Crown Princess

Owned and operated by Princess Cruises, the cruise ship Crown Princess is not only considered as a Grand Class ship, but it is also regarded as the gemstone of the Princess fleet. The 113,000 ton, 951 feet long floating city having accommodation facility for 3080 passengers sails the Caribbean during the winter season, and Europe for the rest of the year. So no matter which cruise you choose, you are sure to enjoy an amazing cruise ship vacation.

The awe-inspiring luxury liner is loaded with features that are quite amazing among the many cruise ships that sail the seas. Its superb piazza-style Atrium housing the International Café and Vines wine and seafood bar are acclaimed as the most striking extravaganza ever created in a contemporary sea-going vessel. Also, the innovative dining arrangement provided in the Crown Princess goes beyond the customary food venues like its Crown GrillSM or Sabatini’s SM, reaching the passenger’s own private balcony, being part of the ship’s ultimate balcony dining.

Here is what the Crown Princess provides for its valued guests.

• Art auctions for buying paintings made by renowned artists
• Scholarship@Sea® courses for brilliant students
• Movies Under the Stars® on deck movie theater
• Wedding-at-sea event officiated by the ship’s captain
• Nine-hole putting course and golf simulators
• 4 pools that include one that provides ‘swim-against-current’.
• Wrap-around Promenade Deck
• Sports Court and jogging track
• Asian-themed Lotus Spa® with ocean-view gym
• One of the decks dedicated to mini-suits
• Around 900 staterooms having private balconies
• Conference room with wireless Internet connectivity, PC with all peripheries and part time secretarial service
• Caribbean-themed Café Caribe specializing in local delicacies
• Two Specialty Restaurants – an extended Sabatini’s and the newly established Crown Grill famed for steak and seafood.
• One of the most lavishly appointed casinos afloat
• Skywalker’s Night Club-cum-Observatory

Carnival Legend

If you feel tired, worn-out and exhausted, it is time to take a 7-day roundtrip Caribbean cruise on board the legendary cruise ship Carnival Legend and forget about everything else.

The 88,500-ton luxury liner sails from Tampa in Florida, and visits the Cayman Islands, Mexico, Belize, Isla Roatan and Honduras before bringing you back to Florida. But by the time you are back home, you have regained all your vitality and verve – thanks to the exotic food served in the ship, and the relaxing environment provided onboard the fabulous ocean liner. Take, for example, the Carnival Legend’s Atlantis Lounge, an ideal setting for meeting co-passengers who may turn out to be equally eager to meet you. And as for creature comforts, its luxury galore! There are five different styles of rooms to choose from while the options include Ocean view, Interior, Balcony, Jr. Ocean & vista suits and, of course, the majestic Grand Suite, complete with deep pile wall to wall carpeting and swanky décor.

Feeling lucky? Why not try your hand at blackjack, poker, roulette and many more exciting games at the Carnival Legend’s Club Merlin Casino for a change? Chances are that you may win. Or check out the ship’s Piano Bar for ultimate relaxation. Sit back and do nothing but listen to the live music, request a song or else hum a tune that you like most.

And when you feel hungry, stroll around to any of the ship’s elegant dining rooms. Flexible time dining routine for which is the ship is famous for, will not disappoint you. Explore the special quality food menu that ranges from sushi to chicken cream sandwiches. As for ice creams, there are endless varieties and tastes. By the way, there is also an excellent steak house on board the Carnival Legend. Order your steak as you like – Done, well-done or under-done.

On board the Carnival Legend the central theme revolves round the great legends of the world. This spirit is carried out throughout the ship’s 16 Lounges, 12 Passenger Decks as well as the indoor and outdoor promenades. The Spirit-Class “Fun Ship” also has a 9-deck high Atrium, duty-free shopping mall, on board golf program, video arcade and an amazing 1,800 square feet children’s play area.

Enchantment Of The Seas

From Victor Hugo’s Toilers of the Sea to more contemporary Con Tiki expedition, people appear to have always been fascinated by sea voyages, especially when it is more oriented to fun than real life adventures. In the case of Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment Of The Seas however, the passengers can probably savor both. As a person enters the Enchantment, he/she is immediately confronted with the Centrum, a soaring seven-deck atrium that is studded with priceless art collections – a rare display for a cruise ship solely devoted to pleasure and pastime.

The Enchantment cabins, particularly the low-end ones measuring around 150 sq. ft. promise reasonable creature comfort, featuring a TV run through intra-ship channels mostly showing professionally produced promotional videos, a telephone, safe and toiletries. Hair dryers have recently been added for the benefit of the ladies. Storage space within the cabin is more or less OK while robes are provided to certain category of cabins only. Almost half of the ‘outside’ cabins of the Enchantment have balconies at different decks. As the liner travels through the open ocean, sitting in one of these balconies is sure to be an amazing feeling.

Breakfast and lunch is served in the ship’s Windjammer Café that also serves as an alternate casual dinner place - no reservation is compulsory. 24 hour room service can also be ordered by passengers. But there is a limited menu in this. The ship’s Solarium is famed for its hot dog and hamburger grill. The Royal Caribbean, nevertheless, prepares Ship Shape selection lists every night for the next day’s lunch and dinner menu which includes special items for the veggies.

The Enchantment’s prime enchantment venue is centered round its Orpheum Theater-Show Lounge which happens to be the most functional and intelligently designed structure ever created by the RCI. Since the seating arrangement is of the fixed type, adequate space has been left for enter and exit rows. The lounge also looks more neat and compact since peg tables have been replaced by beautifully designed peg holders inbuilt within the arm rests. In course of a week-long cruise, passengers are likely to view at least one show performed by a renowned entertainer, a couple of production shows, several evening time variety acts and, of course, a farewell feat.

Freedom Of The Seas

If you want to experience the ultimate in contemporary naval engineering and see what it can do in terms of convenience, ease and luxury, you must take a trip in RCI’s Freedom Of The Seas. This beautiful ship is second only to the legendary cruise ship Queen Mary 2. However, it has almost replaced the Queen Mary 2 as the largest cruise ship in the world with its gross tonnage of 160,000 as against the Mary's 150,000. Nevertheless, the QM 2 is still regarded as the longest cruise ship since it is 20 feet longer than the Freedom.

Even when you think of the features, all other multimillion dollar vessels will cut sorry figures before the Freedom Of The Seas. Where will you ever be able to find Onboard Surf Park at sea; Cantilevered whirlpools extending twelve feet beyond the flanks of the ship, H2O zone® Waterpark complete with interactive sculptured fountains and amazing waterfalls cascading through the deck? Then there is the most awe inspiring rock-climbing wall with a multitude of routes for scaling it and central spire you may swing around just for the heck of it. Also, think of the extensive WiFi feats offering you connectivity for your cell phones as well as broadband facility for your laptop. Book a voyage and see for yourself to believe these wonders afloat a ship.

Ever since its launching a few years ago, the Freedom of the Seas is sailing seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami and calling at Mexico, Cozumel, George Town, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay, Jamaica and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s chosen destination.

Here is a list of some of the specialties of this great ship that awaits the pleasure of your visit.

• Full-size flat-screen TV in all staterooms
• Themed Bars and Lounges suiting your taste
• Adventure Ocean® youth themes
• ShipShape® Day Spa & fitness center
• Casino Royale

Majesty Of The Seas

Majesty Of The Seas is a sovereign-class cruise ship that is owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International and it was placed in service in April, 1992. However since then, the ship has been extensively renovated to change most of her innate features and several new features. As a matter of fact, the 73,941-ton Majesty Of The Seas was taken to a dry dock on January 12, 2007 for a multi-million dollar refurbishment program. The restoration process covered the ship’s public areas, pool decks, restaurants, shops, centrums and cabins while the additions included Johnny Rockets, the Compass Deli, Seattle’s best coffee, Freeze Ice cream, Latin Night dancing venue as well as other customary Royal Caribbean electrical and mechanical thingamajigs.

When the Majesty Of The Seas was finally pressed into service (3-Night Bahamas roundtrip Miami, Florida or 4-Night Bahamas roundtrip Miami, Florida), she was practically a new ship with tastefully refurbished staterooms, newly remodeled pool deck, enhanced Day Spa and Fitness Center and many more. To be precise, her current features include the renowned Viking Crown Lounge overlooking the pool and sun decks, an onboard fully equipped Casino, 11-passenger elevators, two of which are glass-lined and two major swimming pools.

As for onboard bars and drinking dens, Majesty of the seas have the usual marine-oriented Schooner Bar, A Touch of Class Champagne Bar, Boleros Latin Bar, Windjammer Café, Poolside Bar and On Your Toes Nightclub. Apart from these wonderful watering holes, this newly decorated ship boasts of a full-size Basketball Court and an adventurous rock-climbing wall. Also, the ship’s comfortable staterooms have been provided with luxurious bedspreads, flat screen TVs and 110 V/220 V plug points plus wireless Broadband connectivity for Laptop users.

Majesty of the Seas is currently commissioned by the Royal Caribbean on a 7-day cycle that covers two weekly voyages to the Port of Miami, stopping at Nassau (birthplace of the internationally famous black celluloid star, Sidney Poitier), Coco Cay, a private island owned by the Royal Caribbean and Key West, where the renowned American novelist and Nobel Laureate, “Papa” Hemingway completed the manuscript for his legendary work entitled “Farewell to Arms”. Surprisingly enough, even though another equally famous American writer, Tennessee Williams, author of yet another fictional masterpiece, “A streetcar Named Desire” lived in Key West during the same period, these two literary giants never met each other.

Nautica

The 30,277-ton Nautica is a very realistic cruise liner. It is not too big where passengers can lose their bearing, and it is not too small as well that makes a person jittery. To be honest about it, this ship best suits people who prefer a port-intensive itinerary, looks for a casual holiday on board a ship, are reluctant to pay additional charges for substitute restaurants and are non-smokers. Incidentally, Nautica’s port of call includes little known places like Guernsey, Palma de Majorca, Malaga, Oporto, Bordeaux and a few more.

True to her immaculate tradition, the price of spirits, wines, cigars, cigarettes and other modes of addiction on board the Nautica appear to have been kept at a higher level, probably in a vain effort to check inboard intoxication ! A great idea, no doubt, but whether it is applicable to people who have chosen a sea voyage primarily for relaxation remains a mystery.

However, the pleasures of the palate are guaranteed by most Oceania Cruise liners including the Nautica. The Grand Dining room opens at 6.30 in the evening and serves till 9.30 in the night, serving a grand assortment of victuals. However, it is always full and the acoustic arrangements in the room can hardly cope with the din, thus creating problems for a leisurely conversation. On top of that, 26 more tables (for two) have been currently added to serve more people in the already overcrowded dining room. The Terrace Café, adjacent to the pool deck, on the other hand, is a much more suitable place to enjoy your food in relatively tranquility. In fact, it is ideal for a leisurely breakfast where the servers hand out all that you may need in a friendly fashion.

The public rooms on board the Nautica have a typical “English inn-at-sea” feel. The spacious Horizons Lounge located at the bow section of the ship has extra large floor-to-ceiling windows that provide uninterrupted view of the open sea while strategically mounted brass telescopes allow inquisitive passengers to view in detail when a passing vessel appears on the horizon. Surprisingly enough, the no-nonsense vessel also has a well equipped Casino housed in her bosom while the Martini Bar attached to this gambler’s den boasts of a barman who has the credit of concocting 29 varieties of martini for the pleasure of his patrons.

Oceania cruise ship Nautica has 330 guest rooms, suits and penthouses aboard, most of them having verandas. However, the inside cabins on board the ship are indeed pretty undersized (160 to 165 sq. ft.). But the category C & D outsize cabins are large enough, sporting private balconies. Cruising in Nautica, by and large, can be called comfortable but not so very luxurious as compared to the other larger vessels.

Disney Magic

The cruise ship Disney Magic represents an excellent mixture of ocean liner magnificence with glimpses of the legendary Disney fantasy. It encompasses the thrills of sea voyage, intermingled with Disney touches that make it truly memorable for adults and kids alike.

Even though the Disney Cruise Line is regarded as perfect for families with children, the Disney Magic is provided with lounges that are quite suitable for couples as well. Three of these lounges are grouped together to form an entertainment profile that is lovingly called the Beat Street, and it is mostly for the adult passenger.

Sessions, the piano bar is very enjoyable. It has comfortable seating with mega-portholes offering a grand view of the sea rolling below.

The Diversion Sports Bar can be exiting when any major sports event is shown on ESPN. People mill around this bar to watch games on the giant plasma TV placed at a convenient corner of the bar for best viewing.

Rockin-Bar D is the third lounge in the Beat Street. While it serves as a place for family entertainment in the early evening, the scenario changes later in the night giving the shape of an adult disco.

Apart from these three, the other lounges on the Disney Magic comprise the Cove Café adult Coffee Bar, Promenade Lounge and the Studio Sea Family Club that almost resembles a television sound stage.

The food is good in most of the restaurants and bistros on board the Disney Magic even though the choices are usually limited. The hot dogs, hamburgers and pizza offered at the Topsiders, which is a buffet joint, are quite tasty and healthful while the dinner menu at the Animator’s Palate is exceptionally good. But here again, the options are fairly limited. However, dinner at Parrot Cay is most fun filled, more like Jimmy Buffet’s at City Walk but, to be honest about it, dinner at Lumiere’s is the best. By the way, passengers enjoying their meals in any of these restaurants seldom wear anything but ‘casual dress’ all the while.

The Disney Magic has 3 levels of suits that range from Inside Standard Cabin that sleeps 2/3/4; 1,029 sq. ft. Royal Suite with balcony that sleeps 7 while the Deluxe Family Stateroom that can accommodate four to five persons. The ship also has six different types of cabins, quite suitable for her passengers.

Island Princess

The Island Princess, as also her sister ship, Coral Princess have been especially designed to get through the Panama Canal (they usually traverse the Canal and the Gulf of Alaska) and hence, are comparatively smaller than the fleet’s bigger ships. However, these ships are still bigger than the mid-sized Princess-class ships that were so common during the nineties. But as a result, they enjoy the privileges of both, losing nothing in return. As a matter of fact, passengers feel more comfortable in navigating within the ship due to the re-sizing, which allows them better confidence in reaching their desired destinations than fumbling along oversize atriums.

92,000-ton Island Princess provides better facilities to its guests by shifting the public rooms to the lower decks and putting cabin decks higher up, which has allowed addition of more balconies to outside staterooms. This, incidentally, has also resulted in increasing cabin space on one hand and improving passenger flow on the other.

The food served in the Dining room and in the Lido Cafeteria featured in the Island Princess is typically Continental Ship variety comprising mostly Broiled lobster tail, Beef Wellington and the like. Passengers not used to such bland dishes prefer the Bayou Café to try spicy shrimp gumbo, grilled jumbo prawns, fried catfish or chicken and chorizo jambalaya amidst woody ambience. Those who feel still not very satisfied usually head for Sabatini’s for ultimate palate pleasure. But for those who insist on out-of-the-world savories, the Lotus Spa menu offers Chilled yogurt and Tamarind Soup sprinkled with grated lemon rind.

Interestingly enough, there is no dearth of invitingly intimate lounges on board the Island Princess, some with live music. Crooners, a Martini Bar mirrors the halcyon days of Rat Pack while the Churchill’s, a snug cigar lounge may remind one of early English country manors. The chunky nautical-themed Wheelhouse Bar (for no apparent rhyme or reason) holds many expensive original oil paintings.

The ship's Internet cafe, card room and library are mostly busy during days at sea. In fact, one may find himself/herself lucky in finding a place to sit. Because there are entrances from both the atrium and the midship elevators/stair tower, the locations are often used as passageways, not exactly ideal either for compute use or for reading.

As in other similar vessels, the captain of the Island Princes is empowered to marry intending couples in the ship’s Wedding Chapel while children are lovingly entertained at the Pelican Playhouse Children’s Center aboard the ship.

Celebrity Summit

Let us be very frank before we enter this classy cruise ship. It surely is not for everyone. Take a look at some of the Celebrity Summit’s guests if you do not believe me. They are mostly wealthy Americans who have already reached their summits whether in business or in calling. You may also come across intercontinental playboys looking for the ultimate luxury offered in an expensive sea voyage where champagne & caviar can be a routine fare.

The passenger list also includes a few world-travelers who have nothing else to do but to seek new source of excitement wherever available. However, this need not dissuade you to join a cruise aboard this 91,000-ton luxury cruise ship which appears to have taken some slices off the legendary liner, SS Normandie, known for her opulence and style. Nevertheless, try to bear in mind that the Celebrity Summit maintains a crew of 999 skilled hands to serve 1,950 passengers when the ship is fully occupied! That’s some remarkable ratio indeed.

Anyway, now that you have boarded the ship, there is no harm keeping your eyes open to see the signs of elegance all around you. The first thing that sure is going to catch your attention is a seven-foot high stunning bronze statue resembling the goddess Athena, created by Leon-Georges Baudry, the noted Art Deco sculptor that forms a part of poise in the two-level Cosmopolitan Restaurant of the ship. Although the restaurant earlier had fixed-time seating arrangement for serving food, passengers currently have the option of having the same anytime within certain hours.

Among some of the upscale restaurants on board the Summit is the Normandie alternative restaurant where they serve you with searing hot food items. Even though it involves a surcharge, the experience of a waiter in white tie preparing flambé entrees table-side can be quite exhilarating. Also, you get special items here that include Rack of Lamb en Croute, Chateaubriand steak and few more. The Lido Café, deck 10 on the other hand, offers casual breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, snacks, pizza and late night munchies right up to midnight. The Summit often lays out themed midnight buffets that attract jubilant crowd. 24-hour Room Service is a standard feature in the ship.

Celebrity Summit cabins include Deluxe Oceanview Staterooms (170 sq, ft.) with verandahs featuring two convertible beds, a sitting area and panoramic view floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening out to the balcony. Lower priced Interior Staterooms with sofa-cum-bed having sitting areas, nevertheless, prove quite comfortable too. All cabins, however, have interactive television, phone with voice mail, hair drier, safe and a mini-bar. Use of bathrobes is optional.

Caribbean Princess

Gone are the days when the legendary Nat King Cole hummed, “Take my way; hit the highway”. Today, people are more prone to leave their automobiles back home and explore the pleasures of the sea voyage aboard a cruise ship. Princess cruise liners appear to satisfy that craze to the fullest extent and something more. Among some of the Princess class of vessels that include Emerald, Crown, Ruby and a few others, the Caribbean Princess surely ranks apart in all respects. With astounding Atriums and spellbounding Skywalker’s Disco, the luxury liner is nothing but a super-size version of the earlier Grand-class of ships that sailed the seven seas decades ago.

Having an astounding onboard carrying capacity of more than 3000 passengers in its fabulous staterooms (881) and numerous full deck mini-suits, the Caribbean Princess can be compared to an island city that provides all forms of comforts right within its enormous bulk. On a dark night, she is a glittering jewel cruising through the phosphorescent sea.

Here a few of the special features of the ship that may prompt many to book a voyage today. Her destinations include Eastern Caribbean & Bermuda, Southern Caribbean, Canada & New England.

And here are the hot spots.

• Traditional Dining is provided at several dining rooms aboard the ship in true cruise tradition with caring entourage paying special attention to each passenger. The Island Dining Room is where you get the best of service in an oceanic ambience.
• Anytime Dining spares the hassle of reaching the dinner table at the sound of the gong. While aboard the Caribbean Princess, it’s the passenger’s choice of the dining hour and not otherwise. At the Cora Dining Room or the Da Vinci Dining Room you can walk in anytime in the day or night and ask for food, and it will be served with a smile.
• Specialty Restaurants on board the ship serve exquisite local (whichever water the ship passes by) dishes and gourmet favorites, if ordered earlier. This includes the famed Trattoria Sabatini Restaurant and the Sterling Steakhouse.
• The Hearts and Minds Wedding Chapel housed within the ship is the first of its kind that provides the industry’s singular Wedding-at-Sea program where the passengers can be married by the ship’s captain. A truly innovative approach towards an otherwise conventional social procedure.

Grandeur Of The Seas

Even though there are many cruise ships that sail the Pacific, or cruise the calm waters of the Caribbean, this ship is so grand that its owners simply called it - The Grandeur of the Seas. In fact, everything on board the ship is grand and glittering. Right from the Grandeur Centrum to the Grandeur Solarium, all the fascinating features of this grand ship that blissfully accommodates 2446 guests spell class. With a full-service Spa, half a dozen whirlpools, an all-weather jogging track and a seemingly endless chain of well appointed bars and restaurants, the Grandeur of the Seas is a seven-star hotel afloat the deep. The Grandeur’s current destination covers the Southern and Western Caribbean.

Here are some of the countless amenities that you will find on board.

• Boutiques of Centrum comprises of storefronts offering a wide range of fineries that include perfumes, jewelry, liquor and novelty cruise wear.
• Grandeur Solarium consists of indoor/outdoor pool that is provided with a massive sliding glass canopy.
• Great Gatsby Dining Room personifies the elegance and carefree lifestyle. A very impressive ambience for the current generation.
• Palladium Theater is a two-tier amphitheater featuring nightly entertainment that often includes musicals.
• Casino Royale is the gambler’s real haven featuring video poker, Caribbean Stud poker, electronic slot machines and more.
• Singing-in-the-rain Lounge is a glass-walled 100-seat lounge offering magnificent sea views.
• Schooner Bar is a nautically themed bar that makes a drink all the more enjoyable as if one is sitting in a wheelhouse.
• South Pacific Lounge is for live music and dancing.
• Champagne Bar is the right place to enjoy your bubbly drink poured into Tulip glass provided by the barman.
• Windjammer Café is the seaside buffet-style booth for breakfasts and lunches. However, it changes color as the sun goes down the horizon, giving it the shape of a full fledged restaurant.
• Observatory is for the stargazers. The star-studded sky, especially on new moon nights look amazingly beautiful when viewed on board a ship.
• Adventure Ocean is a large playroom for the little ones who often become engrossed in pictorial books and miniature ship models that are provided here, usually guided by a member of the entourage.

Costa Classica

Befitting its classy tagging, The Costa Classica is indeed classic in terms of comfort, style and elegance, not to speak of the delectable dishes like the Grilled lobster with drawn butter that is served in the Tivoli Restaurant. Exquisite murals in the celebrated restaurant transform its bay windows into scenic episodes from the Renaissance and the Roman era, and the tabletops in its Puccini Ballroom mirror sentiments from famed Puccini Operas.

In fact, every aspect of this magnificent cruise ship turns the head of passengers lounging its marvelous decks looking for something that is out of the ordinary. Take for instance, the Costa’s Galileo Disco and Observatory perched high atop the ship that serves as an observatory by the day and turning into a fabulous Disco as the night falls over the high seas.

In short, this luxury liner is a masterpiece of Italian cruise design where nothing was spared to give it the best of everything. Passengers strolling through its Tavernetta can browse through the chick boutiques, dine in its gourmet restaurant, unwind in jacuzzies (4 in number) or spend time in superbly equipped spa and fitness center located in one of its many decks.

While Costa Classica had served as an inspiration for creating its sister ship Costa Romantica, people fondly go for the Classica because of it inherent beauty and classical lines that makes this quite an unique ship.

The 52,926 ton, 723 feet liner with 13 decks can accommodate 1,302 Double Occupancy passengers in its 654 cabins that are served by a retinue of 590 skilled hands. Even though the ship’s maximum speed is rated at 20 knots, she normally cruises at 18.5 knots on calm seas.

Explorer of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International’s MS Explorer of the Seas happens to be one of their largest cruise ships that can accommodate more than 3000 passengers, boasting the highest space-per-guest ratio in the cruise business line. The 142,000-ton Voyager-class cruise ship Explorer has a built-in Atmospheric & Oceanographic Laboratory that is used by scientists researching for the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. In shape, size and dimensions it is only second to Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2.

As a matter of fact, there has never been a ship like this, featuring so many fabulous things of interest. Imagine a rock-climbing precipice aboard a floating vessel, a skating rink and a street fair going in full swing right above the rolling seas. Fascinating, isn’t it? The mighty ship’s destination includes the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada and New England. The Explorer is also often chartered for holiday cruises.

It is therefore no wonder that world-class food is served aboard this world-class ship amidst world-class ambience. However, here is a listing of the Explorer’s fascinating features that are soon going to lure you to book your voyage. Talk to your nearest agent; he may offer you a discounted price too.

• Main dining room in the ship serves world-class food only. From out of the world appetizers and starters to delectable desserts, every food item in the Main Dining Room is simply superb.
• The Portofino restaurant aboard the Explorer is the gourmet’s best refuge. Chefs at the Portofino are ever busy tackling international cuisine.
• The Johnny Rockets restaurant sporting the authentic fifty’s décor is known for all-American eatables with shipside sauces.
• The Champagne Bar is the ideal spot to celebrate your opening night aboard the Explorer. The beauty of this quiet cozy bar lies in the fact that it offers a wide variety of sparkling wines with an assortment of canapés for your pleasure.
• Windjammer Café is ideally suited for a casual dinner for the family after a day of adventure, scaling the virtual rock.
• Sport Deck aboard the ship features a full-size basketball court. Play the game whenever you can form a team but don’t let the ball go out of bounds.

Do whatever you like but do not forget to visit the Virtual Submarine Room, the Casino, and the Arcade Room before the cruise is over.

Carnival Glory

The 110,000-ton 2,974-passenger Conquest-class cruise ship Carnival Glory operated by Carnival Corporation is a truly colorful ocean liner with each of its public rooms sporting all the vivid colors of the rainbow! The ship is easy to navigate (from the passengers’ point of view) since most of the public rooms that include the Camel Casino, White Heart Dance Club, Burgundy (wine) Bar and the Ultraviolet Teen Disco are centrally located. However, one snug corner boasts of a cluster of hot spots that includes the Sing-along piano bar, Cinn-a-Bar, the Ebony Cabaret beckoning late night dancing partners and the Bar Blue for jazz enthusiasts. The Carnival Glory’s singular Cigar Bar, The Ivory Club is located just below.

Even though the Carnival Glory’s passenger quota mostly comprises of newly married couples, the ship is also much liked by families because of its many activities. This of course often creates overcrowding at the buffet during peak hours, more on sea days and formal nights. Similar is the case with the Colors Bar in the atrium that tends to fill up for pre-dinner cocktails. However, the Green Sports Bar, Ebony Cabaret Lounge and the Ivory Club are where you could head if you wanted to escape the crowds.

The Carnival Glory’s dining options include both traditionally assigned seating arrangement in the Platinum and Golden dining rooms commencing at 6 and 8.15 pm as well as flexible timing system through Carnival’s Your Choice Dining Program that offers dinner in the central dining room where passengers can enjoy their supper anytime between 5.45 and 9.30 in the night. However, it must be admitted that keeping at par with other Conquest-class ships, the quality and selection of food on board the Carnival Glory is quite good, while the daily changing menu also lists the calorie and fat content of each dish for the benefit of the diners.

However, the most impressive part of the Carnival Glory’s exclusive dining deal relates to its reservation-only Emerald Room Supper Club where the elite menu combined with extra attentive service more than compensates its $25 cover charge per person. And the food they serve here is top class too - South African lobster, sizable porterhouse steak and prime-aged beef. What more does a passenger want?