Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - (Page 48)

CRUISES Carnival SPLENDOR True fun is a many splendored thing BY SUSAN J. YOUNG The main pool area of Carnival Splendor is covered by a sliding Sky Dome, allowing bathers to enjoy the water no matter what the weather THE JULY 10 CHRISTENING OF THE 113,000-ton Carnival Splendor certainly delivered a spectacle. With the White Cliffs of Dover and Dover Castle as an imposing backdrop, Myleene Klass, a well-known British musician, singer and television personality, pronounced: “God bless this ship and all who sail on her.” Then Klass sat at a black baby grand piano to deliver a light classical solo. Simultaneously, Christian Rumming, a Royal Navy diver in full 48 | TravelAgent August 4, 2008 scuba gear, shimmied 60 feet up the $500 million Carnival Splendor, smashing the christening bottle against the ship’s bow as Klass’ music reached a crescendo. Fireworks erupted off the top deck and streamers engulfed the guests below. It was an appropriate beginning for this 3,006-passenger, Splendor-class ship. “We took the name to heart when considering the interiors,” says Joe Farcus, the ship’s architect. “So the ship is filled with splendid things and splendid concepts.” Entering the atrium, cruisers encounter Carnival’s off-the-wall decor with gold-leaf beams and arches, hundreds of sparkling lights, a black marble floor, and, overall, a copperand-pink design look. Farcus says he chose pink for its peaceful, non-aggressive nature. What’s different about this ship from previous Carnival vessels? For starters, the main pool now boasts a sliding Sky Dome. When the weather is sunny, this area is open-air; when it’s rainy or cold, the line simply shuts the dome, allowing light to penetrate, but keeping Mother Nature out. As a result, the main pool area is now transformed into a comfortable living-room space with a 270-square-foot, high-resolution video screen. Large hanging floral baskets add color and a park-like feel. This space can host events, activities or meetings in any weather. Two whirlpools were moved up one deck and under cover with unobstructed sea views. In turn, the aft pool area is now a nauticalthemed open-air space, featuring a pool and two whirlpools. Check out the half models on the walls; they depict the historic liners Normandie and Queen Mary. Another sizable enhancement is Carnival Splendor’s 21,000-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa, the line’s largest at sea. Spa guests enjoy a huge thalassotherapy pool, a thermal suite with multiple relaxation spaces, 17 treatment rooms and a well-equipped fitness center. Near the spa are 68 new spa cabins and suites with Asian decor and rich appointments, a cut above Carnival’s normal cabin decor. Spa cabin guests also receive pampering in-cabin amenities and priority spa reservations. In the aft El Morocco lounge, so named for the 1930s-era New York nightclub, the stage was moved to a more central locale, providing more flexibility for hosting activities, entertainment and meetings. With an exotic flair and a large dance floor, El Morocco boasts lanterns, palm trees, zebra-pattern sofa coverings and Moroccan murals. It was my favorite public space on Carnival Splendor. For the younger set, Camp Carnival serves PHOTOS BY SUSAN J. YOUNG

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - August 4, 2008

Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 Online Now Contents From the Editor Africa Europe Pacific/Asia Hawaii Las Vegas Australia Alaska Central & South America Adventures by Disney comes to Costa Rica Caribbean Cruises Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel Air Consolidators Hotels Tours Gay & Lesbian Travel Agent Profile Bidding for Business Agenda Caribbean Update India Attacting More U.S. Travelers Fuel Prices Cost Royal Caribbean Jobs ASTA Celebrates Victory Over Airlines Agent Access Classified Marketplace In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - August 4, 2008

Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - (Page Coverwrap1) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - (Page Coverwrap2) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 (Page 1) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Online Now (Page 2) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Online Now (Page 3) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Contents (Page 6) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Contents (Page 7) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 8) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 9) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 10) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 11) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 12) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 13) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Africa (Page 14) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Africa (Page 15) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Africa (Page 16) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Africa (Page 17) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 18) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 19) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 20) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 21) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 22) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Europe (Page 23) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 24) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 25) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 26) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 27) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 28) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 29) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 30) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hawaii (Page 31) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 32) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 33) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 34) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 35) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Australia (Page 36) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Australia (Page 37) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Alaska (Page 38) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Alaska (Page 39) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Central & South America (Page 40) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Central & South America (Page 41) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Adventures by Disney comes to Costa Rica (Page 42) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Adventures by Disney comes to Costa Rica (Page 43) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 44) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 45) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 46) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean (Page 47) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cruises (Page 48) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cruises (Page 49) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 50) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 51) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 52) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 53) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 54) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Cover Story: Have Food? Will Travel (Page 55) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Air Consolidators (Page 56) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Hotels (Page 57) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Tours (Page 58) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Tours (Page 59) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Gay & Lesbian Travel (Page 60) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Gay & Lesbian Travel (Page 61) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 62) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Profile (Page 63) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Bidding for Business (Page 64) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agenda (Page 65) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Caribbean Update (Page 66) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - India Attacting More U.S. Travelers (Page 67) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Fuel Prices Cost Royal Caribbean Jobs (Page 68) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - ASTA Celebrates Victory Over Airlines (Page 69) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - ASTA Celebrates Victory Over Airlines (Page 70) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 71) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 72) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 73) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 74) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 75) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Agent Access (Page 76) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Classified Marketplace (Page 77) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 78) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 79) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page 80) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page Cover3) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page Cover4) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page Coverwrap3) Travel Agent - August 4, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page Coverwrap4) 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