Carnival doesn't always decide to send new cruise ships into Australia so when they do, you really should jump at the chance of securing a sailing!
We’re talking about Carnival Splendor, which for a time, was the largest ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet. A smaller version of the Concordia class ship, it is the only ship in the CCL’s Splendor class.
Carnival Splendor will start sailing cruises from Sydney in December 2019, which opens an opportunity for more Australians to experience R & R like no other.
Carnival Splendor has been through alot since its maiden voyage in 2008. It’s not a secret that it suffered a mishap in 2010, however, this did little to lose its splendour. In fact, it came out better than before... and over the years, it has continuously evolved into a better ship, providing unparalleled happiness to its millions of passengers. The ‘wow’ factor that captivated a lot of hearts is still there … and this time, it will captivate several million Australian hearts.
Before arriving into Sydney in 2019, Carnival Splendor will get a major facelift, with new features such as new waterparks and restaurants - all the more reason for you to join an upcoming voyage!
Not sure yet? Here are five reasons why you should book that ticket now and cruise on Carnival Splendor:
1. Carnival Splendor is the largest Carnival ship that’s ever been to Australia
Carnival Splendor is one of the biggest ships in the entire Carnival Cruises fleet. In fact, it was once the largest in the fleet.
At the moment, there are two Carnival ships that are already sailing from Australia - Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend. Both ships have a maximum capacity of 2124 passengers.
Carnival Splendor can accommodate way more … 3900 passengers to be exact. That’s almost 1800 more passengers. So, based on the number of passengers alone, you can already imagine how big Carnival Splendor is. It measures 952 square meters in length, with 13 decks in total.
And when it comes to cruise ships, bigger size means more fun.
2. Carnival Splendor offers delectable dining options for everyone
There are two main dining rooms on the ship. The Gold Pearl offers formal dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This dining area, which is located on decks 3 to 4, seats around 1122 passengers. The Black Pearl is the smaller of which seats around 744, only offers dinner, but it offers more flexible dining options as well as formal dining. Both main dining rooms have children’s menus so you won’t have to worry about satisfying your kids’ requests.
If you’re looking for other dining options, you will find a selection of Italian, Asian, Indian, and American restaurants that offer the best of each world. There’s the Pizzeria, Splendido Lido Restaurant, Mongolian Wok, Indian Tandoor, and California Roll Sushi Bar.
The Pinnacle Steakhouse is a destination dining venue, located on the top-level deck, which draws people to its excellent menu of steaks, lobster tails, grilled lamb chops and fish, plus appetizers and tasty desserts, plus excellent wine.
Before its launch this coming December 2019, new restaurants will be added as part of Carnival Splendor’s facelift. These new restaurants will cater to the Australian taste.
3. Carnival Splendor has special programs for children of all ages
From toddlers to teens to young adults, Carnival Splendor makes sure that everyone will have a great time.
You can find lots of facilities and activities for the whole family. There’s the Twister Waterslide and Hasbro, the Game Show, and a lot more. Aside from that, there are also age-specific programs that your kids will surely enjoy.
Kids, aged 2-5 can join Zumbini while kids aged 2-11 can enjoy Camp Ocean. There are also exclusive groups such as Circle “C” and Club O2 that your teenagers can participate in.
And of course, let’s not forget Seuss at Sea, where everyone can have their chance to interact with Cat in the Hat, Sam-I-Am, and Thing One and Thing Two.
Did you know that Carnival Splendor was the first ship to roll out the Seuss at Sea program in 2014? It partnered with Dr. Seuss Enterprises to bring you all the fun in Whoville and enjoy “Seuss-a-palooza” and interactive storytime with the fun characters.
4. Carnival Splendor will give you your much needed adult time
Not only will the kids can have a grand time on Carnival Splendor. The ship stays true to its commitment of providing fun for all ages. So if you are cruising with your kids, fear not because while they are busy enjoying what the Carnival Splendor has in store for them, you can have your turn to enjoy life.
If you’re the type who enjoys some peace and quiet, you can steal a moment at the Serenity sun deck along Deck 12 and have your R&R. While you’re there, take advantage of the great sea view while soaking up your much needed Vitamin D. And the best thing is, it’s absolutely kid-free!
The Lido Deck welcomes those who would rather be with a group. Here, you can find hot tubs and a full-service bar. The buffet is only a few steps away in case you want to have some energy refill.
The nightclub awaits the fun-loving and entertainment-seekers. And if you want to spend the night laughing, you can drop by The Punchliner Comedy Club to tickle your funny bone.
Bars are abundant in Carnival Splendor. There’s a wine bar, a piano bar, a karaoke bar, and a casino bar. And the good news is that new bars will be added soon before Carnival Splendor’s return Down Under … that’s more choices for you.
5. You can watch a movie by the poolside
If you’re a movie buff, why not watch a movie by the poolside? You can do that onboard Carnival Splendor - and we’re not just talking about a small screen. We’re talking about a jumbo 270 square-foot LED screen, accompanied by a 70,000-watt sound system.
This big screen is called the Seaside Theatre during the day and you can watch cartoons with the kids, concerts, news, and sporting events while having a dip in the pool. During the night, it becomes the Dive-In Movies where you can pull up loungers, or take a dip in the pool while watching popular movie screenings. Just like in a theatre, you can have your drinks and complimentary popcorn, only this time, you’re watching the feature film under the night sky. What more can you ask for?
Carnival Splendor has a lot more to offer
We only gave five reasons to cruise on Carnival Splendor, but you can definitely expect a lot more. From cooking demos to libraries, mini golf courses, onboard internet, fitness classes, jogging tracks, beauty salons, and different types of spas - everything you want and need is here! Indeed, Carnival Splendor is your ultimate dream cruise.