First Glimpse Editor's Note: In a major step toward completion, Carnival Dream was floated out on November 6 at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. The "float out" is a milestone in the shipbuilding process in which the dry dock the vessel had been resting in is gradually filled with water until the ship floats on its own. For a few photos of the event, visit our message boards. While Carnival continues to focus on improving and maintaining its older vessels -- $250 million has been set aside to revamp its eight Fantasy-class vessels -- and building new ships from old blueprints (Carnival Splendor, launched in July 2008, is a slightly tweaked version of the five other Conquest-class siblings), there are some fresh designs on the way. The 130,000-ton, 3,652-passenger Carnival Dream, the line's largest ship ever, will launch in September of 2009, representing a totally new class for Carnival. A sister ship, Carnival Magic, will debut in June 2011. The ship, currently under construction at Fincantieri's shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, will debut on September 21 and will offer a handful of Europe sailings before crossing the Atlantic. Once Stateside, it will sail a few cruises out of New York before heading "home" to Port Canaveral. Carnival Dream's first homeport cruise will depart on December 5. The ship will be sailing a schedule of seven-night Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises. On the former, ports will include Cozumel, Belize, Costa Maya and Nassau; the latter itinerary consists of stops at Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Dream is an innovative twist on Carnival's tried-and-true ship designs. Features include: The Piazza, an indoor/outdoor cafe and live music venue that has been inspired -- but is not identical -- by Princess' popular piazzas on its newest models. Outdoor deck spaces will include four overhanging seaview hot tubs, a mid-ship Seaside Theatre and a two-deck mini-golf course. Already recognized as an exceptional choice for families, Carnival ups the ante on Carnival Dream, with the fleet's largest-ever kids' facilities and a WaterWorks aqua park. Kids in all age groups will have more than 19,000 square ft. of dedicated space. Among stateroom options Carnival is introducing some new family-oriented cabins, including several with two bathrooms, and others specially designed to accommodate five guests. A wide variety of lounges, bars and nightspots -- including a new dance club concept offering indoor/outdoor access -- will be accessible via an 11-deck-high atrium whose ground level will offer a cantilevered bandstand atop a massive dance floor. --by Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor in Chief
Expert reviews are provided by CruiseCritic.com, an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation.
Need help planning your Cruise? Cruise Consultants are standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For Immediate Assistance call
Delta Skymiles Cruises at 800-820-3244
