Carnival Splendor is the 25th new ship ordered by this “Fun Ship” cruise line. It shares the same generally balanced profile as sisters Carnival Conquest, Carnival Destiny, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Glory, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Valor, and Carnival Victory. It is unable to transit the Panama Canal, due to its size. Immediately recognizable is the ship’s swept-back, red, white and blue wingtip funnel – the trademark of all Carnival’s ships.

The ship’s interior decor contains a vivid palette of colors that stimulate and excite the senses. The deck and public room layout is logical, and finding your way around is relatively easy. Most of the public rooms are located on one deck off a main interior boulevard, above a deck which contains the two main dining rooms. The public rooms include the large Royal Flush Casino (gaming includes blackjack, craps, roulette, three-card poker, Caribbean Stud poker, Face Up, Let it Ride, Bonus, and Wheel of Madness, and more than 300 slot machines).

If you like movies on big screens in the open air (remember drive-in movie theaters?), Carnival’s Seaside Theater for movies on deck should do it for you (seating is in tiered rows and the movie screen faces forward). The ship has bow-to-stern wi-fi internet access (including all passenger cabins).

Youngsters are provided with their own Camp Carnival children’s club (with its own small outdoor pool), and are well cared for with the line’s extensive children’s program. Camp Carnival is located on Sun Deck (out of the way of older passengers).

Minor niggles include the fact that many pillars obstruct passenger flow (particularly in the dining room, where they make it difficult for the waiters to serve food properly).

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008