Carnival Spirit Ship

To see all of the Carnival Spirit cruises that we have to offer, Click Here.

Joe Farcus, designer of the Carnival Spirit, was inspired to celebrate the "creative spirit" on this ship by creating what looks like every design style he could think of, and more. As you move from one public area to another, you can experience everything from the sense of Gothic, the beauty of Art Deco, the exotic feel of Chinese, the excitement of Egyptian and so on. Carnival Spirit, which introduced a whole new class for Carnival (its sister ships are Carnival Legend, Carnival Pride and Carnival Miracle), shares its basic design with Costa Atlantica and offers similar qualities of earlier Carnival vessels -- a water slide, numerous bars, extensive children's facilities. It also introduced some firsts for Carnival: a fabulous supper club and a wedding chapel. Here are some of the onboard offerings:

Nouveau Supper Club. Look up the ship's soaring nine-deck atrium and you'll see a red stained glass dome. That's part of the fine alternative dining venue on top of the Spirit --worth the service charge of $30 per person.

The Wedding Chapel. Real weddings are conducted here by the ship's captain when Carnival Spirit is in Canadian waters (he is even authorized to marry same-sex couples). Renewal vows are also conducted here.

The Gym. Even those who are not exercise nuts will appreciate this facility. You get a view of the ocean from every piece of state-of-the-art equipment. If heavy sweating is not your thing, sit in the hot tub in the center of the gym and enjoy watching other people work up a sweat.

Carnival Spirit feels large, but not particularly crowded. It would be impossible to be bored on this vessel -- in fact, you'd have to make a big effort to hit all the bars and lounges. A popular hangout spot is the Deco Bar, a comfy corner near the disco. You can smoke cigars at the Deco, and a jazz trio plays nightly.

Please take the time to view CARNIVAL'S VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE SPIRIT where you will be able to see 360 degree photos of each main area of the ship!

Carnival Spirit Dining

The 1,300-seat, two-deck Empire dining room is done up in Napoleonic elegant splendor, the ceiling domes painted with murals and hung with crystal chandeliers. Two dinner seatings are offered (6 and 8:15 p.m.). There are tables for two, four and six, and for eight or more if needed. (intimacy was the goal here). The food was good to excellent. Breakfast and lunch are also served in the dining room for those who want waiter service.

The reservations-only, 156-seat Nouveau Supper Club, at the top of the ship, features aged USDA prime beef including a 14-ounce New York strip, an 18-ounce classic porterhouse, an 18-ounce prime rib and a 9-ounce filet mignon, plus other dishes, for a service fee of $30 per person. The service and experience are execellent.

The two-level La Playa Grill is a casual alternative for buffet-style breakfasts and lunches. The international food station at lunch features a different cuisine each day including Japanese and Indian, and there's also a daily deli station and rotisserie; breakfast includes a made-to-order omelet station.The pizzeria is open 24 hours a day. Complimentary 24-hour room service is also available (from a limited menu).

The Ambience Onboard The Carnival Spirit

Carnival Spirit's Artists Lobby is the main hub of the vessel, decorated in Art Deco style with gigantic murals, rich wood, two grand staircases, a bar with a dance floor, and the information and tour desks.

From there, walking from one public room to another feels a bit like going on a trip around the world, country to country. Egypt is in the show lounge. England is in the Chippendale Library, France is in the Empire Room, and China is in the Shanghai Bar -- the ship's piano bar.

With most of the public spaces located on two lower decks, passenger flow is excellent -- the public rooms are connected by a two-level promenade with a grand staircase leading from one level to the other. Other neat spaces include the two-deck disco done up in funky Gothic. On Alaska cruises, the captain can conduct weddings in the pretty Wedding Chapel (including for same sex couples) as long as the ship is in Canadian waters. Vow renewal ceremonies are also offered. Shoppers will enjoy the ship's large arcade, designed to look like an airport duty-free with separate areas for perfume, $10 bargains, fine jewelry and so forth. Elsewhere are five self-service launderettes (a wash is $1, a dry is $1; soap and softener are 50 cents each).

Excellent Cabin Space

About 80 percent of the cabins are outside, and of those, 80 percent (624 cabins) offer balconies and a sitting area. All cabins feature attractive decor in pleasant earth tones; twin beds that convert to a king; color televisions showing first-run movies (for a fee of $8.99), a safe, a separate vanity area, a hairdryer and a phone.

A standard inside or outside cabin measures a decent 185 square ft. Suites (Categories 11 and 12) include separate dressing and sitting areas, a refrigerator, double sinks and a bathtub in the bathroom, and large balconies. Soft lighting adds to a feeling of spaciousness in interior staterooms (Category 4). Category 5A staterooms with French doors have obstructed views.

The Nightlife

Carnival's nightlife is legendary, you will not be disappointed.The ship has 16 lounges and bars to suit every mood. The three-level Pharaoh's Palace, decorated with hieroglyphics, 20-ft. tall stone figures and sarcophagi inspired by the golden one of King Tut, sets the scene for Vegas-style revues. Seating is in comfortable high-back theater chairs.

The vesel is also happening at the Louis XIV Casino featuring 220 slots and tables for roulette/dice (1), blackjack (10) and poker (2). There are sing-alongs in the Shanghai Piano Bar, smooth jazz in Club Cool and disco in Dancin' (a two-tiered dance club with a two-story 20-by-20-ft. video wall with 48-inch monitors). The Champions sports bar offers big-screen televisions for catching the big games. You can sip a cappuccino and people-watch in the Fountain Cafe on the promenade. You can smoke cigars and listen to decent jazz in the Deco Bar.

Spa & Fitness

The two-level, 13,700-square-ft. oceanview facility, located forward on Decks 9 and 10, offers sauna, steam, beauty salon, one whirlpool (within the gym; there are four others aboard) and 10 treatment rooms for European-style therapies including Aroma Stone. The decently sized aerobics room is mirrored so you can watch yourself sweat, and the gym features a tiered design so from every piece of equipment you get ocean views while you workout.

The equipment includes 10 Quinton treadmills, 4 Stairmaster stair climbers, an assortment of Life Fitness cycles and elliptical machines, Keiser progressive resistance machines, and free weights. There's a jogging track (15 times around equals a mile) and three swimming pools, one of which is covered by a retractable dome for all-weather use (key in Alaska where it can be chilly). Kids get a separate splash pool. The ship offers a lot of open deck space for outdoor sunning as well.

Great Children Programs On The Carnival Spirit

The vessel's complimentary Camp Carnival program with activities for children ages 2 to 15 has its own "Fun House," a 2,400-square-ft. enclosed play area. Themed to the bottom of the sea, it has three areas connected by tunnels -- one area for crafts, a second one for computer games and a third one for games -- plus a video wall for movies and cartoons. An arcade with video games and virtual reality games are also on the deck below. An outdoor play area offers mini-basketball, jungle gyms and other playground equipment.

A children's wading pool and water slide are among the opportunities available for kids. Supervised activities are featured morning 'til night. Only on Alaska cruises are activities like creating totem poles and special kids-only lectures by naturalists discussing the region's sea, animal and plant life. Children's menus are featured in the main dining room and kids can dine with the counselors on Lido Deck one night each cruise. A Fountain Fun card, good for unlimited soft drinks, costs $19.95 for seven-day voyages. Babysitting is available from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. at the Fun House ($6 for the first child and $4 for each additional child in the same family).

A Carnival Spirit Cruise Booked With Westside International Travel

An incredible experience of wonder, excitement, and amazement awaits you once you arrive on the Carnival Spirit that families and couples of all ages can enjoy.

To see all of the Carnival Spirit cruises that we have to offer, Click Here.