By the Avid Cruiser

Last night rack of lamb was on the menu and looked so tempting I overlooked it was braised in garlic. I am allergic to garlic. (I know, I’m on an Italian hit list somewhere). But how bad could braising be?

It was quite a night for me. First, the “family” comedy night with Marvin Bell. He was at once charming and very funny. The neat thing is, when I went up to chat with him after the show, he recognized me as “The Game Show Guy.” Actually that was better than my female tablemate who said, “I swear you have a twin brother.” Yes, and he’s on TV, I thought.

“He,” she said, “is a Roman Catholic Priest.”

I did stop by the hypnotist’s show and stayed for a bit until I had this urge to jump up because my seat was hot. From there to the “adult” comedy. The great thing about Marvin is he is funny! He doesn’t try to get laughs out of raunchy. If you have a chance, don’t miss this guy.

Next the heralded laser show on the main pool deck. Nothing stops the dancers on this ship. It was pouring rain!

We docked at Port Canaveral Thanksgiving morning; I slept. Thanksgiving afternoon, I slept. So I now list “braising with garlic” right after “oysters in August” on my “It’s Going to Get You List.”

I did manage to do some laundry. Dream has three launderettes, but bring quarters; 12 will get you a washer, 12 more a dryer, and 5, soap. Altogether one load will cost $7.25. It probably would have been more expedient to bring extra underwear.

All the major Thanksgiving football games made it to Dream on the huge screen with booming sound.

I couldn’t face mass made turkey, so the Chef’s Steak House got the nod. This is a $30 alternate dining site high on the top deck. It is lovely. To start, I had the best ahi tartar I’ve ever tasted. I asked the chef to send five pounds of it to my cabin. He didn’t. The steaks looked incredible, but, remembering my rack of lamb, I chose lobster. The Steak House is well worth the asking price.

From there, tryptophan deprived, to the lonely cabin. By the way, the thing about traveling alone is I can have any combination of anything without someone going “arrrrrgh.” For instance, for breakfast I’ve had eggs over-easy with two slices of cheese on top, and, on top of the cheese, a dollop of peanut butter.

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By the Avid Cruiser

With more than 19,000 total square feet of space catering to children, ‘tweens and teens – from expansive indoor and outdoor play areas to a sprawling aqua park housing the cruise industry’s longest water slide – the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream is designed as the ideal family vacation.

The focal point of Carnival Dream’s children’s activities is an expansive play area encompassing 5,000 square feet of space and offering ocean views. Located on Deck 11, Camp Carnival is divided into three distinct sections, each catering to a different age group.

The first area, designed for children ages 2-5, features an arts and crafts center and a variety of age-appropriate toys and games; the second, aimed at six- to eight-year-olds, offers video game consoles such as PlayStation2 and Wii linked to the latest plasma TV screens; and the third, catering to kids 9-11, includes a karaoke machine, air hockey and foosball tables and PlayStation2 and Wii video game consoles. A reception desk provides parents with a convenient and inviting venue to check their kids in and out of the program.

Sure to be a big hit with older kids are the modern, high-tech Circle “C” and Club O2 facilities, catering to 12- to 14-year olds and 15- to 17-year olds, respectively.

Located on Deck 4, the 1,075-square-foot Circle “C” center gives ‘tweens a place to call their own, with a dance floor, DJ, a video jukebox and Internet workstations, providing the perfect place to just kick back and relax.

Adjacent to Circle “C” is Club O2, a 2,740-square-foot teen club where older kids can make new friends, and dance to the latest hits cranked out by a high-energy disc jockey.

Designed as the ultimate “chill” space, this expansive room also includes a soda bar, music-listening stations and a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system.

Both the Circle “C” and Club O2 programs have a dedicated director who oversees a host of fun activities, including late-night movies, video game contests and pool parties.

Located next to the teen club is The Warehouse, an expansive game room featuring the latest video and arcade games. Teens can also enjoy Carnival’s popular Y-Spa youth spa program offering a variety of soothing treatments.

Carnival has made maximum use of the Carnival Dream’s massive open decks, creating a variety of fun and inviting features, including Carnival WaterWorks, the largest and most elaborate water park at sea.

In addition to a 303-foot-long, four-deck-high corkscrew water slide – the longest in cruising – there is another 104-foot-long spiral water slide that leads into a giant funnel, providing riders with an exhilarating and memorable conclusion to their journey. WaterWorks also includes twin double-lane 80-foot-long racing slides and various water spray apparatus with squirting fountains, splash zones, “dump buckets” and more.

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By the Avid Cruiser

Big and exciting at 130,000 tons and carrying some 3,646 passengers double occupancy, the Carnival Magic and her sisters are Carnival’s largest and newest vessels. Introduced in June 2011, Magic feels a bit more toned and high-end, design-wise, than her older fleetmates—but let’s not split hairs: The ship is another incarnation of the bright and busy floating resorts Carnival is famous for, and offers some impressive new innovations.

Activities On Carnival Magic

For example, yesterday’s ho-hum Internet centers have morphed into the Fun Hub, an onboard social networking tool that guests can access via their own computers or devices, or at one of the 36 Fun Hub stations scattered around the vessel. You can create a personal profile and interact with shipmates, plus access information about onboard entertainment, dining and ports.

There’s also a fresh new indoor-outdoor entertainment space called the Lanai, which stretches from one side of the ship to the other on the Promenade deck ans offers a pair of over-sized ocean-view hot tubs cantilevered out over the ship’s rail, plus a café and a bar. Another industry first: 15-minute laser light shows set to rock music by Pink Floyd, Van Halen, Boston and other classic bands. The daily shows are offered on the giant outdoor movie screen in the Seaside Theatre on Deck 12, where you can also catch films and concerts.

Magic also introduces the first ropes course at sea, where guests can strap into a safety harness, choose between beginner or intermediate courses, and work their way along 230 feet of rope bridges, swinging steps, and beams suspended above the top deck.

Most of the ship’s entertainment venues reside on Decks 4 and 5, making the area especially conducive for bar hopping and strolling. Magic has a grand three-story show lounge, a pair of two-deck high main restaurants, a sushi bar, an elegant steakhouse, and a sprawling two-deck-high indoor-outdoor buffet restaurant offering just about everything.

Family Friendly Carnival Magic

The Cloud 9 Spa and huge gym take up the forward section of three decks, and include the adults-only Serenity outdoor relaxation space. The Deck 10 pool area is hub of skimpy bathing suits, cold drinks and fun contests, while the kids are catered to on Deck 11 in the Dream’s city-sized Camp Carnival play area for ages 2 to 11. Other parts of the ship coddle tweens (ages 12–14) and teens (ages 15–17) with dance floors, Wii video games and more. Fun lovers of all ages will appreciate the four water slides, one a 214-foot long twisty thrill ride, not to mention three pools and seven hot tubs. There’s also the Carnival Waterworks “sprayground,” miniature golf course and a combo basketball-volleyball court.

Staterooms On Carnival Magic

As aboard Carnival’s other ships, Magic’s cabins are roomy, with standard inside cabins measuring 185 square feet and outsides a generous 220 square feet. All sport very comfortable bedding, plus a TV, minibar, hair dryer, small sitting area, and bathroom with shower.

A range of higher-category cabins and suites, including the Cloud 9 spa cabins, offer even more amenities and space. For something different, check out the Cove Balcony cabins, set down near the waterline—reminding you that you really are at sea, even on this giant ship.

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By the Avid Cruiser

At 130,000 tons and carrying some 3,646 passengers double occupancy, the Carnival Dream and her sisters are Carnival’s largest, newest and most exciting vessels. Built in 2009, Dream feels a bit more toned and high-end, design-wise, than her older fleetmates—but let’s not split hairs: The ship is another incarnation of the bright and busy floating resorts Carnival is famous for, and is armed with some impressive new innovations.

For example, yesterday’s ho-hum Internet centers have morphed into the Fun Hub, an onboard social networking tool that guests can access via their own computers or devices, or at one of the 36 Fun Hub stations scattered around the vessel. You can create a personal profile and interact with shipmates, plus access information about onboard entertainment, dining and ports.

There’s also a fresh new indoor-outdoor entertainment space called the Lanai, which stretches from one side of the ship to the other on the Promenade deck ans offers a pair of over-sized ocean-view hot tubs cantilevered out over the ship’s rail, plus a café and a bar. Another industry first: 15-minute laser light shows set to rock music by Pink Floyd, Van Halen, Boston and other classic bands. The daily shows are offered on the giant outdoor movie screen in the Seaside Theatre on Deck 12, where you can also catch films and concerts.

Most of Carnival Dream’s entertainment venues reside on Decks 4 and 5, making the area especially conducive for bar hopping and strolling. The ship has a grand three-story show lounge, a pair of two-deck high main restaurants, a sushi bar, an elegant steakhouse, and a sprawling two-deck-high indoor-outdoor buffet restaurant offering just about everything.

The Cloud 9 Spa and huge gym take up the forward section of three decks, and include the adults-only Serenity outdoor relaxation space. The Deck 10 pool area is hub of skimpy bathing suits, cold drinks and fun contests, while the kids are catered to on Deck 11 in the Dream’s city-sized Camp Carnival play area for ages 2 to 11. Other parts of the ship coddle tweens (ages 12–14) and teens (ages 15–17) with dance floors, Wii video games and more. Fun lovers of all ages will appreciate the four water slides, one a 303-foot long corkscrew thrill ride, not to mention three pools and four hot tubs. There’s also the Waterworks “sprayground” with squirting fountains, splash zones and dump buckets, plus miniature golf course and a combo basketball-volleyball court.

Staterooms on Carnival Dream

As aboard Carnival’s other ships, Dream’s cabins are roomy, with standard inside cabins measuring 185 square feet and outsides a generous 220 square feet. All sport very comfortable bedding, plus a minibar and a small sitting area. A range of higher-category cabins and suites, including special Cloud 9 spa cabins, offer even more amenities and space. For something different, check out the Cove Balcony cabins, set down near the waterline—reminding you that you really are at sea, even on this giant ship.

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By the Avid Cruiser

I’ve spent a lot of my professional career defending Carnival Cruise Lines. Allow me to explain.

When people ask what I do for a living, I tell them I am a travel writer who specializes in cruises. The next question inevitably is, “What’s your favorite cruise line?” That’s a hard one to answer. It’s like being asked, “Which of your two children do you love most?” And so I respond in a vague sort of way, because the truth is that all of the cruise lines that I’ve experienced (with the exception of some that have gone out of business) have been my favorites at one time or another. That said, I often surprise otherwise informed people when I mention Carnival Cruise Lines as one of my favorites.

I understand people’s surprise. Carnival has been around for a long time, more than three decades now, and unfortunately, one of the persistent images of Carnival is of hard-core partying. You know: beer funnels, wet T-shirt contests — all sorts of sin and debauchery. Deserved or not, there it is, the image of Carnival as party-hearty. So I typically find myself offering the rebuttal: “Carnival is not what you think it is.” I explain that Carnival has changed in recent years and that anyone would be surprised at the cruise experience Carnival offers. I know. I was surprised — even recently.

Putting The Fun In Cruising
In recently cruised three luxury lines. These were some pretty swank ships — operated by Crystal, SeaDream and Regent. The experience was extremely refined. Champagne flowed and caviar was spooned copiously.

When I returned home five pounds later, I booked a cruise on Carnival Victory with my 12-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter. You can imagine my surprise when I boarded the ship to find hordes of people, bold designs, and get this, no champagne — well, at least not flowing freely. I could always pony up for a glass. I boarded Carnival Victory, dare I say, as a ship snob.

After a few hours on board, however, I began to transform. My children were having fun, meeting other kids their ages; the sail-away from Manhattan was lively and festive. I was traveling not with beer-drinking belly-up-to-the-bar types (that’s the old Carnival) but with people like me — middle America. The thing that really struck me, however, was that all of us were having fun. After a couple of days on board, I confirmed something I had known all along: Carnival puts the fun in cruising. On the “Fun Ships,” even the daily activity sheet Carnival Capers uses the word fun on its cover three times: “Your daily guide to FUN.” “Enjoy your Fun Day at sea!” “On the Fun Ship Carnival Victory.”

Open up Capers, and you get a listing of fun and wholesome activities: Name That Tune, The (Not So) Newlywed Show, Ice Carving Demonstrations, Towel Folding, Karaoke Craziness, Totally 80s Dance Party, Air Brush Tattoos and more. On Pool Deck during the day, adults and kids alike went careening down the giant waterslide. In the dining room, waiters perform magic tricks, dance on tables and make dining fun and festive. On the Promenade Deck late evenings, people were dancing to live music. My daughter crooned Karaoke hits one night.

We were on a unique itinerary that offered a long, weekend getaway from New York to Saint John, New Brunswick. Our four-day cruise gave us two “fun” days at sea and one “fun” day in port. For those who need a quick cruise fix or a short get-away from life, Carnival’s short cruises from New York are fantastic — and, as with any cruise on Carnival, loads of fun.

Content provided by the Avid Cruiser