Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest Fun Ship Carnival Dream left Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, yesterday (Monday) for its maiden Mediterranean voyage.
At 130,000 tons, and with capacity for 3,646 passengers, the ship is the largest in the Carnival fleet. It will be sailing three 12-night cruises in the Mediterranean before crossing to New York, where the ship will be named.
After two eight-day cruises to the Bahamas, it will relocate to Port Canaveral in Florida, from where it will be sailing seven-night Caribbean cruises.
Among several firsts for Carnival, there is a new two-lane racing slide and a new top-deck night-time laser show set to music from bands including Styx, Van Halen, Boston and Pink Floyd.
The ship also has a new comedy club, with six, 35-minute, family-friendly or adult-rated shows a night, and Ocean Plaza, an indoor/outdoor cafe/entertainment venue that will be used for art and spa seminars, live acts and trivia contests. Five-berth cabins for large families are also new.
Carnival president and chief executive officer Gerry Cahill said Carnival Dream ushers in an “exciting new era” in Fun Ship cruising. He said: “Value is more important than ever and Carnival Dream, with its unique public spaces and exciting on-board innovations, provides the type of quality, affordable holiday experiences that today’s consumers are seeking.”
Carnival Cruise Lines UK managing director Lynn Narraway said the UK office has not taken agents to see the new ship because the cruiseline will not have a vessel in Europe in 2010. Narraway is hoping Carnival will be back in the Mediterranean in 2011, when sister ship Carnival Magic launches.