In a traditional maritime handover ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. Carnival Cruise Lines officially took delivery of its newest and largest ship, the 130,000 ton Carnival Dream.
Following the ceremony, Carnival Dream departed for Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, for its inaugural cruise, a 12 day Grand Mediterranean voyage departing September 21st - the first of three voyages within the region.
The ship will then sail a trans-Atlantic crossing from Rome to New York followed by a special two-day cruise and two eight-day Caribbean voyages from the Big Apple. Carnival Dream will then reposition to Port Canaveral, Fla., for a special one-time nine-day voyage December 3rd before launching year-round seven-day Caribbean service December 12th.
"With some truly unique spaces and amazing entertainment options, Carnival Dream is dramatically different from any other ship we've introduced and ushers in an exciting new era in "Fun Ship" cruising," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival's president and CEO.
Representing a new class of vessel for the line, the 3,646 passenger Carnival Dream offers a host of innovations, including Ocean Plaza, an indoor/outdoor café and live music venue; The Lanai, an outdoor area featuring a wrap-around promenade and cantilevered whirlpools that are suspended over the ship's side; a host of new accommodation categories, including two-bath, five-berth staterooms that appeal to families and cove balcony cabins located closer to the water line; a sprawling Carnival WaterWorks aqua park featuring the longest water slide at sea; and a 23,750 square-foot Cloud 9 Spa, the largest in the fleet.
New entertainment choices, including a comedy club offering 24 performances per voyage and outdoor laser shows on Lido Deck, are also featured. Also new is the "Fun Hub," a comprehensive intranet portal and the first shipboard social network that provides a variety of helpful information on the vessel and allows guests to interact and connect with their fellow passengers on board.
Dining options include two formal restaurants, an expansive Lido-area eatery featuring a 24 hour pizzeria, Indian tandoori and new Italian pasta bar, a steakhouse serving USDA prime dry-aged beef, a sushi bar, a patisserie and complimentary 24 hour stateroom service.
A host of bars, lounges, nightspots and live music venues are also featured.
Carnival Dream is the 23rd vessel in Carnival Cruise Lines' fleet, which operates three to 16-day voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda and Europe.
A sister ship to the Carnival Dream, the 130,000 ton Carnival Magic, is scheduled for delivery in June 2011. It is also being built in Italy by Fincantieri.
