A Dream by Carnival

A Dream by Carnival
By Theresa Norton Masek
Published on: November 16, 2009

Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest ship, the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream, is a beauty, and the first without a shipwide theme. But make no mistake -- the décor is lively and exuberant, but not quite as over-the-top as some of the other ships in the fleet. The Dream was christened Nov. 12 in a pierside ceremony in New York City by Oscar-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden. It then embarked on a two-night revenue cruise-to-nowhere full of New Yorkers making the most of the ship’s amenities -- at least those indoors, since the weather wasn’t exactly cooperating.

The Dream is now Carnival’s largest ship but nowhere near the size of its new competitor, Royal Caribbean International’s 225,000-ton Oasis of the Seas, which arrived at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 13. Although the consumer media likes to portray cruise lines as engaging in a continual race to build the world’s biggest ship, Carnival executives say the Dream is as big as the Fun Ship line is likely to go.

Carnival is maintaining its traditional goal, which is to offer lively ships with excellent value. “This ship is booking very, very well, and the pricing has been higher than across the fleet,” Cahill said of the Dream. “But it’s a reflection of demand.” Cahill also said Carnival wants to keep its ships no larger than the Dream so it can continue its strategy of basing ships in non-traditional homeports.

The Carnival Dream is a family-focused cruise ship with expansive facilities for kids and teens, as well as a two-level, adults-only area called Serenity. The Carnival WaterWorks Park boasts a twisting yellow waterslide billed as the largest at sea.

Of particular note are the 193 staterooms that sleep five and have two bathrooms -- one full and the other with a junior tub, shower and sink. Open-seating dining is being rolled out across the fleet, allowing passengers to dine in the main restaurant anytime between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The ships continue to offer traditional early and late seatings for those who prefer that dining style. There’s also casual dining in the Lido buffet area, even for dinner.

Many people confuse value with cheapness, and even during this down economy Carnival didn’t cut back on the onboard product or on marketing. “Most people in the travel business are cutting back on marketing, which is the easiest thing to cut,” Cahill said. “We didn’t. It is the engine that drives newcomers into the cruise industry. And we did not cut back on our product. We have a golden opportunity. People in the past who wouldn’t have tried Carnival are now trying Carnival because of its value. This is our opportunity to capture them.”

As for Carnival Dream’s décor, the line’s long-time interior architect Joe Farcus said the Dream is the first ship without a theme that carries through the public rooms. “We’re going more into pure design and less high-concept design, which raises the level of the ship,” he said. “It allows me to be a better designer and create an atmosphere rather than a high concept.”

The Carnival Dream is currently operating two more eight-day Bahamas cruises from New York departing Nov. 15 and 23, and then will then reposition to its new homeport at Port Canaveral. From there it will alternate year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises on Dec. 12.

For info and reservations, please contact me at mindy@myvacationlady.com