Carnival Glory: a glorious addition to the "fun ship" fleet

Cruise Travel, March-April, 2005 by Georgina Cruz

We enjoyed a couple of them on sea days during our itinerary that called at Nassau, St. Thomas/St. John, and St. Maarten. After days exploring the Atlantis resort on Nassau's Paradise Island on a sold-onboard shore excursion to see its beautiful marine habitats including sharks, barracuda, tarpon, rays, and sawfish--one of the latter was 13 feet long--plus beach combing on St. Maarten, shopping on St. Thomas, and hopping an excursion (also sold onboard) to unspoiled St. John, our favorite shipboard haunt was the Carnival Glory's 13,300-square-foot health club.

This Polynesian-themed, Steiner-operated spa is very attractive with a waterfall, lush greenery, and teak decking. It offers a gym with sea views and the latest in Lifefitness exercise equipment. Exotic, pampering treatments include the Aroma Spa Float, featured in two deluxe treatment suites with dry float beds; feel-the-tension-dissolve Aroma Stone Therapy (aaah!), and Cleopatra's Milk Bath (including a ginger and lime body exfoliation, milk wrap, and 25-minute massage). There is a couple's treatment room for twosomes. Spa activities include fitness seminars and instructor-led fitness classes that feature aerobics, yoga, kickboxing, Pilates, and spinning (some classes are $10).

After all that kicking and spinning, the Carnival Glory's four swimming pools, seven whirlpools, and lots of open and shaded deck space hit the spot for relaxation most days for us. Our favorite pool, besides the one in the spa, was the one situated aft on Lido Deck with a retractable glass dome, near two Jacuzzis, as well as a grill, bar, the 24-hour complimentary pizzeria, and the free 24-hour ice-cream/frozen-yogurt stations--who could ask for anything more! But if you desire more physical activity, there is a jogging track (nine times around equals a little more than a mile) plus volleyball, golf lessons, shuffleboard, ping-pong, and more.

The younger set in particular loved the 214-foot spiraling waterslide at one of the pools. Junior sailors were also happily occupied in the expanded children's and teen facilities on the Carnival Glory (a very family-friendly feature of the Conquest Class ships). The 4,200-sq.-ft. children's and teen areas on Sun Deck (12) set the scene for Camp Carnival, a top-rated supervised program of activities. In addition to playrooms, crafts, science, and geography projects, younger children have a video room for movies and cartoons, plus an outdoor area with a pool.

Teenagers have Ultraviolets, a 1,800-sq-ft. dance club/game room with a cool Monopoly theme. The teen club also houses a video wall, video game units, and computers. "Teens these days want a place of their own to hang out and chill," cruise director Heald said. "They like Ultraviolets and so do their parents, who see their teenagers have a safe place to go with organized activities." Adolescents also can participate in organized activities and shore excursions just-for-teens that include sailing, mountain biking, cave tubing, and horseback riding, which they can enjoy with their new-found friends.