Carnival Glory - Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 (Berlitz Cruise Guide) (2016)

Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 (Berlitz Cruise Guide) (2016)

Carnival Glory

★★★ +

Berlitz’s Ratings

Ship: 363 out of 500

Accommodation: 144 out of 200

Food: 218 out of 400

Service: 259 out of 400

Entertainment: 76 out of 100

Cruise: 256 out of 400

Overall Score: 1316 out of 2000

Carnival Glory Statistics

Size: Large Resort Ship

Tonnage: 110,239

Lifestyle: Standard

Cruise Line: Carnival Cruise Lines

Former Names: none

IMO Number: 9198367

Builder: Fincantieri (Italy)

Original Cost: $500 million

Entered Service: Jul 2003

Registry: Panama

Length (ft/m): 951.4/290.0

Beam (ft/m): 116.4/35.5

Draft (ft/m): 27.0/8.2

Propulsion/Propellers: diesel-electric (63,400kW)/2

Passenger Decks: 13

Total Crew: 1,160

Passengers (lower beds): 2,974

Passenger Space Ratio (lower beds): 37.0

Passenger/Crew Ratio (lower beds): 2.5

Cabins (total): 1,487

Size Range (sq ft/m): 179.7-482.2/16.7-44.8

Cabins (for one person): 0

Cabins (with private balcony): 590

Cabins (wheelchair accessible): 25

Wheelchair accessibility: Good

Cabin Current: 110 volts

Elevators: 14

Casino (gaming tables): Yes

Slot Machines: Yes

Swimming Pools: 2 (1 w/ sliding glass dome)

Hot Tubs (on deck): 7

Self-Service Launderette: Yes

Dedicated Cinema/Seats: No

Library: Yes

Onboard currency: US$

Carnival_Glory

This is an ultra-casual fun-filled ship for first-time cruisers

Overview. Like its sisters - Carnival Conquest, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Triumph, and Carnival Victory - this ship has three decks full of public lounges, bars, and lots of rooms to play in, together with good facilities and programs for children.

The Ship. Carnival Glory is a large floating playground for the young and young-at-heart, and for anyone who likes constant stimulation, lots of participation events, and gaming casino. This really is cruising Splash Vegas style - and a fun, all-American experience.

A much-needed makeover in 2012 added two half-decks at the front of the ship, extended two other decks at the aft, added 182 cabins (but no extra elevators), several new, much revamped eateries. These include an Alchemy Bar - for good cocktails created by a ‘mixologist’ (bartender); a (music-free) Library Bar; an EA Sports Bar (interactive, and with sports results on the 24/7 sports ticker); and an art gallery.

Amidships on the open deck is a water slide (200ft/60m long), as well as tiered sunbathing decks positioned between two swimming pools, several hot tubs, and a giant poolside movie screen (Seaside Theater). For adults who want to escape most of the outdoor activities and noise, however, there is Serenity - an (extra-cost) adults-only area for relaxation - located on two decks at the top, forwardmost part of the ship.

The ship’s interior decor is a fantasyland of colors, with every hue of the rainbow represented. Most of Carnival Glory’s public rooms are located off the Kaleidoscope Boulevard, which is the main interior promenade - great for strolling and people-watching. The larger of two atriums, The Colors Lobby spans nine decks in the forward third of the ship. Check out the interpretative paintings of US flags at the Color Bar. The smaller aft atrium goes through three decks.

Forget fashion - the sine qua non of a Carnival cruise is all about having fun. While the cuisine is just so-so, the real fun begins at sundown when Carnival really excels in sound, lights, razzle-dazzle shows, and late-night high-volume sounds. There are nightspots and watering holes for just about every musical taste (except opera, ballet, and classical music lovers), such as the Ivory Club Bar, Ebony Aft Cabaret Lounge, Cinn-a-Bar (Piano Bar), White Heat Dance Club, and Bar Blue.

Niggles: the modifications and additions, while good, have also created a more crowded and congested feeling throughout the ship. Also, the open deck space is poor considering the increase in the number of passengers. The pool deck really becomes cluttered, and there are no cushioned pads for the deck chairs. Also, the Photo Gallery, adjacent to the atrium/purser’s office, becomes congested when photos are on display. There is constant hustling for drinks. Because it’s a large resort ship, there will be lines for things like shore excursions, security control when re-boarding, and disembarkation, as well as sign-up sheets for fitness equipment.

Families. Youngsters have their own play areas, with children’s programs divided into five age-specific groups under Camp Ocean (ages 2−11 - with children ages 2−5 called ‘Penguins’; 6−8-year-olds called ‘Sting Rays’; 9−11-year-olds called ‘Sharks’). Tweens have ‘Circle C’, while teenagers have their own ‘Club O2’ - a chill-out (no adults allowed) room/disco. Also, soft-drinks packages can be purchased for children (and adults).

Also, soft-drinks packages can be purchased for children (and adults).

By the end of 2015, the words and world of Dr. Seuss will have been rolled out as part of Carnival’s children’s program (check before you sail) − from ‘green eggs and ham’ for breakfast, served by waiters in Dr. Seuss-inspired uniforms, and characters such as the Cat in the Hat, Thing One and Thing Two, and Sam attending, to special showings of movies such as The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (these will be shown outdoors on the poolside Seaside Theater screen on Lido Deck).

Accommodation. There are numerous cabin price categories, in seven different grades: suites with private balcony; deluxe outside-view cabins with private balcony; outside-view cabins with private balcony; outside-view cabins with window; cabins with a porthole instead of a window; interior cabins; interior cabins with upper and lower berths. The price reflects the grade, location, and size.

Several decks of cabins have a private balcony - but many are not quite so private, and can be overlooked from various public locations.

During the makeover, a large number of Spa Cabins were added over three decks in the front of the ship, adjacent to the Carnival Spa and Serenity adult-only area; these have all the usual fittings, plus special spa-like extras, and access to the spa.

The standard cabins are of good size and are equipped with all the basics, although the furniture is rather angular, with no rounded edges. Three decks of cabins (eight on each deck, each with private balcony) overlook the stern. Most cabins with twin beds can be converted to a queen-size bed format. A gift basket is provided in all grades of cabin; it includes aloe soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, breath mints, candy, and pain relief tablets (all in sample sizes).

Note: If you book one of the Category 11 or 12 suites you get ‘Skipper’s Club’ priority check-in at any US homeland port - useful for getting ahead of the crowd.

Dining. The two main dining rooms, Golden and Platinum, are two decks high, with seating on both levels. The decor includes wall coverings featuring a pattern of Japanese bonsai trees. Choose either fixed-time dining (6pm or 8.15pm) or flexible dining (any time between 5.45 and 9.30pm).

Other dining options. Several dining options and new eateries were added (or existing ones changed) during an extensive 2014 makeover, providing you with more choice. These include:

Guy’s Burger Joint, a complimentary poolside venue offering fresh-made burgers, hand-cut fries and toppings and condiments created by Food Network personality and chef Guy Fieri.

The BlueIguana Cantina, a (no-charge) Mexican cantina featuring tacos and burritos, with a salsa and toppings counter.

For something a little more exclusive, it’s worth booking a table in the (extra-cost) Emerald Room Steakhouse, which serves (large) prime steaks and grilled seafood and has lighting fixtures that look like giant emeralds.

There is also a casual self-serve food court-style lido deck eatery, the two-level Red Sail Restaurant, which includes a Mexican counter for burritos and tacos, a deli, and on the upper level, a fish ‘n’ chippery (there is seating on both levels).

Entertainment. The Amber Palace Showlounge is a multi-deck showroom seating 1,400. It has a revolving stage, hydraulic orchestra pit, superb sound, and seating on three levels (the upper levels being tiered through two decks). A proscenium over the stage acts as a scenery loft.

Hasbro, The Game Show was added in 2012; the show includes audience participation, as competitive interpretations of the larger-than-life board games.

Jazz lovers could head for the Bar Blue, while the Cinn-A-Bar is a piano bar, with curved aluminum walls - so ‘bending’ notes should be easy.

Spa/Fitness. SpaCarnival is a fairly large health, fitness, and spa complex. You’ll find it directly above the navigation bridge in the forward part of the ship and is accessed from the forward stairway.

Facilities include a gymnasium (packed with muscle machines and exercise equipment), body treatment area, sauna and steam rooms for men and women, and a beauty salon.