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Venture with Valor

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published October 24, 2005

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( 15 votes, average: 4.9 out of 5)
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The buzz starts when you enter the soaring Atrium America, as Carnival's characteristic colors, lights and music envelope guests.

"It's about American history at its best," said Joe Farcus, Carnival's interior architect.

The ship was meant to display heroes and heroines, yet in the post-9/11 times when this ship was designed, patriotism was foremost in the minds of Americans. The atrium's floor proudly replicates Old Glory in wooden stripes; white repousse busts of American icons including George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman dot the balconies; and the ceiling mural honors outstanding U.S. locations such as New York, Philadelphia, Miami Beach and the Grand Canyon.

Throughout the ship, reminders are everywhere of heroics, real and imagined.

<<"I always try to create an interesting story," Farcus said, and here it's primarily an American story for the primarily American passengers. In the George Washington and Abraham Lincoln dining rooms, for instance, passengers dine on some of the best-prepared dinners for large numbers at sea. But the fun continues even here, as the wait staff may bypass the traditional baked Alaska parade the last evening, leaping on serving tables to do some bumps and grinds.
A fictional heroic character who saved her home, regardless of the odds, is recalled in the supper club, the antebellum-themed Scarlett's (for Scarlett O'Hara) decorated with white columns and a painting of dancing Scarlett and Rhett. Throughout the Carnival line, guests have become smitten with the super elegant service and fine fare in these eateries.

"The supper club has become more popular than anyone could have anticipated, so we decided to make it bigger," Farcus said. "We added more tables for dining and increased the dance floor."

Dinner here may start with caviar (an additional charge), beef carpaccio or escargots; proceed to perfectly cooked prime beef steaks, Chilean sea bass or double-cut lamb chops; and end with a cheese selection or tarte tatin.

<<But these aren't guests' only food options. Something's available round-the-clock, from the buffet restaurant dubbed Rosie's (a large tiled mural honors Rosie the Riveter, after servicemen's wives and girlfriends who worked in defense factories during World War II), to deli and Asian goodies and 24-hour pizza. While a vast selection awaits at the buffet, fresh fruit isn't always quite as ripe as it might be. Complimentary room service on your private balcony is also available.

Of the 22 bars and lounges, my favorite is the really neat sports bar dubbed the Bronx Bar. It memorializes baseball hero Lou Gehrig (copyright laws prevent the use of the term Bronx Bomber, but baseball buffs get the picture) who died such a young, tragic death of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which became known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Among Gehrig's accomplishments were hitting 493 home runs in his career, setting the record for the most home runs hit by a first baseman until Mark McGwire recently hit 500. It's deja vu all over again for Yankee Stadium fans, where bar stools sport bases of wooden baseball bats capped with white leather seats outlined in red stitching. The bar itself? Simulated sections of the hero's uniform.

<<The naming of Winston's Cigar Bar and the Ivanhoe Show Lounge were, supposedly, because Great Britain has been our greatest ally. Nevertheless, Farcus seems to have run out of Anglican names: hence, naming his casino the Shogun Club Casino and the library the Iliad Library.

The Ivanhoe Show Lounge is the scene of probably the best show-stopping production numbers afloat, boasting Broadway-caliber performers, lavish costumes and 21st century sounds and lights. The production numbers, "Far From Over - The '80s" and "Nightclub Express," have audience members smiling nonstop. In fact, music fills the air everywhere aboard ship, from today's hot numbers around four pools - including the signature corkscrew pool slide - to live combos playing at some of the bars and lounges.

The One Small Step Dance Club is cleverly named for astronaut Neil Armstrong's words when he first walked on the moon. Dancers feel they're tripping the light fantastic under the stars. For the slightly older crowd that enjoys a singalong, the Lindy Hop is the ever-popular piano bar. The music of your night may be the clanging of winning slot machines in the casino.

<<And if you can't bear to be without your stock market or e-mail connections, the Valor was the first ship to offer 100 percent Wi Fi. Sitting at the pool, in your cabin - even in your shower - you can stay connected by bringing your laptop or renting equipment.

Or consider bringing the family. Carnival ships are ranked among the top lines for families because of the fab facilities - including an enclosed kiddie pool - and programs (including computers) for kids. At Camp Carnival, youngsters are divided into four specific age groups for games, activities, and arts and crafts, beginning at age 2 and including teens. If parents are at all in doubt about whether their offspring will have fun in the programs, all they need to do is check out the first day's orientation meeting. Teens have "hang" sessions, a teen disco and teens-only shore excursions. Examples include a dolphin excursion in Honduras; mountain biking and snorkeling in Cozumel, Mexico; and sailing on an America's Cup vessel off St. Maarten.

Itineraries? Potential passengers may choose from the more relaxed Eastern Caribbean itinerary: The ship docks in English-speaking Nassau and St. Thomas, along with St. Maarten, which offers the split personality of an island governed by both the Netherlands and France. All offer duty-free shopping and water sports. The Western Caribbean brings vacationers more excitement, with stops at Belize, Grand Cayman, Roatan Island (Honduras) and Cozumel (Mexico). Here activities include scuba diving, visiting Mayan ruins, trekking rain forest eco-tours and getting face-to-face with stingrays. Having trouble deciding which to choose? Combine both for a vacation of heroic proportions.

And when the party's over - confused about tipping? Carnival adds an automatic $10 per person, per day tip to each passenger's bill, plus a 15 percent tip to all beverage tabs. This ensures that crew members are treated fairly. Passengers who wish to raise or lower their tips may do so by prearrangement with the purser.

About that money-back offer: Carnival continues its vacation guarantee, the only line that will refund the balance of the cruise's cost and fly the passenger home if the passenger is dissatisfied before reaching the first port.

IF YOU GO

For information, contact Carnival Cruise Lines at (866) 299-5698 or carnival.com or contact your travel agent.



Molly Arost Staub is a freelance travel writer.

© Copley News Service
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published October 24, 2005

( 15 votes, average: 4.9 out of 5)
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