Carnival Names New 112,000 Ton Carnival Splendor

[Jason]

MIAMI – Carnival Splendor is the name Carnival Cruise Lines has chosen for its new 112,000-ton cruise ship scheduled to enter service in spring 2008.

Representing a new class of ship for the line, the 3,006-passenger vessel will be constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and feature an innovative new design, including the largest spa and children’s facilities in the Carnival fleet.

"Carnival Splendor will introduce a host of guest-driven facilities and eatures to usher in an exciting new era of ‘Fun Ship’ cruising," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO.

Highlights include a 17,800-square-foot spa – the largest ever incorporated into a Carnival ship. Encompassing two forward decks, the facility features an elaborate thermal suite, a variety of health and beauty treatment rooms, and Carnival’s first thalasso therapy pool. Encircling the upper level of the spa will be a winter garden that will include a ceremonial tea house.

A 5,500-square-foot children’s playroom – the largest in the Carnival fleet – will be located mid-ship. Above the facility will be a new water play area – a first for the line.

Located aft will be a new sports deck featuring arena-style seating for games and other events, while a reservations-only supper club will be located atop the poolside Lido restaurant, providing diners with magnificent ocean vistas.

The mid-ship pool – one of four on board – will be enclosed by two full decks of glass walls. The area will be covered with a two-deck-high retractable dome that can be closed during inclement weather. A large balcony will encircle the upper deck of the pool area.

The vessel will also include 1,503 staterooms, 60 percent of which will offer an ocean view with 60 percent of those featuring private balconies.

Carnival Splendor is one of three new "Fun Ships" currently under construction or on order with Fincantieri. In addition to Carnival Splendor, Carnival’s order book includes the 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom, scheduled to enter service in February 2007, and an as-yet-unnamed 130,000-ton SuperLiner – to be the largest "Fun Ship" ever constructed – slated to debut in fall 2009.

Source: Carnival Cruise Lines

[Dan]

Why can't Carnival seem to figure out how to add balcony cabins? This is basically a Caribbean Princess platform. The Caribbean has 900 balconies. This ship will have in the 550 range. I know Carnival generally has larger cabins, but in my experience, the width has been approximately the same, which is what decides how many cabins a deck can hold. Carnival just continues to have a pthetically low amount of balconies compared to the number of people their ships hold.