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.

The Oasis of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, has been floated out of its dock.

The 5,400-passenger Royal Caribbean International ship is under construction in Turku, Finland.

The vessel, 40% bigger than current world beaters Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Independence of the Seas, was moved from dry dock to wet dock to begin the final stages of interior work prior to its debut in a year’s time.

Chairman and CEO Richard Fain said: “After more than three years of intense planning and collaboration and with 65% of the ship already complete, it’s exciting to see Oasis entering its final stages.”

Oasis of the Seas will enter service under the command of Captain William S. Wright and Captain Tor Olsen.

When Oasis launches in December 2009 from Florida to the Caribbean, it will feature a neighbourhood concept giving passengers seven distinct areas.

Yesterday we posted a story that was in USA TODAY regarding a ‘mutiny’ onboard the Carnival Miracle because the ship could not sail to the Caribbean due to Tropical Storm Hanna. According to Carnival Cruise Lines’ vice president of corporate communications, Tim Gallagher, there is no mutiny onboard the Carnival Miracle. “The term mutiny is an overstatement,” he says. Gallagher goes on to state the opposite, in that, the vast majority of the passengers understand that the itinerary changes were made because of the storm and in their best interest. Many passengers are telling the crew that they think they are handling the situation well and thanking them for their efforts.

Nevertheless, there is still a group of guests who are still venting their disappointment. Gallagher says Carnival has “made every effort ” to keep guests informed about the hurricane/tropical storm and it’s movements. He says they’ve been putting color posters of the storm track and forecast in the lobby. Additionally, the captain has made many announcements and is staying visible around the ship.

Carnival has apologized to all of their guests who have had their vacations disrupted by itinerary changes as a result of hurricanes. Still Carnival says their focus is safety for the guests and crew.

Gallagher says, “In every instance we are seeking to find alternative ports that will allow us to keep the vessel in fair weather so that our guests may enjoy their cruise as much as possible.”

One last thing: All the posts and quotes that USA TODAY used in their story have been removed from Cruise Critic. Apparently, the board atmosphere was ripe with angry posts and insults and Cruise Critic decided it was too much and deleted threads.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) says surveillance cameras on the Norwegian Dawn show 46-year-old Mindy Jordan alone on her balcony when she fell overboard Sunday.

In an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer Jordan’s family suspects foul play in her death and described her relationship with her boyfriend and travel companion, Jorge Caputo, as “volatile.”

According to NCL the interior hallway cameras and exterior cameras on the sides of the ship “confirmed that Mindy Jordan was in her stateroom alone at the time of the incident.” The company did not characterize the incident, and noted that investigations are continuing.

NCL is making arrangements for Jordan’s family to join the ship in Bermuda Thursday to view the surveillance footage.

FBI agents from the New York City office, as well as local authorities in Bermuda, conducted interviews on the ship today.

NCL released a timeline of events, beginning with Jordan, Caputo and a couple they were traveling with eating diner in the ship’s Garden Cafe.

The couples left the dining room and returned to their adjacent staterooms about 7:28 p.m., the cruise line said.

Eight minutes later, Caputo left his room and joined his friends next door. “From that moment on, Mindy is alone in her stateroom,” the cruise line said.

At 7:53 p.m., the surveillance cameras show Jordan falling overboard from her balcony, “straight into the water.”

The cruise line previously said that Jordan, who was staying on deck nine, was attempting to climb to an adjoining balcony when she fell.

Shortly after Jordan’s fall, an emergency call was made from the friends’ stateroom, and Caputo is seen leaving that room to “to seek help,” the cruise line said.

Four minutes later, a man-overboard announcement was made and the ship’s crew launched two rescue boats.

Jordan went overboard about 45 miles off the coast of Atlantic City, about four hours after the ship had left New York City, en route to Bermuda.

The Coast Guard joined the search, which was called off on Monday. Mindy Jordan’s body has not been found.