Carnival Splendor to North America

Carnival Splendor proved to be a one off build for the Miami based company; the only ship in the fleet never to have a sister ship, though the same design was successfully used later by sister line, Costa Cruises. As such, she remain a novel product within the Carnival portfolio

Basically, this ship is a slightly expanded version of the earlier Destiny class, but with more bells and whistles. For example, the central pool area is two levels high, and incorporates more loungers, tables and chairs on the shaded, upper level. The stepped terraces of the Destiny class are gone, too, with the outdoor areas looking- and feeling-more expansive as a result.

It's not all change, however. Much that is familiar remains. Carnival Splendor still has the grand, glitzy interior boulevard, with windows on one side looking out over the sea. Along this maritime boardwalk there are cafes, shops and bars serving up every kind of live music, from sizzling salsa to old time soul. The casino is constantly busy, and is almost as big as an aeroplane hanger.

Dining follows a familiar, if well proven track. There are two main, split level dining rooms that offer up both five course dinners and table side entertainment on formal nights, when waiters dance on special podiums to high energy songs. There is also the upper deck, two level lido marketplace, which serves food more or less around the clock. At lunch, you can try Indian, Italian and even Mongolian specialities here, as well as good old fish and chips. At night, it offers many of the main dining room choices, but in a less formal setting.

There's also a dedicated, extra charge steak house which is worth checking out for the desserts alone. For a special occasion, this is a fantastic dining experience.

Cabins come in all types, from spacious, pristine insides and sea view cabins, balcony rooms, family cabins, and some quite splashy upper deck suites. With such a wide range of cabins, Carnival Splendor is a great cruising choice for families, or groups of friends.