas, refrigerators, double sinks and bathtubs, as well as showers and large balconies. Good design and soft lighting add to a feeling of spaciousness in interior staterooms (Category 4). Category 5 staterooms are outside and have French doors that open, although views are obstructed.

The Taj Mahal is a three-level show lounge that comes close to any in Las Vegas when it comes to performances, acoustics, lighting and sound. The columns and décor, colors and theme are reasonable facsimiles of the real Taj Mahal.

Some 18 dancers and singers backed by a 10-piece orchestra bring the room alive with two high-energy shows on each cruise. On other nights, guest entertainers are flown in for specialty acts.

The glitzy Winner’s Club casino features 220 slots and tables for roulette/dice, blackjack and poker.

The walls of Beauties Dance Club, a two-deck disco, are lined with varicolored male and female torsos à la Venus de Milo. Walls and ceilings are of antique-look one-way mirrors illuminated from behind with flashing and neon lights. One wall is dominated by a two-deck-high video display which can mix live video, special effects and prerecorded images to accompany the music.

The Body Beautiful Spa is a two-level, 13,700-square foot spa that turns exercising into fun. From aerobics and kickboxing classes to relaxing facials and body treatments, as well as the latest workout equipment, the spa rivals the best of facilities found shoreside.

The gymnasium is fully equipped. Instructor-led classes are scheduled throughout the day. Also offered: sauna, steam, beauty salon, one whirlpool (there are also four others aboard), 10 treatment rooms for European-style therapies including Aroma and Stone (using heated, scented oils and warm basalt stones). There’s a jogging track (15 times around equals a mile) and four pools, one of which is covered by a retractable dome used in inclement weather.

Carnival expects 350,000 kids to sail its ships in 2002 and the Pride is ready with one of the largest and most complete children’s facilities at sea. Camp Carnival is centered around a 2,400-square foot enclosed play area on Upper Deck 5, away from adult activities. The Fun House is headquarters. Divided by age groups, the supervised program has activities for ages 2 to 15.

One deck below is an arcade with video games and virtual reality-based games. An outdoor play area offers mini-basketball, jungle gyms and other playground equipment. There’s also a children’s wading pool and a corkscrew water slide.

Carnival offers a Fountain Fun card, good for unlimited soft drinks during a one-week voyage, for $19.95. Babysitting is available from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the Fun House ($5 for the first child and $3 for each additional child in the same family).

Recent enhancements include play areas featuring computer labs and indoor climbing mazes, as well as updated children’s menus and a complimentary turndown service providing kids with freshly baked cookies on the first and last night of their voyage.

While Carnival places great emphasis on families, the fleet anticipates hosting more than 800,000 guests over the age of 55.

Carnival recommends a gratuity of $9.75 per person, per day and automatically adds it to guest shipboard accounts. Passengers have the option of bowing out of that arrangement by contacting the purser’s office.

The $9.50 is divided into $3.50 per person, per day to stateroom services; $3.50 per person per day to the dining room service team and 75 cents per person per day for “alternative dining service” in the Lido.

A 15% gratuity is automatically added to all bar services. In checking with the Purser’s office, only about 10% of the guests opt out of the tipping program.

The suggested dress code follows contemporary trends, but does include two “formal” evenings during a one-week cruise. Most men opt for jackets and ties, but a large number wear tuxedos. “Resort casual” is suggested for the rest of the evenings.

Carnival Pride is sailing every Saturday on one-week roundtrip cruises from Cape Canaveral. Itineraries alternate between Eastern and Western Caribbean.