Carnival Breeze to North America

Part of a definite attempt at evolution in the Carnival fleet, the Carnival Breeze combines all the fun and flair of the old days with a whole string of newer, more finely nuanced refinements, aimed at attracting a whole new range of passengers that might never have considered cruising on the line in the past.

The big, fur and feather Vegas style shows of the past have been replaced by a series of punchy, fast paced productions that really does give the ship a fresh feel. An outdoor promenade deck encircles the whole ship, lined with cafes and a quartet of hot tubs, cantilevered over the side.

At the heart of this, Ocean Plaza contains the indoor/outdoor Red Frog pub, where people spill out onto the decks each night to enjoy everything from live reggae to rock and blues. It's become a focal point of the ship at night, and has become a huge success.

In terms of dining, the outdoor Guy Fieri's burger bar and Blue Iguana Cantina have raised the bar quite considerably on Carnival's range of casual outdoor options. There's a steakhouse that offers up gut busting Porterhouse steaks at a nominal supplement, and a pair of more formal, two storey dining rooms for the main meals. In terms of décor, these are a lot more toned down that the 'traditional' Carnival dining room, though they still offer the famous chocolate melting cake so beloved of past Carnival passengers.

Accommodation runs the range, from standard, en suite insides to top of the range suites. The bulk- such as mine- came with balconies and toned down colours that made them ideal for a little star gazing, or just watching the colourful Caribbean islands as they slipped by.

Carnival Breeze represents gradual evolution, rather than revolution. A vast, floating resort that is excellent for families and singles alike, this is a finely styled resort at sea with more than just a little stylish flair of her own.

I loved the ship. The scale is just right, but don’t forget that there are still over 3,000 passengers on board every cruise.