The Wonderful Truth Behind Carnival Cruise Line
December 05, 2005
Attention, America! Carnival Cruise Line isn't telling you the entire story. Even with all the innovative improvements and new shipboard features, Carnival Cruise Line still calls the vessels in its fleet "Fun Ships." But that's not entirely accurate, and we want to set the record straight.
Of course, by all rights, a passenger can have his or her fill of fun onboard. Still there's also a world of other amazing experiences a person can have on a Carnival cruise. Elegant public and private rooms, exquisite cuisine, exciting itineraries—Carnival Cruise Line is all that and more. "Fun" is only the tip of the iceberg!
Evidently, we at Cruise Network aren't the only ones who agree. The highly respected World Cruise & Ocean Liner Society, which is comprised of experienced cruise and travel enthusiasts, has named Carnival Cruise Lines the "best cruise value" in its monthly publication, "Ocean & Cruise News."
Now, had this been the first time Carnival Cruise Line had been honored by them, you might be able to chalk it up to luck. But this is the 12th consecutive year that Carnival Cruise Lines has been bestowed with the honor. That's way more than luck.
Carnival Cruise Line was also honored with top marks in the High Superior Four Star-Plus Category and was named the "Best Short Cruise Value" in the publication's annual "best value" awards. Even in a category in which Carnival Cruise Lines placed second—the overall value rankings—it still took a sister company of Carnival Cruise Line to do it, Holland America Line.
Surprised? Well, you're probably not the only one. It's no doubt that throughout the years Carnival Cruise Line has gained a reputation with people (most of whom have never taken a cruise, let alone a Carnival cruise) that they offer nothing but a party-boat experience suited only to spring-breakers. That couldn't be further from the truth.
In fact, the average age of a Carnival passenger is 48; 70% of the people onboard are 35 or older. Also, Carnival Cruise Line is one of the few cruise lines to institute a mandatory drinking age of 21, while others have it set at 18. Not exactly the statistics you'd find from a so-called "party" cruise line.
Don't get us wrong—there's no shortage of fun to be found onboard. Carnival Cruise Line's ships have a well-deserved reputation for a wide variety of great bars, lounges, and more, where the atmosphere is all about unwinding. But they also have unbelievable dining and service standards, high quality entertainment, spacious accommodations, and affordable pricing.
Of course, their exciting itineraries cater to the interests of all types of travelers. From hiking through boreal mountain passes on a summer day in Alaska, to getting lost in a mystery novel in a Caribbean hammock, Carnival can put you practically anywhere your imagination or feet can take you. It's all part of the quiet improvements that the cruise line has been doing onboard and off-the-ship throughout the years.
"Carnival just continues to improve in all key areas of service, dining and entertainment. Its product upgrades have really paid off for the line and its passengers. All this, combined with moderate prices, makes Carnival a real value winner. The line's product upgrades have not only moved the Carnival product up in the overall value rankings but also forced every cruise line above them, even the most deluxe, to keep a watchful eye over their shoulder," said Ocean & Cruise News Editor Tom Cassidy.
Carnival President and CEO Bob Dickinson stated, "Earning a 'best value' award 12 years in a row from an esteemed organization such as the World Cruise & Ocean Liner Society speaks volumes about the tremendous value that a 'Fun Ship' cruise provides. Carnival has invested significant resources in product upgrades—from the luxurious new 'Carnival Comfort Bed' sleep system to an exclusive alliance with world-renowned French master chef Georges Blanc ["Carnival Cruises and Georges Blanc" Cruise News]— these awards reaffirm our commitment to providing guests with high quality vacations at affordable prices."
Well, that pretty much sums up Cruise Network's commitment, as well. So, please check out our newly-revamped website to book the best deals on Carnival cruises to destinations all over the world, such as Canada, the Mediterranean, Hawaii, and more. Or, better yet, get more of a personal touch when you call one of the Cruise Network Cruise Specialists about Carnival Cruises. Sure, Carnival Cruise Line calls them "Fun Ships," but there's so much more to them than that!
