Cruise Screen

A Foreword or Two
The Carnival Ships with their red and blue whale tail funnels are distinctive, yet, this line was conceived so that “everyman” would be able to afford cruising. Initially, from its humble beginnings of just one old ship, Carnival Cruise Lines line now boasts of over 19 mostly new ships (Carnival Spirit, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Pride, Carnival Legend, Carnival Victory, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Glory, Carnival Destiny, Holiday, Ecstasy, Fantasy, Paradise, Elation, Celebration, Inspiration, Sensation, Imagination, Fascination, and the Jubilee, all in service), with more being built and even more on the drawing boards. It has sixteen home ports on the North American continent — add Honolulu, HI to make seventeen.

This was our third cruise on Carnival, having sailed on the Carnival Legend’s sister ship the Carnival Pride, and on the Carnival Triumph. The Spirit Class ships were designed so close to perfection that Carnival has reproduced them in “Cookie Cutter” fashion, even across company lines (CostaAtlantica is also one of this class). So, with its simplicity of purpose, Carnival has grown to become a major cruise line to reckon with! Carnival Corporation includes the following prestigious lines: Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard (England), Holland America (Holland), Costa Cruises (Italy), Windstar Cruises (Tall Ships), The Yachts of Seabourn, and the recently acquired Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, P&O Cruises Australia, Aida, A’Rosa, Swan Hellenic and Ocean Village. Carnival’s passengers are mainly American and include all ages from toddlers to seniors, but the majority are in their mid-forties.

We met the serious and brilliant Captain Claudio Cupisti (Italy) on the Carnival Pride in January 2001, when he spoke of the Carnival Legend, being built in the Kvaerner Masa Shipyards in Helsinki, Finland and noted he would soon leave the Carnival Pride and move on to Finland to take command of the Carnival Legend, which was launched on August 14, 2002. We were happy to hear that soon he would return to Finland to take command of the newest Carnival ship, the Carnival Miracle. Yet, with all this recognition, he said his most impressive days on the bridge were spent with two young passengers from the “Make a Wish Foundation” whose dream was to see whales — a dream he was happy to help make come true.

In Port Everglades, Ft. Lauderdale, the Carnival Legend resembled her sister ships on the outside; however, we were eager to see how designer Joe Farcus had made her different on the inside.

Embarkation
Even though security was heightened, we experienced no delays. We picked up our tickets on the pier, where our luggage was also tagged and checked; it took a total of fifteen minutes. We had wheel chair assistance all the way to the gangway: very professional and very helpful. We arrived at 12:30pm and were on board in our stateroom by 1:00 pm. We checked on our dining room assignments, with which we were pleased. It was table #127 near the entrance, so we were off to the Welcome Aboard Buffet and we enjoyed the excellent pizza — our compliments to Executive Chef Craig Salamone (more about this accomplished young man later).

The Ship
Sister ships are wonderful: repeat passengers already feel at home knowing the ship’s layout. We were curious to see what Mr. Farcus had done with the décor. Taking a cue from her name, his concept revolved around legendary heroes of all kinds: mythological, medieval, crusaders, sports, film and music legends are all represented. Farcus’ signature is repetition and it was in evidence here once again. Amphoræ (pewter colored urns) are everywhere, decorating balustrades, on balconies in the ten-deck-high Lobby, as door knobs, and as lamp and chandelier bases. They are of all sizes, some even large enough to hold people! Wide dark cherry wood moldings frame windows, doors, and ceilings, and sometimes double rows of these maroon borders greet passengers with the Etruscan key symbol embossed in gold, row upon row.

This ship does not show the traditional nautical colors. She is more somber (maroon, gold and browns), but just as richly decorated as other Carnival ships. We feel that the lack of neon is good! The Legend is a well-equipped and beautifully designed ship with careful thought given to every detail and always with the passenger in mind.

Riviera Deck 1 forward has the dazzling Firebird Lounge. This lounge is named after the clever seamstress Maryushka, who was turned into a Firebird by the evil sorcerer Kaschei, after she had spurned him. She still sheds her bright feathers to this day, which are magically seen only by lovers of beauty. This room has firebirds everywhere: on sofas, chairs, carpeting, walls, ceilings, etc. On the walls are huge red lacquered discs framing pictures of figures strolling through idyllic gardens. It is quite bright: a feast of colors with a prevalence of red
and gold!

Midship, all the way to the aft elevators, there are inside and oceanview staterooms. Toward aft there is the first level of the Medusa’s Lair, a night club, and aft is the Galley.
Promenade Deck 2 forward holds the Follies Theater, which recalls the palatial movie “palaces” of the Roaring Twenties. Its sparkling draped curtain and the repetition of the “Blazing Sun Face” image are very effective, giving opulence to this huge room. Go early to shows because there are some poor seats, since six pillars block the view of the stage, as do wide wooden balustrades and the balcony design.

Just outside the theater toward midship is Satchmo’s Club (named after Louis Armstrong, America’s jazz trumpet legend). The knotty pine benches, wrought iron bar stools and tables are reminiscent of New Orleans, birth place of Jazz. Next door is the Dream Team Bar giving homage to many sports heroes (legends) from Juan Fangio to Jackie Robinson, Babe Zaharias, Wilma Rudolph and Bart Starr. Then there is the Casino Club Merlin named for King Arthur’s wizard and decorated with Crusading Knights and Monastic Arches. Perhaps the least decorated of all public rooms, it still has many slots and gaming tables.

Midship is the Legend Lobby with the Purser’s and Shore Excursion Desks. We nicknamed it “The 1001 Urns Lobby.” Here are the black pleated silk lamp shades and some of the legendary urn chandeliers with spokes terminating in purple speckled crystal flowers. These lamps and chandeliers are found on several decks in great numbers — repetition, repetition. Adjacent to the Legend Lobby there is a beautiful bronze sculpture representing bears catching salmon swimming upstream; this is our favorite art work on the ship. It is a gift of the Kvaerner Masa Shipyard workers. Opposite the three bird cage elevators is a four-deck-tall stylized painted mural of the “Colossus” of Rhodes. A corridor leads back to the Atlantis Lounge (named for the mythical lost continent) and the entrance to the second level of Medusa’s Lair, a night club displaying a dozen or more huge Medusa heads with glowing eyes and writhing snakes for hair. The bar stools are on snake bases; iridescent wrought iron chairs, marble bars and tables complete this club.

Truffles Restaurant is aft with its subdued ambiance, until overhead lights dim and flashing red lights come on and even the chandeliers blink, while waiters lead passengers in a conga line to shouts of “Ole’ Ole’” and “Hot, Hot, Hot.” The decorations are mainly black and beige marble squares arranged in a checkerboard pattern, and many arched china cabinets with opalescent glass fronts holding matched sets of china. For ceiling fixtures, aqua and blue blown glass vials are arranged in ovals. Finally, the copper pillars make this room unique.

Atlantic Deck 3 forward has the Follies balcony and next to its entrances are the entrances to the Enchanted Forest (recalling many fairy tales of old). Huge tree trunks line its curved walk where large portholes overlook the sea. There are many glass tables with cross sections of tree trunks visibly displaying their annual growth rings. Fittingly, this leads to the staircase in the prow which goes up to the Gigabytes Arcade (Deck 4) and the Noah’s Ark Playroom (Deck 5). This area is one of the best kept secrets of the Spirit Class ships; it’s great for strolling on rainy sea days, reading or just sitting quietly and conversing.
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