This cruise liner, which made her debut in 2002, is a product of the Finnish yard, Kvaerner Masa-Yards. Part of Carnival Cruise Line's Spirit class, she measures 88,500 gross tons and has a cruising speed of 22 knots. Double occupancy capacity is 2,124 and when the upper berths are occupied, this figure can climb to 2,667. The officers are Italian and the crew international.
From the late fall into the spring she is based in Tampa, Florida, for 7-day cruises to the western Caribbean, with stops in Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize, and Isla Roatan, off the coast of Honduras. All cruises feature days at sea to enjoy the numerous amenities.
Legends form the themes, which are carried out in creative ways. The atrium, decorated with a fanciful mural depicting the Colossus of Rhodes, soars nine decks and is the horizontal and vertical crossroads.
Satchmo's recalls the legendary Louis Armstrong with a rustic New Orleans feel engendered by ceiling fans, rough plaster and the bar's structure. The Firebird Lounge, a cabaret setting, is especially colorful, taking a Russian legend and executing it in lacquer, red and black, with gold embellishments. Billie's Piano Bar recalls the jazz singer Billie Holiday with a 1930s ambience executed in the lighting, thin burled wood and streamlined stainless-steel walls. Follies, the three-story show lounge, uses a vaudeville and 1920s theme in the style of a Mediterranean villa with a ceiling of stars. Truffles, the main restaurant, seats 1,250 on two levels, and is decorated with a hand-painted gold-leaf ceiling and vitrines containing fine china. It's a busy place to enjoy Carnival's abundant food, and given the moderate price of the cruise, no one should complain about the very good standard of cuisine. For a special occasion, the 156-seat Golden Fleece Supper Club recalls the legend of Jason and the Argonauts in bas-reliefs. Dress up a bit for a long meal, with the main courses—steaks, stone crabs and lobster tails, for example—brought to your table for display before ordering. It is intimate with most tables for two or four, located high up and away from the fray. The unicorn is the theme for the buffet, well arranged and with lots of different stations to avoid lines whenever possible.
The beauty salon is named after none other than the beautiful Helen of Troy.
Carnival is continuing its push for the family market by introducing an onboard program targeting the 12- to 14-year-old set called Circle C, which fills the age gap in Carnival's youth-oriented programming. Circle C, which is overseen by a trained staff, includes facilities with a dance floor, movies and music videos screens and gaming pods with video games; activities will include basketball, ping-pong, water games and nighttime pool parties.
Of the 1,062 cabins, 624 have balconies and just 213 are insides without a view. Some 68 have French doors, with no balcony to step out on, but doors that open to bring in the fresh air. All cabins have telephones, TVs, one safe, twin beds that become a queen, and enough storage space for two but insufficient closet space.
On a Carnival ship you can expect lots of noise, music, fun-loving folks and plenty of announcements touting this and that. The Carnival Legend and her class are designed for those looking for a good time, not a restful vacation; downtime comes after you get back home.
