Overview Editor's Note: Carnival Destiny emerged from a two-week dry-dock in September 2008. Additions to this middle-aged ship include a Carnival Seaside Theater and new "Circle C" facility for the 12-14's. Cabins were also renovated, with balconies added to 16 cabins (a nice addition, but a far cry from the 314 balconies Celebrity added to Century in 2006). New carpeting, wall coverings and tile work was also put in. Carnival Destiny is the first of Carnival Cruise Lines' five Destiny-class liners. This ship has some of the best nightlife at sea, with entertainment for every taste and age group. Carnival Destiny also boasts one of the largest casinos afloat and a spacious spa and fitness center. Guests will find a huge variety of entertainment and dining options, excellent food, spacious and comfortable cabins, friendly and professional service, and an exceptional value for the dollar. At just over 101,000 tons, Carnival Destiny is one of the larger cruise ships at sea carrying 3,360 passengers. Despite its size, we never noticed any more crowding or any longer lines than we have found on much smaller ships. We were also surprised to discover how easy it was to find our way around this vessel. We quickly learned that the key was finding out which elevator banks served which public rooms. There is a full slate of activities and entertainment for every age group and taste -- from ballroom dancing, classical music concerts, tea time and art auctions to hairy chest and knobby knees contests, blackjack and slot machine tournaments, bingo, and karaoke.
Dining The two-deck main dining rooms -- London and Paris -- offer two seatings for dinner (6 and 8:15 p.m.), and open-seating lunch and breakfast. The majority of tables seat four and eight; there are tables for two available, but not enough for the large number of passengers. Nightly entertainment by the waiters is part of the "Fun Ship" experience so look forward to a singing maitre'd and dancing busboys. The service in the dining room was efficient and professional. Menu selections are varied nightly. The Sun and Sea, the lido buffet adjacent to the main pool, is a popular spot for breakfast and lunch though we found the selections limited and lines long. Breakfasts on port days were very crowded. Asian and Mexican stations (selections change each day) and a hamburger grill were quick alternatives to the regular buffet. A 24-hour pizzeria and Caesar salad bar were hits with the late-night crowd.
Public Rooms Passengers board Carnival Destiny by way of a soaring seven-deck atrium called the Rotunda. Its centerpiece is a lobby bar lit with the subtle hue of blue neon; this now popular Carnival trademark made its first appearance on Destiny. Navigating the vessel is easy once you figure out you can get anywhere from the Promenade Deck (this set-up cleverly forces passengers to walk by the tempting casino).
Cabins Carnival Destiny has one less deck of balcony cabins than her four sister ships. Balcony cabins are smaller on the inside (180 square ft.), to allow for the 40-square-ft. balconies. Balconies have safety-glass panels, affording unobstructed views of the water. Outside standard cabins without balconies are an ample 220 square ft. Inside cabins measure a generous 195 square ft. Bathrooms in all categories have showers, a hair dryer and a medicine cabinet. Carnival now offers free toiletry/amenity kits on all of their ships. Carnival also provides terry cloth bathrobes in the higher category cabins. All cabins have interactive color TV's, radios, direct-dial telephones and individual climate control. All cabins boast ample closet and drawer space. Reading lights and cabin lights can be controlled from a panel over the beds. Most cabins have twin beds that can be converted to a king bed upon request. There are self-service laundry rooms with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. Self-service ice machines and Coca-Cola vending machines are available.
Entertainment The three-deck-high Palladium Lounge is the venue for Carnival Destiny's nightly Las Vegas-style floor shows and reviews. This state-of-the-art theater boasts lasers lights, special effects and a sound system to rival any land-based show room. This lounge also has a video projection system, a revolving stage and a retractable orchestra pit. A word of warning -- be sure to get there early to get the best seats. Some of the seats have limited or obstructed views of the stage. One of the most popular places on the ship is the Apollo Bar, the sing-along piano bar. Get there early if you want a seat. Later in the evening, it was standing room only -- in the hallway! Passengers in the mood for a high-octane dance club will find the entrance to the Point After Dance Club nearby. More than 500 video monitors cover practically every square inch of wall space, and the glass dance floor features various lighting effects. A winding staircase leads down from the disco to the Onyx Bar, where sofas and comfy chairs abound but don't count on a quiet escape there since music from above is piped in. The Down Beat Lounge jazz and cabaret room is accented with black and brass walls and a gray carpet covered with red treble clefs. The highlight of the room is the oversized trumpet, tuba and flugelhorn suspended from the ceiling; windows are seperated by huge clarinets. The All Sports Bar offers satellite programming projected on large-screen TV's throughout the room. Aft of the Promenade Deck is the Criterion Lounge; this mid-sized showroom seating 440 is the place to be for midnight shows. The Millionaire's Club casino is the one of the largest afloat, with slot machines operational from 8 a.m., and tables from 10 a.m.
Fitness and Recreation At Carnival Destiny's 15,000-square-ft., two-level SpaCarnival, work out on treadmills, Stairmasters, stationary bikes, rowing machines, free weights and progressive resistance machines while enjoying panoramic views. There are men's and women's saunas, steam rooms and locker rooms, and two coed whirlpools. There is also a separate aerobics room and juice bar. Trained instructors lead a variety of exercise classes; personal trainers are available at an additional charge. There is an outdoor jogging track (each lap equals an eighth of a mile) and a golf driving net. Golf lessons are available with a PGA pro through Carnival's golf program. The spa and salon, operated by London's Steiner Leisure, offer every kind of massage, facial and treatment imaginable. The main pool area is one of Carnival Destiny's most popular features highlighted by the winding, 214-ft.-long water slide. The deck around the pool is laid out in levels, creating an amphitheater-like effect. There is also open deck space around the aft New World Pool, with a retractable glass ceiling. Topless sunbathing is allowed in a secluded section near the main funnel. In late 2008, Destiny will be getting the Seaside Theatre, an outdoor big-screen movie setup located poolside. Similar to sister line Princess' Movies Under the Stars (M.U.T.S.) concept, passengers can enjoy concerts, news and sporting events during the day, and movies at night.
Family Camp Carnival is divided into four categories: Toddlers (2 - 5), Juniors (6 - 8) Intermediate (9 - 11) and Teens (12 - 15). There's a playroom for under-3s'. On sea days, the program operates from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. On days in port, Camp Carnival offers supervised free-play from arrival until 2 p.m.; scheduled activities run from 2 until 10 p.m. It is recommended parents offer gratuities for children aged 3 and up. All ships have at least one play room, a wading pool and an outdoor play area. Otherwise, facilities vary; some ships have teen clubs, video arcades, and jungle gyms. Group baby-sitting is available on sea days and port days from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. in the children's play room; cost is $6 for first child, $4 for each additional sibling. Diapers are sold in the infirmary, and there's a turndown service featuring freshly baked chocolate chip cookies at bedtime. Carnival also offers teens-only shore excursions, and walkie-talkies available for rent onboard. A Fountain Fun Card is available for the under-21 set.
Dress Code Most cruises feature one or two formal nights; a dark suit or formal attire is suggested -- most men opt for suits. The dress code for the rest of the evenings ranges from sport coats and ties to resort wear.
Gratuity Carnival recommends $10 per person, per day, broken down to $5.50 to the headwaiter/waiter, $1 to the assistant waiter/cooks and $3.50 to the cabin steward; the amount is automatically added to your shipboard account but can be adjusted in either direction at the purser's desk. A 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to bar bills. An envelope is provided on the last night for those who want to extend thanks to the maitre d'.
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