Carnival
Glory
July 14-19, 2003
Maiden Five-Night Cruise
by Linda Coffman
A
"Glory-ous" New 'Fun Ship' from Carnival
Carnival Cruise Line
isn't noted for being shy and their newest vessel Carnival Glory is a
dazzler in the 110,000 ton Conquest-class. She has the distinction of
being the largest ship berthed in Port Canaveral. With 3300
passengers on board and accompanied by a flotilla of fireboats,
Carnival Glory set sail on her maiden voyage on July 14, 2003 after
being officially named by her godmother, the first American woman in
space, Dr. Sally Ride.
So, step on board with
CruiseDiva.com and
prepare to be immersed in COLOR! Carnival Glory displays a
kaleidoscope of color—her
theme song could be "Somewhere Over the
Rainbow." Designer Joe Farcus has outdone himself and if there
was a hue missing from his palette, I didn't notice it. From ebony to
ivory and all shades in between... bold red, delicate pink, warm
amber, and continuously changing ceiling hues of green to blue to
purple, you'll find every color in your crayon box represented. It's
cool, it's hot, and it all works harmoniously—a
symphony of color to soothe, excite, and simply enjoy.
Dining
Carnival Glory's array of traditional and alternative eateries tempts even the
pickiest palate with a profusion of cuisine choices. Carnival Glory is
a food lover's floating paradise!
For
a variety of casual dining choices, head to Lido Deck and Red
Sail Restaurant—in addition to the usual buffet items, there are Oriental
dishes, a Pizza bar, two outdoor Grille areas serving up
fresh burgers and grilled favorites, the Deli for just-made
sandwiches, and a second level offering Fish & Chips
(including Bouillabaisse to die for and calamari with Maui onion
fritters). Satisfy your sweet tooth with
ice cream from several serving stations near one of the swimming pools. Try
Sushi Salmon on
Promenade Deck for, what else?... Sushi before dinner. Also on Promenade Deck, Creams serves
specialty coffees and sinful treats such as chocolate covered
strawberries, cakes, and pastries for a nominal charge.
 |
|
Golden
Restaurant |
For
a start in the formal Platinum and Golden Restaurants, try appetizers,
soups, and salads—all very fresh—but
leave room for your choice of entree and dessert. Don't leave early or
you'll miss the inventive and talented wait staff performing musical
numbers just as
energetically as they served dinner. Everyone on
Carnival Glory has FUN. I heard over and over how much staff
members enjoy their jobs and the interaction with
passengers, but also appreciate the opportunity to work for the world's most
popular cruise line.
The
Emerald Room is Carnival Glory's New York-style supper club.
For a nominal $25 per person cover charge, it's one of the best restaurants—and
dining bargains—at sea. Not only is the food outstanding (escargot, Russian caviar,
lobster bisque, Alaskan king crab claws, grilled lamp chops, lobster,
and several cuts of beef from 9 to 24 ounces), but the presentation is
sophisticated and the atmosphere sublime. Don't miss this dining
experience—I wanted to try everything on the menu.
Carnival
Glory offers the flexibility of dining styles around the clock. For parents who want to share a romantic dinner for two, the
Camp Carnival program and group evening babysitting solves the problem of child care. Of course, room service never closes and
dining on one's private balcony is always a treat.
Staterooms
 |
|
Oceanview
Stateroom with Private Balcony |
So many categories, which is the best for you? There are
six cabin configurations,
but everyone is assured of a cabin that is, on average, 50% larger
than most cruise ship accommodations. On Carnival Glory, they range from
standard Interior and Oceanview staterooms to
Oceanview staterooms with private balconies and Suites and Penthouse Suites with large private balconies. More than 60%
of all staterooms are outside and, of those, 60% have balconies.
Staterooms
feature light wood cabinetry, pastel decor, mirrored accents, small refrigerator,
personal safe for valuables, a sitting area with sofa, chair and table, and a
hairdryer in a vanity/desk drawer. Bathroom amenities include shampoo and
bath gel in shower mounted dispensers and an array of sample toiletries. The shower
itself is roomy and has a
pull-out clothesline for drying bathing suits or hand laundry. A real
convenience is the two-sided (regular and magnifying) bathroom
shaving/make up mirror, although extremely short people may find it
mounted a bit too high on the wall. Closet
and drawer/shelf storage, as well as bathroom shelves, are more than
adequate for even an aggressive over-packer. My one 'problem'
observation was that the closets aren't quite long enough for long
evening dresses to hang freely... shelves below the hanging areas,
while ideal for storing shoes, cause dresses to 'pool' at the bottom.
For
families, the sitting area sofa converts to an additional sleeping
area at night and passengers with physical challenges haven't been overlooked—staterooms have been
designed taking their special needs into consideration.
Continued --> Carnival
Glory (Part 2)
More --> Carnival
Glory Photo Tour
