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CARNIVAL SPIRIT CALIFORNIA
LAUNCH
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CARNIVAL
LAUNCHES
ON WEST
COAST !
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The
Carnival Cruise Lines, the worlds largest cruise lines conglomerate,
has entered the West Coast cruise market BIG TIME with
the positioning of it’s newest “super-liner” the Carnival
Spirit (2,124 passengers) in Alaska; and it has positioning the
Elation (2,052 passengers) and the Ecstasy (2,052
passengers) to the Port of Los Angeles.
During the summer season the Spirit will make nineteen
Alaskan cruises from Vancouver, B.C. and the Elation will cruise
from Los Angeles making seven day Mexican Rivera cruises and the
Ecstasy will sail out of Los Angeles for Mexico making three and
four day Baja Mexico mini-vacations. Is this a big gamble for Carnival? You bet! By
my calculation Carnival has over 129, 500 double occupancy cabins to
sell between Memorial Day and Labor Day on its West Cost mini-fleet.
With gasoline likely to hit three dollars a gallon and
rolling blackouts a regular thing on the West Coast wallets are
tight on the West coast.
Carnival Cruise Launches Spirit!
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WEST
COAST INAUGURAL VOYAGE
Carnival
Cruise Lines newest super-liner the 88,500-ton, 2,124-passenger
Carnival Spirit made its West Coast Inaugural Sailing
May 18th. This
is Carnival’s newest “Fun Ship” and on this all to short three
day voyage to Mexico …fun was had by all.
The ship’s interior design celebrates the world great
architectural styles and features a wide variety of interior-design
themes. The Carnival Spirit
represents the new class of “Fun
Ship” for the line; its interior design architect was Joe Farcus.
His masterful touch is scene throughout the ship from the
two-story gourmet alternative-dining venue the Nouveau Supper Club to
the tiniest cabin drawer pull detail. |
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The Spirit's Atrium towers
mid-ships.
| The Spirit Lobby
and many of the public areas are decorated in the art deco style,
which uses sleek, graceful lines and slender organic forms.
The ship features a nine-deck-high atrium as the centerpiece
of the central lobby area. Bob
Dickinson, Carnival’s President, told this writer that this new
class of ship is a new direction for Carnival.
It offers many new amenities and new public rooms adding a
new class and dimension to the Carnival cursing experience. He says
that Carnival is now
offering Alaska with class and elegance.
This reporter predicts “Carnival to Europe…next.” |
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Pharaoh’s Palace
If you are into an
evening at the theatre then the Spirit has plenty to keep
your toes tapin’. The
Spirit’s design architect, Joe Farcus, has designed a
three-level Pharaoh’s Palace show lounge in the style of Egyptian
Revival. Sarcophagi
designed after that of the golden King Tutankhamen are situated
between the windows and stone walls which are decorated with
hieroglyphics. Twenty-foot-tall stone figures flank the proscenium of the
stage.
Pharaoh’s Palace
features Las Vegas-style revues, which were created for the new
inaugural season of the Spirit.
The two revues – SRO (Standing Room Only) and High
Spirits – combine a cadre of talented entertainers and
behind-the –scenes personnel, elaborate sets and costumes, and
Carnival’s show stopping special effects.
Carnival
bills their entertainment as Broadway or Las Vegas class.. not so...
its more like Reno or a good "road show." |
Nouveau Supper Club
Located at the top of
a soaring nine deck atrium and housed under a red tinted glass dome
that forms the front portion of the ship’s funnel, this art
nouveau-style restaurant harkens back to the era of great supper
clubs. My traveling
companion and I had one of the most memorable dinning experiences of
our traveling careers in this stellar epicurean salon.
The ambiance of the
room sets the mood for what is to follow…great food and service. Our dinner:
Baked Onion Soup
“Les Halles”; Baby Leaf Spinach and Fresh Mushrooms w/ Blue
Cheese & Warm Bacon Dressing; Broiled South African Lobster Tail
w/Drawn Butter, Broiled Provimi Veal Chop, Yukon Gold Mash &
Creamed Spinach w/Garlic & for desert Tart Tatin w/Truffle Ice
Cream.
Our
waiter Stan, sommelier and staff were superb and made our last
evening at sea a memorable occasion.
This ocean going supper-club also features a music duo who entertained at
a perfect volume and a dance floor.
I can highly recommend spending the extra money for this
dinning and dancing experience!
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Wedding Chapel
Couples
sailing aboard the new 88,500-ton Carnival Spirit can say "I
do" in a traditional and elegant setting in the first wedding
chapel to be featured on a Carnival ship.
Also, Carnival Spirit will feature the line's first
"Weddings at Sea" program, which allows couples to marry
while the vessel is sailing in Canadian waters during the summer
Alaska season.
The
new 2,124-passenger ship entered service April 29, 2001.
These new components complement Carnival's existing
comprehensive wedding program, whose wide variety of convenient and
affordable packages is expected to attract nearly 2,200 couples this
year.
"The
Chapel on the Carnival Spirit combines a traditional wedding
atmosphere with the romance of the sea, to create a truly memorable
experience for couples who choose to marry aboard this exquisite new
ship," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president.
With
stained-glass windows and Old Testament scenes, The Chapel features
a central aisle leading to the stage and a private dressing area for
the bride.
The
Gothic-style facility will serve as the venue for the "Weddings
at Sea" program, available only during the Carnival Spirit's
Alaska sailings. photographic
services. |
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The
Carnival Spirit will feature, starting in May, literary
voyages from Miami to Los Angeles, which will be followed by a
three-night voyage from San Francisco to Vancouver departing May 20,
a series of week-long Glacier Bay and Glacier Route Alaska cruises
throughout the summer, two 12-day Hawaii cruises, and a 14-day
Panama Canal sailing from San Diego to Miami departing Oct. 20. From
Miami, Carnival Spirit is slated to operate a unique eight-day
program to "exotic" Caribbean ports of call throughout the
winter, commencing Nov. 3.
Over
the years I have taken a few Carnival cruses…being an old
codger I go for “senior senile type cruises.” But,
I have always enjoyed the “young blood” aboard a Carnival
ship and I was glad to see the upgraded quality of the new
“Spirit” “Fun
Ship.” I look forward to sailing on Carnival again.
Information
and reservations on Carnival's "Fun Ship" cruises can be
obtained by contacting any
travel agent, calling 1-800-CARNIVAL
or visiting the line's Web site
at www.carnival.com.
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