Carnival Spirit - travel industry

Cruise Travel, Oct, 2001 by Georgina Cruz

Latest Addition To "Fun Ship" Fleet Is A Spirited Lady

What do the quarters that jingle in the slot machines of the casino on the Carnival Spirit have in common with the new ship herself? Well, the coins' motto "E Pluribus Unum" could also be written all over the 88,500-gross-register-ton/2,124-passenger vessel that is the latest addition to the Carnival Cruise Lines' fleet.

"Out of many, one" is indeed the perfect description for this ship that celebrates an array of design styles in her interiors. And instead of having just one traditional central theme, a mood of diversity is created through a variety of decors--I counted as many as 19 different interior designs!

"Design variety creates interest and helps to capture the imagination of guests," said Joe Farcus, Carnival's architect. So as you go from one public area to another, you can bask in the glory of Gothic, the grace of Art Deco, the exotic ambiance of the Chinese style, and so on. First in a new series of ships for Carnival (which, incidentally, has a similar design to sister line's CostaAtlantica), the Carnival Spirit is not only many ships in one, but she also introduces some firsts for Carnival. Among them are an alternative restaurant and a wedding chapel.

The specialty dining venue--the 156-seat, two-level Nouveau Supper Club, located amidships at the top of the ship's nine-deck atrium and under a red-tint glass dome that forms the front portion of the ship's funnel--is decorated in Art Nouveau. Inspired by Brussels' Hotel Tassel (a foremost exponent of Art Nouveau), the restaurant features hand-painted floral murals and antiqued copper stem-like columns capped with stained-glass lighting fixtures formed in an ornate flower-bud motif. Most delicious of all, it serves up the tasty claws made famous by Joe's Stone Crab, a Miami Beach institution since 1913, as well as a variety of entrees such as a selection of hand-cut prime beef. Fee for this reservations-only specialty restaurant is $15 per person. Diners also enjoy nightly entertainment--a quartet or cabaret singer--and they can take a spin between courses on the marble dance floor.

The Chapel, another first for Carnival, is in Gothic style, with stained-glass windows and a central aisle. The warm, inviting room is an ideal shipboard locale for weddings, vow renewals, or other ceremonies.

The Artists Lobby is the main hub of the vessel, decorated in Art Deco style with huge murals of soaring spirits, rich woods, lots of color, antique copper accents, two grand staircases, a bar with dance floor, and the information and tour desks. The public rooms are connected by a two-level promenade (on Atlantic Deck 3 and Promenade Deck 2) with a waterfall and grand staircase leading from one level to the other. Since the galley is below the main dining room, passenger flow is uninterrupted on the two-level promenade.

Walking from one public space to another almost feels like a journey around the world: from the mystery of Egypt in the show lounge, to the elegance of France in the main dining room, to the exotic ambiance of the Orient in the piano bar.

Another public area on this ship that moves the spirit, and that Farcus called "the culmination of all that we have learned about design in the past 25 years," is the Chippendale Library. Carnival ships always have a very tastefully decorated library, and the Carnival Spirit is no exception. Named after the cherished 18th century furniture style, the library features a mural of an English garden overlooking a traditional secretary and bookcases mounted on desks that hold computer terminals offering Internet access. Columns are shaped like giant Chippendale table legs.

The Grecian-inspired Nautica Spa incorporates Doric columns and hand-painted murals featuring a Greek vase motif and depictions of Olympic events. The two-level/ 13,700-square-foot/ocean-view facility, located forward on Lido Deck 9 and Sun Deck 10, offers sauna, steam, beauty salon, one whirlpool (within the spa, there are four others aboard), and 10 treatment rooms for European-style therapies including Aroma Stone (using heated, scented oils and warm basalt stones). The Steiner-operated spa also features a mirrored aerobics room and a gym equipped with Quinton treadmills, Stairmaster stair climbers, Life Fitness cycles and elliptical machines, Keiser progressive resistance machines, and free weights. There's a jogging track (15 times around equals a mile). Fun-in-the-sun and fitness buffs will also enjoy the four swimming pools (one of which is covered by a retractable dome) and a spiral waterslide.

After a workout in the gym and a day of sun-worshipping, passengers find culinary rewards in the Empire Room, the two-deck main restaurant, done in the Napoleonic early 19th century French style, with a ceiling adorned with domes painted with murals, crystal chandeliers, gold-finished trimming, and a grand circular staircase decorated with a sculpture of Napoleon at his coronation. Flanking the entrances are pilasters in the form of female statues. Large circular windows provide views of the sea and ports. Since the ship has one main dining room, two dinner seatings are featured (instead of the four staggered seatings of Carnival's "Total Choice Dining"). The cuisine was good to excellent--Carnival's food quality and presentation continue to improve steadily--and service was friendly, but during our shakedown cruise our waiter and busboy were not yet in sync.