“Champagne?” the tuxedoed waiter asks, “Yes, that would wonderful,” I reply. I have just boarded the brand-new Silver Spirit in Monte Carlo for its first sailing with passengers. The moment is surreal and a far cry from my previous voyage a few months earlier during Silver Spirit’s sea trials when the vessel was still under construction and where instead of champagne I shared breakfast pizza and espressos with the shipyard workers onboard.

I look around and I smile, long gone are the unfinished walls, protective covers of plastic and plywood — the ship has truly morphed into the beautiful Art Deco masterpiece it was designed to be.

Luxury lure

The 540-passenger, all-suite vessel is the first newbuild for ultra-luxury line Silversea Cruises since 2001, and it brings the Silversea fleet to a total of six vessels. “Silver Spirit is an evolution of what Silversea is all about,” says Amerigo Perasso, Silversea’s president and CEO. Perasso said that the larger vessel enables the line to create longer itineraries and offer more dining and entertainment options.

The economic waters may be choppy, but for Silversea it’s smooth sailing. The line is reporting its highest bookings ever, which is due to the surprising global demand in luxury cruising. Loyal Silversea customers, who on any given voyage can total more than 40 percent of the passengers, have been the driving force in heavy bookings, particularly for Silver Spirit. The other big factor in the line’s success is its heavy international exposure. Perasso says the make-up of the guests is truly international. “No one nationality dominates, it’s a mixture,” he says.

European roots

As we sail off from Monaco into the stormy Mediterranean the ship cuts through the water like a knife and the stability is impressive given the gale force winds. While Spirit is the biggest ship in the Silversea fleet it is still small and has the familiar layout of the line’s other vessels. But, it’s the ship’s classic Art Deco grace of the 20s and 30s that stands out – this is a ship Greta Garbo would have loved to sail on.

The Restaurant, aka the main dining room, evokes an understated, but comfortable atmosphere. Aptly named, The Bar and adjacent lobby is a multi-use area and is the heart of the ship. Vintage nautical photos decorate the walls and plush chairs and sitting areas are everywhere inviting guests to linger. Indeed they do — Passengers gather at all hours to drink Bellinis or cappuccinos or just to relax to soothing musical entertainment. Deck space onboard is expansive with numerous comfortable lounge areas affording shade or sun allowing guests to choose their al fresco preferences.

The 36,009-ton vessel offers 270 suites that range in size from 312 to 1,668 square feet (95 percent with balconies). All suites offer nifty technological advances including two large flat-panel televisions hidden behind mirrors and iPod docking stations.

Guests lack for nothing in these suites. There is a menu of eight pillows to choose from, a selection of room scents from Laura Tonatto, a choice of Bvlgari or Ferragamo toiletries, and never ending bottles of Pommery Champagne and boxes of Pierre Marcolini chocolates. And, every suite comes with a butler who will not only unpack your suitcase but clean and freshen it as well. “It’s all about highly personalized service that’s what luxury is all about,” said Ken Watson, Silversea’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

The Spa at Silversea takes things to another level. At 8,300 square feet it is the largest in the fleet and features a beauty salon, fitness center, nine spa treatment rooms, two sauna rooms and two steam rooms. The spa also debuts a Thermal Suite, an exclusive spa area furnished with heated lounge chairs along with a private Hammam Chamber (Turkish bath), where guests can customize their scrub treatments. In addition, The Spa offers an outdoor relaxation area with expansive aft sea views and comes equipped with plush loungers and large whirlpool allowing spa lovers a place to relax pre- and post-treatment.

Among the new spa treatments and services is the medi-spa offering a selection of physician-administered facial treatments using such popular wrinkle-reducing agents as BOTOX Cosmetic and the dermal fillers Restylane and Perlane. Guests can consult with the medi-spa physician on board to determine a personalized treatment plan. There’s also a new Oriental Medicine Program, which offers acupuncture therapy and Chinese herbal supplements.

Epicurean delight

Perhaps the highlight onboard Silver Spirit is the culinary delights in the six restaurants. The line is celebrating its 10th anniversary partnership with Relais & Châteaux; the only cruise line afforded the honor. “This is a pillar of our culinary experience — to be precise and genuine,” says Rudi Scholdis, Silversea’s culinary director. He added that the line’s mix of guests and 423 ports visited is part of the culinary offerings.

The line’s staple restaurants are here including The Restaurant, which offers 21 menus from International classics to inventions made on the ship. La Terrazza is the heritage of Silversea and offers freshly made pasta with ingredients flown in from Italy. The Pool Grille offers spa and quick fare and in the evening is offering a new informal dinner concept where guests can grill their meal on heated lava rocks. Le Champagne is highlight of the line’s association with Relais & Châteaux where for $30 guests can indulge in a six-course menu and for an additional $200 sample the wine pairing offerings.

New dining venues include Stars Supper Club that is modeled after the Rainbow Room. The venue is more than dining, it’s “food-entertainment” said Scholdis. The ambiance is jazzy and offers a bite size tasting menu encompassing flavors from around the world. Indeed you could make a meal here if you order all 20 tastings. The live jazz singer who works the room makes this venue an unforgettable experience.

Seating just 24 guests, Japanese-inspired Seishin features a large, round chef’s table as its centerpiece. Guests at surrounding tables can watch the chef at work sculpting fresh sushi and sashimi. There is a cover charge of $40 for the 11-course digestion menu that includes Beluga caviar and Kobe beef. For an additional $40 guests can enjoy a Saki digestion flight or for $200 a special wine flight.

Ultimately, the real luxury of Spirit, though, is its focus on keeping the traditional cruise experience alive and highly refined. There are no rock climbing walls, gigantic water slides or ziplines like the new mega ships – it’s about surrounding oneself in luxury, fine dining, and like-minded travelers on a quest for new horizons.

If you go:
On January 21, Spirit begins its grand inaugural sailing with various itineraries in the Caribbean, South America, and Mexican Riviera. In May, the ship transitions to the Mediterranean where it will sail various 7-day voyages. In late October, Spirit transitions back to the Caribbean. Prices for 7-day voyages begin at $4,358. Visit Silversea Cruises Website for more details.

Cruise lines are scrambling to find new ways to top each other in the innovation stakes. Bigger ships and never-before-seen features are the shape of things to come on the high seas in 2010.

Ship class of 2010

Fifteen new ships will be ready for their close-ups next year, with one being the second largest cruise ship ever launched. Here’s a summary for the Class of 2010, in order of the month they debut.

January– Costa Cruises 92,700-ton Costa Deliziosa will carry 2,828 guests and will homeport in Dubai for the winter with sailings around the Middle East. The ship will transition back Europe in May to cruise the Baltics during the summer and the Mediterranean for the rest of the year.

February - AIDA Cruises, Germany’s largest cruise line, (owned by Carnival Corporation) will launch its seventh ship in 2010, the 68,500-ton, 2,050-passenger AIDAblu. The vessel is the sister ship to AIDAdiva, AIDAbella and AIDAluna and will cruise European waters year round.

March - The MSC Magnifica will be MSC Cruises’ 11th ship. The 93,330-ton ship will carry 2,518 passengers. The ship will feature its MSC Yacht Club, exclusively for suite guests. The ship will be based in Venice where it will sail year-round seven-night cruises.

March - Avalon Waterways is the fastest growing river boat cruise line in the world. The company will launch two new vessels this year bringing the fleet size to 10 riverboats. Carrying just 138 passengers Avalon Felicity will ply the waters of the Rhine until the winter season.

April -The Celebrity Eclipse will be Celebrity Cruises’ third ship in the Solstice-class. For summer 2010, Eclipse will cruise from Southampton, England – the first time a Celebrity ship will based in that port. The ship will be 122,000-tons and carry 2,850 passengers. In November the ship will transition to the Caribbean.

P&O Cruises’ 116,000-ton Azura will carry 3,100 passengers. The ship will sail alternating 7- and 14-day European itineraries from Southampton, England.

May – Compagnie du Ponant Yacht Cruises will launch its first new vessel in a decade, the 264-passenger Le Boréal. The luxury French line’s new vessel will sail various European itineraries year round.

California-based AMAWATERWAYS is an upscale European river cruise company that was launched in 2002. The company will launch the MS Amabella bringing its fleet to 11 boats. The Amabella is sister ship of the MS Amacello and carries just 148 passengers. Itineraries for the new vessel have not been disclosed.

June – The Seabourn Sojourn is the second of three new ships for the Yachts of Seabourn. The ultra-luxury 32,000-ton Seabourn Sojourn will accommodate 450 lucky guests. The yacht’s itineraries will begin with sailings around Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Caribbean before it embarks on its 111-day world cruise from Los Angeles.

The most anticipated ship launch of 2010 is Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) Norwegian Epic. It will be NCL’s largest and most innovative ship to date, featuring an Aqua Park, an ice bar, wavy staterooms, and the largest private villa complex at sea. The 153,000-ton ship will carry 4,200 guests and sail alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.

July - Holland America Line’s 86,000-ton Nieuw Amsterdam is the second of the line’s “Signature Class” vessels. The ship, which will carry 2,104 passengers, will sail 12-day sailings around the Mediterranean. In mid-October, Nieuw Amsterdam will head to Fort Lauderdale for the winter season sailing seven-day Eastern Caribbean sailings.

August – Avalon Waterways will launch Felicity’s sister ship Avalon Luminary in May. Like Felicity, Avalon Luminary will carry just 138 passengers; however, it will cruise year-round on the Rhine River.

October – Cunard Line launches the new 90,400-ton, 2,092-passenger Queen Elizabeth, sister ship to Queen Victoria. The ship will sail round-trip from Southampton on various Mediterranean itineraries. In January, the ship will begin its 103-day world cruise.

November – When Sea Cloud Cruises launches the Sea Cloud Hussar it will be the largest three-mast passenger ship ever built. The 69 exterior cabins offer space for 136 passengers, who are looked after by a crew of 90. The ship will sail routes in the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf. And, like its sister ships it will be sailed in the traditional way – by hand.

December - Allure of the Seas is the sister ship to the Oasis of the Seas, and thus is the second of two of the world biggest ships. At 222,000-tons it will carry 5,400 guests (6,300 max) and 1,650 crew members. Like Oasis, Allure will offer distinct neighborhoods, unique interior staterooms, and a zip-line. Allure will sail year-round from Fort Lauderdale offering 7-day alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.

Booze cruises

German cruise line AIDA Cruises’ new AIDAblu will have a microbrewery – a first for the cruise industry. The microbrewery, staffed by renowned brewers from Bavaria, will serve the beer it brews for free, while also offering specialty beers for a fee.

Inspired by the original ice bars and ice hotels in Scandinavia and one of only 14 ice bars in the world, Ice Bar on Norwegian Epic will be the ultimate chill. This frozen chamber of iced vodka is set in changing hues of blue, green and purple LED lighting that simulates the Northern Lights and creates a distinctive arctic atmosphere. The centerpiece is a giant ice cube that glows and changes colors to the beat of the music. The venue will accommodate 25 guests who will be given fur coats, gloves and hats to keep them warm, since the room’s temperature will not rise above 17 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dinner in a circus

Norwegian Epic will offer the only “big top” at sea in an intimate 265-seat theater-in-the-round. Dubbed “Cirque Dreams and Dinner”, this one of a kind interactive theatrical dining experience will be performed in the air, while juggling dinner courses, with music, mayhem and acrobatic imagination. During the two-hour show, guests will marvel in amazement and become part of a celebration of spectacle and fantasy. The entire experience will be unlike anything else at sea.

Stylish staterooms

Norwegian Epic incorporates several new types of accommodations – the curved New Wave staterooms; the largest ship-within-a-ship suite complex at sea, comprising 60 suites and villas on two private decks at the top of the ship; a new category of inside staterooms for the value-conscious traveler – The Studios and Living Room; and spa and family-friendly accommodations.

More kids invade Europe

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and thousands of American kids are headed back to Europe. In April, the Disney Magic will return to Europe, where it first sailed in 2007, only this time with a few new itineraries. The Magic will offer its first-ever 10,11, and-12-day cruises to Scandinavia, Germany and Russia, in addition to a lineup of Mediterranean itineraries that include calls at three new ports. And in each port Disney will add its magic touch to enhance the family touring experience.

Less Alaska

Alaska’s 2007 imposition of a head tax on cruise passengers has caused a tsunami of cruise ship defections from the state’s waters. Carnival, Princess, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line have reduced capacity in Alaska significantly for 2010 and more are scheduled to leave in 2011.

Rick Meadows, executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs, for Holland America says the change reflects the rising demand for Europe itineraries. “Our guests are finding a cruise to be the best value for their money in Europe, and interest in Mediterranean and Northern European itineraries continues to grow,” he said. With fewer ships sailing Alaska’s waters cruise fares are bound to go up, which means less bargains for cruise travelers.

Given the bounty of new ships, changing destinations, and wacky amenities, 2010 is shaping up to be a very interesting year for cruise travel.

With seven themed neighborhoods, from the open air Central Park with live plants and trees to a Boardwalk with a Coney Island feel, including a carousel and a zip-line, Oasis of the Seas is so much more than the world’s largest cruise ship – it’s on another level and has changed the face of cruise travel. But will cruise travelers want to sail with 5,400+ passengers and pay high fares for the experience?
Oasis split personality

Oasis touts a range of innovative and revolutionary features set to change the face of cruise travel forever. With its split superstructure creating wide open interior spaces, Oasis has captured the imagination of cruisers and non-cruisers alike. “Until you get onboard you don’t realize how it all came together the grandeur of it,” says Royal Caribbean International’s chairman and CEO, Richard Fain.

Fain’s assessment is correct.

The moment I stepped onboard Oasis, I was blown away by the architectural magnificence of the two football fields long Royal Promenade. The décor is original and exquisitely designed with amazing crystal canopies that flood natural light down from the Central Park neighborhood high above. These areas are filled with shops, restaurants, cafes, live trees, and the Rising Tide Bar, which travels vertically between the Royal Promenade and Central Park.

Oasis has four pools: Two are made to feel like a beach, with sloped entries you can walk into just as if you were walking into the ocean. A pool situated at the very back of the ship (the deepest at sea) is by night an outdoor amphitheater, hosting a water ballet and diving shows that feature professional divers who will jump from as high as 72 feet up. During the day guests can swim or take scuba lessons in the pool, or choose to relax on loungers located on the surrounding tiered platforms. If all this isn’t gimmicky enough the ship has a bagpiper, psychic and tattoo parlor, and a horticulturalist.

The Youth Zone features 28,700 square feet just for kids and teens, with Kids Avenue, a central boulevard connecting various themed play areas; a nursery for infants and toddlers; and a theater for children. For kids of all ages there’s ice skating, rock climbing and two FlowRiders to surf on, but it’s the zip-line that’s the coolest thing on any ship anywhere. All these high-octane activities certainly affords parents time to enjoy the adults-only retreat, the gorgeous open-air Solarium. Adults have their own swimming pool and six whirlpools—four of them cantilevered 136 feet above the ocean. Nearby there’s the amazing spa and gym.

There are 25 restaurants and 37 bars with 60 percent of the dining venues being complimentary while the 9 specialty restaurants charge for fare from $4.95 at Johnny Rockets to the $75 for Chef’s Table. Perhaps the most intriguing restaurant is 150 Central Park where for $35 you can dine on a ten-course tasting menu by Chef Keriann Von Raesfeld, a 23-year old “culinary phenom” that the line has hired in the hopes of creating their own celebrity chef. After dinner guests can hit the casino with gaming tables and nearly 500 slot machines, or see a show in the 1,380-seat theater for Broadway-style productions including “Hairspray” or take in an ice show at the Studio B arena.

Oasis has revolutionized cruise ship accommodations, with 37 different categories and unique offerings such as duplex “loft suites” that have 18-foot windows looking out to the ocean. Other staterooms will have views of the line’s seven “neighborhoods,” such as Central Park, the Boardwalk, home and other venues.

During my two-night media preview cruise I was accommodated in one of the Central Park balcony staterooms. At first, it seemed ideal with views of the treetops and café scene below. However, it quickly became apparent that noise, lack of privacy, and heat during the day made the balcony a bust. Guests assigned to Boardwalk view staterooms had a much worse time with noise from screaming zip-liners above to the boisterous carnival scene below to the loud LCD screens around the aft pool.

Every superlative to describe the ship is on target. Oasis is so huge it doesn’t feel like a cruise ship, it barely seemed to move and it’s possible with all that’s going on onboard to rarely acknowledge the ocean. It’s almost the anti-cruise.

Technology enhancements

It is natural to focus on Oasis’ size. Will it take hours to get on and off? Will it be hard to get into shows, restaurants? Will it fit into ports? With Oasis, size is not the story behind the ship. The technology created to move and plan for the masses is nothing short of amazing.

Starting with embarkation in Port Everglades with the world’s largest cruise terminal that offers 91 check-in counters with the goal to get passengers from curbside to the vessel in just 15 minutes. Royal Caribbean was careful to choose ports where Oasis could dock directly and not have to tender guests ashore. Current ports include: Nassau, St. Maarten, Labadee, and St. Thomas. Eventually, Falmouth, Jamaica will be added along with Costa Maya, Mexico. Other ports are expected to build facilities to accommodate the Oasis-class ships over time. Of course, getting guests on and off the ship was given careful planning – there will be gangway elevator buttons, escalators that go right into port, and multiple shore side security screening areas.

Then there’s the onboard safety command center with an electronic mustering system that scans a guest’s Sea Pass cards for attendance purposes. Best of all, guests no longer have to lug life vests to the drill as they are stored in the direct proximity of the muster stations. There’s also automatic electronic counting in all the restaurants, which is then relayed to dozens of monitors around the ship letting guests know which venues are available or full.

“Larger doesn’t mean less personalized but the ability to make it more personalized,” adds Fain. Since Oasis is so large with so many options the line’s website offers guests who tend to be control freaks the ability to plan out all their cruise activities from ship to shore. The website also lets the company know if there’s a huge demand for one activity and allows them to augment in that area.

More impressive is the environmental savings per passenger, Oasis uses 30-40 percent less energy than ships Royal Caribbean built 10 years ago. Green practices such as the use of 14,000 square meters of solar panels atop the Viking Crown Lounge, enough to power the entire promenade area, are commendable.

Big ship, big fare

Royal Caribbean is betting large and hoping that more cruise vacationers open up their wallets and live up to the corporate motto: “Why Not?”. Oasis of the Seas is the most expensive cruise ship ever built, costing some $1.4 billion. It’s no surprise then that fares for the ship have also followed the costly course.

Fares for Oasis’s Dec. 5 sailing range from $1,649 per person based on double occupancy for an inside stateroom to $16,659 for the luxurious 1,524- square-foot Royal Loft Suite. “You have to really want to sail on Oasis and willing to pay the price,” says Stewart Chiron, a cruise industry expert who is nationally recognized as The Cruise Guy. He notes that Oasis’s inside stateroom fare is double the cost of sailing in similar digs on Celebrity Solstice and Emerald Princess.

Fain defends the higher prices because of all the ship’s unique offerings. “We plowed some of the savings from economies of scale back into the ship that’s how we get the higher prices. We could have taken the savings and built something safer, but that’s not our style.”

Style or not, in an economy with double digit unemployment, and with Royal Caribbean’s competitors offering steep discounts it remains to be seen if Oasis’s higher pricing holds. Chiron believes that will be determined in the coming weeks to see if all the media hoopla surrounding the ship has made an impact. Chiron adds, “Once people are exposed to Oasis, they’ll better understand what this amazing ship has to offer and bookings are expected to pick up without having to lower prices.”

In the world of cruising, Carnival Cruise Lines is known as the “Fun Ships”. So it was no surprise that Carnival’s newest ship, Carnival Dream, was christened last week in New York City amid much lighthearted fun.

The party got started when the godmother, Academy Award and Tony-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden swung a baseball bat signed by Yankees’ star Alex Rodriguez against a 5-foot-tall ceremonial bottle of champagne.

At 3,646 passengers (maximum 4,631 passenger capacity including upper berths) and 130,000-tons, Dream is Carnival’s biggest vessel to date and introduces a number of new features for Carnival.

What’s new

As the first of two Dream-class ships (Carnival Magic is scheduled to launch in June 2011), the biggest change is Ocean Plaza, an indoor/outdoor cafe and live music venue and the Lanai, an outdoor area featuring a wrap-around promenade and four cantilevered whirlpools suspended over the ship’s side. There’s also a “FunHub” area, which Carnival dubs the first social network area at sea. Guests can use one of 36 onboard computers to post or look for like-minded guests wanting to play backgammon, cards, or simply get together over Pina Coladas.

There’s also Carnival’s first-ever comedy club venue offering multiple nightly shows with top-notch comedians. Dream offers the first outdoor laser light show at sea at the top-deck Seaside Theater – lasers project patterns onto the night sky, accompanied by rock music by the world’s most famous acts. New accommodations include two-bath, five-berth staterooms designed to appeal to families, and “cove” balcony cabins located close to the waterline.

The Cloud 9 Spa has been expanded to 23,750-square feet over two decks in the front of the ship and offers an Asian-inspired ambiance. You can relax in the huge thalassotherapy pool or the thermal suite based on a Turkish bath experience. Before and after treatments, guests are encouraged to relax with a cup of tea in a relaxation area with comfy loungers and canopied beds with sea views and soothing music. For fitness buffs the spa’s large fitness center offers users state-of-the-art Lifecycle machinery along with daily fitness classes with personal trainers. There are also 65 spa staterooms that offer direct access to the spa through a private elevator. Each stateroom has special décor and amenities that make for the ultimate seagoing spa and wellness vacation that’s only steps away from the stateroom.

Carnival will carry an estimated 625,000 children this year, roughly half the total number of kids carried by the entire North American cruise industry. So, it’s no surprise that Dream offers 19,000 total square feet of space catering to kids of all ages. Dream’s youth activities areas are expansive, the largest is the 5,000-square-foot Camp Carnival (ages 2-11) located on Deck 11 that is divided into age-appropriate areas. Located on Deck 4, is the 1,075-square-foot Circle C (ages 12-14) and adjacent is the 2,740-square-foot Club O2 (ages 15-17) that boasts a dance floor, soda bar, game area and more.

Located on Deck 12 is the largest water park at sea, WaterWorks, with various water-spray apparatus, but the highlight is the 303-foot-long, four decks high “Twister Waterslide”, the longest at sea. The water park complements Dream’s three swimming pools and seven whirlpools.

A kinder, gentler décor

Carnival ships are known to have an outlandish décor, but Dream has been toned down to a more moderate fun level. One of the most relaxing places on the ship is the adults-only Serenity area that operates across two levels and can hold up to 200 people seeking a respite from high-octane activities. There’s luxurious seating, including hammocks, a bar, and whirlpools.

Among the ship’s amenities are: three swimming pools, a giant movie screen; seven Jacuzzis. As on other Carnival ships, you’ll find a towering atrium and show theater with amazing entertainers, Internet café and library, shopping promenade, and dozens of bars and lounges that are always thronged with guests.

Accommodations include 1,823 well-appointed staterooms, including 12 penthouse suites, 58 suites and the 65 aforementioned spa cabins. The new deluxe ocean view staterooms feature a configuration with two bathrooms and five berths. Of the ship’s 1,823 staterooms, over 250 will be interconnecting with more than 400 accommodating up to three, four, and four guests – perfect for families.

One thing to keep in mind when choosing a stateroom on a Carnival ship is the location. Passengers take the fun ship motto literally — especially late at night. Therefore, if you want peace and quiet pick rooms that are not near high-traffic elevators – mainly the ones with access to the ship’s atrium area. Still even away from high-traffic areas the Dream’s staterooms appear to have a problem with noise – sadly I could hear the televisions in the rooms next to me and pretty much every conversation, cough, and sneeze. Thankfully, I had my iTouch white noise application to block out noise at bedtime.

Carnival cuisine

Carnival offers by far the best dining value at sea with a vast array of perfectly prepared dishes. The dinner menus are full of fine dining staples Carnival is renowned for. The majority of meals are served in the ship’s two main dining rooms, Scarlett Restaurant and Crimson Restaurant that offer dinners in the traditional manner, with assigned times and assigned tables (breakfasts and lunches are open seating), and the line’s newly rolled out “Your Choice” open seat dining that allows guests to eat when they want.

Main restaurants aside, Dream offers abundant round-the-clock dining options. The Gathering on Lido Deck, is the ship’s casual buffet restaurant, is arranged into several serving stations. Two areas that are particularly popular leading to long lines are the burrito Bar and pasta bar. Both areas allow guests to pick what’s in their burrito or choice of pastas, sauces, and meats. Also available is Indian Tandoori, Mongolian wok, a 24-hour pizzeria, deli, hamburger and hot dog grill, and ice-cream machines. Chef Art’s Steakhouse is Dream’s supper club restaurant, where for $30 per person you’ll get a magnificent six course gourmet meal. Another dining option is the Wasabi sushi bar on Promenade Deck and of course there’s always 24-hour room service.

It’s clear: Carnival Dream is one big “Fun Ship” full of innovations that can make for a great family vacation.

If you go:
On Dec. 12, the Dream will begin alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean Cruises from Port Canaveral. Prices start at $479 for the Western Caribbean cruises and $629 for the Eastern Caribbean. Visit Carnival’s Website for more details.